Just Open: Arno Espresso, Collingwood

When it comes to cafes, Collingwood is home to some of Melbourne's hippest – funky spaces serving third-wave filter brews and home-baked pies. But Leon Dalle Nogare is cleaving to his Italian heritage at six-week-old Arno, which is tucked under a stairway in a back street that was once home to tiny cafe Tiny.

With coffee from Melbourne roaster Locale – the 141 Blend of Brazil, Tanzania and Ethiopia beans – and pastries from Essendon's Pane e Pizzico, Arno is giving postcode 3066 a Melbourne update on the Italian espresso bar.

"My coffee is a real Italian espresso style," says Dalle Nogare. "The style I've been drinking all my life."

Alongside bomboloni with Nutella or apricot jam (now that's Italian breakfast food), Argo serves a small selection of panini that are partly inspired by a panino-research trip to Florence (the Arno is the river that runs through that city): chicken cotoletta with coleslaw and mayo; prosciutto with mozzarella and tomato; salami, fior di latte and artichoke; and a breakfast version with egg and pancetta.

And for an extra espresso hit, go the caffe Leone: a double shot with a creamy macchiato head.

Open Mon–Fri 7.30am–4pm.

51 Cromwell Street, Collingwood, no phone

* Address has been corrected from earlier