Proud Mary

A queue snakes out the door most days here, but, once you score a table, a beardy barista will help you find your ideal brew, be it a Brazilian single-origin long black ($3.50) with hints of toffee and orange or a light but lingering Kenya Ichamara peaberry siphon ($8). There's excellent food, too, on a flavour-packed menu, from fig and apricot toast to smoked bonito with chorizo, spaghettini with prawns and bisque sauce and a slow-cooked lamb sandwich. With the crowds, the crew, the coffee and the menu, this is one of the northside's hottest cafes.