Le Cirque Fine Foods

With street umbrellas, bentwood and wicker chairs and dark-wood shelving bearing jars of gourmet treats, Le Cirque has a relaxed, Frenchy ambience, despite being in the middle of a shopping centre. No franchise store, Le Cirque serves a contract-roasted house blend of sweet, balanced, full-bodied coffee in every long black ($3.50) pulled from a shiny La Marzocco machine. Food might include eggs benedict or double-smoked ham omelettes, or try a cheese platter or house-made chicken liver and brandy pate. A long glass cabinet also bears consideration, with sparkle-dusted cupcakes hard to resist.