Get hot chocolate and cake from a lift shaft in Melbourne's CBD

A former elevator shaft at the end of a Melbourne laneway is now a hot chocolate dealer for locked-down Melburnians. Mork Chocolate opened its second retail shop this week, turning the previously disused seven-square-metre-space into a glowing shopfront offering sweet relief.

"We were really clever at using every single centimetre of space," says Mork co-founder Kiril Shaginov.

The takeaway window on Equitable Place, which comes off Little Collins Street, took a year to plan and build and has a Wes Anderson-style charm to it. A walnut menu board, whitewashed wooden facade and a glass display cabinet holding cardamom-cinnamon buns and other sweet treats greet customers. Canisters of Mork's handcrafted hot chocolate are stacked on one side of the takeaway window.

Along with the signature range of hot and cold chocolate drinks, there is also coffee by Patricia Coffee Roasters, the first time the renowned cafe has allowed its beans to be used by another venue. Shaginov has a long history with Patricia's founders, Bowen Holden and Pip Heath, after working together at Seven Seeds. Patricia was also one of the first retailers of cakes by Sot, Mork's sister business.

In another first, a savoury bun has been created for the CBD. The Everything Bun incorporates bechamel into the pastry, and is finished with tomato, cheese and sesame seeds. It's joined by rich chocolate treats, naturally, and small cakes like a plant-based pistachio bundt.

Drinks made with plant-based chocolate and a frozen cacao range are also on offer.

Open Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm

20 Equitable Place, Melbourne, morkchocolate.com.au