Venture a little further up Smith St towards the outdoor factory outlets, and you’ll come across Pavlov’s Duck. It’s a busy Sunday, and the space can be a little tight, but the café exudes cosiness and warmth. For a taste of a more authentic Sri Lankan breakfast, hoppers make an appearance on the morning menu on weekends. You can watch the chef skillfully making these bowl shaped vessels and frying up kothu by the front window. There’s no regular omelette on the brunch menu, but on weekends you...

Saint James is a recent addition to Malvern Village from the team responsible for Hardpressed, From on High and Small Print Pizza. Named after Saint James park, home of Newcastle United, the mutually loved soccer team of Richard Donovan and Craig Tate, who partnered with Phil Gijbergs for this venture. Co-incidentally, the op-shop next door is also called St James, though of no relation....

From the team that started up other cafe favourites like Fourth Chapter, Muharam, Sardi and nearby Trei, now comes 1809. Sarah Whitfield and Dimitri Dean, and Maliq and Angie Dean named it after the birthday of Maliq’s youngest son. 1809 is right in the middle of the suburbs in a small shopping strip. They've gone for a more industrial, minimalistic look, with grey concrete, ceramics and bits of greenery including a moss wall at the rear. ...

Two Birds One Stone generated plenty of buzz when it first opened, as it came the team who started up ever-busy Three Bags Full and also Liar Liar in Hawthorn. It's been four years, but Two Birds One Stone is still as popular as ever. The square-shaped cafe is neatly broken up into two sections: the dining area, and the counter and coffee bar. A central communal table is surrounded by smaller tables on one side, and cosy alcove seating on the other. A frontage made completely of...

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