West Juliett

Drive past West Juliett on a weekend morning and you’ll spy hoards of people spilling out onto the pavement with dogs and children in tow.

The homely cafe opened in 2013 and later expanded into the garage next door due to sheer demand. With a large communal table, this intimate space doubles as an overflow section and a function room that can be booked from Monday to Friday.

Current owner Soula Manouras took over in October 2016, but the cafe’s attention to detail hasn’t waned. Dukkah, jams, chutneys and pastries continue to be made from scratch; and the thoughtful dishes still carry a rustic Mediterranean leaning.

The perfect summer breakfast takes shape in the yogurt bowl with granola, mango, passionfruit and house-made lemon balm. For something savoury, try the mushrooms on toast with caraway, kasseri cheese, burnt onions and fresh herbs.

Sandwiches on Sonoma bread and a handful of salads form the basis of the lunch menu. Go for the 12-hour pork salad packed with red cabbage, apple, kohlrabi and shaved parmesan, or the grass-fed angus burger.

Coffee is roasted by All Press and topped off with fresh jersey milk from Warrnambool in Victoria. House-made sodas and cold-pressed juices make for the perfect antidote to a hot summer’s day.

For something a little less saintly, get your hands around a strawberry balsamic or salted-caramel shake. The well-considered selection of beer and wine includes Mountain Goat Steam Ale and Clare Valley riesling.