Domain & Ayr

Overview

Domain & Ayr, formerly Kokako, is located by the corner of Ayr Street and the pretty tree-lined Domain Drive, smack in the middle of Parnell and Newmarket.

The space was formerly occupied by Kokako (whose delicious coffee and hot chocolate blends are still served and sold) and is the sister café to suits fave Federal & Wolfe. All good credentials, and the café makes a great first impression too – the space has an appealing, lakeside cabin-esque fit-out, with floor-to-ceiling rafter walls, plenty of natural light and the eclectic mix of artwork and bric-a-brac one finds at a holiday home.

The all day menu is vegetarian-friendly, and the owners take their sourcing of organic and local produce very seriously, which is brightly reflected in the quality of the food. Most of the dishes are clever twists on brunch classics, with the cabinet goodies prepared fresh in-house at an ungodly hour daily (takeout gets you an 11% discount too).

The Bubble and Squeak comes highly recommended – a mountain of herbed potato rosti with apple and maple cured ham, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. All washed down with beautifully brewed coffee served in sweet-as-pie turquoise and gold china.

Domain & Ayr has shaped up to be a great local hotspot, ideal for a leisurely brunch or a speedy pre-retail therapy fuel-up. And if you’re in for the former, I have it on good authority that the 20-minute fluffy pancake is more than worth the wait.