Open House Clifton Hill

Overview

If it's all in a name, then the new Clifton Hill cafe, Open House, says all you need to know about this warm and welcoming spot. At the heart of this cosy space is a focus on community and creating an inviting space for all. 

Open House is a dream brought to life for India Anderson and Diego Leon, who have always wanted to build "their own little corner of Melbourne…to welcome everybody." They've taken all they learnt from their many years working together at Heartattack and Vine, backed with the support of investor Nathen Doyle, and created a cafe that is both deeply personal to them and inclusive to all. 

India brings her warmth to the space by ensuring everyone is looked after and taken care of. Her personality is evident even on the walls — she created the wallpaper from original art from vintage wallpaper. Diego's domain is the kitchen, where he draws inspiration from his travels and Colombian heritage to craft high-quality, yet simple and accessible dishes. As part of their welcoming and inclusive ethos, he wants everyone to find something they love to eat, regardless of any dietary needs. 

The menu is concise — Diego wants to focus on quality rather than quantity. On toast, choose between folded eggs with pickles, braised mushrooms with goat's cheese, or avocado with nori and tahini cream. The miso egg sandwich with Japanese pickles has quickly become a house favourite, alongside the roast chicken version with sesame mayo and cabbage. If you're skipping the bread, consider a braised beef brisket bowl with bok choy and rice, zucchini fritters with couscous and harissa, or smoked trout with pickled ginger and miso mayo. 

Open House is quickly becoming a community hub for the neighbourhood, with its laidback atmosphere and sunlit space, and this is just the start. The team are working to get their liquor license approved, which will then enable them to open for service on weekend evenings, with plans for comforting classics such as burgers and lasagne. Come one, come all, from early morning coffees to last drinks, make yourself at home at Open House. 

Images: Supplied.