Overview
The William Angliss Institute has long been a secret spot for city workers and locals to score cheap eats made by budding chefs.
The Bakeshop serves up whatever pastries, cakes and loaves of bread the students have cooked up that day. Cafe 555 is home to an affordable lunch menu that changes daily. And punters can still score an ever-changing $38 set menu from the Angliss Restaurant every week during term. If you didn't know about this already, now you do. (You're welcome.)
And now, William Angliss — with the help of designers at Gray Puksand — has gone all out by transforming an old-school W-class tram into a charming (and surprisingly spacious) streetside cafe. The cafe allows baristas-in-training to perfect their coffee-making skills, as well as future hospo managers to learn how to run a venue. But the real drawcard: a brew will only cost you $3.60 — almost unheard of for coffee in Melbourne's CBD.
Fresh pastries will also be available from the Tram Cafe, also prepared by students. As for where to enjoy your brew and baked good, you can either sit inside the refurbed tram, at one of the outdoor tables, or get it to go.
Just make sure you're extra kind to the students. These folks are still learning and will be essential members of Melbourne's hospitality industry for many years to come.
You'll find the William Angliss Institute's Tram Cafe at 555 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, open Monday–Friday between 8am–2:30pm. For more details, head to the school's website.