Liar Liar

Overview

Pandering quietly just off Glenferrie Road, Liar Liar consistently draws in the crowds. Maybe it's the illusive signage, the deep red interior undertones or the pull of something slightly underground, but this cafe thrives off its ability to strike out the blandness of Melbourne's leafy east. Put simply, this place is cool.

Originally created by the group behind Three Bags Full and Apte, Liar Liar has changed owners numerous times in recent years, however has managed to avoid any change of hands curse. It remains as sleek and well-oiled as ever, with its minimalist, industrial decor on trend before many others before it, and effortlessly attentive staff keeping patrons pleased.

Liar Liar prospers off a truly fantastic food offering that, even on the worst day, will make you forget every great breakfast or lunch experience you've ever had in Melbourne. Every element for every stomach has been considered, and it's clear there's great pride taken in sourcing the freshest ingredients and using them to their best. Sweet tooths will cherish the ricotta hotcakes with berry coulis, almond cream and maple syrup ($16.50) — a classic favourite taken for a spin that will have you similarly whirling in a beautiful sugar daze afterwards. Like nothing you've ever seen before, these hotcakes do arrive hot, with plumes of steam rising from the moment you cut into them. It's on good authority that these hotcakes are placed in the oven after they’ve been fried, and the result is totally worth it. Keep that secret to yourself. In comparison, while the banana and coconut bread with whipped honey ricotta, strawberries and pistachio ($13.50) keeps you within the sweet realm, flavours here are instead fresh and vibrant, but no less breathtaking. Serves at Liar are some of the heartiest and most brilliant you will ever see.

Too often do diners indulge in a great menu only to be disappointed by a lack of drinks to follow up the experience. Coffee is a given in Melbourne, yes, but Liar Liar is one of few establishments that keeps the stakes high, offering an extensive drinks menu that will make you want to return. Despite being joined in recent years by the likes of Axil Coffee Roasters and Crabapple Kitchen, this cafe remains a consistent haven of excellent coffee in Hawthorn, with Five Senses and St Ali roasts running alongside a variety of changing single origin beans. Enjoy a nutty latte, but make sure you do not miss the exotic selection of fresh fruit granitas and smoothies (both $6.50).

Beware of a short wait for a table (and plentiful yummy mummies with prams) when the weekend comes at Liar Liar. A true inner city vibe deep in the suburbs, this cafe has its finger on the pulse. Forget you're in Hawthorn for a second and enjoy one of this city's best. Not lying.