Local Folk
In a pocket of Melbourne teeming with cafes, this is the pick of the locals.
Overview
In leafy Kensington, cafes are found at every turn and give the area its distinctive village-like feel. Yet, even surrounded by competition, Local Folk is — true to name — a favourite amongst locals.
Occupying a corner spot that used to be the town's local corner store, you'll find fresh modern cafe cuisine with always reliable coffee. Owners Ashley and Belinda have deep roots in the Kensington community and before Local Folk, Ashley's early culinary skills were developed as an apprentice in a French restaurant.
The Kenso brekkie roll is the cafe's most popular item and is as great on-the-go as it is for dining in. It's made with the usual breakfast suspects, including egg, bacon, house-made relish, jack cheddar and spinach — and wrapped up in a toasted pide for a bit of flair.
Other noteworthy options include the brekkie gnocchi topped with a sunny side up egg, which makes a compelling case for why gnocchi shouldn't be limited to lunch and dinnertimes, and an ever-changing list of specials that keeps the menu fresh.
The cafe serves excellent coffee using Toby's Estate beans, favouring the Brunswick blend that's unique to the area as their default roast.
If you want to do as the locals do, revel in Local Folk's relaxed vibes with creative yet classic top notch cafe fare and always on point coffee.