Melvin Coffee + Kitchen - CLOSED

Overview

Collingwood's cafe scene has welcomed a charming new addition and it goes by the name of Melvin. Taking over the Johnston Street space once home to Bluebird Espresso, this one's the latest offering from husband-and-wife duo Matt and Ash Byatt, also the minds behind smash-hit Flemington cafe Wolf and Hound.

It's an effortlessly bright and cheery haunt, with pops of colour providing a feel-good backdrop to any breakfast feast or caffeine pit-stop. A sunny, all-weather courtyard sits out back, complete with its own lush, urban veggie patch.

From the small-but-mighty kitchen comes a creative twist on the standard cafe menu, with revamped classics alongside thoughtful contemporary plates. A riff on the go-to chilli scrambled eggs ($20) features salted zucchini ribbon, kale and a spicy mayo made with gochujang (a fermented Korean chilli paste), while the crumpet French toast ($20) will cater to sweet-toothed locals with its mountain of fresh berries, blood orange-infused chèvre and pistachio crumb.

Meanwhile, lunch sees a vegetarian-friendly lineup of sandwiches and standout toasties, featuring sangas like The Admiral ($14.50) — a marriage of smoky roasted eggplant, sauerkraut with apple and fennel slaw — and The Gracie ($16) with broccoli, cheddar and sweet mustard.

To drink, you'll find a wide rotation of specialty coffee offerings with which to wash it all down, currently starring beans from ethical local roaster Inglewood.