1. A chef that is well versed in quinoa, dukkah, Persian feta, organic Peruvian coffee beans, Bircher muesli, kale, haloumi etc etc etc
Scrambled eggs? Pfft. Buttermilk Pancakes? LOL. Porridge? NOT LIKELY. This is Melbourne. We won't settle for anything that hasn't been organically sourced in foreign mountaintops with at least two words we can't pronounce.
2. People standing above their food taking photos
Food in most Melbourne cafes is SO aesthetically beautiful that a filter isn't even necessary for an Insta upload. Just let the photo be taken from 25 angles first.
3. Catering towards dietary requirements
Allergy sufferers, fear no more. If you're gluten-free, fructose intolerant, vegetarian, vegan, have a nut allergy, have a milk allergy, can't stomach soy, don't like eggs, HELL, DON'T LIKE FOOD (?!?) you'll be taken care of. There is ALWAYS an alternative in Melbourne cafes, we got this.
4. Milkshakes in jars, plates substituted with bits of wood
Haven't you heard that ceramic plates and regular glasses are just SO 2010. Besides, doing it this way the food tastes better. So rustic, so indie.
5. A warehouse feel
You'll never feel claustrophobic at a cafe in Melbourne, which are more often than not set in warehouse conversions with exposed brick walls and high ceilings.
6. Beards. So Many Beards.
Wait what? No but really. #Cafe #culture in Melbourne advocates for unkempt and unmistakable hipsters, usually sporting facial growth. Stroke at own risk.
7. Coffee art that should be on display in a gallery
Forget pathetic love hearts and the like, the coffee art that you'll find in Melbourne cafes is second only to the taste of the coffee itself.
8. Chalk boards with daily specials and clip board menus
You gotta work a little for your food in Melbourne cafes. If you can make out the scrawled chalk board specials then you deserve them.
9. Communal dining tables and retro chairs
If you're anti-social or seriously value your personal space, go to Sydney. Melbourne cafes are full of long, shared dining tables where it's perfectly okay to sit shoulder to shoulder with a stranger. Beards highly possible.
10. PVC lamps, flowers in jars, murals etc
When it comes to decor, the quirkier the better.
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