Well hello mango jello! I don’t know about you, but the fresh spring breeze and sporadic sunshine of September in Melbourne always makes me feel perkily peckish! As I was in the CBD for work stuff anyway, what better timing to stalk visit my favourite cafe in the whole wide world: Cafe 53 on Finders Lane…

Camera shy owner Michelle and her spunky team always make fabulous fresh soups and scrumptious salads in time for a luscious lunch break – more on that later!

Check out their too cool for school wall installation by fellow Melbournian Jess Hynd on entrance wall #industrialchic

Can you believe their light fitting is from Ikea?

Sooo excited to find out they are now stockists for the very nutritious and oh so delicious activated mixed nuts by Star Anise Organic Wholefoods #nibblicious

Cafe 53 is also a perfect brunch date with lovers that require ‘man-sized’ brekkies (some hubbies can be soo demanding!)

Do you believe in love at first sight? *Sigh* soo does not do them any justice!

For those who love a bit of meat in their sandwich I highly recommend the Carlos *wink wink*

They renovated the upstairs area last year and I’m loving their golden ochre walls that light up the very meterage challenged space (some may describe it as ‘intimate’).

The framed vintage posters are treasured souvenirs from a whimsical road trip to Red Hill Community Market. I wished my hand bag was big enough to take home the beautiful birds of paradise in recycled bottles as keepsakes of my own, but my genie must have chucked in a sickie today. Can you spot the soo haute right now sky planters from Design Dispensary?

Here’s a close up as requested (Hi Nirma!)

I can personally recommend every single dessert if you’re wondering #justsayin

Sure doesn’t take long for Cafe 53 to get cray cray around midday, wonder why…

Getting my tan on their Jak+Jil outdoor seating by Tait, whilst basking in caffeine cuddles with soy mocha in hand #aaaaah. Warning: Cafe 53 makes the yummiest coffee ever. Period.

I know you don’t usually make friends with salads but their fresh to death greens are highly coveted at the Paris end. Loyal patrons shake their chassis up Flinders Lane as early as they can on their lunch break to ensure they do not miss out on Cafe 53 goodness! After intensive research, I have concluded that a threesome is the definitely best way to go – it is way too hard otherwise to choose just one! Made my tummy soo happy with the following combo:
1. Green bean and tofu stir fry with spring onions, chili, bean shoots, coriander, Thai basil and mint served on coconut rice
2. Spicy meatballs with yoghurt dressing, tabouleh, parsley, cherry tomatoes, Spanish onion, lemon and cucumber
3. Roasted pumpkin and BBQ chicken with cous cous, cherry tomatoes, mesclun, fetta, caramelised onion, pine nuts and mint

For a happily ever after ending, my mouth whispered sweet nothings to their dreamy creamy caramel and macadamia cheesecake #bakedbliss
Ciao for now green cacao, happy drooling xoxo
Cafe 53 03 9662 1655
55 Flinders Lane Melbourne VIC 3000
Open Mondays to Fridays 7:00-5:00pm
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-53/21816749658
*Pretty pretty please send me an email before re-posting my outstandingly original and copyright protected content elsewhere (yes, that includes my phabulous photos), and ensure that you share the love using the credit ‘via agentevocateur.com’. Thanks heaps in advance xoxo
I love finding good places to eat in Melbourne. I’ll be looking forward to your posts. As a coffee lover, I do need to know of places that can get it just right! The salad options also look awesome and healthy! Hope to try the green bean and tofu salad.
I love vintange stuff a good close up pic of these would have been great to add to my pinterest board. Thanks for sharing your fav mel spots.
Well Nirma you’ve certainly come to right place then ;) My photos do not do their food justice, they are all so damn good! They make different salads daily and they pretty much run out the door as soon as they put them in the display…
Thanks for the feedback regarding the interior pics, wasn’t sure how much detail to have in them as I only wanted to have a total of 8 photos per post… will make sure I do a couple of juicy ones for my next cafe xoxo
love the photos and the food looks so yummy — cant wait for your next post!
Thanks Mum! Of course, nothing beats your own cooking #thebest – these cafes are just casual flings until you’re back to feed your fave daughter ;) xoxo
mmmm…Cafè 53! I will definitely go to have a coffe one of these days…it seems amazing!!!
Their ristretto will blow your mind xoxo
That’s my favourite cafe, best coffee in Melbourne and the girls there are really cute!
I know right! Do you go there often ;) xoxo
hahaha great name, I must say i do love my coffee.
I’ll have to drop in some time whilst wandering around the cbd.
the food looks great too!!
/ signed Duane
After everything we’ve been through with all of our blogs, we’re all on like our alias basis now ;) xoxo
Hey Duane see you’re a little night owl like myself ;) Soy latte at Cafe 53 are soo good after a long night like this one! Sweet dreams for now xoxo
oohh yuum
now i am soo hungry, reminds me of the cafes in Adelaide :-D
I have heard of many yummy places in the city of churches from a few of our mates… as well as my collection of Hilltop Hoods albums #TheCalling xoxo
today I went to a Cafe called CombiCafe (there’s one in Albert Park and another at Elwood)really cool locations near the bays.The coffee is absolutely awsome and ambience is really warm the good thing is it runs for a worthy cause…you should try it next time you at the bay,you willnot be dissapointed :-)
Thanks for letting me know hun, will definitely check it out xoxo
wow…such devine food, great choice with cafe 53…this could become a regular gig for you now (-: Will definetly swing by and try the Holy Trinity option bext time I am up the Parisian end of Melbourne. I look forward to hearing of some other fab eating spots and treasure troves on your blog.
Cheers
Thanks Sky, it is my ultimate fantasy to be a foodie design critic! How did you know ;) xoxo
YUM!!!!!! I know where I am going next time I’m in the CBD! GREAT write up! xox
Awww thanks hun, make sure you say g’day to Mishy and the team for me (save me a cheesecake too!) xoxo
Best coffee in Melbourne!!
Café 53 would have to also be one of my favourite cafes… Food is delicious; coffee is outstanding and brilliant customer service every time
Nothing beats a Cafe 53 soy latte on a Monday morning… and Tuesday… and Wednesday… xoxo
the first time i tried the Carlos sandwich, i had never realized that i tasted so good. gimme dem avos and spinach woooooo! :D
Good choice Paolo *high five* – you should try it with grilled mushrooms next time, ish tha bomb ;)
Thanks heaps for your feedback, hope you likey the rest of my posties xoxo
Great work. The coffee and salads are outstanding!
Thanks for your feedback Simon! I was just in there today and they have just gotten a fresh batch of Star Anise Organic Wholefoods goodness – make sure you check it out next time for some activated mixed nuts action xoxo