EAT > Sorsi e Morsi, St Kilda (14/20)

Tucked just beyond the green hush of St Kilda’s Botanic Gardens, Sorsi e Morsi (Sips and Bites) feels like the kind of Italian neighbourhood escape that every suburb hopes for and few master. But this is St Kilda the former home of Melbournes more Bohemian set and today upwardly gentrified, which means every corner seems…

ByCrispyOctober 19, 20250Comments

CAFE > TOKYO CAFE >

CAFE > Fuglen Espressobar, Tokyo (18/20)

There’s a certain timelessness at Fuglen Espressobar, tucked away on Tomigaya’s sleepy backstreets, just moments from Yoyogi Park — somewhere between retro Norwegian cool and Tokyo edge, every detail balancing minimalism with cosy, mid-century warmth. Fuglen is a Japanese coffee institution dating back 60 years and this super hip venue in Tomigaya opened in…

ByCrispyOctober 3, 20250Comments

CAFE > SINGAPORE CAFE >

CAFE > Apartment Coffee, Singapore (19/20)

There’s a certain quiet confidence to Apartment Coffee, nestled along Selegie Road in Singapore — a space where light pours in through clean lines and minimalism meets artistry. Once a local secret and now crowned Asia’s best coffee shop (and sixth worldwide on 2025’s World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops list), Apartment Coffee is a pilgrimage…

ByCrispyAugust 2, 20250Comments

CAFE > ATHENS

CAFE > Anäna, Syntagma Athens (15/20)

If you’re looking for a little corner in Athens that feels like a breath of fresh, contemporary air—this is Anäna, right in the heart of Syntagma. With its bright, glass-fronted façade and a charming, glass-roofed arcade, Anäna is a place where you can sit back, sip your coffee, and watch the city hustle by, all…

ByAngieJune 22, 20250Comments

DRINK > ST ANTON DRINK > BARS

DRINK > Grünbeck, St Anton AM (15/20)

Finding a place that is really comfortable to pop in for a coffee, a beer, a snack or a meal. That is the sign of the local you want to visit. Another good sign is when the patrons start talking and sharing stories. Grünbeck has both and plenty more. AMBIANCE > Hidden…

ByEd ItorJanuary 26, 20250Comments

CAFE > TOKYO

CAFE > Turret, Tokyo

It doesn’t seem that long ago that finding a decent espresso in Tokyo was quite a difficult thing. There were a few Tully Coffee Shops and a few Starbucks but that was it. A wasteland for those needing a real caffeine fix. Turret Coffee was the exception, down by the Tsukijii Tuna…

ByEd ItorApril 10, 20240Comments

CAFE > KYOTO

CAFE > Common Well, Kyoto

Common Well opened to provide ‘Melbourne Style’ coffee experience in Kyoto and they are doing just that (in a Japanese way) at a newly opened cafe Just down the road from the Nishiki Markets. They serve long black, short black, flat whites, they even serve what's referred to as a "magic", …

ByEd ItorApril 8, 20240Comments

CAFE > KYOTO

CAFE > Goodman Roaster, Kyoto

Goodman Roaster opened in Kyoto in 2019, it is a small cafe and coffee roaster with 85 different coffees from all over the world. One of the key differences is the Taiwanese coffee, owner Ito-san travelled from Kyoto to Taiwan and was introduced to coffee from the Alishan mountain area. His…

ByEd ItorApril 8, 20240Comments

CAFE > KYOTO

CAFE > Blue Bottle, Kyoto

Yes it is a chain store. American even. But yes, they do make great coffee. They just tend to be very slow and have a very limited selection of food or snacks on offer, it is all about the coffee. So if you are in need of caffeine, this is…

ByEd ItorApril 6, 20240Comments

CAFE > TOKYO

CAFE > Verve Cafe, Roppongi Hills

Over in Roppongi Hills right next door to the excellent design store ‘Living Motif’ you will find an outlet for the popular Verve Coffee (and roasters) chain. Here they do an excellent range of pour over coffee’s (some of them are quite specialised and they are priced in line ~¥1,500 for a…

ByEd ItorApril 1, 20240Comments

Best Choice for Creatives