Stovetop

Trust me, when you first walk through the door of Stovetop, lodged amongst the labyrinth of Melbourne Uni campus buildings, references to ‘family’ will suddenly make a lot of sense.

Stepping inside, you’ll immediately notice the familiarities of home — from the triangular-shaped rooftop theme (not dissimilar to the old yellow Safety House symbol) to the communal table. It’s a clever design, bringing together the concepts of tradition, comfort and modernity, and gives more than a nod to the owner’s European heritage. Inspired by the kitchens they grew up in, and with help from the guys at Piece Design, they’ve created a space which pairs Scandinavian finishes with quirky dashes of Italian charm, resulting in a sense of warmth and brightness. It also smells pretty good.

Their food comes from the stovetop, and so does the coffee; it’s powered by 5 Senses, who have created a special blend for the cafe using beans ground specifically for stovetop extraction. A non-traditional breakfast such as ‘black pudding, poached eggs, keisler fish, braised cabbage and chutney” ($18) has all the things to fuel even the most weary of students or the casual weekend bruncher. Also recommended is the latkes: heavenly fried nuggets oozing with grated sweet potato and crunchy chia seeds, served with poached eggs and baba ganoush ($14).

For a place to relax between exams or take your time over a hearty lunch, pop in and feel like you’re at home.

STOVETOP
100 Leicester St, Carlton
9347 2010
Mon-Sat 7am-5pm (opening Sundays from August)
stovetop.com.au