Now open: Rustica on Little Collins and Queen Streets

Baking your own bread was all well and good during the carefree days of lockdown, but as life resumes its normal hustle and bustle, who even has time for that?! Lucky for you, the team behind iconic Melbourne sourdough bakery and cafe Rustica have opened a new fifth location on the prominent corner of Little Collins and Queen Street.

Rustica bakery was established in Fitzroy in 2012 by renowned baker Brenton Lang. It was instantly recognised for its traditional use of sourdough techniques in artisan bread and pastries and quickly became one of the most successful and recognised bakery cafes in Melbourne.

‘With Melburnians filtering back into the city, we wanted to open in time to welcome them back. We are here to refuel and caffeinate the city with our new brunch menu, signature pastries and speciality coffee blend First Love Coffee [Rustica’s own retail brand],’ says Lang.

Seating 70 and featuring a menu designed for those on the go, Rustica seamlessly caters to both the leisurely luncher and those with mere minutes to spare. Architect Fiona Drago, a long-term collaborator of Rustica, was responsible for the new fit-out. Inspired by ‘the Gothic Bank’, which anchors the other corner of the precinct, Drago focussed on the Venetian gothic colours, textures and details of the building.

In the kitchen, you’ll find Head Chef Chantelle Saba, who has worked with Rustica for more than seven years. Saba has finessed the breakfast and brunch menu to offer a variety of rotating grab-and-go options for the fast-paced city worker, setting the newest venue apart from its siblings.

Highlights on the dine-in menu include:

• Avocado, charred corn, herb salad, Mexican furikake, lime labneh, grilled halloumi and seedy sourdough
• Lobster and prawn eggs Benedict, mixed leaves, poached eggs, herb hollandaise, crispy potatoes, salmon roe and milk bun (um, yes please!)
• Linguini allo scoglio – prawn, clam and mussel linguine with white wine, chilli, garlic, pangrattato and cherry tomatoes
• Roast porchetta roll – chimichurri, aioli, kale and fennel slaw and pickles on ciabatta and fries

As for the pastries, expect to see Rustica’s regulars, including blueberry and finger lime crullers, Ferrero french crullers, Portuguese tarts, almond and chocolate croissants, and Iced Vovo brioche donuts. The perfect antidote for quelling those 3 pm lulls.

Rustica Little Collins and Queen Street is caffeinating CBD workers and city-dwellers with the finest beans from Kenya, Ethiopia, Guatemala and Mexico 7 am–4 pm Monday to Friday, and 8 am–4 pm on weekends.

So ditch the amateur sourdough starter (let’s be real, it’s gross stuff anyway) and leave the baking to the experts.

Rustica
Corner of Little Collins and Queen Streets, Melbourne CBD, 3000
Open 7 days, Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8 am to 4 am
melbourneskydeck.com.au/experiences/bar-88

Images: Carey C