Sitting pretty on Gertrude Street and named after owner Anthony Brem’s newborn son, Archie’s is from the team behind Bluebird Espresso. The fitout is as cute as a button: whitewashed walls, yellow tulips in brown glass bottles, green and pink pastel ceramics and kitsch ’70s artworks, including a sultry señorita who gets around – we’ve seen her hanging on a bunch of Melbourne café walls. A record player and decks to the left of the bar and coffee counter hint at late-night lock-ins (you’ll be fed until midnight Wednesday to Sunday). On sunny days, make for the courtyard out back.
Head chef Nick Sawle (ex-Servery & Spoon) is serving up experimental pre-noon offerings, including coddled eggs with potato purée, and miso-cured salmon with poached eggs, pickled cucumber and seaweed butter. Alternating menus between the brunch and dinner services mean that you won't be eating eggs for dinner, but a selection of staples is on offer from start to finish. Drinks are available hard, soft or caffeinated, with a range of craft beers and a cocktail menu by Elle Newbould-Figg (ex-Double Happiness). Chocaholics: start your day the right way with the dark chocolate and raspberry smoothie. Welcome to the world, both Archies.
