Next time you find yourself wandering down La Trobe Street in desperate need of a caffeine fix, follow your nose to the delicious coffee aromas drifting from William Angliss Institute. The leading hospo school has just opened a charming tram café – and you can get a seriously good, freshly brewed regular latte for just $3.50. Ahh, the good ol' days of reasonable coffee prices.
You'll spot the nostalgic green and gold Melbourne tram in the courtyard at 555 La Trobe Street, which the school has refurbished as a training café for William Angliss students to flex their hospo skills and get on-the-job experience in a real-life venue. Meanwhile, diners will get the unique experience of enjoying a cuppa inside a real heritage 1930s tram (you can even ding the bell!). The restored SW5 class carriage includes seating for sixteen, and the staff will be serving up coffee, tea and a rotating selection of baked delights from 8am to 3pm every Monday to Friday.
“As tourism experts, we’re delighted to have such an iconic piece of Melbourne on campus, and to bring it to new life as a hospitality venue benefiting students and visitors,” said William Angliss Institute CEO Nicholas Hunt. “We are known for working closely with industry to deliver the best foods, tourism, hospitality and events graduates, and with this unique training space students will be exposed to new challenges and opportunities preparing them for their future careers.”
It's the first-ever tram café in Melbourne's CBD, so curious onlookers are flocking in droves – but if you can't find a cosy nook inside, there are plenty of umbrella-shaded benches outside and around the campus to enjoy your fave coffee and pastry combo takeaway. The one-of-a-kind spot will eventually be available for hire by the community for pop-up events, so if you’ve ever wanted to get married in a tram, watch this space.
For more info, check out the website.