A lot of things come to mind when you think of Parramatta, and generally speaking fetching hipster boys, Little Marionette Coffee and laneway murals are not at the top of that list.
Well for shame, because that is precisely what you get at Three Ropes Espresso, the second offering from the clever lads behind Circa Espresso. It’s an awesome little laneway café with a handful of outdoor tables and a long bench inside beneath a rolling library ladder. The soundtrack is Bruce Springsteen and Paul Kelly, the walls are decked out in owl murals and the banter is some of the best we’ve had.
Located a stone’s throw from the station and around the corner from the council offices, Three Ropes is the first port of call for a constant stream of nine-to-fivers who need a caffeine hit in order to start the day. And if anything was going to get the fire’s of productivity burning then it’s a cup of the rich, potent Little Marionette brew from these deft baristas.
On the food front they keep things simple. At Circa you can get your hands on a full cooked breakfast, but Three Ropes is more of a fly-by joint. Bread is the dominant flavour delivery system here and they are sticking to the classics; poached chicken or Portobello mushroom sarnies, avocado toast or bacon and boiled egg rolls.
There are also some seriously enticing pastry treats, including truly excellent lamingtons and an almond and orange cake with a golden crust of candied nuts that will haunt your dessert dreams.