I had originally found SMÄK Food House on Instagram and have keep it on close radar ever since. With a morning to spare in South Yarra, I decided to check out this hidden gem once and for all.
ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE
SMÄK, which is pronounced ‘smark’ is Swedish for ‘taste’. Located down the quite end of Chapel Street, this cafe may be a bit hard to find if you aren’t sure where to go. Tucked behind the Olsen Hotel, here you will find a small cafe with a minimalist Scandinavian-style fit out.
Concrete floors, natural light timber and white wire chairs fill the arrow cafe. To contrast the simplicity, greenery accents fill the space to create a warm and welcoming vibe. You’ll find a range of table set ups, from bar stools along the window, to cafe style tables to outdoor seating to offer a bit of variety for everyone.
I found the service friendly and attentive from the moment I walked in. I was quickly greeted with a smile and asked to sit where I please, while he grabbed some water and menus for the table. Coffee was ordered straight away and with only a short wait, arrived at the table just as a decision was made on what to order.
FOOD
I’ve noticed recently that I’ve started to become a bit of a snob when it comes to my coffee. I ordered a Piccolo while I looked through the menu, and was pleasantly surprised when it arrived a short while later, piping hot. Serving St Ali Coffee, flavouring was full-bodied, strong and rich with a wonderful creamy finish.
Known for their healthy meals, here you will find a number of gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options to cater for the current trends and those a bit more health conscious. SMÄK also try and focus on using as much local produce within a 100km radius as possible.
Todays breakfast was the ‘Cacao Chia Porridge’ served with apple, rhubarb, ginger, vanilla, fresh banana, berries and lemon balm. I was expecting something quite sweet with all the fruit, but was loving how amazing all the flavours worked together, creating a slight cacao finish to tone down the sweetness.
Overall, I was so glad I was able to finally check out SMÄK Food House. The service was genuine, the food was healthy and tasty and I loved the simplicity of the space.