Our new Sunday tradition was in full swing with breakfast in South Melbourne before hitting the markets. Our latest venture was to St. Ali, hidden down a quite back alley. Almost impossible to find if you’ve never been before, with no signage to indicate where to go, you really need to know the exact address to find it!
ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE
We walked into a very busy converted warehouse, with high exposed ceilings and brick walls, concrete floors and plenty of communal tables. The space screams rustic chic with a hipster flare, attracting a younger crowd to indulge in some of the best coffee in Melbourne.
Music is pumping to create a lively atmosphere for a Sunday afternoon. The line was out the door from the time we arrived until the time we left. The service was laid back, friendly and attentive during our brunch.
St. Ali live and breath coffee, and they do it well. Once one of Melbourne’s original roasting houses, the space has been transformed into the vibrant cafe you see today. Their perfectly trained barista’s make some of the best high quality coffee in Melbourne, which have quickly won the hearts of Melbourne’s coffee fanatics.
FOOD
I must admit, they do have a pretty amazing coffee! Also known for their corn fritters, I thought it was probably smart to order their famous ‘My Mexican Cousin’ breakfast. Four over-sized fritters, two poached eggs, halloumi and crushed nuts filled the dark coloured plate. I must say, the fritters weren’t the best, they were very dry and very bland. Being one of their signature items, I was definitely expecting a lot more.
MC went with the ‘St Ali Royale’, served with a 160g wagyu beef burger, lettuce, tomato, cheese and served with thick cut chips. A bit on the small side, but very juicy.
Overall our brunch at St. Ali was nice, however nothing worth going back for. The food was okay, but we’ve had better for the price paid. It’s nice to try once, but I think we will continue to venture out to new South Melbourne cafe’s moving forward.
