Verve Boutique, Little Collins Street

Verve is a fashion-and-object boutique-cum cafe, smack bang in the best part of Little Collins Street (near between Swanston and Russell street).

Its little, and has great food and coffee. Thats on any standard. Its doing its dual purpose thing well. Check out the mens clothing shops while you are in the little street, including Authur Galan, Satch, Ganae, and Aquila shoes.

The Coffee: Light but rich. **** 4/5 Stars
The Cafe: Occupies about 30sqm at front of boutique.
The Vibe: Cool and focused but not aloof

Cumulus Inc, Flinders Lane

Cumulus is a great light filled restaurant on upper Flinders Lane.

It has opened recently, towards the end of 2008, and has not been rated by The Age Good Food Guide 2009.

However, dont shy away from going in for a coffee, the guys and girls here know their stuff.

Not sure what the blend is, but its the best coffee in the Paris End. (Avoid the ANZ Plaza food courts! - you will get weak, bitter, average coffee...).

If you have time, check out the Flinders Lane gallery and 45 Downstairs Gallery in the same building.

The Coffee: Mild, standard fresh blend. **** 4/5 Stars
The Cafe: Clean lines, high ceiling, bar counter, wooden tables and artisan lunch and dinner menu.
The Vibe: Busy, sophisticated, simple and airy.

Images sourced from Gourmet Traveller: Read their Cumulus review here
and from the Cumulus Inc website

The Social Roasting Co, CBD

This sub-street level spot is located in the pedestrian thoroughfare of McKillop Street in the city (just down from where Little Collins and Queen street meet)

They roast their own blends, imported from Guatemala, Peru, PNG...and more.

You can drink their single origin blend or go for the mixed 'Social' blend. Of course, these blends are available for you to take home also.

The Coffee: Rich, slightly acidic and plesantly bitter
The Cafe: Lightfilled, sub-level street den
The Vibe: Pared back sub-level street den

Social Roasting Company
5 McKillop Street Melbourne

The Mess Hall, Bourke Street

First post and only fitting its of my local bolthole for a regular coffee, its The Mess Hall, in Bourke Street (think Madame Brussels end).

The Mess Hall serves a Romacaffe blend.The baristas there are many, as you would expect from a busy

city cafe, but the standard is maintained. All in all a good coffee.

****/5 stars.

I should disclose, my regular cup is a Flat White, but now that I've experienced

smaller and more punchy Brazilian coffee, I'm partial to a macchiato or a piccolo too!