For most of us, our local cafe is like a home away from home. But for the Sullivan McNeill’s, this took on a whole new level of significance when they decided to start operating a cafe out of their living room window.
In answer to the city’s insatiable call for new and innovative coffee joints, Melbourne is ever-sprouting new cafes from every possible nook and cranny. From rooftops, to islands, to underground warehouses – if it’s unlikely, we’ve probably already thought of it.
But Capulus & Co in Brunswick is outplaying Melbourne at its own game. ‘
The tall, white brick house with its black and white awning and Georgian-style windows is an eye-catcher on the quiet end of Sydney Rd that it occupies. The scent of fresh pastries, homemade cookies and toasted sandwiches wafts down the footpath as you approach the tell-tale outdoor seating sprawled over the nature strip outside no. 9 Sydney Rd.
There’s a pleasant buzz and familial atmosphere. Local regulars chat over croissants and baby chinos in the plane tree shade, and cheery stopper-by’s sweep off with a smile and a latte in hand.
The homely, old-school charm has something to do with how the Sullivan-MacNeill’s treat every customer from A-Z like an old friend. There’s always with time for a catch-up chat and a laugh; it’s an environment you want to be a part of, with top tier Allpress coffee and a seasonal menu featuring Mediterranean sandwiches, fresh locally sourced cakes and pastries, and summery specials like home-made granola and smoothies. It’s the perfect Brunswick caffeine-hit stopover whatever you’re in the business for.
Capulus & Co hasn’t managed to stay a hidden venue for long – its cuteness and charm has gone far from unnoticed, garnering media attention, and making it to the cover of this year’s Readings Summer Reading Guide. With a new rooftop venue at Australia’s Catholic University in the city, Capulus & Co best be on your radar for Melbourne’s quintessential coffee culture venues.
