Lose Yourself in Melbourne Laneways but not your appetite
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As we have just missed our tram to South Melbourne to check out St Ali, we decided to just stay in the city and have breakfast at some of the cafes tucked away in the vibrant Melbourne laneways. If this is your first time in Melbourne and not sure where to go for some good coffee and breakfast, then I would suggest the Degraves Street is a good start. I came across this laneway during my last visit and instantly fell in love with it. Since this is Helen‘s first visit to Degraves Street, I’ve decided to go back to Degraves Espresso for our first breakfast.
Degraves Espresso is always busy, so be prepared to wait even just to ask for the menu. The food at Degraves Espresso is average affair but it is its quirky charm that has captured my heart. The tiny cafe is jam packed with mismatched cinema chairs, altar benches and all sorts; the whole rustic look is so “Melbourne”.
We ordered fruit toasts with mascarpone and honey, and Egg Benedict to share. I do find the Hollandaise sauce on the egg benedict is a little tarty on the palate from the lemon juice they used. But it is the coffee that we both disappointed with. My latte and Helen’s flat white are bit weak in flavour using Toby’s Estate coffee.
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Melbourne’s laneways are not just about cafes; it is art, culture and it has its own lifestyle. The urban graffiti art is inevitable in these modern days and instead of trying to ban it, Melbourne city council has specifically allocated a few laneways in city centre with street art permit where artists can go crazy over these giant blank canvas.
There are a few laneways you can check out the graffiti art (Yes, I do call it ‘art’). Direct opposite from Degraves Street, is the Centre Place which is another laneway with cafes, a soup place, and grotty graffiti art right at the end where the industrial trash bins are kept. Not far from David Jones on Collins St, Union Lane is another long stretch of laneway fully covered in amazing graffiti art. And the most impressive laneway will have to be Hosier Lane which is also where MoVida and MoVida next door are located.
Under Adrian‘s recommendation, we skip from one laneway to another for our second breakfast. This time we find ourselves in Scott Alley for some french crepes at Roule Galette.
“Bonjour!” greeted by the owner Michel as we take a seat outside the cafe. The tiny shop is equipped with a few machines at the front where the waiter “also” chef will make the crepes for your viewing pleasure.
I did mentioned this is our second breakfast, so we won’t go too crazy with the order and both share a savoury galette, and a sweet crepe. The three cheese galette comes in a weird shaped pancake with inside smothered with goat cheese, Morbier melted and blue cheese. The elastic Morbier is leathery with a weak flavour which is unfortunately dominated by the pungent blue cheese and the gamey goat cheese.
Helen is more interested in the french chestnuts crepe. The wafer thin crepe is spread with a thin layer of canned French chestnut puree. Can’t say chestnuts is my favourite food, but it does remind me of eating a Mont Blanc gateaux in Japan.
So many laneways, so little time. Melbourne, I will be back.
Dear Sydney, where’s my laneway cafes?
[A Table For Two visited Melbourne for Melbourne Food & Wine Festival courtesy of Tourism Victoria]
Degraves Espresso Bar 23 Degraves Street Melbourne, Victoria, 3000 P:+61 3 9654 1245 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-late, Sat 8.30am-late
Roule Galette - French Crêperie Scott Alley, 241 Flinders Lane, Melbourne P (03) 9639 0307 Opening hours Monday - Thursday 7 AM to 8 PM Friday 7 AM to 9.30 PM Saturday - Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
I don’t think anything beats two breakfasts less than an hour apart, and I agree, Melbourne’s laneways are full of infinite charm.
The chestnut crepe was so good!
.-= Helen (grabyourfork)´s last blog ..King crab, Hokkaido milk and strawberries =-.
i’m interested now to check out the http://www.roulegalette.com.au. i’m a sucker for all things French. Sydney has a few laneways but of course not as extensive as Melbourne. but hopefully over time there’ll be more. at the moment we’re just getting used to all the new Small Bars popping up.
.-= Simon Food Favourites´s last blog ..Efendy: Lamb Testicles and other authentic Turkish meze, Balmain (28 Mar 2010) =-.
You capture the laneways so well. I walk through these lanes everyday to work.
.-= Anh´s last blog ..Days before the Easter break – Recipe: Udon noodles with kabocha sauce =-.
I <3 Melbourne. And I <3 Roule Galette. Can't wait to go back!
oh my god, the first photo is gorgeous! well done!
.-= ladyironchef´s last blog ..How I started this Singapore Food Blog called ladyironchef =-.
I love the little laneways in Melbourne. I always tend to get a little lost or struggle to find where somewhere I have previously visited is. I guess it makes the eating so much better.
.-= Mark @ Cafe Campana´s last blog ..BBQ Favourites – Kartoffelsalat =-.
Next time you are there wander up to hardware lane, though I have not been there for a long time.
.-= yewenyi´s last blog ..Back to the Nunnery =-.
I worked in a “crêperie” restaurant when I was student. I live in the countryside of crêpes: Brittany. I prefer “galettes” with buckwheat flour… Your pictures are beautiful!
.-= Dominique (De vous à moi…)´s last blog ..Gratin d’Oranges Sanguines à La Crème et à la Fleur d’Oranger =-.
More time in Melbourne, please
.-= Fiona´s last blog ..Okay, Colgate, Explain this one… =-.
Yeah I agree, Sydney needs more laneaway cafes and street art!
.-= FFichiban´s last blog ..Boozeday Toozeday #4 – Lord Nelson Old Admiral and Choc & PB fondants =-.
When I go home to Melbourne I always enjoy Jungle Juice also in Degraves street – great coffee and the bagels and club sandwich are brilliant.
I <3 Degraves!
.-= Tina´s last blog ..Street treats =-.
Hear hear! Sydney definitely needs more laneways, more art, and more character.
In the meantime, we have to put up with these:
http://www.lanewaysbygeorge.com.au/sites.aspx
.-= foodwink´s last blog ..An Escape to Lamma Island, Hong Kong =-.
Absolutely mouthwatering pics
Second breakfast? Love the concept!
.-= Moya´s last blog ..L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon – Hong Kong =-.
I’ve been to Melbourne a few times and have only been disappointed with the food at one place so far. Agree that Sydney needs more small, boutiquey eateries though!
.-= mademoiselle délicieuse´s last blog ..New Shanghai Chatswood (新上海) (again!), 31 Dec 2009 =-.
Our laneways are the best. So proud and the thing is there is always a new discovery. Always changing. LOVE <3
.-= penny aka jeroxie´s last blog ..A heathly challenge =-.
Oh how I miss those lanes!!
.-= ^cherie´s last blog ..Blessings =-.
Yay! Glad you guys had the tummy for Roule Galette. It was worth it huh!
I guess they make it think enough to ensure nothing goes to waste! Go the laneways
.-= Adrian @ Food Rehab´s last blog ..Taste bud pampering in Tasmania =-.