Southport gets a new spot for cracking coffee and enchanting eats.
Southport gets a new spot for cracking coffee and enchanting eats.
If you’re headed to our city’s getting-cooler-by-the-minute CBD; stop, collaborate and listen. And by cooler we don’t mean chillier (although that too), we mean more refined, eclectic with lots to see, do, eat and drink. Even if you’re not Southport-bound, you will be after we tell you about this little keeper. Perched opposite the Southport Library and a hop, skip and a jump from Chinatown, you’ll find Herringbone. It’s the ultimate tasteful, minimalistic café and speaking of tasteful, the Australian and Italian-inspired menu (especially the house-made pastries) is right on point.
Built on the tried-and-true premise that simple is best, everything about this place is understated (in the best way) letting the true hero of the space – the food and coffee – take centre stage. Oh and the tables! When you first swoop in, your eyes are instantly drawn to the two wooden oval-shaped Benjamin ripple tables, designed for shared dining, and to be cooed over by one and all. Surrounded by an always-appreciated white and soft grey colour palette with lashings of black, the stunning detail of these so-hot-right-now tables is even further accentuated. Teamed with clean lines, polished concrete floors, high ceilings and a wee sprinkle of greenery, the locals are already loving the ambience here.
Owner Jueun Oh has created a relaxed yet polished new local haunt, with Head Chef Jamie Lim delivering the yum factor. There are two signature eats you just have to sample and no, we can’t pick one as the frontrunner because they are both pretty darn sensational. Have a go of the Hash Benny with potato pave, poached egg, kale, fermented chilli hollandaise and wholegrain mustard‘, coz ‘Uncle Benny’ is everyone’s fave. When a Benny is done like this, you can almost hear your tastebuds chanting “more!” and really, who are we to deny them?
The other must-try is the Egg and Bread. With two poached eggs, dill yoghurt and chilli oil on sourdough, it’s the ultimate simple flavours done right kinda dish. The only thing that elevates this dish even further is pairing it with one of their delightful beverages. Opt for a Fresh Pressed Juice (we’re choosing Tropical with orange, pineapple, lemon and apple because it might trick us into thinking it’s summer momentarily). Or if you need caffeine, and no judgement because we’ll take it intravenously thanks, an amazing Drip Coffee or Cold Brew Coffee cannot be passed up.
Feeling more pastry-esk? Same and all good, because Herringbone’s dreamyyyyy pastries are all made fresh in-house. Showcased loud and proud in a glass cabinet upon entry, yes we ordered several because it’s cold and #ComfortFoodIsReal. And we’d be lying if we didn’t say the Takoyaki Pastry immediately spoke to us. But, if you’re after something to give you a little sugar-hit, the Pecan Pie is total pie goals and LBH, pecans can do no wrong in our eyes.
When you’ve finished your coffee and chow, why not stroll on over to the library and lose yourself in a good book or two, rather than mindlessly scrolling through your social feeds for once. Oh except for ours of course – that doesn’t count… Or as mentioned, immerse yourself in a bit of culture up the road at Chinatown. Herringbone really is in a perfect position to either start…or maybe finish…a little stint in Southport. The locals sure know it, and now ….so do you!
Where: 27 Garden Street, Southport
When: 7am – 3pm Monday – Friday, 8am – 1pm Saturday & Sunday.
Words by Bianca Trathen.