things I see, think & eat

“What? You haven’t been to Madame Brussels? You have to check it out!”

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard those words, I would have… well… about 6 or 7 bucks. Far from a million but still enough to actually go and check it out. 

Madame Brussels is one of Melbourne’s beloved rooftop bars. To be found on the 3rd floor of 63 Bourke Street. If you happen to be in the neighbourhood and in the mood for a fabulous cocktail or cupcake MB is the place to be.

The doors of the 90ies ramshackle elevator open and you step into cutsie, fluffy, girlie fairyland. Unless you have an auntie with a fable for pink and british chic you will have never seen anything like this. It’s awesome! The staff actually match the decor sporting cute little outfits. 

Extravagant and excentric on every level.

It is a quite expensive but the British-upper-class-after-Sunday-tennis-match-garden-party atmosphere is priceless.

“Melbourne is all about coffee and appearance.” My friend Rachel from the UK is blessed with keen observation skills. Just add food and you pretty much get the picture. After all my new city is called Australia’s food capital - and for a reason.

Melbourne is all about food, coffee & appearance. And that’s exactly what this blog will focus on.  

For the past 6 years Vienna was my city. I lived, loved and studied there all the while convinced I was in the coffee centre of the universe. Boy, was I wrong.
4 months ago I made the big move Down Under to Melbourne to discover there is a whole world outside the traditional and history oozing Viennese Kaffeehaus. 

Melbourne in many aspects is (sometimes wonderfully, sometimes horribly) different from Vienna. Coffee seems to be the perfect metaphor, the magic brew in which these two worlds manifest and can be illustrated. 

Vienna - that is Cafe Landtmann, Cafe Sacher, Cafe Griensteidl, Hawelka,… with dim lights, wads of smoke lingering in the air, waiters in smokings offering therapeutic advice with your Melange (exclusively served in small white china cups).  

Melbourne - that is hip, stylish cafes popping up in the oddest places. Every menu starring amazing lattes and several versions of poached eggs. 

My first encounter with the Melbourne coffee scene left me marvelling, staggered and in a state of sensory overload. And it sometimes still does. Read about it.