One of the beauties of Melbourne and its suburbs is the fact you can find some of the best places by just having a bit of a wander. My husband and I had the luck to find a fun gem while wandering around not far outside Melbourne.
When you walk into the cozy Hopscotch café, the first thing you are likely to notice is the huge specials board… written completely backwards. Well, not completely, as the only words written straight instruct patrons to turn around and look at the mirrors lining the opposite wall so they can read the board.
You have a choice of sidewalk seating out front, bar stools and tables inside, or even at a private courtyard. Feel free to move around – their ‘free wi-fi with coffee’ certainly won’t mind and neither will the fun and friendly staff as they make you a coffee just how you like it or one of the best chai lattes I have tasted. (And I have tasted chai lattes in over a dozen different locations across Victoria.)
I prefer to sit at the tables. With the mostly open kitchen and room to spread out for work, I can be comfortable and enjoy all the delicious smells wafting around at the same time.
This cozy and utterly family-friendly café has it all except a gigantic couch to sit on, which probably wouldn’t be appropriate for the space anyway. My strong rating of ‘novel’ for the café reader rating comes not so much from me envisioning reading a whole book there (though I easily could) but because I can easily see myself enjoying most of the day there people watching, working online and enjoying the food and coffee as well as reading.
With daily lunch specials and an all day breakfast, Hopscotch is the perfect little place to hang out, have a feed, and hook on to the wi-fi for work or pleasure. The coffee won’t blow your mind, but it is a well made cup to sit back and relax with.
And not only is there all that, but they even have loyalty cards to keep you coming back (like I needed any more reasons) with every fifth coffee free. Unlike a lot of loyalty cards, they actually give you great deals without having to buy heaps of coffee or food. Did I mention the prices are good, too?
If you’re a BookCrossing fan, they are a popular drop/pick up site, too. Though I’m not surprised about that.
What more could you ask for? You had me at the all-day breakfast. Or the wi-fi. I can’t decide – just give me another chai latte, please.
If you’re not keen on trying to find parking on Glenhuntley road, just hop on the 67 tram. It goes right by Hopscotch and you only have a short walk to get there after you get off.
Coffee Rating: 3 cups
Coffee Price: $3
Café Reader Rating: Novel
Hopscotch Espresso
313 Glenhuntley Road
Elsternwick 3185
Melbourne, VIC
9532 7688
