On my recent trip to Perth, Australia, I went on a journey to find some of the best cafes. This involved a food craze of banana bread, fruit toast, and savory muffins. Perth is a lovely and beautiful city, and everywhere I walked there was always at least one charming cafe that caught my eye. Among many, here are some of my favorite picks.
Bench Espresso
Photo by Lara Taniguchi
The minute I walked into Bench Espresso, my eyes were immediately drawn to the line of baked goods on the counter. Among the donuts, cakes, and loaves, my eyes were caught on the muffins.
After much deliberation, I chose their Three Cheeses and Spinach savory muffin. A few minutes of excited impatience later, a warm and freshly toasted muffin was brought out to me with butter on the side. The outside of the muffin was crisp and the inside was soft and moist, and the melty butter added a further kick to the cheesy goodness.
Bench Espresso is in a perfect location because it’s just a few minutes walking distance from the city center, but is away from the immediate hustle and bustle of people.
Paddington Jam
Photo by Lara Taniguchi
Paddington Jam is a little further from the city but I have no trouble walking to go there again. The chairs and tables next to the big windows and sunlight is the perfect place for a rest from your busy day.
I was craving something sweet and decided on a slice of banana bread, which I got toasted and buttered. The banana bread was absolutely divine, and the butter had been perfectly melted and smothered on top when it was still warm. The slight saltiness from the butter paired perfectly with the sweetness of the banana and the crunch of the crust with the soft bread was a great pairing of taste and texture.
Eillo
Photo by Lara Taniguchi
The day I went to Eillo was a super windy and rainy day, and I was glad to come across it while I was walking around Northbridge to take shelter. Not only was it a charming and comfortable place, the cafe also sells housewares.
I ordered a banana bread yet again, though there were lots of other delicious treats displayed and waiting to be eaten. While I was waiting for my banana bread to toast, it was the perfect time to look at the lovely interior decorations, little cards, candles, framed prints and much more displayed on their shelves. The banana bread was the ideal sweetness and was a melty goodness in my mouth.
Hush Specialty Coffee
Photo by Lara Taniguchi
Hush Specialty Coffee is located just a short walk away from the Fremantle station and situated conveniently among the many shops. It’s the perfect place for a brunch break from shopping or walking around the town. I got the Fruit Toast and a Halloumi and Pesto savory muffin, both of which were toasted and brought out to me on stylish wooden cutting boards with a knob of butter. The Fruit Toast even came with a side of preserves.
The dried fruits and nuts in the fruit toast were a delight in the crunchy and dense bread, while the halloumi (a dense cheese similar to feta) and pesto were likewise in the light and fluffy savory muffin. Hush Espresso is often crowded and the delicious food I had in a classy, hip atmosphere is a testament to its popularity.