Finding a good cafe in a regional area of Victoria can be quite easy, or quite difficult, depending on your knowledge of the areas. I'll make the job that much easier for you: if you are a coffee enthusiast, a regional Victoria traveller, or just looking for a decent place to hang your hat over a stellar coffee, Ballarat's
L'Espresso is the place to be.
Located just apart the main shopping strip of Sturt Street, L'Espresso has been a Ballarat institution for a long time. Everyone seems to know about it, from the school kids to the 9-5 workers. Everyone knows about L'Espresso, and everyone knows just how good the place is. For several reasons, I may add.
Firstly, and most importantly, the coffee. Once you've taken a seat in the cosy, wood-lined room, or outside on the street, order the coffee of your choice. It's not hard to be pleased with the caffeine hits here: every single time I've had a caffe latte, an espresso, a long black or a long macchiato, I have not once been unimpressed. And even better, when you're finished, the friendly floor staff ask you if you'd like another. Yes please!
Also, the food is typically good. For an establishment that has such a good first impression, it carries nicely into the menu. A selection of Italian favourites are on the list, all made with love and care. It can get a little out there with experimentation, but a visit demands one tries at least something off the list.
This all brings me to one of the more exciting and exotic features of L'Espresso: the CD collection. One look inside the window walking past gets many people excited, as you can see a whole wall filled to the brim with albums by jazz greats such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane. This is what pulled me into the cafe in the first place: simply to look at the CDs and marvel at such a cool idea. Specialising in jazz, blues, bebop, etc., L'Espresso practically begs you to grab your coffee and go wandering along the CD wall, wondering which album you'll buy next.
For a mix of good service, amazing coffee and a wall filled with albums (you don't get that in Melbourne!), visit L'Espresso. And if you're a Ballarat native, make this a regular spot. You won't regret it.
