A friend of mine had told me about this cafe on Glenhuntly Road in Elsternwick, bragging about its charming qualities and great coffee. The area itself isn't one of the prettiest on the outskirts of Melbourne, where cafes on the stretch really haven't appealed to me. Loco Coffee, from the outside, looks much the same as many other cafes with a few tables on the street. However, once you step inside, it's a totally different ball game.
Loco has one of the more practical and spacious settings I've seen. There are long wooden tables with comfortable chairs and window seats with a really nice bar vibe as well (although I don't think it is a bar?). There is a great atmosphere as you walk in where all the waiters are extremely friendly and chatty, which makes it a very welcoming environment. It got better as I liked the inside set up, but it was a nice day so outside is always my number one option. I'm a hater of sitting on the street next to the road but if you walk past the bar section, there is a door that leads to a beautifully bamboo covered outdoor area that is perfect for a quiet coffee.
With the waiters being so energetic and helpful, and the place being so aesthetically pleasing, it meant that if the coffee were good, we would be back in a flash. The vanilla chai latte and the long black with side of milk were fantastic. Along with this, we were walked through the types of coffee and blends they had on offer. It was almost like they were explaining a fine vintage wine to us, going back to where the beans have come from. They have beans from South America or Kenya, which has also intrigued me to return and try something different. For the coffee connoisseur, it is bliss to know that a cafe has such pride in their coffee.
To top it all off, Loco has a fantastically filling menu chocked with amazing breakfast and lunch items that range from the simple toasted sandwiches, to the favourites such as the brekkie bagel or pancakes, to the more exotic salads and pastas. Loco quickly rose in my cafe books with it being such a nice place to sit, relax and enjoy the company of a friend. The fact that the waiters would take the second to chat was refreshing and it meant you got an idea of the way in which Loco likes to keep their customers. "A smile goes a long way", and at Loco you're guaranteed to get at least a dozen.
Really lovely cafe and I will definitely be back.
