Mario's Coffee House

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If life were a Friends episode, in Hawthorn could well become my Central Perk. It even has the appropriately well-loved and colourful couches. There's something comfortable and friendly about this cafe that you don't always find that has made it a favourite regular coffee spot for me.

Firstly, the main attraction. The Hawthorn institution has been serving up coffee since 1981 and has clearly gotten some things right in that time. The coffee here is consistently good and features more of a strong traditional-style blend as well as being fair-trade. A cup of the good stuff will set you back around $4 and they also offer a student discount.

But while many places have good coffee, it's the little things about Mario's that set it apart. The abundant newspaper supply, cosy couches and plenty of tables make this a cafe you can comfortably hang out in for an hour and catch up on the news or bring your laptop to study at. The photo collages on the wall suggest the friendly service has won more than a few regulars over the years. The mix of locals and students from nearby Swinburne give the cafe a great but not hurried buzz.

The only downside is there are fairly limited food options compared to some places. There's a selection of reasonably priced biscuits and slices but it's probably not the spot if you're after lunch.

That said, has clearly found the one thing they do well and that coffee will keep me among their many regular visitors.

#cafes
#hawthorn
#inner_east
%wnmelbourne