If you're looking for a quirky and unpretentious place to go to enjoy quality coffee at a realistic price, the corner of Albany Highway and Balmoral Street in East Victoria Park is where you need to head to.
This café is the Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde of all Perth cafes.
During the day it runs as a Café 935, serving up delicious breakfasts and fresh lunches. By night it transforms into The Sparrow's Nest, a LGBT friendly hangout that caters for everyone that wants to relax and chill out – complete with UNO and Connect 4 games ready to played.
Upon entering this eatery, you will notice the edgy feel of the place with the many posters that adorn the walls. Up to 20 diners can be seated upon the mismatched chairs inside and outside the café.
The friendly staff will take your order at the counter and will give you a playing card as your order number. As we wait for our breakfast we take a look at the interesting decoration pieces around the room. Chandeliers mix with birdcages, and dressing tables mix with wine barrels.
The kitchen is very basic but very well utilised. The open kitchen allowed us to see our food being cooked freshly and smell the coffee being percolated.
Our hot drinks came out first followed by our breakfasts. Both plated up on mismatched plates and cups that have been purchased from the local op shops add to the atmosphere of the café.
For breakfast we ordered a full breakfast and a serve of Canadian French toast with a cappuccino and hot chocolate. All were delicious and very reasonably priced. The most expensive meal on the menu was $12.
This café also offers suspended coffees and extends these to suspended sandwiches. At the time of our visit, according to the blackboard behind the counter, there are 16 coffees and 3 sandwiches waiting to be claimed.
Although being on a main road, this café is easy to miss. Signage is in the form of a chalk drawing on a sidewalk pillar so make sure you drive slowly as you get near the café. Stop in for a cheap and hearty breakfast and suspend some for those who need it more or drop in at night to enjoy a coffee and a bite with your board game.
