The cheery Java Lounge, on Latrobe Terrace, stands out from the Paddington café crowd thanks to its inviting atmosphere, great coffee, and personable staff.
While so many cafés go for a kind of 'hideaway' chic, with nooks, crannies, dark colour schemes, and dim lighting, Java Lounge is refreshingly bright and breezy.
Sure, there are a couple of colourful couches inside, but this upper-Paddington favourite is no dingy-living-room Starbucks wannabe.
Floor-to-ceiling windows ensure the relatively small inside space feels open and roomy, while long tables out front, on the street, increase capacity significantly, and of course allow customers to enjoy the Brisbane sunshine and check out the particularly attractive foot traffic in this part of the world (what is it about Paddington and good-looking people?).
This is not a good option if you're planning an illicit get-together; it's a place to see and be seen.
As its name indicates, coffee is a matter taken seriously at Java Lounge, so with expert baristas, and a special Colombian blend of Piazza d'Oro, you know you're going to get a superior cup. There's also a wide range of teas available if that's your bag.
The menu is another big drawing point. There are more than a dozen all-day breakfast choices, none of which will leave you feeling the slightest bit peckish once you've worked your way through them.
Highlights include the corn fritters with spiced tomato relish, served with bacon and rocket, and the grilled haloumi on 10-seed sourdough with smoked ham and poached eggs.
Lunch goes until 4pm and features tempters such as the rump steak sandwich with cheddar and BBQ sauce, and an avocado and sweet chilli roasted pumpkin salad, while there is also an array of slices, muffins, cakes, and other sweet treats to catch your eye at the counter.
Located right next door to the Paddington Antique Centre, Java Lounge is at the centre of a bustling little zone at the upper end of Latrobe Terrace that includes second-hand bookstores, funky hairdressers, and bric-a-brac shops.
Why not wander up the hill for a cup of coffee and a spot of socialising next time you're in the neighbourhood?
Image Credit: Half Baked Harvest