These Are The Best Northside Cafes To WFH From

As a new Melbournian and veteran freelancer, I’ve taken the past couple of months as an opportunity to make my way around town, flirting with cold brews to see where exactly my favourite spot is to sit, take in the surroundings and, hey, maybe even tap on my keyboard while I’m at it.

Melbourne is home to many great cafes, so for the sake of this article not being a novella, I’ll stick to those in the northen suburbs of Melbourne this time.

When judging cafes for solo working, my non-negotiables are aesthetically pleasing fit outs (vibes are important here), lovely staff who are up for a chat (you will need yap breaks), and of course, quality coffee.

With all that in mind, these are my picks for the northside's best cafes to 'WFH' from. 

 

Fenton

158 Rathdowne St, Carlton

CIBI

33–39 Keele St, Collingwood

CIBI is uniquely beautiful, it’s almost overwhelming on the eyes. A spacious spot in an idyllic Collingwood setting, filled with Japanese-influenced food (think miso baked eggs and udon noodle soup), great coffee and a store inside that makes you want to stroll around for hours imagining all the beautiful pieces in your home. Founded in 2008, CIBI combines the owners' Japanese sensibilities with their ever-evolving Australian lifestyle. The word that comes to mind when thinking of CIBI is refreshing. It’s truly a breath of fresh air where I always walk out feeling better than when I went in.

Standing Room

187 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

Standing Room is the cool older sister of the group, she knows who she is and we
love her for it. It’s a haven for freelancers who have the option to either sit outside and/or inside, 
where they have arguable the most perfectly laid out solo working space known to Fitzroy North, with plenty of space to breathe. The food is elevated cafe classics (scrambled eggs, pastries, you name it) and the coffee is potentially my favourite on the list. I’m a long black/filter coffee
baby and it’s 10/10 delicious.

Gabriel Fitzroy

187 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

Gabriel will forever have a soft spot in my heart as whenever I would come to Naarm for work,
this was where I’d head for solo work days or meetings with clients. I’ve written many projects here, as the dark and moody stylings allow the creative juices to flow. The effortlessly cool nature of Gabriel paired with their simple but elegant menu allows you to lower your shoulders into the atmosphere and just enjoy the experience. Post coffee, a stroll along Gertrude Street is the best way to snap out of work mode and back into your day.

Fledgling

412 Rathdowne st, Carlton North

A special mention has to go to Rathdowne Street's Fledgling. This is the most conveniently located for me, where I simply wake up, throw on an outfit, step outside and am met with morning compliments and a side of coffee by the friendly barista (you know who you are).

The cafe has a familiar cosy vibe where you feel like you could be anywhere. My pick is to sit by the window and watch life pass you by as you plan your next move.

Venturing to a cafe to work is a privilege that I don’t take for granted. It’s a wonderful thing to do
and I feel, if possible, that we all should do it more often. I was speaking to a friend the other
day who mentioned that had never done a “solo" date before, be it the cinema, dinner, cafe etc.
I can’t relate as I do it everyday. There is something delightful about sitting with yourself in a
public space, understanding that we’re all individual people who are navigating this world in our
own unique way, and we can share that with each other by smiling, connecting and appreciating
each other’s energy.

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Main image credit: CIBI | Instagram