[Melbourne] Through a dingy alleyway on Drewery Lane off Little Collins Street, a pleasant surprise awaits.
You will have to look for a cobalt blue door that is right opposite the popular Bakemono Bakers.
There, Little Rogue serves some of the nicest coffee and pastries to be found in Melbourne.
Its unassuming demeanour is misleading, even as it is hidden between fenced up circuit boxes and backdoors of other establishments.
But the café is no longer a hidden secret: it is one of the most popular hideouts in the Melbourne CBD.
Started by two baristas from Plantation, a St. ALi concept, Little Rogue is almost entirely focused on the beans and the beans itself.
With shots pulled from Manhattan Coffee Roasters’ blend, a typical afternoon at the café will see you nursing a rich cup of coffee for hours on end.
Sitting down in the café is almost like kicking back in the living room of a friend’s house.
The cosy space is eccentrically decorated in an assortment of shelves, picture frames, and all sorts of knick-knacks.
A part of the space has a nice ceiling height with seats spread out, while another section is packed tightly in an area where you might knock your head when you stand up.
All the quirks of Little Rogue keep the concept exciting and fresh.
This extends to their menu, which often has seasonal inclusions of brews from other roasteries, or pastries from other bakers.
But first, the coffee – generously, both a 6oz and a 12oz shot of Black (AUD 4.20) cost the same, unless you want it Iced (AUD 5.50).
As for the Candyman blend, it delivers a cup that is sweet and balanced, with vaguely fruity and chocolatey notes.
Quite popular is the Matcha Latte (AUD 4.50, AUD 6.20). It has a strong earthy taste from the matcha with a side of richness and creaminess from the milk.
Excluding those in Japan, this Matcha Latte was probably one of the best I ever had – definitely worth a drink (though some may just prefer more of that ‘matcha’ tea taste).
Uniquely, the cafe serves a Sakuratte (AUD 4.50, AUD 6.20), which is a latte with the tone of sakura. Its distinct floral taste is something that you must try for yourself.
When you are pesky for a bite, Little Rogue does offer pastries.
Rather than baking pastries in-house, Little Rogue has a sister bakery, Bakemono Bakers just across the laneway.
Your pastries will come straight from Bakemono Bakers, including items like a Yuzu Almond Croissant, Matcha Brownie, and Mixed Berry Danish.
Yuzu Almond Croissant had a very tasty, crunchy and fragrant almond nuts layer on top that gave it that edge, with light citrusy yuzu flavours to balance it all.
In a nutshell, Little Rogue is all about coffee – ready for takeaway or otherwise.
The laneway setting gives it a cosy, tucked-away feel, and it can a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a little while.
Little Rogue.
12 Drewery Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 5pm (Sat – Sun)
Google Maps – Little Rogue.
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* Written by Daniel Ang and Dean Ang. Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
