Leith has already had its share of the spotlight in this series, so this time I went hunting for the quiet stars. These are the independents that do not shout the loudest but keep Google Maps reviewers unusually united. All four sit at 4.5 stars or above, all are fiercely independent, and not one has appeared in this series before. From a 4.9 star Leith Walk sweetheart to a Colombian specialty roastery, here is where Leith locals swear by.
Kiki’s Kitchen and Cafe, the 4.9 star sweetheart on Leith Walk
Kiki’s Kitchen and Cafe at 132 Leith Walk holds 4.9 stars from 162 reviews, and the numbers are almost comical. Of those 162 reviews, 156 are five star. No consistent complaint theme exists because there is hardly a complaint to find.
Reviewers talk about cosy vibes, lovely staff and food with great presentation. The cakes come up again and again with 36 mentions, and the goulash gets 17. Homemade cakes and toasties round out a menu that reviewers call hearty without being heavy, and the quiet atmosphere makes it a rare thing on Leith Walk, a place where you can actually hear your own conversation. It opens Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, and stays closed on Mondays.
Little Fitzroy Coffee, a taste of Melbourne on Easter Road
Little Fitzroy Coffee at 46 Easter Road brings a slice of Melbourne to Leith and the locals have noticed. It holds 4.8 stars from 515 reviews, a serious sample size for an independent that still barely registers a grumble. Only three one star and five two star reviews sit among the whole lot.
The vegan offering is the headline act, with 53 mentions of buns, cakes and pastries that reviewers rate as genuinely excellent rather than merely acceptable. The cinnamon buns and cinnamon scrolls get their own fan club, the flat white is described as tasty and creamy, and the wide bean selection keeps coffee geeks happy. Reviewers praise the great service and a wholesome atmosphere, and several mention a distinct taste of Melbourne coffee, high praise in a city that takes its flat whites seriously. Hours are Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm and weekends 8am to 5pm, an early doors option if you want coffee before the crowds.
Coffee Tepuy, Colombian single origin done properly
If your idea of a good cafe is one where the staff can talk you through the bean, Coffee Tepuy at 2 Crighton Place is your place. This specialty Colombian coffee shop holds 4.9 stars from 186 reviews, with only a single one star review in the entire set. The bean selection earns 34 mentions, and reviewers single out the espresso and Caturra beans that staff are happy to recommend and explain.
The flat white gets consistent love, the owner and staff are described as warm and friendly, and the whole place runs on a lovely atmosphere with great service and reasonable prices. One practical note. The hours are short, Monday to Friday 8am to 3pm and weekends 9am to 3pm, so this is a morning or early lunch stop. Get there before the last pour.
Toast, the Shore brunch institution
Toast at 65 Shore is the heavyweight of this crawl with 1,456 reviews and a 4.5 star average. Google Maps lists it as a restaurant serving cafe fare, but reviewers treat it as one of the Shore’s great brunch spots and it keeps longer hours than most cafes in this series. Monday to Thursday it runs 8am to 6pm, Friday 8am to 10pm, Saturday 9am to 10pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm.
The shakshuka is the signature with 40 mentions, and reviewers praise the coffee and cake, friendly staff and great value for money. Outdoor and pavement seating earns a lot of love, and the waterfront Shore location is half the appeal on a sunny day. With that many reviews the crowd is not unanimous. A few call the food tasty however nothing special, and 58 one star and 37 two star reviews sit in the mix. But at 4.5 stars across nearly fifteen hundred reviews, the verdict is about as settled as it gets.
How to walk it
Start on Leith Walk at Kiki’s for cake and a quiet morning, wander over to Easter Road for Little Fitzroy’s cinnamon buns, swing by Crighton Place for Coffee Tepuy’s Colombian single origin before its 3pm close, then finish at the Shore with a shakshuka at Toast as the light comes off the water. Check Google Maps for current opening hours before you set off. Four more independents, four more reasons Leith keeps winning the coffee argument.
