This cafe has lovely coffee and really friendly, genuine service. Limited vegan options are available but I love the chilli in the avocado on toast!
Have been coming here for 2+ years. Coffee is always good. Great staff and lots of seating
The portion size for their three egg omelette was the best as it filled me up without leaving anything on the plate! This café definitely does not disappoint because the service was pretty quick as well as the food having so much flavour, wanting me to go back for more. The Asparagus and Prosciutto were so juicy and complimented the omelette nicely!
(Disclaimer: True rating would be 4.5 however on Zomato this is closer to a 5).
I ordered the Wagyu beef burger and I definitely wasnât disappointed. The patty was pretty juicy (yet not constantly dripping) and, on the brioche bun, it just melts in your mouth. The patty was topped with fresh rocket lettuce, onions caramelised in bourbon and roasted peppers. Iâve never had a burger that tasted so fresh while keeping those gourmet flavours! Along with the piccalilli mayo, the burger went down a treat.
Great coffee and ever friendly service.Â
Very cool courtyard with comfortable space.Â
Have only eaten there once and was pretty good.
Must try: their coffee!
One of the staples on High Street
Had lunch here in a small group. The menu is mainly brunch options with good coffee. The food is good quality, perhaps a bit pricey but overall a positive experience.
Cute cafe at the top of Ruckerâs Hill on High Street. Looks across to the Northcote old town hall where some big local battles were won and lost. Nice warm space. Adorable coffee. Rich, smooth and silky. In the league of the best Melbourne coffees. I also had eggs with some bacon as well which was a good tasty dish. Service was lovely too. This is a nice place where they know what theyâre doing and they do it well.
Came here after the line for Tinker was way too long to wait in for breakfast. Staff were really friendly. I chose the burcher muesli which was quite delicious & a side of fries (really felt like some) probably didnât need the fries & found them a bit too oily for my liking. They were happy to accommodate a friend request with her smashed avocado which she really enjoyed & was a plentiful serving.
Still one of my faves. Always fresh, quick and polite. Corn fritters are one of my favourites and always on point. Theres never been a âbad dayâ here.
Had lunch here not expecting much but the food was great. My gf got the soba noodles which was really well dressed and seasonedïŒand I got the wagyu burgerïŒwhich was one of the juicer burgers I've had in a while.
Simple and all-round menu. Staff are always consistently friendly and helpful. Environment is chilled and even when itâs busy it feels calm. Smashed avo is a good standard if youâre a first timer here.
The dish I ordered was the baked eggs. It was delicious and flavoursome. The service was exceptional and staff were attentive. The atmosphere and layout of the place was modern and garden like which was nice đ
This remains one of my favourite brunch places despite all the trendy cafes that have emerged in recent years. It's modern, simple and doesn't try too hard to impress. It was one of the first brunch meals I ever had and I will forever appreciate the authentic chai offered (Not the powder crap) that so many places now use. Never disappoints!
A nice cafe offering awesome coffee and breakfast and lunch options. I ordered the sweet potato rosti which came with smoked salmon and a poached egg and I loved it! It was crunchy, soft and the egg was perfectly runny.
Penny Farthing đČis tucked in the busy and notorious High Street in Northcote and with its hispster vibe has become a well known destinationđ.
We came here on a busy Good Friday as our tummies were churning and we couldn't be bothered to cook. Luckily their chef was up for the challenge: feeding us đ.
We ordered the Sweet Potato Rosti and their Kransky dish as they sounded very yummy đ The food took little time to come out and we were very pleased to see the plates making their way to our table đ
Both were humbly tasty, homie and cozy. Surely cooked with passion and loveđ. We did find that the Rosti lacked of a fresh and a crunchy element, and the Kransky could have been perfect if served with a slice of bread but they were still delicious đ
We almost forgot to mention their Industry Bean BANG ON v60 filter, pure music for our palate đ
What beautiful apple Bircher. Sweet but not overly with the labne cutting through the honey and the pistachios bringing some texture. Penny Farthing tends to fare well on foodie blogs and I must say I'm also a fan. There's a cute little sunny courtyard to enjoy your breakfast in and the atmosphere is really pleasant (you are surrounded by hipsters #northcotevibes). No wait is always a bonus too
Love going here never a let down. The avo smash is amazing something simple but really good. My wife went there with her friends 1st time last week and she loved it.
I know I'll probably be mobbed by the locals for saying this, but in my opinion - the coffee here is nothing to write home about. It often has an odd taste, and sometimes bitter. But it's certainly not bad! And the coffee here is obviously loved by many, so maybe it's me!
In any case the food offerings make up for it. The smash is delicious and the salads and sandwiches are all fresh and very generous, with nice details like fresh herbs/seasoning, that don't go unnoticed.
It's a popular spot for people working/studying - even on the weekend - which means there can be a bit of an unnecessary wait for tables. But the space is cosy and welcoming, and the service is very friendly and efficient. Overall a very enjoyable breakfast/brunch spot.
I've been to Penny Farthing a few times now, the owner is a nice guy and the staff are well mannered but they take a while to take your order -- most of the time they're just hanging around for a long time untill you tell them you're ready. Also, some of the staff members personal hygiene is lacking and it's abit of a turn off (especially dirty finger nails) as you're getting your meal brought to you. The coffee is good, not great and I've only ever had the smashed avocado which I really enjoy. The place could use abit of a revamp but the quality of the food seems to be there! Have been back and would go back.
Good coffee and yummy menu with plenty of options. They pump out the food from a tiny kitchen quickly and suspect this is due to a clever menu that uses ingredients across multiple items. Often super busy, but the staff always remain friendly and relaxed. I hate it when busy places make you feel like you're an imposition.
Great little place that serves awesome coffee and good breakfasts. Always busy which is a great sign. The smashed avo and free range poached eggs, although quite plain always fills the spot.
A little gem on High Street! Approachable and engaging staff, excellent coffee and quite a varied menu as well. Whilst this joint gets busy, and you may have a slight waiting time, it's worth it.
I've only been here a few times and ordered a few different meals - they were all pretty tasty. The kasoundi baked eggs were yum, and another dish that had a kransky. Usually pretty busy.
Great place. Staff are super friendly. Especially Rachel. She's a gun. Best hospo worker on high st. I came here on a busy Sunday afternoon by myself waiting for a friend. She looked after me with friendly banter and priority newspapaper access. 10/10 would do again.
Penny Farthing espresso is a cool little cafe on High street. Looks small from the outside but once you make your way through the kitchen walkway it opens up with a nice outside area. Food was great and reasonably priced. The baked eggs were delicious! Will definately be back
Went here for breakfast this morning. Really enjoyed it, nice cafe, good vibe and friendly staff. Had the smash, was good, plenty of avo :) will be back.
North Fitzroy Food Addict
+3.5
Great coffee stop, friendly staff and the most delicious ginger bread men in town. If your there for breakfast try the avocado smash..... It gets me hopping out of bed.
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The first time I've been to Penny Farthing, I remembered the coffee was awesome. So I had high expectations when I returned today. The crew at Penny Farthing certainly did not disappoint. The coffee was smooth and the blend strong just how I like it. Judging by the number of people that came in ordering takeaway coffee - you know that Penny Farthing has not lost its touch. The place was buzzing, atmosphere hip and casual and relaxed and the staff was friendly and helpful.
Now for the food, I like my breakfasts simple so we ordered the fruit toast (vine fruit and rosemary bread with cultured butter) and the two free range eggs fried on sourdough with side of Apple and chilli jam. The eggs fried on sourdough was simple but delicious - with the Apple and chilli jam giving you the little sweet and chilli kick that you need to give the dish a bit of a punch to it. The fruit toast - I have to say is one of the best I've tasted. The rosemary and fruit combination is like a match made in heaven.
Overall a great place and if you are after a good coffee - this would be one of the best in Northcote. I will definitely be stopping by next time I am in the area, even if it's a takeaway coffee.
Good food, nice ambience and LOVELY coffee. Penny Farthing Espresso is a lovely place to hang out in the later afternoon too. A great place for a catch-up with a friend (or two) as you don't feel rushed.
Came here for lunch on Easter Sunday. The kitchen was about to close but they took our order promptly.
Coffee (soy) was awesome as was the soy chai my friend had.
I had the French toast with the coconut custard. The French toast had a layer or jam in it and it was cooked wonderfully. The custard was light, but not overly sweet. Another satisfied lunch. :)
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Came here on a Saturday for a late lunch with a friend and the place was moderately busy but we got a nice spot out the front on high street. Staff where super friendly and the place had an overall great feel which was mostly due to the great interior setting. Started with a coffee of a long soy mac which was not as strong as it could have been but was still a great fruity brew. We ordered the classic toastie which had roma tomatoes, rocket pesto, and tasty cheese, served with a side salad of rocket and balsamic glaze as well the apple soaked bircher muesli rolled in toasted pistachios with an apple and rhubarb compote, citrus labne and orange infused honey. The bircher was amazing. It was lusciously creamy and not to sweet as the labne was well balanced adding tartness to the dish complemented well by the stewed fruit and crunchy pistachios. The presentation was 10/10 in itself as when it came out it presented itself as two large mounds resembling falafels but once you broke into the gooey texture of almonds and apple it was a pleasant surprise . Overall great place and will be returning.
Trendy name, trendy location with a Penny Farthing on the Window, not sure whether it's ride-able.
First impression ..... small, narrow, quaint, low ceiling, very dark and long, not a great welcoming sight.
I would say the backyard is the best place to be.
However, like the Bar seats next to the Espresso Machine, coffee and sweet was good.
Enjoyable quaint cafe that needs further exploration.
Great coffee, fantastic beer garden, friendly service and delicious treats/meals. Need I say more?(no longer open until 10pm for the coffee-transitions-into-wine experience, sadly--but worth double checking, they said they may bring it back).
My wife and I went to the Penny Farthing Espresso today in Northcote. It was the first time either of us had been there.
We sat down at the communal table and had our daughter in her stroller next to us.
Beth ordered the Grilled Octopus Salad and I ordered the Sweet Potato Rosti. I'm glad we decided to share each other's meal, as the Grilled Octopus Salad was terrific.
Beth and I also found that the wait staff were really friendly.
It's difficult to be a good cafe in Melbourne. Penny Farthing is excellent. Great breakfast menu, great service and above all else, excellent coffee
Penny Farthing Espresso is a Northcote neighbourhood gem. It feels a little vintage, with a few Penny Farthing bikes littered throughout the cafe. Coffee is taken seriously, creating outstanding results.  The beans used are from Industry Beans. Fitzroy St Blend. One of the better magics Iâve had in a while. I thoroughly enjoyed it despite the 35 degree+ day.  Full-bodied, intense, nutty and expertly crafted.
Lovely staff, food was really tasty and as described. The lack of highchairs was disappointing though, respect their choice not to have them, but had we known ahead we would not have gone as no one (including their parents) wants small kids running around a cafe. My 1year old was off her chair for 30 seconds & before I could grab her tripped on pavers in the courtyard and got a really nasty bump on her leg (THIS HAPPENS not Penny Farthing's fault at all), but had she been in a highchair this wouldn't have happened...it's a shame is all as it's a great place otherwise and to their credit they had 2 great choices for little on their kids menu too!
Cappuccino was excellent and the corn fritters even more! Smash (smashed avocado with mint basil and poached egg) was really tasty and delicious. Avocado is fresh and well balanced with other ingredients.
Location was nice and the personal is made of cool hipster waiters.
I will definitely visit again!
Best coffee in Northcote; mouth-watering menu, including vego and vegan options; pleasant outdoor seating; quiet and quaint crowd; wonderful wait staff.
Fortheloveoftravelandfood
+4
I read that the coffee was really awesome at this place, and I am glad I popped in because the coffee was excellent!! I also ordered myself fruit toast with a hint of rosemary and house made butter and it was delicious!! Such a cool little place, its great for a breakfast/brunch stop!
"Cafe with a character with some good food". Loved the backyard seating area. The menu is a good mix of the usual brunch options and something different.
We ordered baked eggs and omelette. Baked eggs were flavoursome and one of the best i have had in Melbourne, however omelette was average. It was a bit dry for my taste. I didn't quite like the coffee as well. This place has such a huge potential, I would want to give Penny a second chance. :)
PS: sorry forgot to take pictures.
Lovely cafe and friendly service. I really liked our coffee coffee (double shot latte) and the nice courtyard where we sat in the sun. Will come back to try the food.
A cute cafe among a bunch of other cute cafe's on High Street. Good coffee, nice courtyard & friendly staff.
Went for brunch on a dreary Monday morning and it was pretty packed, but most people looked like they were settled in for a long day on their laptops!
All of our group enjoyed their food. The Kransky Bubble & Squeak ($19) was really nice. But was not a bubble and squeak! This was more a healthy, salad-like version rather than the fried up goodness that typifies this British classic.
One really nice touch was that they brought out an information card about which Industry Beans coffee was being served. Thoughtful and unique
Great place for a Sunday brunch. Perfect coffees, the sweet potato rosti was awesome the duck was delicately smoked. The salad for the duck was overdressed though. Pomegranate molasses are pretty full on and should have been used a bit sparingly, overall great experience.
Today special Ratatouille halloumi toast, find the ratatouille portion is slightly small to the price charged, but taste good, halloumi cheese not very salty and taste good.
The sweet potato rosti taste good, healthy food with avocado, beetroot, green, and smoked salmon.
Penny farthing has a mouth watering brunch menu, which made choosing something to eat the hardest decision of my weekend. I went with the corn cakes, which although delicious I did have food envy for the potato rosti (make sure to look at the 2nd menu page) and asparagus & goats cheese, both of which had rave reviews for the lucky orderers on our table. The coffee is my favourite on high street, make sure to order a double shot if you like it strong.
Second time here. Love the food & coffee. Tasty corn fritters, & kasundi, bacon & fennel-baked eggs...a nice twist to the bacon & egg breakfast.
Not that fond of the stools tho (not enough table & chairs for 2)
We were seated directly opposite the speaker... I've decided new age-type music is okay for a couple of minutes (at low volume)... After a while, gives one a bit of a headache; I really wish there was no music right now so I could thoroughly enjoy my breakfast. This monotonous sound is akin to tinnitus, surely.
I'd still come back if only for the nice food & coffee. I would perhaps choose a spot away from the speaker.
Had a coffee and a hot chocolate.
Coffee was beautiful - really smooth lovely texture and delicious.
The hot chocolate was unfortunately lukewarm and not chocolatey enough, but the coffee was so good they were forgiven.It felt quite stuffy inside the cafe so I'm glad I was only popping in for some takeaway drinks. Friendly staff as well, so overall a pleasant experience!
This little place has the best coffee, consistently good , positioned at the top of Ruckers Hill on High street it has rapidly built up a loyal clientele. Food is ok aswell.
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Perhaps it is the way Penny Farthing sits on a hill pretty much on its own that parallels it's stand alone nature of uniqueness. Â High Street Northcote is an eclectic mix of street level shopping and something happens as you walk up that hill away from the ostentatious landscape of Chemist Warehouse and jingle jangle of concrete clutter....
As you get closer to Penny Farthing the ugly visual pollution subsides, the noise dies down and you start to feel warm, more open hearted and that cosy sense of a community cafe with the Town Hall of cultural expression just across the road.
The Food at Penny Farthing is delicious and the chefs deserve a special mention for how they present even Bircher museli and French toast like a garden of elegance with petals from flowers and little touches of finesse and artistic expression...I always feel the love in presentation of each dish which is also matched by taste..Big Ups
Staff at Penny Farling remind you how to be both laid back, warm, witty and attentive without going over the top. I appreciate the unobtrusiveness when with treasured friends.Â
Recently I was there with a great friend and we were sharing lots of wicked laughter along with deeper discussions and I remember looking around and reflecting on how everyone can just be in a little bubble of intimacy and how delightful the merging between Staff and customers is with friendly banter and familiarity that hums through out into the little courtyard.
My fav dishes of the moment are the Sweet Potato Rosti and Avocado Mash though even the Bircher has a little edge.Â
If I was to describe what makes Penny Farthing different it is just that the 'little edges' and special attentive touches. The Staff are gorgeous but not in an overt way and seriously at your local cafe who wants that over the top pretension of constant badgering. I can't comment on the coffee, chai is a teapot delight and you can ask for extra top up milk on the side ( there's those little touches again ).
If you are wanting to snuggle in stay up the front, middle section isn't the best acoustics for chatting and the little outside courtyard faces east so go on a morning as the Sun awakes and stay awhile...
Thanks Penny Farthling for creating a warm rustic cafe with great food and groovy atmospherics without being too Hipster...means you can rock up with a bestie, a little crew, with your nanna or for a business meeting.....sensational see you soon!!
The food and service here is pretty good and they do great eggs but the music out in the outdoor seating area is incredibly weird and jarring and it's been the same both times I've been there.
Great place, and I love the decor. Coffee was great and so was the service. The cheese and chilli chorizo was such a winner!! Well worth popping into if you're in the area
Good breakfast here - and one of the rare places I don't get eggs! Can't go past the cheese, tomato and basil toast. Really hits the spot and they have the flavours down pat.Â
Also a good spot for later night coffees!
They're laid back here - borderline too laid back as I had trouble telling wait staff from clientele! But the coffee was delicious, and my avocado smash was fantastic. The sourdough was soft and tasty, and I loved the chilli oil on the side! My friend had the pulled pork roll and it looked fantastic too. Service was a touch on the slow side, but not unacceptably so - it just took them a while to take our food order post coffee.
Great coffee, friendly staff and good food.
I get take away coffee here frequently and also meet a friend irregularly, we sit in the great outdoor area, eat the avocado smash and drink long black after long black to catch up. The staff are attentive and friendly, and did I mention great coffee.
Good coffee - pretty good breakfast...
Had breakfast this week at PF and it was good - definitely not great and definitely not bad. Lots of talk about the service and all I can say is that they were fine. If you're looking for the type of wait staff that bounce around the cafe with an exuberance reserved for small children then this is not place but they certainly are not rude.
I can recommend the 3 Egg Omlette and suggest you steer clear of the Corn Fritter unless you like an oily starch hut first thing in the morning- good enough to say I like it, not good enough to want to make it a frequent place I dine.
Delicious baked eggs and very friendly staff. Winner.
Good. I went to to Penny Farthing on the weekend.
The staff were very nice and warm, and the food was delicious. Maybe some of the reviewers went on an off day because I would rate the service here to be way above average.
Also the coffee was great.
I would put this cafe up there with Bell Jar, Carolina, Everyday etc. So if you like good food/coffee, nice atmosphere and great service - check it out.
- Kiri
Never in my life have I encountered such exquisite food combined with perfectly blended coffee and superb customer service!
I am constantly grateful I stumbled over this gem of a cafe.
Thank you for the excellent service, relaxing atmosphere, delicious food and perfect coffee!
Amazing food and coffee. Staff are so welcoming and efficient. Love the place!!
Itâs a fairly nondescript place from the outside. In fact I almost walked past. But once inside you are treated to Penny Farthing paraphernalia and the smell of a lovely brew! Cappuccino is the order for the day. I go for a walk first to check the surrounds. They have a lovely outdoor fresco area out the back as well as a partially covered area that would be lovely on a nice day. The entrance is well decorated and I am entranced with all the bike gear. Our coffee comes out and it smells great. The first sip is a bit florally, the taste is divine. There is a bit of a nutty flavour to itwhich is fantastic. There is a slight grit but nothing to worry too much about. Probably a good clean of the espresso machine is in order.
Even though my tastebuds were disappointed, I left with a full tummy. Iâve always had an irk with staff who look bored and give the impression theyâre âworkingâ under sufferance. A smile goes a long way. Penny Farthing doesnât top my list of must-return-pronto cafĂ©s, but Iâd visit again further down the track.
Penny Farthing Espresso
266 High Street, Northcote
(03) 9482 2246
Penny Farthing Espresso on Urbanspoon
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I ordered the baked-eggs with pumpkin and a strong soy latte and was disappointed when the waitress did not congratulate me on being bold. The meals arrived and I felt only shame for abandoning my traditional favourite.
The coffee crĂšme brulee was a sure crowd pleaser when it had arrived at our table.Aesthetically pleasing to look at and aromatic in its coffee flavour, the coffee infused custard was creamy and rich. The cup was finished within the first 5 mins
It is hard to judge a cafe from a breakfast meal let alone from one visit, but it is obvious that the Simmons brothers have kept things simple, doing the basics very well. Coffee is what this jointâs really about so make sure you order a cup. Well worth the visit if youâre in the area!
The coffee here is key. Itâs got a subtle bitter edge, a great counterpoint to the other flavours on offer.
Avocado toast the best ever. Service left something to be desired - although we were seated promptly, we had to wait a long time to get menus and then even longer for someone to come and take our order. Food also took a long time to arrive, but when it did, it certainly made up for it. We both had the smashed avocado and it was the best I have EVER had - and I love a smashed avo. The chilli oil combined with the excess of mint just made it for me. Switched our normal bread to pumpkin bread - made the entire thing completely amazing. I am in love with it. I must return ASAP.
One of the few cafes in Melbourne that serves truely good coffee.
Food and service a bit patchy.
The best!. This is my favourite place in Northcote for breakfast - you can't go wrong with the avocado smash. It's always fresh, the toast is always perfect and the coffee is amazing as well. I have been here so many times I've lost count and I've never had a bad meal. The crew are friendly as well, which just adds to the goodness! So much love for Penny Farthing!
Chai!. Great service, staff are friendly and attentive. Had an almond milk chai that was delicious. Definitely go here :)
It's my favourite cafe and I told the staff that the other day. Lovely ambience out the back and quiet. No music blasting - bliss! I like the breakfasts. Wait staff always friendly and accommodating. Meals are often quick! Delightful! đđđ
Great vibe, excellent coffee, exceptional food, warm friendly service. We happen on this place looking for a coffee and there was the wow factor which was pleasent. Great casual furniture, tasteful decor. These guys know coffee.. highly recommend the wagu beef burger..
Lovely industrial minimalist setting with a wonderful shaded outdoor seating area at the back of the cafe. Coffee is great and the breakfast menu is simple yet very delicious.
Such a good vibe!!
Very friendly and professional staff.
Penny Farthing definitely makes the best coffee in the area.
The menu seems well balanced and have variety of dishes.
The food is really good value for the money.
Must try Avo Smash!
Cosy, cute cafe. Amazing coffee and food!!! Delicious decaf!! And gorgeous kale salad. Sian makes the most delish coffee. Chill vibe, always welcoming đ
Amazing coffee, lovely cosy place and it's quiet ambient space is for a relaxing experience đ wonderful attentive staff
Truly excellent brunch, the kale salad, sweet potati rosti and smashed avo are all excellent. Service was also great. We will be back.
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