Coffee Lovers Retreat, Little Gunga, Milton

Photos by Natalie Hayllar {eatreadlove}

Little Gunga is one of those great little hidden gems that I love to find and write about in my eternal search for the best eat read loves around. People are saying that this is one of the best places to get coffee on the south coast. I would have to agree.  

This weekend me and my boys returned to Little Gunga for a coffee stop after our adventure into the Milton rain forest. This is the place where you can enjoy your coffee bathed in morning sunlight, surrounded by magazines and books, rustic interiors and the smell of fabulous coffee and home baked goods. The Persian love cake served with yoghurt is my absolute favourite, but Mel's wholesome date muffins baked fresh that morning were a close second! Mr 2 and Mr 4 loved their vanilla ice with marshmallows too.

The lovely owners, Mel and Blake, originally from Sydney, moved to the south coast last year and haven't looked back. With a loyal following of coffee lovers, both locals and tourists alike, this is def a must stop for coffee, cake and a little time out.  Choosing from the extensive coffee menu is not easy with a choice of Espresso, Ristretto, Shortcut, Doppio, Willie Nelson, Half Nelson and the usual to choose from. Blake also confesses his love for colourful coffee mugs stacked with pride on top of the La Marzocco!

Not only do these guys take their coffee very seriously (it is fabulous), they have also created a warm and artistic space to enjoy it. The interiors combine industrial lighting, handcrafted wooden tables, solid wood paneling and a touch of green on the white washed walls with bowls of coffee beans and quirky collectibles.  I just love the old green Melbourne tram lights, apparently from the depression era, picked up from Nook Vintage on a recent Melb trip. The perfect colour for the space. Little Gunga is also an art space for small exhibitions and live music. 

Little Gunga is open from 7.30am until about 2ish (Tues - Sat). I love that the opening hours reflect the laid back lifestyle and culture that draws me to the south coast every time. Just be sure to get there early so you don't miss out.