Walking through the door of Belljar Coffee, I'm welcomed by charleston-esque music with a distinctive crackle. It comes from a bona fide record player nestled in the corner of this 1970s-nana-chic-style cafe, well removed from Newtown's main drag. The yesteryear impression continues with the decor: collectable plates on the wall, vintage wallpaper, crochet cushions, mismatched chairs, lace doilies, tea cosies with goggly eyes and piles of
Frankie, the magazine of choice for young hipsters.
The cafe is the baby of Sam North and Angela Carmichael, both actors who had hospitality day jobs. Opening a cafe was the ''chance to take control of something and not be waiting by the phone'', North says. They named their place after the bell jars used for science experiments, as Belljar is their experiment.
Coffee is taken seriously. The Little Marionette brew ($3-$4, roasted just down the road in Annandale) is excellent, full bodied and rich. For more adventurous types, other options include a ginger long black or a ''danger shake'' - a triple shot of coffee, ice, ice-cream and a dash of milk. Tea lovers are, as indicated by the presence of tea cosies, well looked after. The loose-leaf tea range includes lemon grass and ginger, rose hip and chai, as well as the usual suspects. There are also milkshakes, frappes and juices.
The menu is light and simple - and actor-friendly, as everything costs less than $15 - with breakfast plates of prosciutto, avocado and ricotta, Sonoma toast, muesli with home-made yoghurt and a range of tasty sandwiches. The chicken and cheddar cheese version with pickles and spicy mayo ($10) is fresh and tasty. The caramel and macadamia slice is a gooey treat, almost sickly sweet, that's too much for one.
Luckily, Belljar has just the right amount of breezy cool to balance the sweetness and, boy, the coffee is just swell.
Bell Jar Coffee
Address 2/104 Alice Street, Newtown, 8096 4090,
belljar.com.au
Open Weekdays, 7am-3pm (closed Tues); Sat-Sun, 8am-4pm
-Annie Stevens