What’s old is new again, as we all know. Following suit with the reflective aesthetic emerging around Melbourne, Penny Farthing’s old-school appeal pays homage to 19th century upstart Hubert Foggart and his Penny Farthing (bike) world record attempt.

These days, though our pushies are a little more aerodynamic, our need for sustenance is as ever. It’s lucky then that while Foggart’s memory has largely fallen between the cracks of time, his efforts have inspired this great little coffee spot on High Street, Northcote.

Most notably, it’s a very serious coffee affair, with brothers Trevor and Steve Simmons at the helm of what would otherwise be just another High Street cafe (serving dinner Wed-Sat too). From Five Senses coffee they carry single-origin beans, a carefully chosen house blend, as well as intermittent special releases like Finca la Fany Estate from El Salvador.

Deliberate and a little ad hoc, Penny Farthing’s approach to vintage is appropriately nostalgic, navigating a fine line between cool and warmly earnest. Locals love it for its simple food, a beer matching menu, and a courtyard out the back filled with laptop-tappers and those soaking up the sun by day and the stars by nights.

Evenings at Penny Farthing offer casual dining of with a seasonal menu using locally sourced produce where possible. Dishes come in two sizes, Penny (large) or Farthing (small), tying the theme of the restaurant to the dining experience. There is also an adventurous coffee cocktail list with drinks aptly named Ginger Mini Bike, the Penny Farthing Espresso and the Step Through.