The Little Eastern proves that you don’t need to be big to get noticed. Since opening in 2014, it has established a solid reputation for exceptional coffee and home-style Lebanese food.

The coffee is custom-blended in Melbourne by Dimattina. It’s clean and smooth, showcasing a fruity blend of caramel, currants and smoky raw chocolate notes that pair particularly well with non-dairy alternatives such as coconut milk and soy.

Za’atar, tahini and sumac are used to create dishes that you wouldn’t easily find elsewhere. Try the Lebanese breakfast with the lot – a feast of scrambled eggs, sujuk (Turkish sausage), labneh, olives, tomato and cucumber served with organic Turkish bread.

The house specialty is manoushi, a warm nine-inch flatbread packed with fillings such as spiced lamb mince, Danish feta or chicken. The fridge is also stocked with takeaway lunch options and house-made cakes, many of which are free from dairy, gluten and refined sugar, though you’d never know it by the taste.