Our Boy Roy

Our Boy Roy wears many (chef’s) hats. This colourful corner spot manages to squeeze in a coffee and sandwich bar, a 100-seat buzzing cafe, a delicatessen and a general store together all under one roof.

On the food menu, it’s all about the paninis and sandwiches. You might find a meatball and sugo ciabatta, or a Chicago-style beef roll inspired by TV show The Bear alongside dine-in options like plum hotcakes with lemon myrtle sugar syrup, bacon and eggs, and other lighter, more vegetable-driven dishes.

As for the coffee, owner Michael Cotton has an exclusive deal (within SA) with pioneering Sydney roaster Single O, which also supplies his Semaphore cafe, High Tide. Beyond the usual espresso options, you can enjoy batch-brew filter coffee via a self-serve screen and tap. The self-serve order screen is a novelty, and perfect if you’re on the go.

It’s hard to go past the delicatessen, where you can get sliced-to-order mortadella, fresh loaves of bread, bunches of flowers and more to take home. You’ll also find a range of specialty products on the shelves including sauces and condiments from Pizzateca’s Oztalia offshoot, relishes and jams from Drunken Sailor and Melbourne Bushfood, yuzu hot sauce, brandy salted caramel, gin mayo, and The Sugar Man chocolates.

For the fit-out, Cotton brought on Rad design studio (who worked on Madre) to create a seamless flow between each area. The sandwich and coffee bar is reminiscent of an old milk bar, with a curved silver countertop, white tiles and diner-style signage. Out the back, you’ll find a park-like setting with planter boxes (growing herbs and edible flowers for the chefs), tables and chairs, and a large grass area to lay out a picnic rug.