Dandelion and Driftwood

Dandelion & Driftwood helped put specialty coffee on the map in Brisbane. This was back in 2010, when it debuted in a poky shopfront on Hendra’s Gerler Road. But after that outlet’s closure in 2018 and a short-lived interlude at the international airport, the cafe returned to the strip in 2021 – this time in a beautiful old Queenslander corner store.

The classic VJ-board timber walls and corrugated roof of the building remain, as does its beautiful outdoor courtyard. But co-owners Penny and Peter Wolff (who are also behind Big Bad Wolff and Wolff Coffee Roasters) sharpened it up with a fresh coat of white paint and a pair of burgundy doors. Inside, the main dining room is complemented by a private dining space and an area of low-set furniture for coffee, cake and high teas.

For brunch and lunch, you might find a breakfast burger, traditional corn and zucchini fritters, avo on toast, plus savoury and sweet waffle dishes. There’s also a high tea menu (for which you’ll need to book) and a dinner menu later in the week.

Wolff Coffee Roasters has been tapped for a range of house blends, single origins and filter options. Otherwise, there are teas courtesy of Tea Drop; a small selection of smoothies and freshly squeezed juices; plus wine, beer and signature cocktails.