Lady Bower

If fresh produce, Five Senses coffee and old English charm is your kind of thing, then a trip to Lady Bower should be on your agenda.

The location may surprise, but the experience will delight you. Located in Reservoir, this light-hearted cafe has garnered quite the following; locals flock and word of mouth ensures that tables fill up quickly on weekends.

The cafe places a huge importance on using only fresh and seasonal produce and is big on preserves. Owner Renee Ebert encourages the local community to bring herbs, fruit and vegetables from their own gardens down to the cafe, where they’ll turn the home-grown produce into cakes and jams. Those who donate receive some of the produce back in exchange. Locals can literally eat from their neighbours' backyards.

The rotating menu is seasonal, homely and innovative. Lady Bower’s jams can also be purchased in take home jars. The flavours also depend on the season – one week it’s all about blood oranges; the next, figs.

The emphasis on preserves ties into the British country kitchen-esque interior. The space is quaint without being old fashioned. This design aspect draws on all three of the owners' personalities, with random books and old English teapots balanced by a healthy dose of industrial furniture.

Featuring an impressive array of homemade cakes, a monthly tea party and a welcoming atmosphere, Lady Bower offers something a little different that is well and truly worth the visit.