Mister Hoffman

As a young girl, Petra Parker dreamed of owning her own cafe. She played shops and spent her afternoons baking with her Oma (grandmother) – a tradition she now shares with her young boys, Oskar and Max.

Petra and husband Dean Parker took over the Mister Hoffman site in the spur of the moment while on a family holiday in Poland (where Petra’s family is from). They wanted to create a neighbourhood haunt and a home for Petra’s baked goods, such as the apple cake she used to make with Oma.

The diverse menu features pan-fried Tasmanian salmon with golden beetroot and heirloom carrots, which suits the many health-conscious mums who pass by between school pick-ups and drop-offs. Other choices include blueberry and ricotta hotcakes, and a classic bacon-and-egg wrap. Meredith Dairy, Jalna, Pepe Saya, Gippy Milk and Allpress Espresso are all key suppliers.

The cafe has a calm, dream-like atmosphere. The interior features pastel pink and touches of Old World charm, such as green vintage tiles and copper coffee pots. The pink galah lamp is a resident in its own right and adds an eccentric-grandma’s-house feel. It’s no surprise the Joanne Motee-designed cafe took out the title for the 2016 World Interiors News awards.

Outside there’s a pleasant courtyard where strawberry plants hang under a striped awning, and there are blankets to cosy up with in the cooler months.