St Kilda Road has pretty much just been office buildings and The Shrine of Remembrance for as long as anyone can remember. But Slater St Bench changed that, bringing a very slick specialty-coffee offering in an area that was once a coffee wasteland.

Fit-out with a pristine white La Marzocco, Slater St Bench serves Clement Coffee – including rotating single origins – batch-brewed filter coffee and all the non-caffeinated drinks in between.

The interior is clean, simple and aesthetically striking. There are high timber benches along one wall for leaning and low benches against wall-length windows for sitting. Central to the space is the large coffee bar with sitting room as well.

As well as providing coffee for the before, during and after work rushes, Slater St Bench has a selection of pastries and baguettes for those keen workers needing a quick bite.