Owners Nedin Rahmanovic and Majda Falan – who are graphic and interior designers respectively – opened Twenty & Six Espresso with the idea of having a cafe and design space all in one. The old Nestle building displays their profound sense of design, which extends from the front of house all the way to the back courtyard, the latter of which features a collection of vintage furniture complementing North Melbourne’s low skyline.

The food is not immune to the art of arrangement, with Twenty & Six’s takeaway lunch boxes curating a little soup, sandwich, salad and a sweet.

True to form, its sit-down menu has a Scandinavian bent, so you’re likely to see ingredients such as citrus-cured salmon, rye, dill and crème fraiche appear in rotating menu items. Despite the changing menu, the popular black sticky rice pudding is a long-time regular.

Coffee is by Seven Seeds – an example of good utilitarian design rationale: use it because it’s good.