Florian is in the site that once housed Rathdowne Street Food Store, which was a bit of an institution. More recently it was cafe Small Victories, before Dom Gattermayr and Rose Richards took over in January 2021.
The fit-out complements that which came before. Glossy burgundy tiles line one wall, its built-in wooden shelves stacked with cookbooks and jars of house-made pickles. Rathdowne Street Food Store’s original landing, dubbed “the balcony” by former customers, is also still in place.
Florian’s pared-back, produce-driven menu adds to the timelessness. It’s got that relaxed, unpretentious cafe feel reminiscent of the pre-Instagram era. And that’s sort of what the owners are going for: food that’s made to be eaten, not photographed.
The blackboard menu changes daily. There are a handful of rotating sandwiches and salads that shift according to the seasons; the rest of the menu changes every couple of weeks. Regulars will be rewarded with an ever-changing selection of lunch specials, such as crumbed sardines with heirloom tomatoes, or calamari salad with white beans, fennel and grapefruit.
Hot List Status
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