Brother and sister duo Sofia and Stefan Soltys grew up in Melbourne cafes. Their parents founded Cafe Paradiso on Lygon Street and The Paragon in Carlton North. Then, as teenagers, they worked together at Postal Hall. Rather than this putting them off a future in hospitality, they started a cafe together.

Frances Food and Coffee maintains a family vibe with a welcoming, open, light-filled dining space. The Soltys pride themselves on keeping things local by acquiring all their produce from the Queen Victoria Market across the road, as well as from Northcote health-food store, Terra Madre.

The BLT has a bourbon barbeque sauce, the “chilly eggs” are poached and served with braised beef and house-made beans and there’s a chia pudding with raspberry compote for a sweet breakfast. Lunch is a variety of unusual salads and a sprinkling of burgers and sandwiches.