Little Mule

Little Mule is easily missed. Then again, that’s almost the minimum requirement for a laneway cafe in Melbourne. Situated near the competitive cafe strip on Little Bourke Street, it holds its own, mainly because it doesn't try too hard.

This place has earned its name for dependable Proud Mary) coffee and is a favourite for business meetings and study sessions. There’s free Wi-Fi, power outlets and if you get there between 7.30am and 9.30am on weekdays, coffees are $3. There’s also single-origin pour-over, drip and filter coffees.

Little Mule offers breakfast and lunch, from simple toasties and bagels to the full-fledged: corn fritters, chicken sandwiches and pulled pork.

Thursday through Saturday nights, jaffles are king. Varieties include five cheese; mushroom and gruyere; pulled pork, and a dessert jaffle. Wines, cocktails and some unique imported beers such as the Vietnamese rice lager Huda are also available. The staff keeps the coffee machine on late and the music low, so you won’t be yelling over beats.

Laneway Learning hosts events here on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. If you're ever shopping for an event space for creative workshops, parties or product launches, ask for the barista package – it comes with projectors and flat whites.