First Look: New Neighbourhood Cafe Lennox Is the Closest You’ll Get to the Greek Islands in Hampton

White-walled and light-filled – with touches of rattan and timber – new cafe Lennox would be just as home on one of the Greek Islands as it is on Hampton Street in the south-eastern suburb of Hampton.

“We wanted to make it feel like a destination and really transport people out of Melbourne,” says owner Caroline.

Her family is from the south of France, and she was inspired to bring a taste of her background – and the Mediterranean coast in general – to the bayside ’burb. That inspo was a little more subtle in her previous venue, The Little Place. When the lease ended there, she decided to build on her vision at a former kindergarten just up the street.

“From wall removal to new floors and walls, everything got changed,” Caroline says. She also transformed the back courtyard into a coastal-style oasis with private cabanas available to hire for up to 10 people.

The name comes from Lennox Head, a seaside town just south of Byron where Caroline grew up. Food is mostly gluten-free and reflective of the shared coastal influence, with items like Queensland spanner-crab omelettes and salmon-topped breakfast salads.

Meanwhile, at the front counter, find raw vegan treats and house-made sweets, plus a small selection of retail items. And there’s a cute coffee window out front.

Lennox
505 Hampton Street, Hampton

Hours:
Mon to Fri 7.30am–3pm
Sat & Sun 8am–4pm

@lennox3188