Between Kudo, Babajan and Raya, the short stretch of Little Collins Street between Exhibition and Spring has become a hub of quick, nourishing lunches and creative sweet treats, and a great place to grab coffee. With its enticing pastry cabinet and loaded sandwiches, newcomer Warkop fits right in.

In Indonesia, a warkop or warung kopi is a small shop that sells coffee, snacks such as crispy peanut crackers (known as rempeyek) and light meals like toast with kaya, or coconut jam. Here, former Navi sous-chef Barry Susanto and barista Erwin Chandra have adapted the concept, serving up Aussie cafe favourites with Indonesian flair.

Susanto opened the first Warkop in Richmond in 2021. The original still stands, but the new location is a chance to expand the offering.

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New additions include galangal-and-soy-glazed pork and sambal burrata on Brioche by Phillip shokupan; egg muffins with bacon and black garlic, or sausage and “bazzinga sauce” (Susanto’s take on spicy mayo); and a cabinet full of house-made baked goods.

The range is still growing, but for now you’ll find palm sugar burnt Basque cheesecake, and kaya-glazed crullers topped with puffed brown rice or a savoury alternative with sambal matah (a popular Balinese condiment) and cheese. As at the Richmond outpost, Dukes coffee is served all day.

Warkop favourites like the sambal-spiked Filet-o-Fish, beef brisket and gado-gado sandwiches have also made their way onto the new menu. “The sandwiches might look like [typical] sandwiches, but when you eat [one], it takes you somewhere else”, Susanto tells Broadsheet. “We sort of do what people already know, but with an Indonesian twist”.

The space seats 24 at benches and bar stools inside, plus a few tables out the front. Wicker light fixtures, timber and shades of burnt orange and blue pay homage to warkops found in Indonesia, which are often covered with similarly coloured tarps during the rainy season.

Warkop CBD
13 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Hours
Mon to Fri 7am–3pm
Sat & Sun 8am–3pm

warkop.com.au