Mister Fox

Ringwood Golf Club in Melbourne’s outer east isn’t the most likely spot for a thriving cafe, but Mister Fox isn’t your average golfer’s retreat.

Floor-to-ceiling windows provide stunning views over the lush golf greens, welcoming plenty of air and natural light inside.

Grey furnishings are broken up with splashes of bright aqua in the form of teapots, outdoor chairs and golf clubs hanging from the wall. Leafy plant boxes and flowers are scattered throughout.

Weekdays bring an older crowd, with many retirees enjoying a bite before their 18 holes, but come the weekend and you’ve got a more diverse crowd. Mister Fox caters to all ages with a menu of bacon, eggs, hash browns and baked beans, as well as old favourites; the burger and steak sandwich. There’s also a good selection of paninis and sweets, including the Nutella ice-cream sandwich, which proves the theory that adding Nutella to anything is a great idea. They also serve wine and local craft beer.

While a lot of new cafes preach the importance of local ingredients, Mister Fox actually delivers. Its produce comes from local farmer, Wayne Jeffery, and some of the vegetables are grown by schoolkids from nearby Greenwood Park Kinder in its veggie patch.

The menu isn’t groundbreaking, but it has all the usual suspects and is well priced. Ultimately, it’s the gorgeous surroundings that draw people in and provide a great lunch spot for locals.