Myrtle Ivy

Chris Green has baking in her blood. Her grandmother – the original Myrtle Ivy – is responsible for teaching Green how to make this cafe’s most popular treats, such as the date loaf; lemon slice; and date and walnut balls.

She bakes three days a week out of the West Leederville canteen down the road, but also outsources raw goodies from local businesses Rawlicious and Sneaky. More substantial feeds such as toasted sandwiches, come from Toastface Grillah.

Despite the abundance of food, Myrtle Ivy isn’t a place to luxuriate over the newspaper. The cafe is little more than a takeaway counter, with the odd table or two on the footpath outside. Most customers swing by for a quick chat with the friendly staff and a coffee before running off to the hospital, train station or offices nearby.

Coffee comes from one of Melbourne's top roasters, Seven Seeds. All the baristas were trained by Kaya McCarthy, of Pixel fame. The perpetual queues certainly prove one thing: Green is doing her Nan’s namesake proud.