Shop 1875

In between fine-diner Wildflower; Thai restaurant Long Chim; Italian restaurant Post; all-day eatery Petition Kitchen; cocktail bar Poole’s Temple and excellent cafe Telegram; it’s safe to say that the State Buildings have options to cater for just about anyone’s tastes. What it didn’t have, until early 2021, was a place like Shop 1875: a retro lolly shop, milk bar, corner store hybrid – right in the thick of things.

It’s a small, takeaway-centric space that’s open throughout the week to cater to the CBD lunch crowd. Kim Brennan, the State Buildings’ executive chef, designed the crowd-pleasing menu. Inside the display counter you’ll find fresh salads; classic cakes and crumbles; continental rolls and salad sangas; and big, country-bakery style vanilla slices. There’s also a rotating range of toasties, which always has at least one or two classic fillings. To the side, a separate cabinet is filled with Miller & Baker pastries.

Behind the counter, on the shelves, there’s a range of Australian retro lollies: milk bottles, musk sticks, liquorice and more.

There’s Nitro coffee by Filament on tap (and kombucha and Garage Project beer), as well as Pressed Earth juices in the fridge. Once you’ve got your meal, head over the grand Postal Hall to find a table.