L'Americano

Want to feel like a posh Italian sailing enthusiast enjoying an opulent Mediterranean pit stop? Head to L’Americano. It’s Coco Republic’s foray into the cafe scene – one that’s every bit as meticulously lavish as you’d expect from a homewares store and interior-design firm.

The tabletops are marble; the bowls gold-rimmed; and the chairs covered in beautiful tan leather. Even the paper napkins are embossed with gold lettering.

The menu mixes traditional Italian bar food with Australian cafe fare. Alex Kearnes from Glebe Point Diner runs a simple menu that relies on quality produce.

Everything is fresh, full of flavour and daintily presented. The signature salad is a great example; a messy toss of fennel, figs, walnut, feta, radicchio, pancetta and roasted cherry tomatoes.

The bread is by Cronulla’s quiet achiever, Thoroughbread bakery. It’s used for crostinis – an Italian sandwich made with thick-cut ciabatta. Toppings might include tuna pastrami with fennel, capers and taramasalata; or pancetta with egg, avocado, basil and olives.

All sweets come from nearby Rosetta Stone. The cafe also sells all its crockery and furniture, so you can take the opulence of the Italian seaside home.