Effie's

Even if you haven’t been to Balgowlah cafe Effie’s, there’s a good chance you’ve seen its stunning Calacatta viola marble coffee window while scrolling through Instagram. Husband-and-wife team Sam and Aniella Batten – who also own nearby Aggy’s Corner – have turned this former corner store into a sophisticated northern beaches hotspot.

Food and drink comes courtesy of an all-local roster of businesses. Aggy’s signature toasties have made the jump here, assembled with bread from Seaforth’s Staple Bread & Necessities. The stacks of cookies on the counter come from Manly’s Butter Boy Bake, with more treats by Staple.

For the coffee that gets passed through the aforementioned window, Effie's uses beans by Skittle Lane. There’s also a menu of natural wines curated by Manly’s Winona, which really gets a flex Wednesday to Saturday when Effie’s switches into wine-bar mode.

The floating shelves display a collection of homewares for sale, such as coloured carafes and candles from Maison Balzac, Leif soaps, Cultiver linen napkins, and handmade ceramics from Tanika Jellis and Gretel Corrie.