Gather on the Green

Gather on the Green is a relaxed, community-minded cafe in a cul-de-sac overlooking Camperdown Oval. True to its name, it offers table service to nearby park benches, or wherever you choose to spread your supplied picnic rug.

But even on a nice day, you might choose to sit inside. The interior was renovated prior to the 2011 opening, and the building’s handsome older features were left intact. Mirror signage and pared-back brickwork pair smartly with new additions such as mural artwork, pendant lights hanging in jars and the kitchen’s pressed-metal perimeter.

The affordable menu mixes old and new with the same ease. Brasserie Bread is used in a multitude of traditional toast- and egg-based dishes such as poached eggs with spinach, field mushroom and goats cheese; and new-school creations such as chia seed porridge and corn fritters with halloumi get an equally strong run.

Rotating salad specials use seasonal produce and house made pickles, and lavishly flavoured muffins are baked daily. There’s a focus on using local, ethically sourced food and materials. Even the furnishings and fittings were locally sourced, made or recycled.

The cafe’s commitment to its local community is evident in the collection of colouring pencils for kids; water bowls for dogs; and communal timber benches outside. They’re the ideal place to enjoy some afternoon sun with good company and a Young Henry’s Natural Lager. If it’s chilly, order a Mecca coffee and ask for a blanket.