Vesbar Espresso

Surrounded by an established array of Vietnamese restaurants, Vesbar Espresso, founded by owner Aki Daikos, is part of ever-growing cafe strip along Illawarra Road in Marrickville. Daikos is no stranger to the hospitality industry, having previously operated Bay Espresso in Brighton Le Sands and Eastern Grind in Bondi Junction. Tables and stools scatter around the red Vespa parked outside, creating a distinct Italian charm to this former barber shop. Inside, retro Vespa advertisements, tins of peeled tomatoes and recycled hessian coffee sacks line the walls.

The bustling open kitchen offers breakfast until 3pm including the organic five grain porridge with strawberry, banana and cinnamon and Vesbar’s signature Mediterranean Breakfast served with two free ranged poached eggs, natural yoghurt, tomatoes and cucumbers, Persian feta, olives and Brasserie Bread’s organic olive bread. Lunch offers traditional Italian dishes including generous portions of handmade pasta, wooden boards of bruschetta, arancini balls and antipasto featuring selected imported cheeses and cured meats.

For local commuters, the La Marzocco espresso machine brews Campos Coffee, frothed with Riverina milk from 6am. Hard to resist is the stack of delectable pastries, like the ricotta zuccherati and nutella donut, sourced from nearby A&P Sulfaro Pasticceria Italiana at Haberfield.