Melbourne’s historical meeting place returns this summer, offering coffee, brunch and cocktails.
Melbourne icon Federal Coffee Palace has been reborn as Federal Coffee. Located under the archways of the historic GPO building, the 15-year-old coffee stop has expanded its offering to an upmarket brunch menu that pairs perfectly with coffee in the mornings and cocktails in the afternoons.
Taking its name from the Federal Hotel and Coffee Palace, established in 1888 and once the focal point of Melbourne’s society, Federal Coffee’s location and history has inspired its transformation. Its European architecture has informed the French-inspired menu while the deep red of Melbourne’s postal service has influenced Federal Coffee’s new branding.
Conveniently positioned in the heart of the city, the GPO was considered the central point of Melbourne and is still used today as a point of reference to measure distance from the city. Federal Coffee’s own history – as a popular meeting spot for tourists, city goers and locals alighting from a nearby tram stop – is also a key component of the brand, says owner Josh Rajal.
“We had finalised our entire rebrand, completed the menu, trained all our staff and opened on March 11 – then Covid hit and we had to close again on March 16,” says Josh. “I’m so grateful to the staff who supported us through the challenge of Covid and I’m thrilled to finally welcome the Melbourne community in to see what we have to offer. It’s so great to see Melbournians coming back into the city to support hospitality and retail businesses and to watch Federal Coffee become a brunch destination and meeting place.”
The all-day brunch menu focuses on Melbourne favourites with a French twist. Federal Coffee’s smashed avocado features comté cheese as a key ingredient; its eggs benedict perches atop a classic French pork terrine; and a triple-cooked French toast pairs with lavender crème Anglaise.
More classically-French dishes are available too, including a duck cassoulet with beans, lentils, confit duck and pork sausage and eggs en cocotte – French baked eggs with gooey béchamel, broad beans and gruyere, topped with a generous drizzle of truffle oil. For those after something lighter to pair with their coffee or champagne, a selection of French pastries are available from Melbourne’s own Tivoli Road Bakery.
Products from local suppliers complement the brunch menu, with bottled signature cocktails from the award-winning Everleigh and the all-important coffee coming from Melbourne favourites Industry Beans. As a thank-you to Melbourne’s hospitality workers, many of whom are international students, Josh is giving every hospitality worker or student who follows Federal Coffee on social media a free coffee until the end of January 2021.
Says Josh, “Coffee is still at the heart of what we do, but we wanted to give people a reason to linger beyond a quick cup. Our historic location, coupled with our all-day brunch menu, is the ultimate spot to take in the CBD as our city returns to life once more.”
Federal Coffee
350 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000
Open Monday-Sunday, 8am – 3pm
Bookings can be made through Instagram (@federalcoffeegpo); walk-ins are also welcome
https://www.facebook.com/federalcoffeegpo
