The humble Parisian ‘boulangerie’ has just had itself a head-to-toe Melbourne makeover, manifesting in a pastry-filled glasshouse on one of Hawthorn’s bustling corners.
Turquoise tiles wash upon a granite bench top, adorned with indulgent cronuts and croissants to put your açai brekky pots to shame. These freshly baked sweets are so finger-licking good that they would make any francophile feel at home in this city.
Now it’s time to take a seat.
Peppered with timber booths and flooded with light, your table at Rustica is sure to look good through a lens. Hanging greens nestled in metallic pots strike against the industrial backbone of this café-bakery, showcasing a time-old clash that will make your Anterior interior lobe sing.
Whilst any lover of all things ‘aesthetic’ would already be rehearsing their vowels, it’s not until a waffle and marscapone-loaded fork meets your mouth that stuff truly gets hot and steamy.
An array of contemporary breakfast offerings come to life on meticulous platescapes that will make you want to dig right on in.
Order an iced latte, then a regular latte, then an OJ, and sit procrasti-sipping and people watching through the looking glass windows to your right. On your left, observe the most friendly and welcoming staff prescribe your house-roasted caffeine hits behind a bench top of ceramic glory.
Everything is preened to perfection, but not to cast a veneer over half-hearted breakfast. These dishes and delicacies are certified tastebud tantalisers.
Alright, pencil it in. We’ll meet you under the candescent glow of the Rustica neon sign for Sunday brunch. We’re going to be working up quite a sweat carrying every bread loaf remaining on the rack, so active wear is a must.
Rustica’s doors are now open at 121 Power Street, Hawthorn, following in the footsteps of their beloved CBD and Fitzroy locations. Find out more here: www.rusticacanteen.com
Image credits: Genevieve Phelan
