Penny Farthing Espresso

Quite possibly the best French toast I’ve ever had. Chocolate sauce with banana and fruit custard and blueberries…divine!

I had a really good breakfast and coffee. The big breakfast was nice and smoky which was different, but I really liked it. The atmosphere was really nice and chill and quiet and not busy. The staff were great and the coffee was exceptional.

First visit here! Great coffee! Service a bit disappointing! Bit stand offish!
As cold as the weather! Next time in Melbourne will re try by reading other reviews! May have been a bad day! The Travelling Chef. Warren Tucker!

Staff was very rude to my friend. Would not recommend this place to anyone. There are much better places in the area.

Good coffee and a strong menu with a few different options for vegans and vegetarians as well as usual omnivore options. Love the backyard dining area, and find the place well suited to either brunch for two or larger groups enjoying a long lunch. Service is always friendly.

Hi, the service at the Penny Farthing Espresso, was wonderful. And the food was delicious. Can’t wait to go back.

This place has so much vibe!
Best food, best service and best people!
Would come again!

Me and my partner have been coming here for quite a few years now always ordering the smash with some extras, this has been one of our fav breakfast in Melbourne. However it seems clear now that the cafe has changed managers or changed chefs as the food was very sub standard.

Instead of a hash brow we were given 6 potato gems

The chips were clearly cheap and come from a frozen bag

The halloumi and mushrooms were very salty and inedible

And where the bread used to be thick and fresh seemed thin and stale.

They refused to take money off the smash which cost us over $30 with extras!

Still make a good coffee but the penny farthing we once knew is dead.

Always great food and service
we have at penny farthing espresso
Love the northcote vibe ️

Mediocre experience, one staff member struggled to take our order. I was pretty clear and had to repeat our order several times. Wasn't ordering anything different or altered from their menu, so not sure what was lost in translation. There were 3 of us ordering 1 x main and 3 x sides to share but staff member only brought out 1 set of cutlery. When I asked for an extra 2 she just brought 2 x forks. Corn fritter dish was nice, but I was mortified when we had ordered 2 sides of hashbrowns (and the staff member telling me there is 2 in a serve) only getting 1 per serve for $4 each. $8 for 2 x hashbrowns (the standard frozen McCains/McDonald's like, so nothing fancy). Unfortunately there are so many other quality cafes on high street I would rather spend my money and get a nicer weekend experience. Shame really 'cos it's a cute cafe otherwise.

I think the owners response says it all. Hence why things won't change. Change and leadership comes from improving on feedback where this would benefit the cafe, staff and their customers. Btw a 1kg bag of frozen McCain Hashbrowns is $3.40 (you'd get around 16). Have also just purchased 2 x hashbrown sides in Sydney Cafe innerwest (Marrickville) comparable suburb to Northcote. $2.50 per serve for 1. My lesson learnt.

It's my favourite cafe and I told the staff that the other day. Lovely ambience out the back and quiet. No music blasting - bliss! I like the breakfasts. Wait staff always friendly and accommodating. Meals are often quick! Delightful!

Love their Brekky and coffee, service can be slow at best of times but would for a
Leisurely Brekky

Such a good vibe!

Very friendly and professional staff.
Penny Farthing definitely makes the best coffee in the area.
The menu seems well balanced and have variety of dishes.
The food is really good value for the money.
Must try Avo Smash!

Penny Farthing consistently makes one of the best coffees I've experienced in Melbourne. I'm willing to go quite a bit out of my way to get a coffee here and really look forward to trying the brunches which are on offer.

Pretty good coffee, not as good as it was couple years back though.

Workers have their favourite customers which they chat with, I know people who have been there for years and barely get a hello back.

Great coffee, mid-morn snack, service, ambience and staff. Can't ask for anything more when it comes to a morning fix

I had the strong flat white with oat milk and it was a great coffee. They will clean your keep cup if you ask. Make sure to tip them if you do.

This cafe is a hidden gem! Is has hands down the best smashed avocado in Melbourne have probably been here close to 30 times maybe more. Definitely worth checking out!

While this is definitely one of the better places for coffee on the high st, I’ve found the service pretty disappointing.

I recently ordered a takeaway coffee and waited outside with others who had done the same. The waitress came out and gave the other people their coffees and had a friendly chat with them but when mine was ready they stayed behind the counter and shouted out the door that it was ready.

Not a big deal but it was a pretty clear signal that I wasn’t one of ‘the regulars’. It seemed like a very exclusionary and petty gesture - you should provide customers the same service whether they’re a regular customer or not.

I gave this place 5 Cause I rarely find good coffee anywhere. I had 2 today and they were both excellent, sadly in Melbourne that’s not an easy feat. Next to the best yoga studio in Melbourne too, so that definitely helped ️