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Maroubra: Hot bed for cafe's in Sydney's
east, by Greg Tingle
Coffee
anyone? Have you thought of Maroubra Beach?
Maroubra
has firmly established itself as a haven for coffee
connoisseurs in the south eastern suburbs.
Its
long been acknowledged that cafes are de rigeur
in Europe and they're now taking their place in
Sydney, as the meeting, greeting, hanging out,
socializing and business meeting venue of choice.
Maroubra
Beach is in a state of flux and revitalization,
as the spin meisters put it.
One
constant is that each weekend, the cafes and their
staff, feel the heat; as both locals and visitors
head for their establishments. Maroubra certainly
has a cafe to suit all tastes.
Even
on weekdays the cafes are experiencing healthy
trade.
In
McKeon Street alone, there are 5 cafes. It's starting
to resemble King Street, Newtown or Crown Street,
Surry Hills, without the congestion and urban
sprawl.
Maroubra's
most established cafe, The Pool Cafe, a short
walk around the corner in Marine Parade, overlooks
the famous landmark, Maroubra Rockpool. Further
down the street, Pavilion Cafe sits right on the
beach. Then there is Marine Cafe, conveniently
located on the corner of McKeon Street and Marine
Parade. Opposite the newsagency, is The Big Blu,
which has earned a reputation by locals as the
friendliest and most relaxing cafe at Maroubra
Beach, but other café owners may be less
subjective.
Big
Blu owner, Steven says, "People like the
fact that we are relaxed and unpretentious".
He continues; "we also have the advantage
of the winter morning sun, which bathes the café
each morning. Customers enjoy the music we play".
Across
the road is Mr Big Stuff. John offers a restaurant
look and feel. "Big Stuff" has the unique
advantage of being the only public internet access
available at Maroubra Beach. Many local community
meetings and parties also take place there.
The
Zebra Cafe, a friendly family affair, has traditionally
been the local surfers' cafe of choice, and features
a heater to keep morning customers cozy. Their
community noticeboard keeps locals informed as
well.
The
cafes are not Maroubra Beaches' only attraction.
We should not omit the area's most popular club,
the Maroubra Seals. Here you can not only get
a reasonably priced meal, but delicious coffee
and cake is also available.
Directly
opposite "The Seals", is Maroubra Skatepark.
It is well acknowledged that this amenity has
brought extra business to the area.
I
hear you pondering the effects of coffee on your
health? Is caffeine good for you?
It
is well documented that coffee stimulates the
mind and the metabolism (slimmers take note).
As well as coffee, traditional breakfasts are
found at these cafes. These include bacon and
eggs with wholemeal toast, vegemite with tomatoes
and mushrooms, vegetarian breakfasts and an assortment
of freshly squeezed fruit juices. Furthermore,
most cafes offer soy, skim coffee and decaf alternatives,
for the health conscious. A wide variety of teas
are also available, with herb teas being extremely
popular.
What
moved me to write and article about cafes? Firstly,
I am a self-confessed caffeine addict (not the
"hard stuff"). When I worked for Telstra,
as Business Development Manager, I managed half
a dozen clients in the coffee brewing industry.
My customers were most generous when I visited
them. From here it snowballed.
"Will
this article cost us anything"? This question
was raised whilst researching this story. "No,
just a cup of coffee when I pass by next time",
I cheerfully replied.
Well,
I've got another front-page news story to write.
I'm off to visit some of the local cafes to pick
up some scuttlebug, while I get another dose of
Maroubra caffeine.
Directory
of Maroubra Beach cafes
The
Big Blu: Very friendly and relaxed, wide menu
- Phone 9344 4929
Mr Big Stuff: Open plan, very relaxed, Internet
access - Phone 9315 5631
Pavilion Cafe: Situated on the beach, voted "Best
Cafe Restaurant" - Phone 8347 0055
The Pool Cafe: Overlooking Maroubra Rockpool -
Phone 9314 0364 or 0407 221 027
Marine Cafe: On the corner of McKeon Street and
Marine Parade - Phone 9344 9908
Beach View Cafe: Open 1st thing in morning, change
from $10 possible - Phone 9315 5333
Zebra Cafe: Traditionally very popular with the
local surfers - Phone 9314 1276
Links:
Cafe's
Of The World (including photos)
Maroubra
Beach Resource (Greg Tingle's Maroubra website)
Two
Men and a Coffee Shop, by Dane Crandon: 14th August
2003
Cafe's
Of The World (including photos)
Maroubra
Beach
Cafes
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