Cartel Coffee & Bar

The man can do no wrong. I love this place like I love my terrible tramp stamp.

Cartel has a really cool vibe and what they have made of the tiny space they have is pretty impressive. Only in sunny Queensland would this place work as it is half outdoors and half indoors. I like how open it is so you get a view of the street and never feel claustrophobic.
The vibe is somewhat alternative with its graffiti art outside wall and black interior. The bar menu is pretty impressive with a wide selection of ciders and beers. They will sometimes have bands play which you can watch from indoors or enjoy as background music as you relax on the comfy sofas outside.
Overall, Cartel is a nice addition to the Caxton street scene. It is a great place to relax, enjoy a beer or cider and listen to local bands.

Cartel is a great place to stop in for a refreshing cider or beer (thy have nearly 30 varieties) on a stroll/​bike ride sown the slope of Caxton St into Paddington. Hitch your fixie with the rest leaning against the fence and make yourself comfortable on one of the low couches.
Apart from doing boutique beers, a big range of ciders (served with bitters — the house specialty), cocktails and a selection of Byron Bay meat pies, these guys also host live music throughout the week. I’ve seen a good acoustic duo play an intimate gig here (one of the players was also a member of Brisbane band The Rooftops) plus checked out more lively grooves on the weekend.
While the service is generally quite good, I once went there with a teetotaler who received some none too subtle hints implying he «buy something or get out».

As far as coffee goes, I don’t think Cartel serves it anymore, I believe they only open as a bar now. Some people aren’t too happy about this change, but I liked Cartel from the instant I saw it from the street. You’re practically not even moving off the street because Cartel has a small outdoor area with easy accessibility and with full view of Caxton Street. With a drink in hand, you feel as if you’re practically drinking on the side of the road. But I like that. It’s like you can jump out of the Barracks after a nice meal or a movie at Palace and just amble on down Caxton Street, and duck on inside Cartel because you feel like a cheeky casual drink. I actually saw a lot of people doing that when I went, because it’s just too easy. There’s no cover charge or bouncers lording over the front door to intimidate; it’s just a really relaxed atmosphere where you can pop in, have a beer or a cider and listen to some really great live music. (I saw a band called Adam and Dusty and they were RIDICULOUSLY amazing, seriously). You can do all this while you sit on some very well made-​over milk crates.
Cartel is a small venue and I think it’s a great location when you want to go see some live music or catch up with someone after work. I love its laid-​back atmosphere where you can just sit back and soak up the fun.