Cibi

Open and airy with plenty of light coming in. Popular place. Attentive staff. Great coffee and enough choice on the menu. Food delivered promptly and well prepared. Water constantly replenished. Also contains a shop with items that would make great gifts. Only negative — one loo for all to share and ran out of hand wash by 11am.

Cibi (unsure why it isn’t spelt Chibi) is a great local Collingwood café serving light breakfasts and lunches and some pretty fine coffee as well. It is owned by a Japanese couple and the Japanese influences are evident in everything — this makes it a unique and rewarding café experience if you haven’t tried it yet.
The café is light and airy and you never feel crowded. The Japanese kitchenwares are expensive but beautiful and make for lovely gifts.
Cibi is one of my favourite Melbourne cafes and a great space to read the paper over a LB and something off their breakfast menu (Cibi breakfast is a go to).

As I live very close to the awesome Cibi, I think it’s only fair that I give an honest review on the place. In the short way: it rocks. I mean, it really rocks.
I’ve had a couple of breakfasts from here, one was the traditional Japanese breakfast which includes some rice, miso soup, some salad, picked vegetables and tomago. Tasty, healthy, light and brilliant.
I’ve also had the pleasure to try the avocado on sourdough. Make no mistake; when they say there’s an avocado on it, there really is a whole avocado on it. Generous serves, friendly staff, great coffee, awesome wooden décor and there’s a crafts section to buy Japanese kitchen knick knacks and cutlery or teapots.
What a lovely place, and one I’ll keep on coming back to again and again.

Loved this place! Would not have found it if not for Unilocal.It’s truly a gem located on a quiet side street, but not to be missed. I had the Cibi lunch which was an assortment of «Japanese tapas». On the day I went, it included some chicken meatballs in soup (delicious), a daikon salad, and a pancake with eggs and some veggies. All served with brown rice. It felt healthy and fresh. I devoured it thoroughly. The coffee is also great. I found the service to be impeccable. There’s a cute nook on the side where they sell and display a bunch of cool Japanese trinkets, cooking supplies, and just fun stuff. Definitely check Cibi out if in the neighborhood!

Great for a different brunch. Sick of the usual brunch options? Get some Japanese breakfast, with rice, grilled salmon and an assortment of sides.
Food itself is quite good, and I’d highly recommend ordering from the jap section, since that’s what is different about this place.
5 stars if they had a bit more variety in choice, but the 3 options are still good.
Oh, and a little pricey, $ 17.50 for the basic set, with $ 21 for the «ultimate»

Oh Cibi. how you delight me every time. Having been away for a year, it’s good to see some things never change. Tucked away on a side street, drive by too fast and you might miss it.
Everything about the space bows to good design, from the workbench communal tables to the mismatched industrial chairs to the sleek, clean modern kitchen. Let’s not forget the picture of one of the greatest architects Le Corbusier hanging on the wall.
Not enough cafes have a kitchen where you can see in to but with Cibi it’s all out in the open. They also have a gallery/​shop at the back with different Japanese wares including enamelware pots, cutlery, knives and glasses).
Oh and the food is scrumptious and wholesome as well! Give me that green tea muffin any day of the week!
In super exciting news it looks like they’re opening a new project called Minanoie on Peel Street this month. Can’t wait.
Cibi, You had me at Hello!

A lovely little café/​restaurant; fantastic, fresh, simple Japanese food and great service. My favourite thing about Cibi has to be the breakfasts — such a pleasant change from the usual variations on bacon and/​or eggs.

Slowly crawling out of the hole I’ve been living in for far too long, I’ve found Cibi when interrogating friends for a breakfast that is just different.
This is a cute place, sleekly designed, with an interesting mix of brekkie options. Sorta East meets West.
Japanese breakfast of rice, soup, salmon, veggies and omelet… delicious! And such a nice change. It’s not overly expensive (about $ 15) and all tastes fresh-​made.
Good teas too, and had a muffin made with tea! Huh? How’d they do that?

food, Melbourne peoples seem to flock to it like… like something is attracted to something else.
Cibi has taken advantage of this attraction, offering both and all at once. Their Japanese café/​restaurant offers simple, restrained and magical foods — be it a soba salad or another delicacy of your craving. While eating or coffee-​ing it up why not flick through the eclectic arrangement of books found beside you and on the shelves — from architecture to glossy mags to an amazing old Atlas of the World. Yes winning.
Once you’ve had your fill of foods and the like feel free to head to the back of the space which becomes a retail shop for high quality Japanese kitchen ware and more. Yes, everything here costs a pretty penny, but trust all of it is handmade and of the highest quality. And all of it looks so pretty, I’m sure I’d actually use anything I bought, just place it the mantle piece and looks at it.
Great way to waste a Saturday morning, and some nights find an opening launching a new range with the space full of socialites.

This spacious café is hidden in the streets of Collingwood and avoids the crowds that meander up and down Smith St. A family owned Japanese café, the food is a fusion of East meets West. Along side the homemade Burcher muesli is a soba noodle salad with wasabi dressing. I was gutted I came here on a Tuesday, as I tried to order the traditional Japanese breakfast, until I was informed by the waitress its only available on the weekends. Now I know where I will be eating Saturday morning. The menu is printed on Japanese Washi paper and comes folded like a note in high school.
The converted warehouse has a clean, spacious feel the seats its patrons on an array of recycled and second hand furniture. The open kitchen feels like a part of the café and creates a homely vibe. Sharing the space is a collection of Japanese home wares and artifacts that are also for sale. They have some really cool items including men’s hats that are also made out of Washi. The artwork is simple and suits the huge white walls and the clientele is a good mix of hip, suit and musician.
Only attempt to pay by eftpos if you spend over $ 20, as you’ll have to run to the closest ATM like I did.

Japanese food to me equals perfection. Actually everything that the Japanese do equals perfection. Cibi is no exception.
The other day I ordered a tofu burger. I had never had a tofu burger before and was eagerly awaiting the discovery that was in store for me. Whilst I waited I took a little stroll through their shop. Ah Japan, how I can not wait to visit so I can be surrounded by the treasures that can be seen at Cibi.
My Japanese twist of a sandwich just arrived. As I hadn’t ordered a tofu burger I didn’t know what to expect, this is often the best way to eat as you always get to discover new things. I expected a slab of tofu but was presently surprised with a minced tofu burger filled with mushrooms and smothered in a yummy teriyaki sauce. Mmm.