Flamingo Cafe

I love flamingos. And I love Flamingo. It’s a combination of sassy serving staff, a menu of Americana diner favourites and a whole heap of astroturf.

Good service, food, location, seams a little overpriced for such a simple style but never the less tasty.

I first discovered Flamingo during Valley Fiesta 2010. At the time, it was a hole-​in-​a-​wall café with astro-​turf and hamburger shaped seats. There was a label on the cash register which read «Josh is a c*nt.» The whole vibe was appealing.
Today, Flamingo is a little larger with an airconditioned back area — but retains that great kitsch valley vibe.
My go-​to order here is always the avocado on toast. It’s evolved quite a lot over the years, with cherry tomatoes & rocket appearing at times, and mint & dill at others. It’s uniformly tasty and really really quick to arrive at your table.
I also love the sundaes which have sadly been removed from their menu (but can be ordered on request). Much like the milkshakes, they’re garnished with whipped cream & glacé cherries. Very 70s/​80s Aussie milkbar-​esque.
They have yum fresh juices which are fresh-​made, and not from a bottle like other «fresh made» juices I’ve had around Brisbane.
Overall, Flamingo is pretty great. Good atmosphere, simple tasty food & friendly staff.

A little slice of Melbourne style lane-​way in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.
Flamingo is my Saturday morning brunch go-​to, always bustling but never busy enough to have to wait for a table.
Food is fantastic, the breakfast poached chicken is a personal favourite. The coffee is good too.

The coffee is good, but it’s the freshly made food that’s amazing. Leave some time to order, mind. It’s good food, not fast food.
Try the freshly made juice smoothies in the summer. The Mint and Watermelon is wonderful.
The Coffee is some of the best in the Upper end of the Valley, and the vibe is bohemian-​Hawaiian. (You’ll see what I mean).

Heavy on kitsch-​spirational 1950s Americana, you’d be more likely to find this dreamy café tucked away in one of Disneyland’s expertly engineered alleyways (behind the Tiki room, across from the Jungle Cruise) or in a hollywood backlot with abandoned sets from Gillagan’s Island. High on well-​appointed dramatic flare, I honestly expected the lights to go down and the mock-​thunderstorm to start at any minute. But here in Brissy it sits, in all its pineapple clad, shake-​slinging, Hawaiian-​shirted glory, and somehow it fits right in.
Serving up simple sandwiches, soups, veggie burgers, fresh juices and a solid array of milkshakes (salted caramel, anyone?), the few items these guys offer they do well. My veggie lentil burger came topped with fresh sprouts, spinach, carrots, and beetroot and pretty much made my day. And while I enjoyed lunch quite a bit, I think if I lived in the area I’d be more likely to pop by for a fresh juice and one of their drool-​inducing desserts on the regular. And for that mock-​thunderstorm.

Pineapples.
Pineapples errywhere.
Am I on acid again?
I don’t know.
But I’m sitting on a giant corn cob.
So you tell me.
A little L-​shaped segment of tropalicious jungle, this laneway hideaway is small on space, big on fun. And even bigger on ridonculous sambos and unforgettable shakes. A monster poached chicken number smashed with crunchy cos and drizzled with a tarragon buttermilk dressing ($ 15) is accompanied by a ‘small’ salted caramel milkshake ($ 6.50ish) that goes in one sip. One big, dreamy, salty, sugary sip that I’ll be having wet dreams about for days, maybe weeks.
I mentioned there were pineapples, right? On the chandelier, the wall pieces, the cushions.
I like pineapples.

I’m a little ashamed to admit Flamingo is my ‘go-​to’ place when I’m coming into work hungover. It’s perfect because it’s between by bus stop and my work building, I can order a coffee and just say ‘big’ when words are failing at me, the muffins are always massive and delicious no matter the flavour, and the staff seem to know when to be chatty and when some people just aren’t up for it. Also I can leave my sunglasses on without judgement. So ¹⁰⁄₁₀ just for them being there for an easy hangover relief for me.
The café itself is absolutely adorable, and even cuter now that it’s been renovated (with more seating too!). The lunch menu is always changing which can annoying when you find something delicious, but there’s always a decent sandwich available. Breakfast tends to be pretty steady, but I wouldn’t go there if you’re in a hurry.
Also: special mention of the peanut butter chocolate brownie. Your life is not complete until you’ve sampled this.

A culinary oasis just off of Anne street, tucked away neatly on a small lane way, seemingly miles from the hustle and bustle of the Fortitude Valley. It’s the closest feel to a Melbourne café, outside of Melbourne. Set amongst astro turf, eclectic furniture and the highest concentration of hipsters in the Southern Hemisphere, a meal here is always a guaranteed experience. And a delicious one at that.
Start off with one of their signature juices or indulge as I often do, in one of their delicious banana smoothies. Thick and fantastic, ask for it served extra cold in a steal milkshake glass for the optimum Flamingo smoothie experience.
For your main, the selection of one of their sandwich staples is always a winner, or instead, opt for one of their ever changing daily specials like the sausage sandwich, spinach and feta pie, or the savory mince. The menu changes by the season, so there will always be something new to tickle the taste buds.
Still have room? Tuck into one of their fresh baked peanut butter chocolate brownies, bread and butter pudding or ice creams sundaes. They’re too good to regret.
Seriously though, where do all the hipsters frequenting this joint come from? Turning into the lane, is like a portal into a new hipster dimension. Beards, coloured glasses, skinny jeans, bad haircuts, everywhere. I don’t mind it, I just question how they all got there? Maybe its the old-​school record store next door bringing them in? Theories anyone?
–SZ

Flamingo gets my award for Best Avo On Toast in Brisvegas.
Okay, so maybe I haven’t tried every AOT there is, but out of the three I did during a three day trip — this was the outright winner. (What? What?! You’re judging me for having the SAME breakfast three days in a row?)
Flamingo is super cute. There’s astro turf and plastic drinking cups and it’s named after a weird looking pink bird… could it BE any cuter? Well maybe some smurfs running around would be good, but at the very least you’ll be happy with their brunchy selections and the huge variety of mixed fresh juices to fuel you for some shopping in the nearby laneway.

I wonder how Flamingo has been doing, as this open air café is located at the entrance in an alley [Wynn Street Laneway] near the rest of the hubub in the Valley. Flamingo’s an eccentric little hub that serves up some delicious milk shakes (I had the coffee, though I really wanted to try the salted caramel), American diner style! I loved the «interior» (though there really wasn’t much interior) with painted walls and their brightly colored furniture pieces that really made the place pop. Their slow cooked lamb shank with mashers that I ordered a while back melted in my mouth and was so delicious, and their sandwiches also looked good.
It’s a great place for brekky or lunch before or after taking a peek at the boutiques and second hand bookshop in Wynn Lane — or even around the bougie James Street just a few blocks down. The only thing I noticed was that the servers seemed a bit offish and not super inviting, which turned me off a bit from returning. Otherwise, Flamingo is a perfectly adequate place in the Valley, tucked away from the city and club scene.

I can not resist a strip of astro turf. There’s something so beautifully tacky about it that just makes me want to lie down and make astro turf angels. Unfortunately, not only is this impossible but the attempt can be a little painful… and embarrassing, if it’s attempted in public — for example, at Flamingo.
Flamingo was rocking Winn Lane before Winn Lane was more than «the back of the Zoo» — I went to Flamingo for the first time in (my bad) over a year the other day and was taken aback by how much is going on up that alley lately. It’s good to see that Flamingo hasn’t lost any of its original space, spreading out cosily at the entrance to the laneway.
The menu is bound to have something for everyone and on my last visit I couldn’t resist the siren call of the banh mi, or Vietnamese pork roll. While not bearing a great deal of resemblance to an authentic banh mi, it was still crazy tasty… but what really made the meal was the Velvet Green smoothie. Yeah, yeah, the avocado smoothie. Suck up your fear and suck this up through a straw because it’s delicious. Why would they serve it if it wasn’t delicious? For lols? IT’S DELICIOUS.
Also, they use Genovese beans here and that’s just always gonna fly with me. I’ll be back sooner rather than later next time.

real good toasties, they need dill pickle though. coffee is good. staff are always relaxed.

On a wintery, cloudy and rainy Sunday in ol-​Brisbane-​town, one doesn’t expect a glass of happiness to come across their table in the form of a smoothie. Stopping into Flamingo for a quick lunch (spinach and fetta pie and a flat white), I stepped boldly out of my comfort zone to try Flamingo’s Velvet Green smoothie. Rumor has it they are renowned for this smoothie made from avocado, banana and honey. Yes, you read right: avocado.
Now, straight off the bat I wasn’t sure what was about to hit my tastebuds but by golly I wasn’t expecting the Green Velvet to taste so good. This smoothie is somewhat like a fine red wine: it gets better with age and in this case, with each sip the flavours grew on me.
Don’t be put off by the thought of avocado in the smoothie. Flamingo’s trusty femme fatale owner also tells us it works equally well with banana and orange juice.

Flamingo is a fantastic addition to Brisbane’s coffee scene, with great (Genovese) coffee, great food, great atmosphere and all at a good price. Tucked into the fabulous Winn Lane just off Ann Street, it’s hard to name a standout feature of Flamingo.
The décor is a kitsch-lover’s dream — exterior walls painted with pink and orange murals of palm trees along with the café’s namesake, a bright yellow and white striped awning shading the outside eating area; a square of astroturf. The steps leading into the hole-​in-​the-​wall kitchen are also covered with astroturf, and a the look is completed with garden gnomes and pot plants. The interior café section is next to the kitchen, in a room not much larger than the average home dining room. The black walls, floor and tables accentuate the fluorescent paintings of palm trees and flamingos on the walls and the colourful plastic stools and create gloriously cheesy 80’s disco vibe. My beloved Genovese coffee never fails to impress, and the food is well priced and serving sizes are generous. If you haven’t been yet, you’re missing out.

Flamingo, so HOT right now, Flamingo… The dandy of the bird world makes an appropriate namesake for this über chic and quirky Brisbane lane-​way gem, which has been popping up in photo shoots and the odd TV show here and there as an example of Brisbane cool.
I’ve been here for a job interview before and arrived a little earlier than my prospective employers to check stuff out. The owner is a self-​possessed and quirky middle-​aged-​ish woman who has a penchant for ‘Kath & Kim’ impersonations and daggy disco tunes. The place was buzzing with well-​heeled office workers who enjoyed a bit of banter with the matriarch, as well as the ubiquitous bearded hipster.
I took advantage of my early bird-​ed-​ness and ordered some food. The fare could be described as how Mum makes it at home, but slightly better (sorry Mum). The savoury mince was deliciously buttery and salty, tasting like it had been lovingly slow cooked for a decent period. The coffee was pretty spesh too.

Their coffee is super tasty. It’s probably not the strongest coffee, but that’s the way I like it.
I once bought a slice of a chocolate and peanut butter cake that was absolutely sugar-​coma worthy and so delicious. Whatever baked goods they have on offer, order one!!!
The homemade sausage rolls are also killer, everyone always raves about them and they do stand up to the expectation.
I love how certain cafes are starting to serve sandwiches with a side of crisps. Crisps and sandwiches go so well together.

Flamingo is hands down one of my favourite places in all of Brisbane. Tucked in my favourite little laneway, this quirky mix of great coffee, yummy eats, hilarious service and tropical themes seems to just work so well. I usually have a small panic attack whenever a friend tells me that they haven’t been, we proceed to drop all plans and go straight away because EVERYONE should go to Flamingo otherwise they are surely missing out.
The owner is an absolute riot of a lady, and it’s not uncommon for her to pay out on her staff in front of the customers. All in good fun of course. And not at the expense of the food and drink. My usual order is the labna, avocado and tomato toastie, a latte and a Pink Flamingo juice! One of the most filling and reasonable lunchtime delights in all of Brisbane with meals averaging around $ ¹⁰⁄₁₁.
So if you need a little joy and brightness in your life, head to Winn Lane and make an afternoon of sitting in the alfresco section of Flamingo. I can guarantee you, you will have a good time.

Do you ever have one of those days where you wish you were 5 years old again, without a care in the world? Where the slightest thing causes the greatest amusement? Then take a wander down Winn Lane. If you’re not amused by the bright graffiti art, Astroturf or tiny plastic chairs, you will be by the assortment of food and drinks on offer.
Being the most adventurous (or childish, take your pick) I decided on the ‘Green Velvet’ — a thick, green blend of banana, soy milk, honey, nutmeg and avocado. Let me just say this now — adding avocado to a smoothie differentiates a good smoothie from a mind-​blowingly, phenomenal smoothie. Kudos to you, Flamingo Café.
As my friend ordered an ice coffee, I gave a not-​so-​subtle eye-​roll and muttered «dull» not-​so under my breath. I promptly ate my words when her drink arrived — exploding out of an old-​school sundae glass was an ice coffee topped with pink whipped cream, chocolate sauce, strawberries, wafers, a cherry and definitely the best part — sprinkles. Dull? Would your inner 5 year old think so?

Walking to the entrance of the resplendent Winn lane
you are met by a wall of pink and vivacious laughter,
Welcome to Flamingo Café!
What I’m sure most people can appreciate about this place
are the quirky furnishings and really chilled out atmosphere.
(Check out their cute collection of Salt and Pepper shakers!)
Digging deeper I’ve found their breakfast menu also has some of the best café food I’ve seen.
Not content with the standard Bacon and Eggs, their range of foodstuffs reflects their eclectic surroundings.
I usually find myself dithering with my order since everything sounds amazing.
will it be the Chickpea falafel wrap with spinach and tzatziki?
Turkey, sage and walnut cream cheese with cranberry on rye?
Asparagus, sweet onion and Prosciutto?
I also recommend sampling their smoothies and juices
(The Nana Crystal: Pear, apple and mint smoothie is delicious.)
But while the menu is excellent
I was a bit disappointed with the service.
No real friendly greeting when I sat down
and the waiter seemed extra snooty when taking my order.
Other than that,
If you are in the 4006 be sure to pull up a chair on the astroturf
and toast the best café on Winn st!