A Little Bird Told Me

Little Bird is now closed in its current location due to the site being developed for more apartments.
*sigh*
Get your coffee fix from Real Foods (La Trobe St), Plantation (Melbourne Central) or Market Lane (Thierry St)

I had this bookmarked from the first time it opened and like Sylvia, I visited on my last day in Melbourne which sucked, but I will be back for sure.
Walking down Little La Trobe, you wouldn’t be mistaken in thinking there isn’t a café in sight, however its slightly obscure location make you feel like you’ve found something a little special that only locals know about.
I was greeted with a warm smile and found a stool that overlooked a busy passage way for students and city dwellers and waited patiently for my chai and home-​made coconut granola with yoghurt and cranberries. It was the perfect way to start the morning, with fibre rich food, a creamy hot drink and a spot of people watching.
The vibe is relaxed and easy going, same goes for the service. It is the perfect place to read your book, do a bit of work or catch up with friends in a cosy atmosphere.
This definitively won’t be my first check in!

If you want hipster with a business twist. this is it. It’s right behind Melbourne Central station and opposite Melbourne artists supplies store. In a very quiet one way street.
Coffee was really good but then again I haven’t had bad coffees in Melbourne yet. They have a small range of baked goods. Not a full breakfast place at all.
If you want a coffee just before 9am. Be prepared to line up and wait for awhile.

As always this café provides a sanctuary for loves of the coffee ‘experience’. A bright, comfortable open space with lots of natural light and lots of opportunity for people watching. Even thought it’s located on the corner of a Little street and a Laneway this location is abundant with passing foot traffic as its a short cut between RMIT and Melbourne Central station.
The service is great, the coffee is fabulous and don’t get me started on the slices and small cakes located just bear the register! On this Occassion I was here for a working coffee meeting for which this café is perfect but I have tried the brownie which was scrumptious! If you value good coffee, if your in the area and /​or you just feel like a to die for choccie brownie then check out this gem!

This is a must stop if in the city or you are nearby at University. Beautiful contemporary fit out. Timber stools and tables make for easy relaxed conversation.
The coffee is very good, especially the espresso. Friendly, welcoming staff greet you and take care, even if the place is packed during busy times!

I’ll start off by saying I love this place. I’ve had a number of coffees (using the delicious Seven Seeds beans) now from A Little Bird Told Me, and legitimately every time I have had an amazing coffee, and have walked out saying to myself (and possibly messaging others too) how enjoyable that coffee was. I don’t know there’s many other places I can say the same about. There are also a small selection of delicious sweets to try as well as one or two different breakfast and lunch options, however its not a place you’ll go to specifically for a meal. Imagine if they made food as good as their coffee! Mmmm.
Tucked into Little La Trobe St, it’s such a beautiful place to visit, with two sides completely made into windows. It lets in lovely amounts of light throughout the day, as well as highlighting the cool street-​art in the area. If your in need for an amazing coffee, definitely try it out people, you will not be disappointed!

This is what Melbourne coffee is all about! You wonder down a lane that appears to have nothing happening or going on… so you get half way along this random lane and there’s a beautiful little coffee spot that has no right in being there but is perfect, none the less. The filter coffee I had was delicious and the brownies were just as good. It’s definitely worth ducking past for a coffee.

I would always walk past ALBTM on my way to and from uni and the look of this cute little coffee shop had always caught my attention. I decided to spend my break with a coffee and browse some emails one afternoon and immediately thought of this place to go to. I love the atmosphere and the gorgeous set-​up with the succhulent terrariums and heaps of natural lighting. However, being ethnic and an introvert I felt slightly out of place but regardless the staff were a lovely bunch. The mocha I ordered was really delicious and rich, I enjoyed my time. I most likely won’t be returning as the intimate setting is a little too settling for me.

Used to be a 4 star, but now they do delicious food, so pumping it up to a 5 star rating. Woot!

I do love a solid coffee shop. No kitchen distractions, they just focus on coffee and do it really well.
Most of these places offer standing room only, or just a couple of chairs for people to perch as most grab it to go. A Little Bird Told Me on the other hand, offers a lovely space with an open feel, encouraging you to sit down and linger a while longer over your Seven Seeds coffee.
With Matt Forbes pastries on display, it’s a pretty tempting offer and a great spot to have a chat with a friend or finish some emails.

I wish I would have discovered this place sooner. The coffee is quite expensive, but the service is fantastic, and the light flowing in through the window is just stunning. There are outlets in the corner of the bar if you need to do some work on an electronic device, as I did. Extra points for the best latte art I’ve encountered in a long time and a very clean toilet!

Another beauty of the CBD. Tucked away well down Little Lonsdale lies this wonderful little café. How did I come about this place you ask? Well I would just refer to its name if I were you. I’m not even going to apologies for the pun, you knew it was coming.
I came in off the street from the cold and the rain and managed to get myself one of the last coffees of the day. It was almost five and my macchiato was waiting for me. They did a great job of it, I can tell you that much. It had a much cleaner and bolder flavour than I was expecting and a little hint of something which I could not quite put my finger on. Absolutely wonderful coffee and the perfect way to pull me though the lecture which was to follow.
The café has a nice layout with the clean white look with light wood and huge glass windows. It is a great contrast to the dreary alleyways all around. Stepping into this place out of the rain was like arriving home to an open fire.
Love it.

What impressed me about here as soon as we walked in was that our order was taken and we were seated. No payment requested up front. This works for similar coffee haunts that serve food, I think more places birds size should follow.
I ordered an espresso and my wife a flat white. This was on the way out to breakfast so it was my first coffee/​food/​anything for the day. Thankfully the espresso was balanced and bold, with a huge hazelnut finish and syrupy mouth. I had another before we left which was as good.
I noticed some v60 pour overs and an aeropress all setup ready to roll off to a corner too.
We shared a cake so we could linger as it was raining outside. The carrot cake was fresh and delicious, the icing more savoury, not sweet — which I prefer.
This is an awesome spot that isn’t being smashed by the droves that Brother Baba and Patricia suffer from sometimes.
The floor planning and free space in Little Bird really sets it apart for me. You feel like lingering rather than getting out of people’s way.
Get in here before everyone else does!

These are the 5 reasons why you should spend your money at Little Bird:
1. Seven Seeds Blend
2. Filter Coffee
3. Pastries by Matt Forbes
4. Terrariums
5. Amazing Service
Note: There is a ton of natural light shining in. Perfect spot for photography!

Massive dislike: Checked it out 4 hrs before leaving Melbourne!!!
My other half suggested we meet up with some friends here after breakfast at Wonderbao. The meeting turned out to be love at first sight (i.e. the café and I).
There is something about this café I love … perhaps a nordic nostalgia?
It is a great place to meet and catch up with friends, sit by the window and watch the world go by, street and café photography, work away from the office or have some quiet time to yourself. The natural light fills the space with warmth and once you see the cakes and pastries on offer, you will feel happiness. They have a variety of gluten free cakes/​slices and if I had room in my stomach, I would happily try each and every one of them! We sat at the communal table where a steady stream of filter coffees were being delivered. They were all delicious.
Whatever Caleb and his team are doing, they are doing an awesome job.

With the cutest name ever and located on the art supplies lane in the city, A Little Bird Told me is a warm and bright café that specializes in coffee, but also offers pastries. I only had their rhubarb pastry (5), and didn’t have a coffee, which I shouldn’t have done! I really should have tried their take on Seven Seeds coffee, but their pastry was also good. I was dismayed that they couldn’t toast it for me though! It was definitely an expensive pastry, which I would have enjoyed way more if it was heated up. I didn’t quite fancy that they don’t kitchen — including something as simple as an oven, but maybe they’re just starting up? Their excellent service made up for my dismay though. =)
The place was friendly — from the décor to the service. The baristas were really attentive, but let one of us leave without paying for the coffee. We went back later, of course, but it seemed a bit disorganized. Either way, really cute place, pretty good location, and a great place for a nice quiet chat or study.

It can be hard sometime to find something a little different these days in Melbourne, as EVERYONE is being different that they all look the same.
I had the pleasure of being introduce to this cute little café.
With its clean lines, white walls, warm wood tables, natural light and for the first time in a long time NO clutter. Don’t get me wrong I love the cafes that have things to look at ALL over the walls but sometime less is more.
There is a counter FULL of sweets that look amazing, the smell of coffee in the air Straight away my mouth was salivating in anticipation of a caffeine and sugar hit. They have a stunning butcher block where the fitter coffee was being made. I was very happy to have be introduced…
The staff are very friendly and welcoming which can be hard to find with all this hepster revolution going on in Melbourne.
Ok the important thing — coffee TASTY was quick to come aswell which as we all know can be hard, now this was a great coffee had to have another.
BUT the sweets OMG gluten free cookies, slices but the best of all lamingtons yes that’s it GLUTEN FREE Lamingtons made by the amazing Matt Forbes these babys are the bomb.
I will be back.

This café is relatively new and so not all that busy, but just you wait, the people will come!
For the moment, you can just get coffee and sweets, but their coffee is amazing and they have a counter full of yummy sweets. They have a GF range which includes a GF lamington! And all the coeliacs say???
I ordered the GF pistachio, polenta and citrus cake. Not too sweet and very moist — perfect! :)
I love the clean open look of this café and i will definitely be back!

Thanks to talented baristas, a house blend from Seven Seeds and a Synesso machine this is some damn tasty coffee and absolutely should be on your list of places to hit up when you want a caffeine fix without the frantic environment that is in so many other CBD cafes. The large communal tables, complete with terrariums, are terrific for sitting and reading for a short while.
Make sure you get a cake. They’re made by talented baker Matt Forbes and worth every penny and calorie you can muster. The Lamington will be like no other you’ve ever tried. Trust me.