Dunks & Unley

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, my aussie sweetie and I bought a bed from The Bed Warehouse on Unley Road (great place — see my review) and then wandered down the street on a whim to have coffee at Dunks & Unley. It was a happy whim. Bob and Bridget were running the show that day. Nice people. Prompt service. Pleasant, relaxing atmosphere. And yes, it is also a furniture store with an eclectic range of items for sale, some of which you get to occupy as you sup.
If it is a sunny day, try the courtyard. And consider trying the beef pies. Mighty tasty.

Super cute little café, if you like quirky and sophisticated at the same time!
Unfortunately when we ventured to Unley to try this place, it was a few days after Christmas and they hadn’t intended to open that day, so it took us a few goes to find something on the menu that was actually available! The owner was a bit stressed but quite happy to help us find something appropriate. We ordered a simple bacon & eggs with turkish bread, and a delicious burger sandwich, which were both well done. We were particularly impressed with the iced coffees — nice strong coffee, which came on the side of your glass of milk & icecream, so you can make it as strong or weak as you like. A nice touch.
Sitting out front in the courtyard on a sunny day is relaxing, and there’s a great vibe to the place. Will definitely be returning to try some of those menu items that weren’t available!

There is something truly wonderful about this café, and I think it all comes down to the presentation. Walking into a large spacious showroom filled with antique tables and chairs, it takes a while to realise that yes, it is OK to sit on the chairs, and then that this little gem on Unley Road, is just a little bit special.
I ended up spending five hours here, churning through several coffees, breakfast orders and some sweets during a long overdue catch up with old friends and the food was fantastic. Coffee is excellent and staff are ever so welcoming. Menu is varied, breakfast is delicious (eggs are perfect) and sweet desserts are fresh and tasty.
Can’t wait to go back!

No, you’re not walking into you’re grandma’s formal lounge room and yes, you can touch things.
Once you get over the fact that Dunks on Unley is a furniture shop AND café (a «furnafé?») and even though you’re mind is completely blown by the concept of dining at a table that you’re not quite sure if it is for sale or not you will love this place like I do.
Dunks has the ability to make you feel uneasy, but at the same time at peace, as you sit in a quiet room and enjoy a delightfully sophisticated brunch or lunch or just coffee.
The coffee here is fantastic — I ended up having 2 for breakfast they were that good. The breakfast was also one of the best value and well-​cooked brekkies I have had in a while. The service was wonderful and very personal and our breakfast was served quickly.
I always judge the quality of a brunch by the «ooziness» of its eggs and this place certainly did make me quite egg-​static (oh yes I did) at the creaminess and flavour of its eggs.
Now if your Grandma has scarred you for life by never allowing you to sit on the fine dining room furniture and you just can’t get past it… sit outside! Don’t let this deter you from the «egg-​cellent» (just had to) food and service at this «furnafé.»

One word, Odd.
I know everyone else finds it charming and gorgeous, but i truly just felt uncomfortable in this furniture shop/​coffee shop/​framing shop.
The outside area is lovely and the little windowsill where you order is gorgeous, but when I walked into the shop side of things, I felt really… Uncomfortable. Within this old beautiful furniture, it looked like people (maybe it didn’t help that it was mid day and they were dressed to go to the races) had just sat on some of the sale stock to have their coffee. It felt almost a bit surreal.
I actually wanted to look at some of the furniture, but felt way to strange about it whilst people had their café experience.
The furniture is nice, the outside is lovely, but… yeah, odd.

It took me a few moments to properly understand the concept of this shop as furniture store cum café, but now I do I think it’s pretty fabulous!
To be honest most of the store and a beautifully furnished courtyard are given over to tables and chairs for breakfasters, lunchers and coffee and cakers. The food is where the real surprise is at. It’s fantastic! Amazing fresh fruits, blueberries and youghurt, pankcakes, every type of eggs benedict (ham/​bacon/​salmon) you can imagine, baked beans and bacon on toast and wonderful fresh salads.
The coffee was even okay — not great, but okay. The place is definately furnished with geat élan and the furniture for sale, at least all the sale prices I saw today are surprisingly affordable for the quality and style on offer.
A surprising and worthwhile find on Unley Road.

I quite liked this café/​furniture store. After you’re done strolling through the store looking at their many beautiful important and second hand furniture, giftware, and picture frames, you’re able to sit down, have a pretty good cup of coffee (if I do say so myself) and think about the purchases you just made or might make or want to make. They also do breakfasts and lunches, with some Polish cuisine available. The young lady that served me my coffee was really sweet, and the outdoor setting (which is pretty well the only place to have your coffee as there’s only a few chairs available inside) is quite pretty. All in all, it was a good coffee drinking and furniture looking experience!

When I was taken here for the first time recently I thought we took a wrong entrance into a different store. I was expecting a café but it was a furniture store. No wait, it was a café… I don’t get.
Dunks is both a café and furniture store selling beautiful and second hand pieces. Once it sinks in it’s quite a gorgeous setting, which is extremely homely.
The food and coffee is not bad and despite the umming and erring conveyed in this review, I do really like Dunks on Unley. It has that special something.
There is also a pleasant courtyard outside if having coffee in what feels like someone’s beautiful home throws you off.