As the old saying goes, “From little things, big things grow.” This couldn’t be truer for the newest cafe on the block, Friends With Florence—a little nook located in the heart of Melrose Park.
Owned and operated by husband and wife team Christina and David, the cafe is named after their spirited and sassy two-year-old Florence, and together, they’ve poured their heart and soul into this new suburban love nest.
‘We’ve been looking to open up something in this area for a couple of years now,’ says Christina. ‘Now that we have Florence, we wanted to be closer to home rather than working in the city, and so when this space became available, we snapped up the chance to create something that was ours, with a real warm and friendly vibe.’
With a long history in hospitality—working at various coffee shops and running their own food trucks and pop-up eateries in the city—the pair are excited to be bringing something a little more cosy and intimate to the community and bring back the heart of customer service that they feel has been missing post-COVID and in our fast-paced lives.
‘We want to restore that warm, personal touch that’s been lost a little bit in the hospitality industry,’ says Christina. ‘The industry lost so many seasoned professionals during the COVID period, people who needed to move onto other ventures to survive but really understood the importance of human connection and ol’ fashioned customer service. That’s what we want to bring back at Friends with Florence—by creating a space that’s really humble and homely and fosters a genuine spirit of community.’
From its quaint 20-seater layout to the dedicated kids’ corner with books and games, the space radiates joy. They’ve even incorporated a ‘Wheel of Good Fortune’ for the little ones, with fun messages prompting them to ‘do a silly dance’, ‘smile at a stranger’ or ‘stomp like a dinosaur’.
‘Everyone is welcome—mums can come in with their prams, locals can visit with their pups—we want people to come and have a look, have a chat, and feel free to escape and unwind from the daily grind,’ says Christina.
With an Italian background, both Christina and David understand the importance of family and good food, and it’s reflected in their delicious menu. ‘We have a cabinet full of goodies that will be constantly rotating with different styles of pastries, breads and authentic Italian paninis,’ says Christina. ‘Our paninis will feature homemade pestos and pickles, bread from Skala bakery, meats from Marino’s and cheese from La Casa Del Formaggio.’
And Florence’s coffee? None other than the much-loved brew from Mark of The Coffee Barun, a name known and revered for producing quality coffee for over 15 years here in Adelaide.
‘As a bit of a special treat, my Nonna will be making her traditional tiramisu, which we’ll be serving up on Sundays at the cafe with Mark’s single-origin batch brew’, says Christina. ‘Nonna’s also made her famous Italian Crostoli, and it’s been a lil’ complimentary offering for our customers as a thank you for visiting us in our new little home away from home.’
Dogs also aren’t left out of the love fest, either. Free dog treats ensure your four-legged friends feel just as welcome, and if you’re in the mood for a little shopping, there’s even a small retail space featuring local candles, ceramics, homewares and homemade oil and pickles. As a cafe that’s all about supporting local small businesses, Christina encourages any local producers to reach out as they’re always open to collaborating and featuring new products in-store.
With both dine-in and takeaway options, Friends with Florence will soon also have you covered with delicious catering options available for order online. ‘We’re doing pimped-up bagel boxes perfect for at-home brunch with friends and a muffuletta—a traditional Italian sandwich that’s filled with cheese, meats, pickled veg and olives, then pressed down so all the delicious juices seep into the bread, it’s delightful!’
Christina and David’s ethos is clear—they want to enjoy life. Their journey, including a three-year IVF process that resulted in their ‘little pocket rocket Florence’, has made them value the beauty of slowing down and cherishing every moment. And through Friends With Florence, they aim to share this spirit with the community.
Where: Friends with Florence, 3 Wheaton Rd, Melrose Park, SA 5039.
When: Monday to Friday 7:30 am- 3 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8 am-1 pm.
More info: Click here.
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