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Rundle Mall isn’t exactly known for its lunch options. Between the big-brand coffee chains and takeaway counters, there’s not much in the way of a spot where you can actually sit, eat something made with care, and drink a well-pulled espresso.
That’s what My Place is here to fix.
“It’s a place to pause in Rundle Mall,” says Marketing Manager Anastasia Matryoshka.
“Whenever [owner] Izzi was in the mall after a quick bite to eat, there was nowhere for him to go, and that’s how My Place was born.”
The cafe quietly opened a few weeks ago just off the main strip, and comes from owner Izzi – also behind Prezzo on Hutt Street – the man behind the signature ethereal wood-fired puffy bread. The idea this time is simple. Take that pillowy, blistered flatbread and turn it into a small menu of easy and delicious sandwiches.
“It’s the same idea as Prezzo, just a bit more casual,” says Anastasia.
“He took a signature and flipped it to fit Rundle Mall, served quick, fresh, and everything’s done properly. There’s even house-made chutneys.”
There are six fillings to choose from, starting with chicken, guacamole, onion, roasted capsicum, Swiss cheese and cos lettuce, and running through to sopressa salami – “a winner” – with tomato jam and provolone, and smoked salmon with capers, sour cream and dill. There’s also a veg option with a tomato base loaded with fior di latte, eggplant, capsicum, olives and onion, plus cotoletta and tuna mayo for something heartier.
If you’re after something simpler, there are sourdough toasties, ham-and-cheese croissants, and breakfast staples like smashed avo or poached eggs with hollandaise.
While there’s plenty of city hotspots chasing the matcha and spiced pumpkin latte crowd, My Place is about as classic as they come. Beans are a 1645 Colombian and Costa Rican blend, roasted locally and pulled through a brand-new Victoria Arduino Eagle One machine imported from Italy. All the standard coffee orders come hot or iced, specialty milks are also available – and babycinos are free.
The drinks menu rounds out with loose-leaf teas, dirty chai, hot chocolate, and a small run of Italian fizzy soft drinks, a nod to the cafe (and its owner’s) European leanings.
“He just wanted to bring back quality coffee without the noise of specialty drinks on trend,” laughs Anastasia.
That said, Izzi is more than happy to play into the pistachio craze. And while the puffy bread might be the hero, the sweets are starting to earn their own following. The pistachio tiramisu, made fresh to order and served in a glass, is already an early favourite, alongside the house-made pistachio croissants bathed and filled with mousse. “That one’s been flying out the door,” says Anastasia.
Inside, the look matches the ethos. Leather seating, the striking coffee machine and subtle European accents make it feel like something you’d stumble upon in Rome or Paris, a solo effort done by Izzi himself.
“It’s classic European, which is exactly how Izzi is – accent and all,” she explains.
It’s still early days, but My Place already might be the cafe Rundle Mall has been missing, especially for the business crowd after a quick reprieve from the rush. Simple food, good coffee, and an atmosphere that lets you slow down. Plus, pistachio tiramisu – I mean, how can you resist? This might soon become your place for a bite.
“Locals are already coming in and loving the good coffee.”
What: My Place
Where: 16 Charles Street, Adelaide
When: Monday to Friday 7:30am-4pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am-4pm
@myplace.adl
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