A new cafe has popped up in North Adelaide and it’s offering delightful cloud drinks, and brightly coloured brunch to light up your mornings. Full disclosure: I am jumping for joy that there’s a new spot serving heavenly cloud lattes. Woohoo!
Cabana Cafe only just opened its doors in February, with a soft opening which the venue purposely held off promoting. Gradually, and after sharing some beautiful pics with the world, the cafe started to gain a cult following. If you want to add some flair to your mornings, Cabana’s unique drinks might be just what you need.
Customers have been particularly drawn to the cafe’s signature matcha, of which owner Vichika Beung tells us there are two types.
“We’ve been really popular for our drinks,” Vichika said. “A lot of people come back for the matcha. The sweeter side of matcha is very popular, so that’s what we use for our cloud drinks. Then we’ve got another matcha for people who prefer a more bitter flavour. It’s still a mild bitterness but just doesn’t have as much sweetness as the matcha cloud.”
If you’re like me and like a deep, earthy matcha latte, this is the place to go. Or maybe you’ve got a serious sweet tooth. Either way you’re a winner!
Another customer favourite is the Dubai Cloud Iced Latte, inspired by the hot new snack, Dubai chocolate.
If you haven’t seen the viral Dubai chocolate craze that’s just hit Adelaide you might not be living on a rock, but you probably haven’t been on TikTok recently. I’ll paint the picture: Dubai chocolate is a rich block of chocolate filled with knafeh (made with spun pastry dough) and pistachio. It has a delightful texture which combines the delicate crispness of knafeh with a soft, syrupy centre, with crushed pistachios adding a subtle crunch. The drink has all the qualities of the pistachio filling without overdoing the sweetness of the original snack.
Vichika developed the Dubai Cloud Latte through multiple iterations in the Cabana kitchen, and she reckons it’s been perfected. “My favourite drink, this is hard,” Vichika said. “I drink all of it to be honest. One day I’ll have tarot, the next I’ll have Dubai, then the next I’ll have matcha. Those would be my top three at the moment.”
But maybe you’re happy to stick to a trusty hot flat white or a long black – I don’t blame you! Cabana has that all thought out, searching far and wide before bringing on their favourite coffee on the market by a Melbourne roaster called Clark St Coffee.
“I wanted to get the best coffee I could,” Vichika said. There’s some great coffee in Adelaide, but my absolute favourite coffee is from Melbourne. I stayed in Melbourne for about three months a while ago and I would always go out and try coffee areas because I lived in the city.”
“For me in particular, I like smooth tasting coffee,” Vichika continued. “That’s why I like Clark St. I thought I’d just call them and see what they thought about sourcing to Adelaide. Luckily they said yes.”
Funnily enough, Clark St owner Melissa Floreani grew up in Adelaide and had already started looking to bring her coffee back to SA.
The cafe’s drinks might be where the hype is at, but it’s hard to look past its bright, flavoursome menu which complements the sweet and punchy flavours of the lattes. Vichika’s favourite menu item is the Blissful Beetroot dish, featuring a perfectly balanced combination of beetroot spread on toasted sourdough topped with creamy cheese, cherry tomatoes and avocado.
The cafe initially set out to serve up flavourful sandos, looking to take advantage of the popularity of the fare. Still on the menu is the Beefy Sando, a tender beef sandwich with crisp lettuce, pickled capsicum, sautéed onions, and a jalapeño kick.
“I started with the sandos,” Vichika said. “Because they’ve been really popular. I chose specific bread, the Japanese milk bread. It’s got more of a soft pillowy texture compared to regular white bread. It’s also got a sweeter taste.”
“We focussed on the breakfast and brunch menu and making it really colourful. You know how you eat with your eyes first? We always made sure to perfect a dish before we brought it out,” Vichika added.
When you visit Cabana, you’ll notice the calm, thought-out interior. This was also the multi-talented Vichika’s doing, taking a leaf out of her own architectural experience book.
“I designed the place so that it’s a comfy cosy atmosphere, and I wanted it to be designed around the word ‘cabana’. I used lighting especially to give it the feel of a cabana or a sort of hut,” Vichika said.
“I’ve also created space so people can work there. Instead of studying at home or staying at uni, people can come here to do their work. I’ve made sure there are plenty of power points and that the cafe has wifi.”
It seems as though every detail is thought out, as the space turns from cafe to restaurant at night. Although the establishments are under the same name, the restaurant operates under a totally different concept, with the venue’s other joint-owner, Mohsin Mosawi at the helm. Cabana Restaurant serves up Middle Eastern cuisine and premium shisha with a mix of indoor and outdoor seating. After the cafe closes at 3pm, the restaurant opens its doors at 5pm in the same venue.
Vichika shared that she wants the cafe to be a vehicle to connect with the community, and has already begun to put ideas into action. On Sunday, April 6th, Cabana will hold its very first Cars and Coffee event, calling an automotive group to roll up in a collection high end cars for a neat spectacle while you grab your morning fix.
Whether you’re in it for the cloud lattes, the vibrant brunch plates, or just a smooth flat white, Cabana Cafe is ready to brighten your day. If you haven’t checked it out yet, consider this your sign!
Cabana Cafe and Restaurant
When: Cafe: Friday – Tuesday 7am – 3pm | Restaurant: 7 days 5pm til late
Where: 135 Melbourne St, North Adelaide, 5006
For more information, click here.
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