Behind Sloth Café in Marryatville are best friends Cheryl and Winnie, whose story began long before the café opened in late 2023.
It started with something small, a simple conversation between two strangers, the kind you don’t think twice about at the time. But somehow, that fleeting moment stayed, growing into a friendship that carried them through the many seasons of life.
From navigating early adulthood to figuring out motherhood side by side, their bond deepened in ways only time can shape.
“Over the years, our friendship survived every life stage together,” Cheryl said. “We’re not just friends, we’re each other’s emergency contacts, unpaid therapists, and now business partners.”
Sloth Café was born during a time when life felt especially full for both of the women. As busy mums, they know how easy it is to get caught up in the rush and forget to slow down.
The name “Sloth” is a reminder, that in a fast-paced world, it’s a privilege to pause, take a breath, reflect, and then go again.
Located in Marryatville Shopping Centre, the café was created as a space where slowing down is encouraged. A place to step away from the busyness, even just for a moment, and reconnect over good coffee and food.
“We want people to pause, relax and enjoy quality coffee and food while spending meaningful time with friends and family,” Cheryl said.
What sets Sloth Café apart is its relaxed, open-kitchen setting, a space where customers can unwind while watching each dish and drink carefully prepared. After two years, the café has built a lineup of crowd favourites that speak for themselves.
Alongside good coffee, Sloth Café offers a range of creative beverages, including a strawberry matcha latte, hojicha maple latte, iced butterscotch latte and house-made craft cola. The food menu is thoughtfully created by head chef Darby, who blends familiar comfort food with Asian-inspired flavours.
“He incorporates elements of fine dining from his previous background techniques into a casual café setting, placing great importance on flavour as well as presentation.”
From café favourites like eggs benedict, smashed avo on toast, and salads, to seasonal offerings such as Matcha shokupan, Red chilli pork scramble and Omurice, a Japanese-inspired comfort dish, the menu balances the familiar with something a little different. House made seasonal cakes and desserts are also available during weekends and school holidays.
“One example of a crowd favourite is our Portuguese tart, which was originally introduced as a seasonal item but quickly became one of our best-selling house-made products due to its popularity with customers.”
The best friend duo share that what regulars value most isn’t just the quality of the coffee and food, but also the warm, relaxed atmosphere they’ve created.
They credit their team for so much of what they’ve built, a multicultural group that brings the café to life every day. From passionate baristas and chefs to high school and uni students and those balancing multiple jobs everyone plays an important part.
Some have since moved on to pursue careers in their chosen industries, and they’re really proud to have been part of their journey.
“Together with our team and our customers and of course, our four-legged regulars who are always welcome, we continue to build what we call the Sloth family, and that’s what makes Sloth Café a go-to café on Kensington Road.”
Sloth Cafe
When: Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 4pm, Saturday from 8am – 3pm, and Sunday from 10am – 3pm (kitchen shuts at 2pm daily)
Where: Shop 4 242-246 Kensington Road, Marryatville, Leabrook
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