ARRA Coffee/Wine — Restaurant in Melbourne

Living on Gore St just off Gertrude St, we are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to coffee, food, and wine. But Arra has become our second home. First, Armin and Ruby make you feel welcome the moment you walk in. The space is well thought out and in the morning I can take a book and slide into one of the window-facing chairs to feel the sun on my face or take my laptop to a quiet back corner. Within a few visits Armin and Ruby had my coffee order down and it just arrives in front of me! I have been in Melbourne for 10 years and enjoyed a lot of good coffee but Ruby is an absolute perfectionist and her coffee has become the benchmark for all other places. Her attention to detail is not just in the brew itself - Arra also commissions a ceramicist to hand-make their cups so having that morning cup of coffee feels like a beautiful little ritual. Then there's the food. The menu is small but the quality is high and they have a very unique combination of dishes inspired by Armin's childhood in Iran and Ruby's in Hong Kong. There are also some classic toasties in the mix - including a mouth-watering beef brisket. They make all their desserts in house and the Persian Love Cake is pretty special (although the classic brownie is too!) When I try a dish, they always ask what I think and they take feedback to heart. For example, I told them that I loved their house-made granola with yogurt and mint but I felt the mint was too sparse. The next time I ordered, there was extra mint! That care and attention to detail distinguish them from many other places I've tried in the neighbourhood. Now - for all my praise - here is where I admit that initially I didn't really think they could possibly do all three (coffee, food, and wine) well. Typically wine bar coffee isn't great and cafe wines aren't either. But Arra proved me wrong. They are equally passionate about their beer and wine list and they are committed to quality. By the bottle, they truly have something for everyone from funky natural wines to elegant French and Italian classics. And once they know your tastes, they are skilled at recommending things to try. At many wine bars, I find the options by the glass pretty limited (and sometimes really uninspired) But Arra has a nicely curated list of wines by the glass and they update it regularly. As someone who is there often, it's nice to have new choices on the wine list every few weeks. Skip some of the over-rated places in Fitzroy that are always featured in Broadsheet or Urban List and come...

Originally a wine bar, the owner has transformed this spot to be a minimalistic cafè and it was honestly sooo good! I love the aesthetic of the cafè - modern, simple and elegant. The service was so friendly too!

The food and drinks were all so beautifully plated. But they’re not just pretty on the eyes, they were all soo delish!

What we got: 🥗Sesame Chicken Salad 🥚Eggs Atlantic 🥐Baklava Croissant 🍪Matcha Cookie 🍞Banana Bread 🍹Strawberry Punch 🥃Mont Blanc w oat cream ☕️Flat White 🍵Matcha Latte

Baklava Croissant is def a must try!! When I heard baklava croissant, I was expecting it to be very sweet but it actually wasn’t that sweet. The croissant pastry was crispy on the outside and soft and buttery on the inside🤤 Loved the Eggs Atlantic and the salad was super fresh!

The coffee was spot on - you can tell they take their coffee seriously. If you want something refreshing, get the strawberry punch bcs it was refreshing.

Highly recommend this spot, and I’ll...

Fantastic people and fantastic food, with a smile and laid back surrounds, calming music and a great video of in-store area.

Returned for brekkie on Thursday. I ordered the croissant with pork and eggs. Some eggs I've had elsewhere and asked for runny yolks, I could have sold to the cops for rubber bullets - this was certainly not the case here.... proving that the only natural known enemy of the grey beard is a burger with eggs cooked to perfection...saved it for later 😜 Ruby is an absolute gem and makes a coffee to die for.... I'll be back ❤️ Back again and able to sit and eat, got my favourite croissant with beautifully poach eggs and a wonderful short black to keep us awake to drive home with a...