Rowena Corner Store — Restaurant in Melbourne

Rowena Corner Store is a Richmond institution — the kind of café that perfectly combines old-school charm with seriously good coffee and food. From the outside it looks like your classic neighbourhood corner store, but step inside and you’ll find one of the best spots in the area to start your day.

The coffee is excellent. Smooth, strong, and consistently well-made, it’s the sort of cup that keeps locals coming back day after day. Whether you’re grabbing a takeaway on the run or sitting in to enjoy it properly, you know you’ll get a brew that’s done right every single time.

The food menu is just as impressive. It’s hearty, unpretentious, and delicious — classic café staples elevated with a bit of flair. Big breakfasts, tasty toasties, fresh pastries, and daily specials that are always worth trying. Portions are generous, the quality is reliable, and it all feels like proper comfort food done really well.

What makes Rowena Corner Store stand out is the vibe. It has a warm, nostalgic feel with a modern twist — busy but never rushed, casual but still attentive. The staff are welcoming and efficient, and they bring a sense of genuine friendliness that makes you feel like part of the community, whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth.

The space itself has character — a blend of retro corner-store charm with the energy of a local café hub. It’s the perfect place for a weekend brunch, a catch-up with friends, or simply enjoying a quiet coffee while watching Richmond go about its day.

Rowena Corner Store is the kind of café every suburb wishes it had: reliable, full of personality, and consistently delivering great coffee and food. A true local favourite and well...

Left this cafe feeling very unhappy and wishing I could go back and pick somewhere else to have brunch.

It's a cute cafe that I'm sure will attract locals who don't have other options around.

But very limited options for food, which is fine we found something to order. We make our order for food and coffee. One item comes out and at least 5 minutes later the other items come out. One was a baked dish so as soon as it came out I asked for an extra side of toast.

At this point no sign of our coffee nor our table water. We ask for it for the second time. My almond milk with honey comes out as a normal coffee and they just give me the bottle of honey to add it in myself which of course doesn't work cause the honey just sits on top.

But still fine. This is at least 10 mins now since I requested my extra side of toast (which all it requires to be done is literraly toasted). I ask for it once more. And it doesn't come out until another 10 mins pass and I ask for it for the third time. By that time the rest of the food I wanted to eat the toast with has gone very cold.

The staff kept saying a staff member had to go home sick so they've been swamped yet the cafe was half empty and the waitresses were just wiping tables in the 20 minutes I was waiting for two pieces of TOAST ! Then they say they'll make sure the bread isn't on the bill which they did end up charging us for. We walk out paying $66 for two people for a VERY substandard, cold, unenjoyable meal. I was flabbergasted to say the least. Never returning here nor ever recommending to anyone I know. In fact I will make sure I share my experience as that...

Its such a shame. We came here with good expectations. Just wanted to have sunday breakky and we were seeking for a table for 3 ppl. Their staff shown us a table which 2 person barely can eat (this happened twice). We told them that table is not suitable for 3ppl. After waiting around 25min big table in the middle was available.

We asked the waitress if we can get scramble egg with Kaski she said no, as a chef I can understand this is a dish serve with poach egg, then I asked for meditereanen plate if can we get scramble egg. We got the same respond. NO. We left without eating anything. Their front staff pretty snob. They were rolling their eyes while talking with you. It is obvious that they dont have any idea about true hospitality.

On a Sunday, we know that we may need to wait for seat, its totally fine, but If I need to pay 10% surcharge, your staff...