Funk by Botanical Brew — Restaurant in Victoria

ORDERED: 🥪  Roast vegetable focaccia: Roast pumpkin, eggplant, capsicum, swiss, mozzarella & feeta, ajvar and mayonnaise ($17.50)

REVIEW: A focaccia is delicious by itself. But as a sandwich?! Phenomenal. 😍 Sliced in two with flavourful vegetables caught in the middle and the best cheese pull, there's nothing better than that first bite. Combined with the slight crisp when it's been freshly toasted, you can't stop yourself from taking the next bite. 🤩

Stopping by Funk was probably one of the best spontaneous decisions I've made in a while. There's a line that indicates it's a crowd favourite and it's worth the wait. The interior is small, and it's only one person ordering at a time. They kindly cut my focaccia in half so I could share it with my partner, then directed us to wait in the back for the focaccia to be toasted.

I think Funk shares the location with Botanical Brew, a pub-type place. With plenty of sun, there were picnic mats on the ground with young families and pets alike. Luckily the weather was nice, but I could imagine how the lack of shade would play terribly during the winter. Also the crate seats...

"Hey Kimbo, we're just back from our usual NY, Paris, London, Munich; want to pop down to Geelong for a coffee. You free?" "Yeah, no worries. I know a place." And so we go to funk. The coffee is not just an Insta pic, it's the best coffee ever anywhere. Really. If you love your coffee you will appreciate the skills/beans/coffee stuff that goes into making the coffee at funk. And the pastries are baked on site. You're enveloped with the intoxination of the coffee and French bakery smells and OHHHHHHHHhhhhhh, yes that's just in the cat swinging space in the front, where you have to go, and wait, to order. Service is pleasant and well managed. Wander out to the back and there's a beautiful ambling garden, with sun and smiles and children and doggies and happy Pivotonians with their face tilted to the north sun. It's lovely and welcoming and you can tell the owners love what they are doing. The cafe style menu looked alright. We had the house pastries and promised to return. How many local gems can you find? Depends on where you are. Geelong has some...

I am so glad we stumbled upon this gem of a cafe on our way to Torquay from Melbourne. What a perfect pit stop to relax and enjoy some delicious coffee. These guys really know how to make a good coffee. The staff were all very friendly and welcoming when we ordered and then directed us to the back of their tiny building where HELLO a whole courtyard full of lush plants and undercover seating awaits you. You can hang out with your dogs or even picnic on the huge grass area. It was a very unique cafe dining experience, you won’t find anywhere else in Melbourne or any part of Victoria probably, we loved it so much we came back on the way back home after our weekend trip.

I literally have nothing bad to say except I only wish a Melbourne cafe was half as good as Funk. You guys don’t know how good you really are!! Thank you and we will most definitely be back if we make our way to this side of town again (and you know we will just to have your delicious coffee...