Twenty & Six Espresso

Twenty & Six Espresso is a North Melbourne cafe on Queensberry Street, with a seasonal menu built around familiar brunch fare and a few more considered combinations. The kitchen says it uses mostly local, seasonal produce sourced from nearby Queen Victoria Market, giving the menu a strong connection to the neighbourhood. There is plenty for a relaxed breakfast or lunch, from eggs on toast and granola to sandwiches, burgers, salads and more substantial plates.

Several dishes give the menu its character. Brioche French toast comes with lemon curd, raspberry coulis, poached pear, orange honey dressing, pistachio crumble and vanilla bean ice cream, while the black sticky rice pudding pairs banana and coconut cream with passion fruit and popped wild rice. For savoury eaters, options include sautéed seasonal mushrooms with caramelised onions, poached eggs and béarnaise, a sweet potato and pumpkin hash with kale, quinoa and avocado, and pan-fried salmon with sweetcorn purée, preserved lemon and marinated beets. There are also vegetarian and gluten-free choices marked on the menu, along with ways to add extras such as halloumi, avocado, bacon or smoked salmon.

Coffee is sourced from Seven Seeds, with white and black coffees, espresso, iced latte, matcha, tea, juices, smoothies and house drinks also available. The drinks list includes house sparkling vanilla-bean lemonade, affogato, house chai and two smoothies, including a berry version made with raspberry, banana, coconut, flaxseed and almond milk. This makes the cafe a practical choice for a full meal, a coffee stop or something lighter, although the website does not provide opening hours or current pricing.

The space includes a rear courtyard with a small herb garden, as well as footpath tables out front. Dogs are welcome in both the courtyard and at the footpath seating, with the team offering water and attention for visiting pets. That outdoor setup should suit a casual catch-up, a solo coffee or a meal with a dog in tow, while the broad menu gives groups a reasonable spread of breakfast and lunch options. Twenty & Six Espresso presents itself as a local, thoughtfully run cafe rather than a narrowly specialised coffee bar, with seasonal cooking and a welcoming North Melbourne setting at its centre.