Coffee Shop - Pagoda

To the young professionals lingering over morning meetings, the mums and dads pushing prams and the couples ambling in for weekend coffee or a meal, Pagoda is a temple of sorts. The welcoming decor (rough plastered walls, warm red floors and comfortably upholstered chairs), warm, attentive staff and the location at the beach end of Victoria Avenue in Albert Park almost guarantee a following. Barista Seb Brown has been with the cafe, an offshoot of Gattica in St Kilda, since it opened in early 2008. Brown and Ashleigh Stirling combine the Synesso Cyncra and a custom blend of Five Senses coffee to create dark, syrupy espresso, its aroma reminiscent of almonds and caramel, with a rounded citrus finish.