Little Marionnette coffee. 547 Bourke St, Surry Hills. This unassuming place looks far better on the inside, but perhaps this is the point. A hub for the nearby community, you’ll see people gathered on the milk crates and outside steps, and people coming and going – dropping in for a coffee, or for a bite to eat.
The food is all provided by Black Star Pastry, and is at their usual high standard. I can personally vouch for the lamb shank pie ($7) with side salad (+$3).
They take their coffee seriously too – with Lee at the helm (Remy is short for Jeremy, and he is absent on the day I visit), it’s a case of simple, elegant coffee served hot (perhaps a little too hot), and the decaf is ground to order.