Milk Beach is a secluded stretch of coastline along Sydney’s Hermit Bay – and now it’s also a café on a secluded stretch of mews in north-west London.
It’s basically the same… Except, you know, without the crystal blue waters, powder-soft sand and uninterrupted skyline.
What they do have in common, however, are those Australian roots. Milk Beach comes to you from Sydney native Elliot Milne, who moved to Queen’s Park only to find that there were no good cafés. So, naturally, he did what anyone would do and bought up a set of old stables, bussed in a former Duck & Waffle Local chef and a twice UK Coffee Roasting Champion, and opened a stylish Antipodean brunch spot on the coolest street in the neighbourhood.
Seven days a week, the trio prop open the huge doors to their carriage house and let the light flood into the airy, whitewashed space. Pale woods and natural woven lampshades complete the picture, with a terrazzo coffee counter separating off the tiny open kitchen. It’s in here that the aforementioned chef, Chris Munnings, puts together the Aussie-style brunch dishes that have won Milk Beach such local acclaim. You can start the day with ham hock and eggs benedict on sourdough; banana bread with espresso cream cheese; coddled eggs and sweet potato purée in a jar; the requisite smashed avocado on toast and pastries courtesy of Little Bread Pedlar. And as you’d expect from an Aussie spot, there’s some serious coffee to go with it – all small-batch roasted in-house, and available to take home too.
Charlie McKay
Come the evening, things turn upside down a little and the place becomes a small plates restaurant and wine bar, with live music on Saturday nights. There are platters of Tuscan meats; poached bream in ginger broth; tuna tartare with burnt lime ponzu; pork belly with crackling; ‘Nduja linguine and roasted squash with coconut yoghurt… all of which wash down extremely well with a glug of natural wine from independent growers.
Don’t get that on no beach.
NOTE: Milk Beach is open daily (no dinner service Mon/Tues). Brunch is walk-in only, but you can book a table for dinner right HERE.
ALSO NOTE: They’re onto a winner: check out their second restaurant, Milk Beach Soho.
Milk Beach | 19 Lonsdale Road, NW6 6RA
Like al fresco Aussie brunch spots? Take a trip to Brunswick East