Higher Octave

Do you need a nice secluded spot with an easy going feel to read your book or plan your next move? This is great. Air con, in or out, jazz, books, art, spartan surrounds yet organic and tranquil. Chess set available. French toast available! Matcha caps or latte.

This place is really understated and reminds me of the tiny, independently run cafes that are spotted throughout Brooklyn and the LES of Manhattan. Cute Japanese inspired interior, value and top quality food, attentive and genuine service (a rarity in Brisbane) mainly I think because the young owners work there and take orders. I recommend avocado on sourdough. A reasonable size toast comes out instead of something akin to a sneaker. I really loved my coffee and the cute cartoon that was artistically drawn on top. This place is cozy and it co-​exists with Hano Japanese florist that’s two doors down. I love NOT being continually hassled by waiters about whether I want something else– if I want it I’ll ask. That is what’s great about small cafes. Quirky interiors, great reading material, and no sense that your vacating is necessary. The places that want to clean up before you leave is so unchill. Brisbane getting a place like this is a treat.

This tiny little café along Boundary St doesn’t seem to enticing at first, but when you woke up at 10am with nothing in the fridge to make a good breakfast and you live within a 2-​minute walking distance to this place, it just didn’t seem wrong to try. (We headed for Bass Espresso first but they only had pastries.)
I’m glad to say it wasn’t a wrong decision at all. My boyfriend, who always orders bacon and eggs with an iced mocha, loved everything (and he’s picky about his food), though complained that the mocha was too strong. I had the Italian open sandwich (a piece of thick toast with cheese, chorizos and sundried tomatoes) and chai tea, both of which are yummy. The chai tea was especially fragrant, and not too sweet.
The barista was an European man. Couldn’t quite place him — French? Italian? And he was very charming. In conclusion: wouldgoagain/​10