Major reno transforms Bulimba’s Bellissimo Coffee

In a strip loaded with cafes and coffee shops, this Brisbane cafe had to do something big to stand out from the pack. The big transformation has paid off.

Coffee served until 6pm daily. Meals arriving in just eight minutes. A fit-out that will make you stop and stare. There’s certainly a lot to like about the newly renovated Bellissimo Coffee in Bulimba, in Brisbane’s east.

The locally owned roastery completed a major overhaul of its Oxford St site late last year to turn it into a second flagship store for the brand, and the transformation has unquestionably achieved the brief.

Bellissimo Coffee in Oxford St, Bulimba. Picture: David Clark

The fresh look is refined-industrial, sophisticated and cool yet welcoming with an outdoor dining area flanked by plants at the front, leading to the main coffee servery and bar, a retail wall lined with bags of beans, the open kitchen and a gorgeous, stepped cafe space.

Here terracotta bricks meet polished concrete floors, tan leather stools and chairs, marble-look tables and a patterned banquette so comfortable you could slouch all day.

The menu is accessed through a QR code on the table, and ordering and payment is done on your phone, reducing staff interaction to waiters simply delivering food. It’s quick and simple, with diners even able to choose the strength of their coffee, amount of sweetener or sugar, milk, syrups, temperature of the drink and little things like whether they want a dash of cold milk or water, and extra froth or chocolate powder.

The brekkie bun at Bellissimo Coffee. Picture: David Clark

There is a small surcharge of around 75 cents, though, to order this way. And on the topic of coffee, there are at least four blends to choose from at any one time, including their “all-rounder” known as the Italian, which delivers initial smoothness and a bitter finish. Customers can also choose from the likes of smoothies, frappes and matcha, as well as a substantial alcohol offering including craft beers, a handful of wines from across the globe and cocktails, the hero, of course, starring espresso.

The menu is set to expand with new lunch and dinner options, but is currently about the classics done well or with a twist: think a double-stacked beef burger or toasted brioche with house-made salmon gravlax.

The brekkie bun ($14.90) is simplicity at its best – a terrific seeded milk burger bun topped with a fried egg, baby spinach, melted cheese, a dill mayo and soft bacon with a sweet onion-y barbecue sauce. Delicious.

Bellissimo’s onion bhaji. Picture: David Clark

The onion bhaji ($15.50) is stunning to look at, with the trio of freely formed balls shatteringly crisp under a waterfall of coriander-infused yoghurt nestled among two runny-yolked poached eggs. The bhaji, however, have spent a little too long in the fryer, rendering them burnt. Putting that aside, the value for money here is terrific with the portions ample and quality of ingredients high.

In a strip loaded with cafes and coffee shops, Bellissimo stands out from the pack.

BELLISSIMO COFFEE

35 Oxford St, Bulimba

bellissimocoffee.com.au

Open

Daily 6am-6pm

35 Oxford St, Bulimba

bellissimiocoffee.com.au

Open daily 6am-6pm

Verdict

Food 3

Service 3.5

Ambience 4.5

Value 5

Overall 4

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