Chapel St: The Pound Cafe South Yarra, favourite of Ash Barty, wins Stonnington cafe poll

She was in there only a week ago, and it turns out it isn’t just Ash Barty that loves this Chapel St cafe, which has been voted Stonnington’s best.

The Pound Cafe South Yarra owner Albert Francazio is pumped to have been voted Stonnington’s best by readers. Picture: Alex Coppel

It’s the cafe of choice for Australia’s biggest tennis star – and now this Chapel St haunt has also been crowned Leader readers’ favourite in Stonnington.

South Yarra’s The Pound Cafe triumphed in the poll to find Stonnington’s best cafe, ahead of Malvern’s Fleichers cake shop, and Armadale’s Bruno and Co.

Brothers Albert and Marino Francazio have been managing the cafe for 14 years, which stocks Gravity espresso coffee and is also known for its build-your-own-breakfast pides and salads.

The cafe is also a favourite of Australian tennis superstar Ash Barty, who famously gave it a plug in a post-match interview at the Australian Open in 2019.

“I’ve started going in and seeing Albert every day, and it's a good spot for me,” she said.

And true to form, Mr Francazio revealed Barty, the current women’s world number one ranked player, dropped in for a coffee earlier this month as she prepares for next week’s tournament.

“Every time she’s in town, she’ll stick her head in,” he said.

The Pound Cafe's Marino and Albert Francazio with Australian tennis superstar Ash Barty in January 2020. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Francazio said he and his brother were chuffed to win Leader’s poll, and qualify as Stonnington’s entrant in a future poll to find Victoria’s best cafe.

“I know we have a loyal following … but it (the award) has blown me away, you don’t expect this.”

“We’re rapt and humbled we’ve been chosen by the readers, it shows the customers appreciate us, and that was evident in lockdown when we got some great support.”

Mr Francazio said the cafe planned to continue its recipe of “good old fashioned service, good food and good coffee” as Chapel St continued its post-COVID recovery.