Darwin cafes: No-frills Lagoon Cafe opens at Darwin Waterfront

No bells and whistles, just classic Australian brunch fare, good coffee, and a variety of juices and cold drinks – that is what people can expect at Darwin’s newest cafe, its manager says.

Lagoon Cafe at Darwin Waterfront has recently opened to the public. Picture: Alex Treacy

No bells and whistles, just classic Australian brunch fare, good coffee, and a variety of juices and cold drinks – that is what people can expect at Darwin’s newest cafe, its manager says.

Darwin Waterfront’s Lagoon Cafe began trading on May 3 in the former tenancy of Waterfront Cafe, which recently closed.

Cafe manager Abir Hassan, who is also the head chef, said diners could expect “classic Australian breakfasts” as part of a “simple, small menu”.

“Nothing too complicated so it doesn’t confuse customers,” Mr Hassan said.

Lagoon Cafe, Darwin Waterfront manager and chef Abir Hassan alongside barista Riya Chaurel. Picture: Alex Treacy

Mr Hassan said the cafe was owned by husband-and-wife duo Nilufer and Nikitas Kavouklis, who are best known as the proprietors of Istanbul Kebab Bar.

He said that when Waterfront Cafe’s sublease expired, the pair decided to operate the cafe in-house.

Mr Hassan, who emigrated to Darwin in 2015 from his native Bangladesh, said he had a long association with the Kavouklis’, who poached him from The Tap on Mitchell to head up their kebab shop, before redeploying him to Lagoon Cafe.

Lagoon Cafe at Darwin Waterfront has recently opened to the public. Picture: Alex Treacy

Business at the Lagoon Cafe had been “pretty good” since opening, with patronage being driven via word-of-mouth rather than a big advertising spend – although they were scheduled in for a photo shoot with the Darwin Waterfront Corporation next Monday.

Big breakfast at Lagoon Cafe, Darwin Waterfront. Picture: Facebook

Lagoon Cafe’s arrival is a further shot in the arm for the Waterfront, which has just recently finished upgrading its airconditioning system, forcing the temporary closure on a rolling basis of local favourites such as the Oyster Bar, Bravo Pasta & Wine Bar, and Urban Spice.

The Waterfront precinct is expected to welcome another new business in the coming months when hospitality identity Darren Lynch, of The Precinct and Wharf One fame, and his business partners open Dock One Bar.