Campos Coffee - Newtown, Sydney, Australia

There is always a sense of nostalgia when I step into Campos , it brings me back to the time of being a student and just having no worries. New Town in Sydney is the hippest part of town, where you have a Moore Theological College at one end, a row of gyspy like shops lining the streets.

Stepping into this tiny little café, it’s always bustling full of people, chinks of cups against the saucer, the tink of the fork against the plate, everything here feels like there’s a certain buzz in the air which you can’t ascertain where it is from.

Let’s get down to what this place does best, the coffee, oh liquid elixir of life, oh sweet sweet black gold.

To truly appreciate a good cup, is to have it black, unadulterated , straight from the very beans that lend its’ perfume to the heady aroma that surrounds you. 

As you could see from above, the crema is thick, the aroma is deep and dark for the roast is a dark one. Taking a sip, you are then surrounded by a fruity aroma with just the right hint of bitterness that counterbalances the fruity taste. This is one good cup of coffee.

If you're more into having some milk in your cup of joe (I ain't judging here), The coffee art in this place is on point. Australia produces one of the best milk I've tired so far, so you're not getting added water to your lovely cup of coffee. Adding milk brings out different notes to the coffee, there's a kind of unctuous due the high fat content of the milk used. It lends a kind of silkiness to the overall sensation when drunk.

One step up from having milk with your coffee, is....having ice cream with your coffee! 

House Made Vanilla Ice Cream + One Shot of Espresso = Say "HELLO!!!" to a party in my mouth

The contrast of hot and cold, sweet and bitter, the different sensations, the different taste. Goodness!!! 

If you're in Sydney, exploring Newtown, do drop by Campos. You'll never be disappointed. 

Address:

193 Missenden Rd, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia

Phone:

+61 2 9516 3361

Opening Hours  : 

Mon -Fri 7am-4pm

Sat - Sun 8am-4pm

Palings Kitchen and Bar - Sydney Special

Palings Kitchen and Bar (pronounced Pae-Lings) was the first dinner spot we hit in Sydney during our short getaway there. We were pretty excited with Palings since it’s a new spot and we were all first timers there. 

Without further ado, time to talk food. 

Yum filled potato skins

First came the Roasted Potato Skins. Its potato skins, stuffed with mashed potatoes, ricotta cheese and salsa, with a melted cheese crust, topped with chipotle sour cream and fresh chives. This is definitely an appetizer that tickled our taste buds. You have the saltiness from the mashed potatoes, the sourness from the chipotle sour cream and the salsa gives the sweetness and the little bit of heat to bring it all together. Definitely something we recommend to open your meal with.

Meaty galore 

Next dish on our table was the Smoked Beef Ribs. Hickory smoked beef back ribs with a honeyed maple sear, served with a barbequed corn salad. What can we say? Its fall off the bone tender, moist and the honeyed sear really gave us that big punch in flavor. The sweet corn salad is also worth mentioning as it brings another dimension of sweetness to the dish. DE-LI-CIOUS!!! 

Oh sweet tender goodness!

The Rump Steak was next to the table. It’s a 300g, grain fed rump steak, grilled medium, served with barbeque sauce, fries and a side salad. The meat was beautifully seared with a nice flavorful crust whilst maintaining a juicy and tender steak. Their homemade barbeque sauce was a wonderful surprise to us. Usually, in barbeque sauces, you get sweetness from brown sugar and molasses, however from this barbeque sauce; the sweetness is from caramelized onions. The oniony flavor in the sauce gets a thumbs up from us.

Guess the Smurfs gave up their home for a good cause

Last but not least, Roasted Mushrooms! The simplest dish just happens to be the best dish of the night. It’s mushrooms, roasted with salt and pepper. Execution is key here, and Palings did a mighty fine job. The mushrooms were perfectly roasted, beautifully seasoned and most importantly, the essential mushroomy-ness was not lost in the cooking process. Second helpings anyone?

Palings is everything you hope for in a kitchen and bar spot; good food, good music and brilliant ambiance. Palings is definitely worth a visit if you are looking for a place to eat and chill for the night. 

Mollydooker's Coffee Bar @ Damansara Heights

Their motto says it all, and I quote, "We Love to Make Coffee for a City That Loves to Drink It". With a cozy setting and passionate crew, Mollydooker's Coffee Bar is always ready to turn that frown upside down. Their main branch is located at Damansara Heights and recently, they opened another cafe at KLIA2.

Clean lines, minimalistic colors

The contrast of the red against a sea of beige.

Oh hello liquid gold elixir.

Bat? or Owl?!

Although the place is quaint and inviting, their coffee was a little under par to our liking. We ordered a Chai Latte, Flat White and Cappuccino that evening and found that though the coffee is fruity and aromatic, it was not as strong as to what we are accustomed to. However, we still recommend it to folks seeking a lighter cuppa.

Chai Latte (RM 11), Cappuccino (RM10), & Flat White (RM10)

The must-have for us at Mollydooker's is their flapjacks aka pancakes. We tried Barrie's Choice for a little tea time snack. This dish is pancakes, drizzled with a Blueberry Compote and served with dried cranberries, butterscotch and butter maple syrup. You should expect this dish to be on the sweeter side since its a dessert, however, we need to compliment their fluffy pancakes as it really makes the dish extraordinary. 

What's up Jack?!

Barrie's Choice (RM12.90)

Mollydooker's is definitely one cafe to lookout for. From humble beginnings, they have expanded their cafe to a larger setting and opened a branch in KLIA2. Talk about progress huh? Don't just take our word for it, try it for yourself. =)

Mollydooker's Coffee Bar, 

G1.08, 1, Jalan Medan Setia 1, 

Plaza Damansara, Damansara, 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Coordinates: 3.149040, 101.653770

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri (8.30am - 11.30pm), Sat (10.00am - 12.00am), Sun (10.00am - 7.00pm)

Butter + Beans @ Manjalara

OUG too far for you? Don't want to cramp in a small cafe when enjoying a good cuppa with some decadent pastries? Look no further, Butter + Beans has expanded its reach to Bandar Manjalara, Kepong!! Located at the Manjalara hotspot, this cafe is only a week old and its already garnering a following from both new and old Butter + Beans fans. Unlike its original Seksyen 17 cafe, this outlet is much more spacious and has a chilled, homey vibe.

Come and discover the artist in you.

Eclectic furniture, wooden boards on cages.

No one has more class than that bear!

Feeling calm with Zen like decor. 

Ain't no one going to say no to bread...oh carbs how I love thee.

Spots of colors from the flora.

 Being status quo suggests that we had our usual Cappuccino and Long Black that night, and we did ;). The coffee served here is a medium-full bodied roast, 50-50 on acidity and bitterness and has a slight sour aftertaste. The beans used here are a mixed blend from 4 countries and its outsourced from Feeka.  

We also had a chance to try their tea from TeaPigs. From the variety of flavors that was available, we decided on the Ginger Lemon Tea. However, we felt a bit conned when we saw the small teabag, thinking it would only be good for one cup, but we were wrong. Even after 3 steeps, the tea did not lose its taste integrity; goes to show that good things DO come in small packages.

Cappuccino (RM10), Americano (RM7) & Ginger Lemon Tea (RM9)

Despite the name Teapigs, the visual shows you a variety of animals an inanimate objects.

 As with all the Butter + Beans outlet, their main attraction comes in the form of pastries. Since this was dinner for us, we had to order a fair bit to fill our tummies :)

First up was their Smoked Salmon Quiche. Eggs, smoked salmon, herbs and vege, mixed and baked to perfection on a buttered danish crust. Simple, yet delicious. The filling is so packed that in every mouthful, you can taste all the elements of the quiche. Definitely a quiche to remember. If you want to grab/try a slice, we advise you to go early as they will run out of it fairly quickly.

 Smoked Salmon Quiche (RM11)

 Then came the sweet danishes...

Dear chocolate lovers, this one's for you. If you happen to come across the Pistachio Chocolate Danish just staring you in the face at the pastry counter, pls, oh pls, order it. A thick milk chocolate concoction sitting in between a buttery danish, need I say more? The chocolate really takes over with every mouthful, perfect combination of sweet and savory. Trust us, you won't regret it!!

The Strawberry Danish is for the non chocolate crazies out there who is also looking to indulge. Cut from the same cloth, the only difference between the 2 danishes is that this one is filled with custard instead of chocolate. It might not seem much from here, but its jam packed to the brim with filling on the inside. Definitely worth a try!!

 Pistachio Chocolate Danish (RM7) & Strawberry Danish (RM7)

It's not often you see Blackberry Tarts in cafes, or even in bakeries. So when we saw this little beauty, we decided to give it a try. Their blackberry tart is the "something special" we had that night. Every bite is filled with luscious blackberries and best of all, its not too sweet. We would definitely recommend this to parents or folks who are watching their sugar intake.

Blackberry Tart (RM11)

For us, every time we walk into a new cafe, we would just stare at the display fridge, looking for a slice of cake that would invite us in. Mille Crepe cakes are usually the first ones we take off the list. However, after much recommendation from the owner, we decided to make an exception and it was the best decision we made that night. Seeing that we are not crepe cake fans, this is definitely something to write about.

Their Lavender Earl Grey Mille Crepe cake is one of the most unique and delicious crepe cake we have tasted so far. The lavender flavor cuts through from the start and leaves a pleasant aftertaste in your mouth with every bite. Crepe cakes are usually very dense, but this one just seems very light and we can't get enough of it. Definitely worth trying if you are looking to test your taste palette.

 Lavender Earl Grey Mille Crepe (RM13)

Last but definitely not least is their Almond Salted Caramel Mille Crepe cake. The decadence of this cake is unexplainable. Almond flavored cream on layers of crepe, topped with crunchy salted caramel infused almonds. As dense as each mouthful is, we just kept helping ourselves. Only flaw to this cake is that it will leave you craving for more.

Almond Salted Caramel Mille Crepe (RM13)

All in all, with its cozy ambiance and awesome F&B, Butter + Beans in Manjalara is definitely here to stay, proving that a cafe can flourish even without a long menu and that quality is better than quantity

Butter & Beans
9, Jalan 3/62A,
Bandar Menjalara, Kepong,
52200 Kuala Lumpur.

Coordinates: 3.195107, 101.628909
Opening Hours: 10.00am-11.00pm

Gee and Geek @ SS2

With a motto like"Bringing the yums to your tums", its no wonder Gee and Geek is catching the attention of many. Being one of the newbies, this cafe cum restaurant offers a cozy ambiance, friendly service and most important of all, brilliant F&B to their customers.

Digging the logo.

Nothing says snazzy like customized napkins.

Buck tooth for the win!!!

First, lets talk beverage. 

 We had our usual Americano and Cappuccino that night and boy, were we not disappointed. Their coffee was of a single origin roast, so its a bit more full bodied and smooth. Having said that, its not too strong and had a floral cocoa aftertaste; perfect for coffee addicts who would like a cuppa at night, without having to worry about not being able to sleep that night.

Cappuccino (RM10) & Americano (RM8)

Next, the food. 

First up was their Linguine ala Goma, or their Chicken Linguine. Linguine, stir fried with a sesame dressing and peanut sauce with grilled chicken, topped with some greens and sesame seeds. Peculiar? Yes. Delicious? Absolutely. We didn't know what we were getting into because we have never seen pasta cooked this way before but, it works. The sauce is not overly dense and the chicken is uniquely scrumptious. All in all, it was an excellent dish. Definitely worth the try.

Linguine ala Goma (RM19)

Then, came the star of the night, their Egg & Cheese Pork Burger. A grilled pork patty, topped with a fried egg and melted cheddar cheese on some lettuce, in between toasted butter buns, served with a side salad and some fries. We think the brilliance of this burger comes from its simplicity. Each element is well executed that it does not need much help for it to be a fabulous dish. Even without a sauce, this burger is never dry and we can taste each ingredient, from the pork patty to the toasted bun. This is one of their signature dishes and it definitely did not fall short.

Egg & Cheese Pork Burger (RM21)

We also ordered a side that night, which was Homemade Sweet Potato Fries. Sweet potatoes, julienned, battered and fried, tossed with salt and a tinge of sugar. One of the better sweet potato fries we've had, its crispy exterior is countered with its creamy and sweet interior which makes for a delicious bite for a long night's talk.

Homemade Sweet Potato Fries (RM8)

Ultimately, Gee and Geek really lived up to its hype and we are excited to see what else they would bring in the future.

Gee & Geek
46, Jalan SS2/4a, 
Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 

Coordinates: 3.111895, 101.610667
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am-10pm.
Phone No: 03-7496-5907

Bmon Cafe @ Kota Damansara

Located on the 1st floor along a row of shoplots at The Strand. Kota Damansara, Bmon Cafe looks to take advantage of its creativity to gauge customers to give them a shot. You will be greeted by a variety of interesting drawings and comics as you make your way up to the cafe, from the front gate to the stairwell leading up to their front door. 

One of the more unique cafes around, Bmon Cafe looks to take on a different concept altogether. Bmon chose to place their trust on bold, bright colors whilst most others go for a darker, dimmer, and more sophisticated feel. Probably because of that, the ambiance of the cafe feels more "open" and "happy", if you get what we mean. Its different, but we feel its a good kind of different.

Now, let's broach the topic that is most important, the F&B.

First up, their coffee. We went for our usual Long Black and Cappuccino that night. The coffee was pretty heavy bodied, complimented with a little acidity, and ending with a strong, fragrant aftertaste. All in all, it was a good cuppa, pretty impressive if we do say so. 

Then came the food. =)

Their signature, Hippo In The Pond, is an interesting dish to try. Potato croquette, served under a pile of corn, sausage and ham, with a half boiled egg and topped with fried strips of crab sticks, with a side salad and a cheesy brown sauce. Trust us when we say this, we tried deconstructing the dish and it was pretty difficult to judge, but when you put it all together, this dish will be pretty comforting. Everything on the top was cold(which was on purpose), but when eaten together with the warm, fluffy, crispy croquette, it just works. The sauce just blends everything together, without overpowering each element.

We also ordered the Chicken Wrap since we thought one dish won't be enough to fill our tummies. We really didn't expect much from this, thinking it would be just a normal wrap, but the balance in flavors really gave this dish a thumbs up from us. Chicken, mayo and onions wrapped in warm tortilla, simplicity at its best. 

Bmon Cafe looks to stay true to its own "brand" and interesting enough, it works. We are not manga lovers ourselves, but we were pretty impressed with the cafe. Its very inviting atmosphere makes this a good place to hang out and just chill, not too mention that the F&B were above average. So, if you're looking for a simple, yet stress free place, this is the place we would recommend. 

Bmon Cafe

8-1, First Floor, Jalan 5/20B, 

The Strand, Kota Damansara. 

Coordinates: 3.154223, 101.591952

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri, 12pm-10am; Sat-Sun, 10am-12am. 

Phone: 03-6158-9993