LOB Cafe

LOB Cafe is a coffee shop in Carlton, New South Wales, a short walk from the train station, and it draws people heading to work or setting off on a long walk home. One customer grabs a takeaway coffee here every morning before work, and the early opening hours suit that routine. It's worth checking the hours before you go, especially on weekends when it opens a little later.

Coffee is the draw for many, with locals describing it as consistently good, though the food gets just as much attention. The bacon and egg roll is on the menu, alongside muffins and banana bread. The menu also stretches to croissants, wraps and house-made patisserie, and one local raved about corn fritters that arrived beautifully presented. People who avoid gluten have noticed the bread is made in-house, and there are vegetarian and vegan options too. Freshly squeezed juice is on offer, and one regular singled out the Thai chilli omelette and the matcha latte as a brilliant way to start the day.

You can dine in, take away, get it delivered, pick up kerbside, or arrange catering. There's seating both inside and out, and it's dog friendly, so people can settle in with a pet at an outdoor table. Being off the main road keeps things from getting too noisy, and locals say on-street parking is easy to find nearby.

Helpful staff and fair prices are what you get. The waits are said to be reasonable. As with any busy cafe, the odd order can go astray. One local had a bad run with an overcooked roll, but they raised it with the team, and the overall word is strongly positive.

If you're passing through Carlton station and want a proper coffee and something filling, it's a friendly spot to stop.