Archie’s All Day

189 Gertrude St
Fitzroy, VIC 3065
https://www.archiesallday.com/

I always thought eating brunch al fresco on Gertrude St is like the hipster version of having dinner on Lygon St, but turns out the former is actually real-good, not fake-good. Or at least, Archie’s All Day is real-good. The menu is interesting and tasty (which is not as common as you’d think), and the atmosphere immaculate on a breezy, sunny Autumn day. And if the staff sometimes come across as a little insouciant, well, take that as part of the Fitzroy charm.

Rating: 14/20 – peak melbourne.
Hot tip: sit outside if the weather is good; a day off honestly doesn’t get any better than this.
Must-order: chia pudding; how is it this good???

The coin-toss for the savouries was between the huevos sucios (dirty eggs) and House-Baked Cornbread ($24), and the latter won out with its promise a sweet, rustic loaf topped with punchy grilled chorizo, smoked chilli cream cheese, and a golden poached egg.

But the real winner was the unassuming Coconut and Vanilla Bean Chia ($17). The silky chia pudding, topped with fresh fruit and caramelised nuts, on a background of mellow tropical sweetness, was simultaneously virtuous and indulgent. Not to mention, it was just straight-up tasty af.

Drinks-wise, there’s plenty of options whether you want to booze it up or not. The Skim Flat White ($4.6) by Proud Mary is good though not unremarkable; the Monks Chai ($7) on the other hand is amazing, combining the sweet richness of powdered chai with the complexity of a brewed pot.