Percy and Percy

There’s a lot of history to take in at Percy and Percy – named for the building’s two previous owners.

The original landlord was Mr Percy Watts. He ran a grocer from the 1930s. He then sold it to Mr Percy Forbes, who turned the shop into a milk bar from the 1980s onwards. Then after a brief stint as an office, Elisha Bahen returned the space to its food-focused form in December 2012.

The cafe uses local produce to shape plentiful all-day breakfast and lunch dishes such as Persian eggs; pumpkin bruschetta; and a great version of that Melbourne menu staple, smashed avocado.

Coffee is from Castlemaine-based roasters Coffee Basics – the house blend is a medley of Brazilian, Guatemalan and Kenyan beans. The cafe also stocks a few provisions.

Sit indoors and gaze at the black-and-white photographs of the shop throughout history, or take your morning coffee in a Bendigo Pottery mug out in the courtyard.

Explore Bendigo further using our detailed Out of Town to Bendigo guide.