Bluebird Espresso

Bluebird Espresso benefits from being tiny. It takes just a few customers to make the space feel warm and energetic.

The downside is that it’s nearly always packed – especially so on weekends. Don’t even think about bringing a pram. On some tables you’ll be grazing elbows with your neighbours.

The five or six chefs work in even closer quarters, behind a tall counter. But the diversity of what they manage to turn out is remarkable. There’s baked eggs with spicy chorizo, sugo, goats feta and toasted sourdough from Noisette; banana bread with passionfruit mascarpone, raspberries and pistachio; and zucchini, mint and feta fritters with poached eggs and harissa labne.

The kitchen’s close-knit spirit spills over into the seating area, adding to the Proud Mary-fuelled vibe. Out back there’s a compact courtyard that’s magic in summer.

Hospitality veteran Anthony Brem set up the simple cafe in 2011, before selling in 2016 to focus on (Archie's All Day) nearby. Now Bluebird is run by Serge Moussi, whose brother Julien and three sisters own a swag of cafes in Camberwell and the surrounding areas.