Citizen Cafe

Citizen is a friendly neighbourhood cafe that could easily become your second home. For many Murrumbeena locals, it already is. They return for owner Jansen Domantay and the team’s friendly service, Padre coffee, and hearty, veggie-forward brunches. (Domantay was also behind Spilt Milk and now-closed One Misty Guy).

Set in a former milk bar, Citizen’s brick bones lend the space a rustic charm, helped by the mostly wooden furnishings and lush indoor plants. Up front, a cabinet is lined with popular grab-and-go items like egg and bacon wraps, croissants and doughnuts.

The menu offers imaginative dishes named after animals (and nod to them, too). Try the fan-favourite and very green Frog – a medley of smashed avocado, pesto, spinach and green beans on a bed of scrambled eggs and toast. Or the longstanding Zebra, which is a slice of sourdough with burnt stripes from the grill piled high with avocado, bacon, sundried tomato and caramelised onion.

On warmer days, retreat to the courtyard with a coffee or Espresso Martini. And for the new regulars, you can rest assured your coffee order will be remembered next time.