Vend Cafe

Vend Cafe is a retro-cool, child- and dog-friendly cafe in Virginia serving up dishes crafted from locally-sourced produce.

Set within Vend Market Place, a unique shared retail space with mini shop fronts from more than 80 local small businesses, the cafe has you covered for breakfast, lunch, coffee and more.  

The indoor dining area’s décor is an eclectic mix of retro and vintage. There’s even an old-school Nintendo so you can lounge and play your old favourite games as you eat.

Meanwhile, the huge outdoor play area (which both kids and parents will love!) is set under shade sails, with plenty of space for large groups and for your little ones to run around.

As for the food, supporting local businesses is at the heart of the cafe’s ethos. The fruit and veg comes from a nearby independent grocer and the meat from local butchers.

The all-day breakfast menu has all the classics such as smashed avo on toast, granola and eggs benedict, and comfort food dishes such as savoury mince on Turkish, a breakfast burrito, rosti stack and house-made baked beans. 

For lunch, people come for the flavour-packed burgers. These include pulled pork with crispy bacon, slaw and chipotle aioli, jerk chicken, an American-style cheeseburger, and a zucchini fritter veg burger, among others.  

There’s also a selection of salads and other lunch dishes with lots of vegetarian and gluten-free options. It’s licensed so you can wash your meal down with a glass of wine or cold beer. 

The cafe serves Locale Espresso coffee, which sources beans direct from farmers. If coffee isn’t your thing, they also have tea, fresh juices and smoothies. And, if you’re after something sweet, there’s a fully stocked cake cabinet.

Nice to know - Vend Market Place is full of small retail stalls offering up local art, gifts, plants, homewares, furniture, fashion and more – allow time for browsing.

Need to know - the kitchen closes at 2pm and there’s plenty of onsite parking.

By Nicole Swaby