Exploring Bowen Hills: 5 Must-Visit Cafés

If you’re anything like us when you visit a new city, one of the first queries you need answered is: where are the best coffee places? Particularly if you’re in town for an extended period, like a longer-term work stay, having those staple cafés under your belt is essential to successful travel.

The warm ambience and vibrant atmosphere of a buzzing local café create the perfect backdrop for savouring delicious cups of java. Australian coffee culture has well and truly developed its café home bases into mini havens for coffee lovers, where skilled baristas craft each cup with precision and passion. 

Okay, we’ll stop waxing lyrical and get to the good stuff. To assist our fabulous guests staying at Rambla @ Perry House in Brisbane, we’ve curated five of the best cafés in Bowen Hills – our humble city-fringe abode. 

From velvety lattes to robust espressos, every sip is a moment of pure bliss in these must-visit hotspots.

‍

The Coffee Commune

82 Abbotsford Rd, Bowen Hills

First on the list is The Coffee Commune, our favourite Bowen Hills café. Located right around the corner from Perry House, The Coffee Commune is a true community hub for coffee lovers and corporate wiz-kids alike.

Step inside and be greeted by the aroma of freshly roasted beans and the warm embrace of the café's buzzing charm. Set up your laptop and munch on a fresh snack while the premium coffee keeps your productivity high.

‍

What We Love About It

The Coffee Commune is more than just a café – it’s a communal hub and networking opportunity for people in business. 

Targeted at those working in the hospitality industry, their Coffee Commune Network memberships include a bunch of tasty offers, events, industry-leader talks, and networking opportunities. 

They also host events and functions, provide extensive barista training, and have a string of high-quality meeting rooms available for hire.

Above all, we love the community feel that The Coffee Commune exudes with every cup of heavenly coffee. Whether you’re in the hospitality biz or you’re simply looking to extend your Brisbane roots, The Coffee Commune is a surefire way to get you started.

Plus, when you book direct with Rambla, you’ll snag a scrumptious 10% off food and drinks from The Coffee Commune. Yes, please.

‍

‍

Kuhl-Cher Coffee

45 King St, Bowen Hills

Step into Kuhl-Cher Coffee and be enveloped by the intoxicating aromas of freshly roasted coffee. While that can be said for many cafés, Khul-Cher is actually one of Brisbane City’s only café roasteries, meaning they actively roast their coffee beans on-site – transforming the place into a sensory feast! 

This rustically charming Bowen Hills café brings a touch of whimsy to its guests with its toasty-warm décor and vibrant atmosphere. The team are true coffee connoisseurs, sourcing beans from around the world and meticulously crafting each cup to perfection. 

During your visit, be sure to check out the Brew Bar to witness the art of coffee-making at its finest, along with some alternative brewing techniques that will elevate your café experience.

Whether you prefer a smooth flat white or a rich pour-over, fine house blends or single origins, Khul-Cher has a brew that will satisfy your cravings.

Scrumptious Menu Highlights

Once you’ve filled your cup with some of Brisbane’s finest coffee, we recommend checking out the menu at Khul-Cher Coffee. Some of our favourites include:

• The Khul-Cher Board with sourdough, eggs your way, and all the sides
• The Plant Boy Burger, which features a surprisingly good pea patty
• The B.R.A.T. Bagel with the best crispy bacon and creamy avocado around

‍

Mad Kitchen & Co

1/17 Bowen Bridge Rd, Bowen Hills

Mad Kitchen & Co is where creativity meets culinary excellence. This vibrant Bowen Hills café is everything you need in a cosy local nook that excels in bold coffee and the best fresh food.

From their ‘mad hour’ opening during the early morning rush through to their moreish lunchtime options, Mad Kitchen & Co dishes up the best of Brisbane’s delicacies in a relaxed yet efficient style.

If you’re on the go and need to stop for a quick but satisfying bite, you’ll be hard-pressed to find better cafés in Bowen Hills than this one!

Taste These, Quick!

Now for the good stuff. Aside from a quality menu of coffee and drinks, Mad Kitchen & Co gets us every time with their delicious menu. 

We love their selection of ‘Mad Burgers’, aka some of the best in Brissy – we can’t go past the BBQ Pulled Pork, but the plant-based options are also spectacular.

For a quick lunchtime pick-me-up, we’re always satisfied by the build-your-own ‘Mad Sandwiches’. This menu section features a list of fresh ingredients and add-ons like avocado, gourmet cheese, and grilled veggies to accompany your protein base and freshly baked bread of choice.

‍

‍

One Shot Coffee Co.

8/7 O’Connell Tce, Bowen Hills

One Shot Coffee Co. is a cosy yet always-buzzing café that embodies the spirit of Bowen Hills’ coffee culture. This charming spot is all about the pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee, and their skilled baristas never disappoint. 

With a focus on specialty coffee sourced from renowned roasters, One Shot Coffee Co delivers a coffee experience that will leave you craving more. Plus, you can order ahead to save precious time without forgoing that much-needed caffeine hit.

From the moment you order at One Shot, you’ll feel embraced by their warm hospitality and jovial Brisbane attitude. Even if you’re just grabbing a takeaway, the staff never fails to deliver a smile with their quick service. It’s like taking a bite of Brisbane’s laidback warm fuzzies all in one delicious Bowen Hills café pitstop.

Fill Your Cup With These

While the rich, smooth, creamy coffee is the real highlight of One Shot Coffee Co., we have to make a special mention of these ridiculously good eats:

• The freshly toasted ham and cheese croissant – honestly, this one never disappoints
• The Pizza Toastie, a cheesy combination of pepperoni, mozzarella, American jack cheese, and marinara sauce toasted on fresh sourdough
• The Three Cheese Toastie, for those who crave that extra gooey goodness

‍

King Street Bakery

20 King St, Bowen Hills

To round out our list of the best cafés in Bowen Hills, King Street Bakery is a haven of good coffee and great treats just waiting to be tasted.

This charming café and bakery is a true gem in Bowen Hills, serving up an array of freshly baked bread, pastries, and cakes alongside their coffee. The on-site baking infuses the air with that quintessential fresh-baked pastry smell that, quite honestly, is almost better than the food itself. 

The internationally trained pastry chefs and bakers are passionate about their craft and take pride in using high-quality ingredients to create their delectable treats. 

From artisan breads and freshly-made sandwiches to flaky croissants and sugar-crusted tarts, King Street Bakery is a serious must-visit for anyone staying in Brisbane.

The King Street Bakery Story

We mentioned the renowned French restaurant Montrachet in our best Fortitude Valley restaurants blog. King Street Bakery is actually a branch of Montrachet, which is probably why its goods are so, well, good!

When Montrachet relocated from Paddington to Bowen Hills, they included a small retail bakery behind the kitchens. Here, the acclaimed bakers went to town on pastries, pies, baguettes, breads, croissants, you name it. Everything was sold at their Machinery Street shop.

Soon, though, the demand for the best bakery in Brisbane outgrew their premises. King Street Bakery found a cosy little nook to nestle in on King Street, just around the corner from Montrachet, allowing them to expand their offerings and give locals a delicious reason to hop out of bed every morning.

‍

Stay in the Buzz of Brisbane Coffee Culture

Bowen Hills is a treasure trove of exceptional cafés, each with its own unique charm and flavours to discover. 

From the community spirit of The Coffee Commune to the whimsical atmosphere of Kuhl-Cher Coffee, the culinary creativity of Mad Kitchen & Co, the coffee perfection at One Shot Coffee Co, and the delightful offerings at King Street Bakery, there's something for every coffee lover in this vibrant suburb. 

Make sure to explore these must-visit cafés in Bowen Hills during your time at Rambla @ Perry House. Book your stay and get ready to experience the best of Brisbane’s coffee culture.