The Nook Off Hawthorne

Out the back of the Hawthorne Cinema is a large alfresco area that’s been transformed into a café. You can either get there from inside the cinema, or you can walk down the slim alleyway by the side of the building, following the flower beds and find it that way. It seems to be a place that wouldn’t get all that much attention outside of the movie goers who would go for their coffee hit, but it has a gate out the front with clear signage, and so I’m sure it draws in some people passing by.
The café is set under a patio and has big glass doors (open on good days) that give the place a nice air of openness. All of the furniture is white with some red features. There’s a nice vintage couch setting, with a rack of magazines, and some film literature lying about. When I walked in, the barista was sitting down with some friends, but got up to serve me as soon as I arrived. I got myself a latte, grabbed myself a book of film history and found a table. It’s easy to settle in. It’s as private as your own backyard. The coffee is lovely too. One of the nice touches was that instead of offering regular refined sugar, they had stevia. Nice!
I’m glad I found this place. It’s very laid back and cosy, the coffee is great, and it’s away from the buzz of Oxford Street. If you’ve got kids, or are a big kid yourself, they’ve also set up a small area with chalk boards to play in.