Eat
Plants and coffee in Ipswich
Some folk love coffee and books – as evidenced by the number of bookshops that have sprouted coffee machines in recent years. For others there is a simple joy in browsing botanical things, especially with coffee in the equation.
It’s a pairing that has proven a winner at the meandering North Tivoli Nursery and neighbouring café, Florrey Bel Coffee Shed. Located at 222-224 Mt Crosby Rd, Tivoli.
Nursery owner Julie Range knows a thing or two about plants – she was the gardener at Willowbank Raceway for 22 years. She then took over the nursery and has completely transformed and expanded it with a vast display of plants and garden items.
The nursery is a popular destination for locals as well as Brisbane folk and bus groups. Buses have been known to arrive from as far away as Kingaroy, returning home loaded with plants, pots and potting mix.
Right next to the nursery is Florrey Bel (pictured, above) where the friendly crew pop out their own blend roasted at Somerset Coffee.
The café’s owners, Joe and Maryann Damouni, pride themselves on offering a community-minded hub. People can catch-up and linger over coffee and cake, or a meal (burgers are a specialty!) It’s a few paces along a plant-lined path to the nursery next door.
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For more coffee spots that also stock plants, check out Special Branch Collective (above) in the country town of Marburg. Former flight steward Emily Birnie uses Dancing Bean coffee, roasted in Ipswich. This eclectic shop – along the street from the antique shop, Scotland Yard Antiques, owned by Emily’s father, Les, also stocks vintage and contemporary garden décor pieces.
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And at Market Organics, 55 Downs St, North Ipswich, the seating for Evolve Café extends into a leafy courtyard area. This is also home to a plant nursery with a small but charming range of edible and decorative indoor and outdoor plants.
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If you just want to linger over your coffee – and petal-stren cakes – whilst surrounded by plant life then Rafter & Rose café (above) at 17 Ellenborough St, Ipswich, with a plant-endowed laneway in the heart of Ipswich should also be on your list.
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Queens Park Café at historic Queens Park boasts shady verandahs for your coffee-sipping pleasure. The park is also home to the Ipswich Nature Centre, Lions Lookout and Nerima Gardens. There is a well-kept greenhouse open on public holidays and on the third weekend of every month. There are many places across this vast park for picnics or for kicking back in the shade with a book.
