\u201cAlice is quite special,\u201d she says. \u201cThere are a lot of artists and cultural activities here. At the same time, many people are orphans \u2013 they\u2019ve come from all over the country or all over the world. And, when you\u2019re together in the middle of the desert, you band together.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Epilogue](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AENorthernTerritory_Oct-1.jpg\")
Breakfast at Epilogue Lounge.<\/p><\/div>\n
The result is a community full of quirk and artistic expression, and the atmosphere at Epilogue Lounge inside Todd Street Mall \u2013 the town\u2019s central hub \u2013 is a great example. It\u2019s a fulcrum for musicians and music fans, with electro gigs a regular feature at its rooftop bar while, come morning, locals gathers for what Catherine describes as a typical Aussie brekkie.<\/p>\n\n
Down the road, still in Todd Street Mall, sit two newer arrivals to Alice\u2019s burgeoning cafe scene:\u00a0The Goods<\/a> and The Bakery<\/a>. Former youth worker, Aoife Milson, started the funky, colourful The Goods when she was just 26 years old. With a modest budget (and vision) for the interiors, Aoife scoured Alice\u2019s tip shop for two weeks, hauling in old couches, wooden benches and a set of vintage produce scales for decoration. This simplicity carries through to the menu, which started with just tea, coffee (using local roasters DuYu Coffee), breads and spreads, but later evolved to include freshly baked muffins and muesli. As more and more foot traffic flowed through the door, Aoife expanded her offering to include jewellery, ceramics and clothing from local artists.<\/p>\n\n Co-owners of The Bakery, Neil Rilatt and Mel Darr, have a similar story of the community getting behind their new venture. \u201cWe started off selling bread at the Sunday markets,\u201d Neil says. \u201cIt was an experiment because there was no proper bakery in Alice. We made sourdough from scratch, as well as French-style pastries to rival any big-city bakery.\u201d The town\u2019s folk, it turns out, went crazy for it \u2013 The Bakery moved to a shopfront in Todd Street Mall and Neil and Mel have never looked back.<\/p>\n The Bakery started off selling bread at the Sunday markets before moving to a shopfront in Todd St Mall.<\/p><\/div>\n The first items to sell out each morning are The Bakery\u2019s almond croissants, but the local art on display flies off the walls, too. \u201cIt\u2019s all sold, we don\u2019t have any of it left at the moment. The walls are looking a bit bare,\u201d explains Neil.<\/p>\n\n \u201cThe Alice cafe scene is so special,\u201d he says, echoing the words of Catherine, of Epilogue Lounge. \u201cIt\u2019s a very welcoming space, surrounded by a stunning environment. There are a lot of people here doing wacky things and, of course, there\u2019s a vibrant art scene; that filters down to the food scene<\/a>. There are so many artisan things going on \u2013 a brewery [Alice Springs Brewing Co.<\/a>] just opened, for instance \u2013 and it\u2019s amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n The Goods<\/a> provides great coffee (on ice if you\u2019d prefer), homemade muffins, breads and spreads, served in a funky and homely space. Browse the local art and craft on display while you\u2019re here.<\/p>\n\n Address<\/strong>: 13\/11 Todd St Mall<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Hidden down an alleyway in Todd Street Mall, Page 27<\/a> brews The Little Marionette coffee and makes poke bowls, creative salads and juices.<\/p>\n\n Address<\/strong>: 89 Todd St Mall<\/p>\n Page 27 is one of the more popular cafes among locals.<\/p><\/div>\n Set within the grounds of Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Bean Tree Cafe<\/a> caters particularly well to vegans. After your meal, take a walk around the garden and up Annie Myers Hill for stunning views of Alice Springs, the Todd River and MacDonnell Ranges.<\/p>\n\n Address<\/strong>: Tuncks Rd, Alice Springs<\/p>\n Bean Tree Cafe is set within the grounds of Olive Pink Botanic Garden.<\/p><\/div>\n Long tables shaded by trees outside Epilogue Lounge<\/a> make for a lovely spot for a coffee and to watch the world go by. Menu options include pancakes with caramelised pineapple, banana and berries, or the Big Shebang for your typical Aussie big brekkie.<\/p>\n\n Address<\/strong>: 1\/58 Todd St<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Two former Northern Territory barista champions train Watertank<\/a> staff in the art of making coffee. Time your visit to coincide with the cafe’s biannual ‘Moon Markets’ and pick up upcycled, recycled and handmade creations from local craftspeople.<\/p>\n\n Address<\/strong>: 16B Wilkinson St (Milner Rd entrance)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Coffee Horse<\/a> is a quirky outpost serving locally roasted DuYu Coffee out of a caravan. Try the Horse\u2019s Mr Ed on a hot day: a blend of cocoa cashew butter and coconut topped with a shot of coffee.<\/p>\n\n Address<\/strong>: 8 Hele Crescent<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Run by husband and wife team, Neil Rilatt and Mel Darr, The Bakery<\/a> makes some of the town\u2019s best sourdough, pies and croissants with native ingredients such as quandong served up with a touch of spice.<\/p>\n\n Address<\/strong>: 4\/11 Todd St Mall<\/p>\n The Bakery makes some of the town\u2019s best sourdough, pies and croissants.<\/p><\/div>\n Housed in an aqua-painted weatherboard building, the House of Tallulah<\/a> is a haven for vegans, vegetarians and paleo-lovers. Try the popular rainbow bowl with raw vegies, your choice of chicken, bacon or tofu, and hummus.<\/p>\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AENorthernTerritory_Oct-2.jpg\")
Our pick of Alice\u2019s best cafes:<\/h2>\n
The Goods<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Page 27<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Page](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AENorthernTerritory_Oct-5.jpg\")
Bean Tree Cafe<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Bean](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AENorthernTerritory_Oct-3.jpg\")
Epilogue Lounge<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Watertank Cafe<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Coffee Horse<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Bakery<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AENorthernTerritory_Oct-4.jpg\")
House of Tallulah<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n