Where to shop, eat and explore in Coburg on tram route 19, stops 30-34

Don’t let the worn posters, chipped paint and unassuming facades fool you, because Sydney Road in Coburg is a hub of surprises.

Riding the stretch on tram route 19 is a chance to scratch beneath the surface and find a community focused on social change and foods for all tastes.

The road is quiet this morning but turning into Wild Timor Coffee Co, I’m greeted by what seems like the entire neighbourhood.

Each table is occupied with chatter and laughter, so it is in the courtyard that I sceptically try my first ‘‘ruby’’ latte.

As a hard-line coffee drinker, I’m surprised to be converted by the warming ginger and earthy beetroot. Although this doesn’t stop me from buying a bag of their ethically and independently sourced coffee beans for another caffeine fix later.

Like the cafe, the modest arcade pie shop The Pie Place enjoys its own flurry of activity.

The tiny family-owned kitchen space serves the classics, and upon owner recommendation, I try the chicken and leek pie. Now, pie in one hand, baklava and almond biscuits (a supreme choice) from Greek pastry shop Axilleon Cakes in the other, I’m energised to wander further up the road.

In the true spirit of the unexpected, a turn at the busy junction reveals the edges of a leafy sanctuary and community garden, which makes for the perfect respite stop.

Through the foliage of my lunchtime backdrop, just across the road, you can see the rough bluestone walls of the former Prison Pentridge, where The Glass Den has repurposed the old guard house and transformed it into a bustling modern cafe.

The interior – and its food – is defined by colour, generosity and lively conversation.

Shop

Wild Timor Coffee Co

Wild coffee was rediscovered in Timor-Leste by four Australian soldiers on a peace-keeping mission in 2012. The cafe uses the now-sustainably sourced velvety arabica and you can also buy the beans in the store, and join in supporting the grower community.

• 282 Sydney Road, Coburg
• wildtimorcoffee.com

Eat

Pista House

All outings should be finished with dessert, and Pista House, an unpretentious Indian sweet store, offers a wide, tempting array. Try kalakand, a creamy, spiced fudge-like confectionary, and perhaps buy a box to take home and share with others.

• 16 Sydney Road, Coburg
• pista-house.com.au

Explore

Peppertree Place

Named after the 150-year-old pepper tree sheltering the garden entrance, Peppertree Place is a volunteer-supported garden space and nursery. Aim to visit on the first Saturday of the month for the pop up cafe and nursery and food garden workshops.

• 512 Sydney Road, Coburg
• kildonan.org.au