These past few months, from February through April 2026, have been full of quiet days and small surprises at our two cafés. One sits nestled among the bookshops and leafy streets of Carlton, the other near the wide footpaths and tall buildings of Collins Street. Every morning I open the doors and watch Melbourne slowly wake up, and every evening I close them feeling grateful for another day spent here.
February Tidings
February brought the tail end of summer warmth, which meant that many of our regulars were coming in with heat and comfort on their minds. Customers stepped inside with flushed cheeks after walking through the city, ordering our egg salad sandos or a simple piece of toasted shokupan with butter to start their days on a happy note. (づ ◕‿◕ )づ
The café was filled with the soft clink of cups and the low murmur of conversations.
Some days, the lunch rush felt steady and kind, the kind where people linger a little longer over their plates.
Kai and I love days like that, where the world just seems to melt away into the background, giving you a chance to sit with pleasant thoughts and pleasant meals. It’s one of the things we love about Melbourne, the many ways in which customers choose to relax.
My favourite pastime is reading. Kai’s favourite pastime is trying to distract me from my book. ꜀( ˊ̠˂˃ˋ̠ )꜆
March Mixups and Musings
In March, the city grew busier. ٭(•﹏•)٭
The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival filled the streets with good smells and cheerful crowds. Many of them found their way to our counters, happy to sit with a warm drink and something soft to eat. Later that month, the Flower and Garden Show opened in the Carlton Gardens, just a short walk from our Carlton store.
The gardens overflowed with colour. I took a quiet moment one afternoon to walk among the displays. Rows of flowers in every shade caught the light, and the air carried the gentle scent of fresh soil and blossoms. Families wandered together, pointing and smiling. It reminded me how much beauty waits in simple things if we only pause to notice. （。ˇ ⊖ˇ）♡
Kai and I both enjoyed those days.
He moved between the two cafés with light steps, helping where he could and watching everything with wide eyes. Towards the end of March, something unexpected happened. The trams became free across the city, from the last day of March right through the whole of April. No tickets meant no fees, which meant we could go anywhere we wanted! (˵¯͒〰¯͒˵)
Tram Travels
When the cafés were not too busy, we used those free rides to see more of Melbourne than we had before. We glided past the river, through busy neighbourhoods, and out to quieter corners we had only heard about. The windows let in fresh air and the sound of the city rolling by. It felt like a small gift, giving us space to breathe between shifts.
April With Attakai
April has snuck up so quickly, I was shocked to realise the year was slipping by! (๏ᆺ๏υ)
This month has brought the Comedy Festival, which stretches from late March into the middle of the month. Laughter has been spilling out from venues near our Collins Street cafe.
Customers have been arriving with stories of shows they had seen, their faces still bright from the humour. Even on quieter afternoons, we heard jokes shared while people waited for their orders.
I do not tell jokes well myself, but I like the way laughter makes a room feel lighter.
꒰⌗´͈ ᵕ ॣ`͈⌗꒱৩
Between the two locations, the rhythm of the days has become familiar.
Mornings start slow and thoughtful, with regulars ordering their usual toast or matcha. Lunch brings a gentle wave of office workers and students. Afternoons settle again, perfect for a quiet cup beside the window. Some faces return week after week. I remember how they like their tamago sando or their black sesame toast, and they remember our names. Those small connections sit warmly in my chest.
One quiet evening after closing, I sat outside with a bowl of rice and a few pickled vegetables. The sky had softened into evening colours. I thought about how far we had come from our old iceberg, and how this city, with its trams and gardens and passing smiles, has started to feel like home. The free trams let us explore without hurry. We saw quilts hanging in exhibitions, children hunting for Easter eggs along Lygon Street, and the way light falls through the trees in the gardens.
These months have taught me again that life moves best when we notice the small, steady things. A well-made sandwich passed across the counter. A customer leaving with lighter shoulders than when they arrived. The sound of the tram bell as it carries people home.
If you find yourself near Carlton or Collins Street, I hope you will step inside. There will be a warm cup waiting, and a soft slice of bread if you need one. We are still learning the ways of this city, but we are happy to share what we have found so far.
With steady flippers and a quiet heart,
Atta
Attakai Café