Last night I had dinner at this charismatic cafe nestled at the bottom of a staircase in a rather non-descript building you can find on your way down Edward Street towards the Botanical Gardens. This little gem seems appropriately located right next to the Metro Arts centre, an organisation that supports the (generally younger) up and coming talent of Brisbane’s art community. There are not many tables so booking in advance for a large group is advisable (at least on a Thursday night).

The placement of the tables gives the cafe an appearance of being larger than it really is, but it never feels like the cafe lacks character with the constant chatter from all the tables and the art for sale covering the walls all adding to the atmosphere. The menu is decently priced with filling meals averaging $15 and plenty of non-standard and sumptuous options for vegetarians. Even though the restaurant does not have an open kitchen, the number of flares you hear from the kitchen at least assure you that the food is being cooked as it is ordered.

The herb bread for $2.9 was a bargain that started the meal for the two of us, that was then followed by the Brandy Tortellini (Spinach & Fetta tortellini in a cream, pine nuts, sun-dried tomato & Brandy sauce) which I did not get around to finishing. A great little haunt tucked away in the middle of Brisvegas and highly recommended for when you want to try a cafe with a bit more character a lot less shine.

Details: Verve Cafe
Found on: The Basement of 109 Edward Street
Contactable via: 3221 5691
Highlights: A cosy, busy atmosphere that is hard to find in Brisbane, especially in the city.
Room for improvement: Finding the bathroom is straight forward once you navigate the maze of stairs that confront you.