We might be a biased lot, but we think Australia has the best cafe and coffee culture in the world. If you asked Neskeen Escalante and Haylee Forbes for their opinion, they’d be inclined to agree. The duo are the brains behind Buenos Dias Con Cafe – a brand-new hole-in-the-wall cafe that arrived in Stones Corner in late August. Having both spent time working hospitality, the couple have a firm grasp of what makes a good cafe stand out – a quality product, a comfortable space and, perhaps most importantly, a personable warmth that makes guests feel at ease every time they stop by. While working on the Gold Coast earlier this year, Neskeen was clued in on a viable Brisbane-based cafe space in Stones Corner he could snag for his own concept – a cosy nook tucked away off Logan Road within laneway retail and office development The Bower. The tenancy ticked all of Neskeen’s boxes – it was spacious enough to avoid feeling cramped while still being small enough for one person to run comfortably (Neskeen cut his teeth slinging coffee from his own coffee van in Warwick – multitasking is definitely in his skill set), plus the suburb had a built-in community craving more specialty coffee options. After snatching the spot, the couple recruited The Design Firm and Shopfit Co. to help realise their vision for the cafe, giving them a brief informed by the duo’s recent travels through Europe. The name is inspired by Neskeen’s own El Salvadorian heritage and translates to Spanish for ‘good morning with coffee’ – a phrase that perfectly sums up the warm and welcoming appeal Neskeen and Haylee hoped to cultivate.
Stepping inside the cafe, you’d never notice the space was originally intended for an office. A colour palette centred around gold and terracotta gives off a warm vibe from the outset – the cafe’s eye-catching terrazzo coffee bar and ambient cabinet greets you as you enter, with tall ceilings allowing room for ample shelf space housing essential cafe supplies. A striking mural adorns the cafe’s feature wall and a low-set bench offers room for eight seats (once distancing restrictions are lifted), plus a few tables are situated outside. Cosy it may be, but Buenos Dias Con Cafe boasts plenty of personality to compensate for its condensed floor plan. While perfectly suited to satisfying the grab-and-go crowd, Buenos Dias Con Cafe’s selection of bites are a notch above simple snacks. Neskeen and Haylee have teamed up with some expert local suppliers to curate the cafe’s offering, starting with Crust & Co.’s inimitable range of pastries, Doughluxe doughnuts and a rotating selection of chef-prepared salads, paninis and toasties. Single O’s Reservoir blend is the cafe’s go-to espresso option (plans are in the works to add alternative brew methods), while cold-pressed juices from HRVST ST, Probiotic Kitchen kombucha, Osun Sparkling and Somersault Soda are also on deck for non-caffeine drinkers. Before you make your choice, it’s important to check out Buenos Dias Con Cafe’s signature menu – here you’ll find decadent gourmet items such as cinnamon toast, spiced hot chocolate, hazelnut-cream cappuccino, pistachio-cream cappuccino and croissants drizzled with pistachio cream (which is made for the cafe by Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery).
Buenos Dias Con Cafe is open to the public. For opening hours and contact details, seek the cafe out in our Stumble Guide.
