The Courthouse Café

It’s easy to see how The Courthouse Café got its name, housed as it is in Collingwood’s former courthouse. The Historic Place Category 2 building retains all of its original charms, with its painted blue-grey exterior, white trim and cheerful red roof. Pass through the inviting exterior courtyard dotted with picnic tables, and you’ll find the inside decked in warm wood tones—think rustic-chic tables and chairs, cosy couches and a brick hearth in front of the stove. 

At the counter, order a hot drink and grab a wee something from the cabinet—the ginger slice is particularly good!—or go for a bigger meal off the brunch and lunch menu. The kai moana—steamed cockles, mussel chowder and fresh market fish— is all sourced locally, and the bread is baked on-site. While normally only open for lunch, The Courthouse Café offers a scrumptious pizza dinner on Saturdays. Each pizza has an amusing trial-themed title like “Hard Labour” (tomato sauce, salami, ham, chicken, mozzarella and barbecue sauce) or the kids’ “Ankle Biter” (tomato sauce, ham, pineapple, and mozzarella). 

Once you’re done eating, meander around to the back of the building, where you’ll find a smaller cottage housing owner Sue Dasler’s pottery gallery and studio, full of charming wall-mounted porcelain seabirds, plates, vases and more. 

A note for anyone planning to take a drink to go: in an eco-friendly touch, The Collingwood Café doesn’t offer disposable takeaway cups, so plan to bring your own. Or you can pay a $4 deposit for a small stainless steel cup, which is refundable if you bring it back for reuse.