The Lost Boys

If you’re thinking you’ve taken a wrong turn looking for The Lost Boys, you're not the first. Nestled within a busy industrial area, it’s not until you’ve sighted the splendid little green and red building that you realise you are right on track. A converted 1930s Europa petrol station, this location was once a bustling hub for Frankton as locals and passersby stopped to fill up on gas and local gossip. Then followed a mottled history (including years of neglect), and it wasn’t until owner James’ dad bought the building that it finally got the love and attention a historical building like this so deserves.

Retro and modern all in one, The Lost Boys walks the line brilliantly of being both a place local tradies can come to have a laugh and a meaty pie and the spot where you could take your grandma for tea and cake. Proud supporters of local products, expect to see coffee beans from Essenza, milk from Raglan's Dreamview Creamery, bread from Volare and pies from Soggy Bottom. You’ll find plenty of fresh ingredients from the weekend farmers market in the salads and sandwiches too.

The café operates on minimal waste, recycling as much as possible. The focus is to keep a tiny footprint, and with all the food scraps and coffee grinds going to a local gardener for composting in exchange for fresh organic herbs, their ingenious collabs really do make a difference. They also refuse to use 'nasty' ingredients, so everything they make in their cute homestyle kitchen is nutritious and natural, with gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and raw offerings.

A building and hospitality background meant James was a very capable contender for turning the once dishevelled building into the now glam and minimalist café, while partner Rachel, who left her banking and insurance background to do some travelling, helps fill the cabinets with wholesome and creative items. The best part? The community they've built, because this place is much more than just a café to so many people, and it is easy to see why.