WITH the Piazza development now complete, Northbridge has undergone something of a facelift, and no one is more enthusiastic about it than Lu Yao, owner of the site’s new café, cnr.
Yao said she was thrilled to be part of the City of Perth’s Piazza development.
“This is a lovely building and the first time I saw it on the internet, I was just attracted to it,’ she said.
“I think this is going to be a fantastic location just for people to come, and especially for the café.
“It’s tucked away but we have a great view and we have the big screen for people to come, and grab a coffee and relax.”
cnr is a bright, spacious and modern café with an atmosphere that is both warm and inviting as well as appealingly funky and stylish – a balancing act achieved through careful, patient planning and a philosophy of seeking out the best of everything.
No expense has been spared with the fitting out, with a hand-made coffee machine flown in from San Diego manufacturer and world industry leader Synesso, as well as cups from Italy, chairs from Spain and funky wallpaper from Germany in one section of the café.
Yao has hired experienced local chef Joel Camp, who has worked in cafés around Perth and Fremantle, including Highgate’s Soto Espresso.
Yao said cnr offered breakfast and lunch every day, with daily fresh salads and rolls as well as a selection of cakes and pastries.
“We’re trying to achieve Perth’s best coffee but it is up to the customer to judge whether it is the best in Perth or not,” she said.
“But we definitely offer the best machine in the world and locally-roasted Five Senses beans, and we definitely have good baristas.”
With cnr open late on Fridays and Saturdays, Yao is confident cnr will become an integral part of the Northbridge experience.
“It’s somewhere you can sit and relax, because when you go to a restaurant, you can’t just sit there after you have finished your meal,” she said.”