"Welcome to Five Senses Coffee"

I’ve always felt I could quite excel at being a lady of leisure – just ask my husband, he’ll tell you. Maybe that’s why I consider reviewing cafes to be one of the greatest perks of my job at 5 Senses Coffee. Therefore I suppose it should have come as no surprise that my first visit to Zekka left me with the feeling of utter joy and contentment. After all, it’s not often that one visit to a cafe can alter your current perspective on life.

While “fashionable” is an adjective that has never been used to describe this Midwestern American, even a jeans and t-shirt girl can appreciate that, from a design point of view, Zekka is a very special place. If you have never been to Zekka, not only is it an ultra cool cafe in the heart of the CBD, but it is also a high end men’s boutique. And when I say cool, I don’t mean Louis Vuitton or bust, I simply mean that this place is friendly, serene and as laid back as they come.

The day I visited Zekka, I just happened to be on day three of a migraine headache. As I plodded through the city, every noise was magnified and my sunnies were non-negotiable. But as I walked into Zekka, a refreshing cool breeze joined me in the corridor, and the gentle sound of Fleet Foxes (one of my favourites) was heard playing in the background. I could feel the pressure in my head alleviate almost immediately.

As my lunch companion and I approached the counter, we were welcomed by a rustically modern decor that was highlighted with a charmingly simple mix of fresh and dried flowers. A very large and masculine wooden sculpture caught our attention, as did the antique bookshelf lined with fashion and design magazines. What was first assumed to be a very high ceiling with a skylight overhead was quickly discovered to be complete open sky. It was as if a few old, brick buildings had conspired to form a secret courtyard in the city; truly unique and absolutely fantastic on this gorgeous autumn afternoon.

My lunch date and I mutually confessed that we had never tried iced coffee, and we agreed that this was the appropriate time and place to lose our innocence. We ordered a couple of salads to counteract the effects of the ice cream, and we also decided to share a sandwich consisting of ham, salami, eggplant and olive tapenade. I’d say it’s worth noting that eggplant is the only known vegetable in the universe that I’d rather starve than consume, but on this day it was a surprising textural delight. All the food at Zekka is made on the premises and our corresponding Greek and nicoise-style salads were some of the best I’ve seen. While our coffee order was more of the dessert variety, Zekka proudly offers filter coffee and brews cold drip daily, alternating their single origins regularly. And with two Robur E’s and a Synesso, Zekka is obviously creating some killer espresso drinks as well.

As I left Zekka that day, I practically had a new zest for life. While that sounds a bit dramatic, I can attest that my headache had disappeared and I had a new respect for eggplant – both huge breakthroughs in my book. But possibly I had just simply taken a moment to enjoy conversation with a friend, the beauty of my surroundings and the indulgence of a world class coffee. Ah, sweet leisure…what’s not to love?

Zekka
76 king St.
Perth 6000
zekka.com

Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday
7am – 5pm
Saturday
8am – 4pm

© Photos provided with permission by David Bicknell and Zekka (photographer: Robert Frith)
All rights reserved by photographers.