Counter culture: Melbourne’s Moby 3143 is more than just a café
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Tucked away in Melbourne’s affluent inner city suburb of Armadale, we find newly opened coffee hangout Moby 3143. However, as founders, Melbourne locals and childhood friends Christina Higgins and Stephen Svenson are keen to inform us, this is not just another café.
Moby 3143's highly designed interior took its cue from the building's pre-existing 1970s shell, with warm and welcoming dusty ochre walls and rendered ceilings throughout, courtesy of local design studio We Are Huntly, which is headed by Kylie Dorotic and Alicia McKimm.
Punches of Tuscan pink and white mix with block teal for the interiors and table dressings
Moby 3143's menu complements the Tuscan-themed decor. 'This is where Melbourne charm meets modern flavour,' Higgins explains. ‘It was important for chef Stephen Svenson to find a connection between the cafe and the activity of the kitchen. The dark green backdrop beneath the stairs frames and amplifies the kitchen’s atmosphere and theatre.'
Such culinary theatrics result in vibrant fare, forged from the pair’s diverse history. The Cordon Bleu-trained Higgins (who previously headed Ottolenghi's catering division in London) teamed up with the ex-Pillar of Salt chef Svenson to provide a menu filled with exciting, nourishing dishes.
A light and delicate citrus-cured trout is served alongside playful takes on other breakfast favourites, such as an ancient grain bircher topped with a blood orange and passion fruit crumble, and a delicious buttermilk hotcake garnished with vanilla bean cream. Cups of freshly brewed coffee come courtesy of local coffee roasters Five Senses.
Minimal yet expressive furniture is dotted throughout
The dusty pink walls boldly contrast with block teal tiled surfaces and throw-backs
The interior scheme takes its Tuscan cues from the characterful facade
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Moby 3143 website (opens in new tab)
-
Jordanluca’s latest collection is inspired by Freud’s death drive
Self-destruction, sabotage and teenage angst inform Jordanluca’s S/S 2023 collection, which explores the pursuit of dangerous pleasures
By Jack Moss • Published
-
Lufthansa offers double bedrooms in the sky, courtesy of PriestmanGoode
New Lufthansa First Class Suites offer more space and comfort than ever before, from ultra-wide seats to the ultimate product for privacy-seeking passengers: a full-sized double bed in a self-contained room
By Jonathan Bell • Published
-
Veil House balances openness and seclusion in Winnipeg
A large steel screen shields Veil House, a striking private residence in Winnipeg, Canada, designed by local practice 5468796 Architecture
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Celebrate Lunar New Year with tiger claw buns and coin-shaped dumplings
London restaurant Bao is celebrating Lunar New Year with festive treats, plus seasonal gifts from its online store, and the chance to win a year’s supply of bao buns
By Mary Cleary • Last updated
-
Vincent Darré reimagines the Cointreau bottle
Cointreau celebrates 170 years of the Art of The Mix with a limited edition bottle designed by Vincent Darré
By Emi Eleode • Last updated
-
Cask master: Glenmorangie House to host exclusive whisky weekends
Clos19's experiences division presents its very own highland fling in the dramatic reaches of Scotland
By Melina Keays • Last updated
-
Artist Michael Rakowitz celebrates the humble date in sweet and sticky cookbook
By Harriet Thorpe • Last updated
-
Sharjah’s new lagoon-side bookstore weaves literary references into its interior design
By Harriet Thorpe • Last updated
-
Wonka meets Gatsby at Compartes’ new Los Angeles outpost
By Carole Dixon • Last updated
-
Ham-mer time: a slice of Berkel's history goes under the gavel
By Ellen Himelfarb • Last updated
-
Still life: brandy distiller Christoph Keller explains how art influences his business
By Rosa Bertoli • Last updated