Minimalist Japanese dining meets Melbourne café culture in a serene, design-led space.

Chiaki: Calm, Crafted and Completely Melbourne

Chiaki feels like a deep breath. Tucked away in Collingwood, it’s a space of quiet energy and stripped-back beauty, where every element — from the handmade ceramics to the gentle playlist — feels intentional. The interior, a study in timber and texture, mirrors the menu’s philosophy: restraint that reveals depth. Morning light filters across concrete walls while the smell of espresso mingles with toasted rice and miso, grounding the senses before the first sip.

It’s the kind of place that turns simplicity into ceremony, without ever feeling staged.

The Food: Japanese Comfort with a Melbourne Edge

Chiaki’s menu moves between café staples and Japanese home cooking. Donburi bowls are rich and balanced, topped with glazed salmon, tamagoyaki or pickled vegetables that add clean bursts of acidity. The breakfast dishes quietly twist tradition — think Japanese curry on rice, matcha pastries, or toast with shiso butter and house-made jam. Every plate feels familiar yet elevated, built on the kind of technique that hides in plain sight.

Even the smallest details, from the cutlery placement to the miso’s temperature, speak to a standard that’s quietly exacting.

The Coffee: Precision and Purity

The team behind Everyday Coffee runs the program here, so it’s no surprise that the brews are as balanced as the food. Filter and espresso options rotate through seasonal beans, while matcha and hojicha lattes hold their own with equal care. The coffee isn’t loud or showy — it’s clean, measured and entirely in tune with the space around it.

Chiaki is less a café and more a pause in your day, where time slows, taste sharpens, and everything feels in its right place.