Benesse Bunbury

The chilli eggs are amazing! (The addition of the onion jam, shallots and spring onion… gonna be dreaming about them!) Gorgeous staff, pleasant laid back atmosphere! Plenty vegetarian options, and the menu can be easily adapted to vegan / gluten free diets!

Celebrating 15 years under the current owners, Benesse is located on Victoria Street in the heart of Bunbury in WA’s Southwest. Bunbury is my old stomping ground, so I always make a point of dropping in whenever I head down. Benesse is such a great venue. You know you’re close when you see their blackboard with a fun quote. Today’s was ‘Espresso may not be the answer but it’s worth a shot!’ So cool. It’s a really popular place, especially on weekends. That said, you should usually be able to get a spot. The best seats are outside facing Victoria Street. These are great on a summer’s day when you just want to sit and have a coffee and watch the world go by. They’re undercover too, so provide shelter from the weather. There’s also a laneway next to the café with plenty of seats. And of course, there’s the indoor seating, which is nicely set up in a really cool space. Think comfy cushions, indoor plants and cool tunes. You can order at the counter or from those ever present ‘order at the table’ QR codes. Oh, and they also have online ordering for those who want to pre-order something when they’re on the go. They also do coffee cards, which will cost you $55 upfront. It’s a good idea though, as it gives you 10 coffees, which works out at $5.50 each. So, you basically pre-pay your workday coffees, assuming you have two a day 😉 The menu is diverse, with something for everyone. There’s a good selection of brunch bowls, which includes things like granola and apple pie porridge. Plus, there’s a great variety of brunch plates, with everything from the simple eggs on toast and avo smash to chilli scrambled eggs. Then there’s the ‘What Came First’, which features buttermilk pancakes and fried chicken and a fried egg. Classic! I’m yet to try it but it sure sounds tempting. On my visit, I chose the potato rosti, which comes with double bacon (yum!) onion relish, poached eggs, rocket, parmesan and a peppered vinaigrette. This is my go to dish. The rosti is crunchy and soft all at once. Plus, the rocket lends a nice fresh feel and the onion relish adds a sweet element. Throw in the eggs and cheese and you’ve really got something! The flavours and textures meld really well and make for a great tasting meal. The menu also includes hot toasties and burgers, as well as lunch bowls, which makes for some nice additions. Pro tip - I recommend the Miss Saigon salad - I had it on another of my visits to Benesse. It comes with sticky beef, noodles and a whole lot of other cool ingredients like paw and bean shoots. It was really tasty! Those with dietary requirements are also catered for, with vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options available. Along with the a ’la carte menu, there’s also a great selection of items to choose from in the display cabinet. Think bircher pots, chia pots, vanilla slices, muffins, biscuits and lots of other delectable delights. I could go on but I’ll let the photos tell the story. 😊 On a side note, Benesse also sells a selection of jams, dukkah and ground coffee beans. Oh, and they even have their own tote bags for sale! You might say they’ve thought of everything. The staff are super friendly, which is great. It’s always good when there’s a good crew at a cafe. The green Benesse shirts make them easy to recognise. There are newspapers on offer for those who want to catch up on the news. This is a plus for me, as I always enjoy sitting in a café sipping on a coffee and reading the newspaper. Or a book. It’s very soothing. Oh, and it’s dog friendly too, which is nice for those who want to bring along their dogs. I counted three water bowls for dogs, along with a food bin! It really is a dog’s life. Overall, Benesse has a great vibe and is very chilled. There’s comfy chairs, a relaxed atmosphere and the inside is really well done. There’s wood floors, exposed brick and painted walls. Whoever designed it did really well. So next time you’re in Bunbury, head on in to Benesse. Even if it’s just for a coffee. It’s one of the best spots in town.

Great looking food, and even better tasting 🤤 very quick service and friendly staff. Also coeliac safe 👍 thanks for the great food.