Singing Sun Coffee

The Babbler and the named drinks

The Babbler is the order that tells you what kind of café this is: espresso, ice, root beer and milk, a long way from a standard latte-and-drip counter. It heads a list with more personality than most, alongside the Zinger, the Golden latte, a dirty chai, a vanilla honey latte and the Lucky charm matcha.

For sweeter espresso, the vanilla honey latte is the one people come back for, while the Golden latte gets called delicious and unique and the Zinger is remembered for its little boost. Tea is more than a token here: the selection is thoughtful and the hot dirty chai carries real spice. Behind the named drinks sit crafted espresso, freshly brewed coffee and tea, so the plain orders hold up too.

An airy Ventura room built for staying

The room is airy, spacious, bright and a little whimsical, a corner shop with plenty of natural light, plants and clean modern décor, plus an outdoor patio that will take a dog. It has the practical things a working visit needs: ample seating, Wi-Fi and power outlets, and enough comfort to get a real stretch of work done.

Service is relaxed rather than ceremonious, with baristas and register staff who are friendly and helpful without making a performance of it. The owner opened the café in August 2019 after leaving corporate surf marketing, shaped by travel and by not wanting to be far from a good cup, and the aim was community rather than throughput. Students, locals, remote workers and neighbourhood regulars all use it, which is why it absorbs both a quick coffee run and a long laptop session. There is now a second Ventura café alongside the original.

Order the Babbler, then eat something portable

Once the Babbler has set the tone, the food keeps things practical. Artisan pastries and light bites are around, but the strongest part of the case is portable breakfast and lunch: overnight oats, vegan yogurts, a veggie wrap, a vegan burrito and empanadas. The fridge is packed with exactly that.

The savoury side has range. A beef empanada turns up regularly, as does a beef and potato version. Vegan options are not an afterthought either, and the vegan burrito has been rated better than a conventional breakfast burrito by more than one person who tried both. The way to use the place is simple: a signature drink, something filling to go with it, and a seat for as long as the outlets and the plants keep being useful.