Roe St Bus Station (Perth WA, Australia)

The Roe St Bus Station opened in January 2014 as a funny spin-off of the Wellington St Station, while the underground internationally designed station is being built. We will have this station operational for at least for two years, as the works are scheduled to finish in 2016

Located in a fantastic location on Roe St, this station services the bus lines tending to Perth's northern suburbs. What I love the most about it is how easy is to access the heart of the city from here: Train Station, William St, Forrest Place, Wellington St.

The place is more a jump on-jump off sort of place. There are a few information poles, a few covered seating benches, an information booth, and, surprise!, the buses. It is very Spartan, still functional with 12 bus stands, two of them devoted to replacement buses when any of the train lines stops. 

I don't understand why they have left one of the sides of the station almost bare of seating benches. Even if they are costly, they can be recycled afterwards. Just saying. 

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Mini Wonderlane (Claremont WA, Australia)

Shop 5, Old Theatre Lane
50 Bayview Terrace
 Claremont WA 6010
 Phone: 0433 194 718
 Website

Not even a month old, this extra-cute children pop-up shop is in  the lovely Old Theatre Lane. It does look like a posh children shop, though!

They have wonderful handmade clothing, toys and accessories by local artists and designers (Little Alannah May, Teesh, Bunting By Design, Harper + Monroe,  Kleinemouse Handmade, Diva Dolls by Beck, Stylish Monkeys, Chucklebug,  Petals and Pixies). All of their material, the girl dresses especially are just wonderfully colourful.

I loved the fabric dolls, so very retro etsy-like style.

Unlike branded clothing for children, these ones are affordable, going from cheap to a bit pricey, the dolls being pricey (about 50 bucks). Not  cheap, but you know you are buying hand-made in Western Australia, that is not a multinational selling the stuff you find everywhere.

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Trowbridge Gallery (Claremont WA, Australia)

Trowbridge Gallery
52F Old Theatre Lane
Claremont WA 6010
Phone:  (08) 9384 4814
Website

This is a multi-wow business and we have it in WA!

Located at the bottom end of the charming Old Theatre Lane, I entered because I love big balls, world globes I mean :). It turns out that they have the largest collection of world globes for sale in Australia.

The place is nicely crowded and set, like an harmonic sort of no-chaotic chaos, unpretentious and luminous, and it doesn't look like an antiques place at all. It doesn't smell like an antiques shop either (that is good!). They have a framing service at the usual Perth prices, and they take about a week to frame your things, unless, of course, they've ran out the material you want.

However, the wows will come from your mouth mostly because of the material they have for sale and on display. Imagine going to the WA Museum and being able to buy what is on the walls. But you can't, right? Well, if you are a Western Australian and want a piece of Western Australia's History, original pieces, and you have the money, come to this place. Framed lithographs, book illustrations with views of Western Australia (Perth, Albany, Bunbury, Fremantle, New Norcia) from the 18th century, and historical maps related to WA that go back to the 17th century. Originals!

Not enough "wowiness" for you? They also have children prints from famous Australian and European illustrators, medical prints from the early 19th Century, animal lithographs and prints from famous naturalists, and some Modern Art pieces that I didn't check out.

Prices for the historical material are over 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 bucks, up up, but if you have the money, you are getting an authentic piece of History. Be happy, the frame is included in the price! They probably have "cheapies", but all the pieces I checked were high-end.

The charming Scottish owner was lovely to tell me anything I wanted to know and see. Very laid back. You would expect a sort of posh haughty-nose person in a shop like this, but, on the contrary, he was very warm and helpful and OK with me just browsing around and making questions.

EXTRA-KUDOS
>> They have sporadic exhibitions in the shop.
>> Prices are clearly marked. Nothing hidden.

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Old Theatre Lane (Claremont WA, Australia)

50 Bay View Terrace
Claremont WA 6010

Hidden at the end of Bay View Terrace, on the left hand side if you come from the train station, is this little gem of a shopping arcade. My favourite shopping lane in Perth.

This lane takes its name from the the Princess Theatre, a cinema that opened at the beginning of the 20th century, in the 1910s!. Lately transformed into the Claremont Picture Gardens cinemas, which closed down in 1964. Then, the place was sold and this arcade was born. I love everything about this shopping arcade.  It is classy and sophisticated, clean, very European, quiet and full of tiny lovely local shops and cool people. The place has a special something, that energy that you find in certain places and that is difficult to describe. It has to do with the lighting, firstly, as it has a glassed ceiling that percolates the light into myriad rays of luminosity to infuse your visit with good vibes. Secondly, the several colourful geometric mosaics on the floor and the pretty hanging shops signs. Finally, it is the relaxed atmosphere in there.

The Old Theatre Lane reminds me a bit of London Court, but way more modern and organised, not touristy at all, and way cuter. Cute is the new hot!Beyond the atmosphere, this little place has a terrific group of businesses on the ground level: an awesome barber, a women  hairdresser, a bookshop, an antiques shop, a travel agent, shoe shops for him and her, an optometry, accessories shops, bargain shop, kitchen shop, and even a café. The smaller second floor is occupied by more "serious" businesses: a dental centre, a tuition centre and a loan place, among others.

MIND
The lane continues on the right, into and ampler less-posh area, marked by the male brogues shoe shop at the corner.

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Her Message (Claremont WA, Australia)

Shop 3, 50 Bayview Terrace
Old Theatre Lane
Claremont WA 6010
Phone: 0430 065 152
Website

Located in the cute Old Theatre Lane, Her Message is a cute shop selling cute things by a cute lady. They specialise in cult-following shoe brands: the Brazilian brand  Zaxy's jelly shoes, and the Venezuelan brand "Chocolaticas" (Hot Chocolate Design). They are statement comfortable unique shoes. They also have some others flats and ballerina shoes that I like a lot. They also have children shoes, a few items of jewellery, canvas totes, and similar things.

Hot Chocolate Design shoes are canvas arty painted shoes. They are not only trendy, unique and beautiful, they are also super-comfortable to walk around and perfect for travelling without sacrificing style. Zaxy are wonderful summer silicone shoes, that look classy and elegant, utterly feminine, very comfortable and are water proof, also perfect for travelling and for the summer months.  

The lady behind the counter was wonderful, very attentive, helpful, and Keen to make business by offering me further discounts if buying more than one pair or just helping me to purchase. If they don't have your sizing or favourite style, they will take your phone number and SMS you when your pair size is in.

Prices were good for Perth and having into account that these are imported shoes. I found the jelly shoes cheaper than in other places, while the canvas ones are at the same prices you will find them at the Fremantle Markets.  

They receive new stock almost every month. So,  Her Message... is.... Come and visit me!

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Regent Cakes (Northbridge, Perth WA)

 Shop 10, 45 Francis Street
Northbridge, WA 6003 Phone: 08 9227 8081
Facebook
Hours
  Mon-Fri: 9:30am-6:00pm
  Sat-Sun: 10:00am-5:30pm
  Wed: Closed


 

You have certainly passed many times by it and not noticed. It is by the Northbridge Post Office in Francis Street, tiny-winy place.

I am a fan of Regent Cakes because of the fluffiness of their sponges, the soft creaminess of their creams and mousses, their level of sweetness (not too sweet, right for me) and the ever-changing cakes slices. I hate iced cakes or icing in general, so I am happy to go to bakeries where I am the icing on the cake :)

I am not into their buns, but I have gone endless times to Regent Cakes for my lunch break to get my sweet fix, and they have always delivered in taste, freshness and variety. They have always new additions or variations on the same cake, which always makes me happy.

Sizing is perfect for me, something you can easily eat with your coffee or as a complement to your light lunch, and they are never heavy on your stomach.
 

They are not sophisticated upper end cakes, but simple, fresh tasty ones prepared on the spot every day. They also prepare tarts and big cakes on order.

Prices for the slices are ridiculously good, 3.80 bucks for a slice of cake is just fantastic, or perhaps dangerous for your curves. 

I have always had a terrific experience with the staff. They are super-friendly and so very lovely every time I visit.

I would like them to provide customers with plastic spoons, at least on request, as some cakes are a way tricky to eat without it, and my nose gets clowned by the cake's cream :)

MIND
Their day off is Wednesdays!

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Claremont Train Station (Claremont, Perth WA)

This is a cute station, wooden, level ground, that makes me think of what train stations used to be and still are in small European towns.

The former station (nowadays just a train stop) is very functional and it has an information booth, a ticket machine, a newspaper machine, poles with the train timetable, an emergency phone, and an ample seating area. There are no electronic informative panels

The station has a retro feeling that I love, with a wonderful pedestrian overpass wooden bridge, surrounded by bedded plants and flowers, the old signal station (what I call "the tower", which can be visited -at least in the past- on weekends), as well as some of limestone buildings across the tracks, and some of the seating area.

The station is at a killer location, about 100 metres from Claremont's coffee strip and Claremont Quarter Shopping Centre, and a few more paces from other nice shops and cafés in the area.

The access to the tracks is a bit long, unnecessarily so, as the shortest access has been fenced, and one can only enter by the picket fenced area now. On the other hand, this is a nicer entrance.

The only line stopping at Claremont is the Fremantle Line.

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Choux Café Pâtisserie Française (Swanbourne, Perth WA)

93 Shenton Road  
Swanbourne, WA 6010
Phone: 08 9385 4227
Facebook

 

Choux I love youx xxx

There is only one reason why I visit Swanbourne, and that is to go to Choux. I mean Choux is Swanbourne's Identity.

Just the short walk from the train station to the patisserie is lovely, almost initiatory, as it is short but sweet, the houses and gardens there seem always so flourished and green, and the area is just peaceful  and birdy.

 
Arriving at Choux is like landing on planet Uranus from Earth. Were am I? The cute tiny wonderful cafe and patisserie looks like sucked by a space-time machine and transported to this Perthian soil by magic. Everything about it looks "Frenchy", the sizing, the furniture, the cabinets with the cakes, the doors, the baskets with the pastries, the "je ne sais quoi" in it. There is a small area outside, a bigger one inside and the backyard.

Choux bakes daily and has a small but wonderful selection of sweet and savoury cakes, and wonderful pastries.

Their Apricot Danish is my favourite in the whole Perth, and is just one of those pieces of food that it is worth including in your "must eat before dying" if you happen to like Danish. Full of flavour, moist, flaky, crunchy. Ohmygosh, I love those. My belly is singing. All the small slices and cakes I have tried are wonderful.

What about the "fuchsia bomb" aka Raspberry Mousse Cake, with that wonderful perky mush flesh being penetrated by those lovely round pieces of thick black chocolate?

What about the Strawberry Tartlet, that makes you think that what your are eating must be sinful because is so yummy and delicious and beautiful to look at.

Their citron tartlet, their pistachio slice, the apricot tart, their little cute pieces of brownie, their normal croissants, almost everything is wonderful. There are so many interesting things that I have never tried their macaroons. That is like something worth noting!

Believe it or not I am more into savoury stuff than into cakes, especially if they are good. And Choux delivers again because has my super-favourite savoury pastry things around the planet, especially their quiches, pies and, above all, their savoury flat tarts that are just fresh, light, healthy and exquisite.

The coffee is really well prepared, but I am not wowed by it as it is too smooth and latte-ish for my taste.

Service is matter of fact, still courteous. I love the fact that they pack things well, so you can carry your "thingies" for a long time without them mutating into an amorphous blob.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
> They need to improve their toilets,
> Their furniture is too heavy and too big. They could have more people inside by using smaller tables.
> They should have a happy hour at the end of their working day...

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Pastelería Isla (Granada, Spain)

    

Calle Carrera del Genil, 27
    18009 Granada
    Spain
    Phone: +34 958 222 405
    Website

This patisserie was the first opened by Casa Isla in Granada (the original was founded in the nearby town of Santa Fe in the 19th century) and it was one of the few patisseries in the city when I was a kid. The place was a hang-up place for families on Sundays, after Mass, and was one of those places you would go to buy your sweets for birthdays and presents.

This is not a posh in vogue patisserie place by any means, as it is an old very small cafe, with a very limited seating area. Still, it has some elements that remind the visitor of its former splendour years, with a lovely marble counter, the chandelier lamps, the framed Royal Appointment, among other elements of decoration. The chairs used to be the traditional wooden ones, round tables, which I miss, because they made the perfect old-style cafe and were way comfier than the current ones.  

They sell a selection of traditional sweets, cakes, slices, tarts, (and ice-creams and ice-cream tarts in the warmer months), but most people come here to have a coffee with a pionono or to buy boxes of piononos, which are delivered fresh every day and disappear every day way before closing time.So, what is a pionono? It is a small sweet that you will only find in this city, no other place in Andalusia, Spain or the world. They could have the same name, but they are not the same. The original Granada pionono is a historical piece of patisserie. The founder of Casa Isla, Ceferino Isla, was its creator. This man was very religious and wanted to create a special sweet to honour Pope Pius the Ninth (Pio Nono in Spanish). So, he created a small cake that reminded him of the Pope's shape: plump, roundish, short, its head covered by a papal cap. In 1916 King Alfonso the 13th, while visiting a friend in Granada Province, was offered some piononos with his mid-afternoon tea. He loved them so much that he appointed Ceferino's patisserie an official provider of the Spanish Royal House. A title that the bakery still holds.

The pionono is a golden small, short, plump spongy cylinder rolled over itself, slightly infused in syrup, topped by a round "cap" of toasted cream. It goes in one morsel, or two, perfect to date your coffee.  It  has a distinctive flavour, it is moist, mid level of sweetness, fluffy and very fresh.

Lately, the traditional piononos have been joined for some summery flavoured versions that are far behind regarding flavour and quality except for the citrus one, which I loved.

There are piononos in other patisseries in the city but they are not as good or fresh as the ones sold here.  Regarding other sweets they sell, varies from type to type. I like some of them and not others. I used to love their ice-cream tarts when I was a kid.,

Service changes from person to person, some of the ladies lovely some others a bit dry and matter of fact. Thank Gosh for the moist cakes :).

If you are lucky to grab a seat, you will stay here for a long time, as this is one of those places that, for whatever reason, keeps people there talking for hours. No joke!

This places is part of my emotional-belly memory. Even the things I don't like make it special to me.

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