HOT: Red Door Corner Store, Northcote

While the demise of the neighbourhood milk bar is a sad testament of our time of mega-malls and supermarket duopolies, the silver lining is that Melburnians have managed to transform the humble corner store into fantastic cafes such as Red Door Corner Store.

Red Door Corner Store has retained some of the old-fashioned shop signage and the interior coffee and serving bench is reminiscent of the old shop of yore, when you'd be served by girls in beribboned aprons and mop caps reaching for the back shelves for your essentials.

And given the cafe's name of course the predominant colour scheme is a bright, cheery red.

The cafe serves all day breakfast and lunch, 7 days a week. On sunny days there is a contest for the outside pavement seats or there's a leafy back courtyard (which is also heated). The interior is quite small so you may struggle to get a pram in, but staff are friendly and helpful.

Other kid-friendly features include high chairs and a neat box of toys and books.

Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Red Door Corner Store, Northcote

The menu is focussed on seasonal, free-range and local produce. We share a delectably spongy brioche French toast ($18.50) and housemate crumpets with jam ($9). The French toast is dessert-masquerading-as-breakfast and is amazing! Think champagne poached strawberries, orange blossom custard, saffron and cardamom poached pear, mint, toasted almonds, maple crème fraîche. Sweet, sticky, crunchy, creamy, all at once. It's also extremely filling.

If you have a sweet tooth there are more house made treats in the cabinet.

There's a lot to love about cosy, delicious Red Door Corner Store. It's so good that locals have asked that I keep it secret – but good things should be shared, no? Plus if you have an Entertainment Book you can buy one meal get one free on your bill.

Click here for more cafes with indoor play in Melbourne.