Barista Sarah Millard at William Angliss Institute’s Tram Cafe on La Trobe Street.Wayne TaylorThe only catch is you can’t take your coffee to go for a journey on the tram tracks:the Tram Cafe is stationary,although patrons can ring the bell.
The restored tram is from the W-class fleet that was first introduced to Melbourne in 1923. These trams went on to become a symbol of the city and were placed on the National Trust Heritage Register in 1998. Most W-class trams have been gradually decommissioned,save for a few that run on the City Circle line (route 35),targeted at tourists.
From the 1980s to 2018,the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant used three W-class trams for its dining room on wheels,serving retro dishes like salmon-avocado towers as it trundled from the city to St Kilda and back. A dispute with public transport authorities over the safety of its tramsshut down the moving restaurant,which former Good Food critic Gemima Codyreviewed in 2017.
There are 16 seats inside the timber-framed tram,with more outside.SuppliedThe Tram Cafe is a more modest dining experience,focusing on coffee,tea and baked goods,but it’s not without its attractions.
Coffee is just $3.50 for a regular size,made with Veneziano beans roasted in Richmond.
The price partly reflects that the people working the espresso machine are students from William Angliss,with the tram providing a useful training ground for tomorrow’s baristas.
Colonial Tramcar Restaurant co-owner Craig Opie inside one of his trams in 2004.Simon SchluterStudents of pastry will also bake the croissants,danishes and banana bread that are to be served once semester starts in February,while others have designed iced teas in flavours such as blood orange and eucalyptus. Angliss Bistro is next to the cafe for those after more substantial food.
Remodelling of the timber-framed tram has created seating for 16 people on-board and there are also seats surrounding the tram in the forecourt of William Angliss.
The tram faces the La Trobe Street route it would have once travelled in its working life – a poetic ending or cruel irony,depending on your view.
Open Mon-Fri 8am-3pm.
555 La Trobe Street,Melbourne,angliss.edu.au/restaurants-events/angliss-dining/