Bella espresso, bellevue hill

Allpress espresso. Busy and popular, it’s standing room only outside, but there’s still some room indoors where a couple of wooden boxes against a wall have been artfully transformed into comfortable seating by virtue of some plush cushioning.

Ordering is all outside; four staff work busily in a small kitchen space; taking orders, cooking - the scent of grilling bacon drifts across the indoors - and an ipod provides some relaxing music. newspapers are on offer for customers to browse. Some baby chillies sit in water bottles in an installation artwork.

Even the regulars’ dogs are known by name, but if you’re just visiting, you could be in for a wait.

Coffee breaks all reasonable convention in how long it takes to arrive; perhaps have a regular order for you. When it arrives, it’s good; not too strong, not too hot.

11 Comments

  1. bella local
    Posted January 11, 2008 at 11:07 am | Permalink

    Bella is now gone,why,because a greedy customer of theres offered the landlord double rent,he is opening new cafe called Blip in its place.
    please don’t support this new business.
    Bella opening again real soon
    thank-you
    bella local

  2. Local
    Posted April 13, 2008 at 7:19 pm | Permalink

    Lies, the food was lousy

  3. Posted April 13, 2008 at 7:25 pm | Permalink

    Hey, Local: thanks for your comment. Are you talking about the old cafe, or the new one?

  4. Local
    Posted April 14, 2008 at 7:40 pm | Permalink

    The old one mate, its improved out of sight now, fresh and very edible

  5. bad_coffee_sucks
    Posted May 18, 2008 at 4:26 pm | Permalink

    The only thing the new place is good for is if you’re into drinking dirty dishwater and sitting in a food court cafe. Yuk Yuk Yuk.

    And the character of that great little local cafe was stripped away with the tasteless renovations and face-slapped staff.

    AND They don’t even open on the weekends now! Don’t worry about us locals, as long as they get the weekend off!

  6. local
    Posted June 12, 2008 at 1:29 pm | Permalink

    ahhh jealousy is a curse! blip is a wonderful little cafe with very nice staff and great coffee…. instead of winging go and make yourself a new name and stop feeling ‘burnt’ from the take over…
    very immature to write stuff like you have above..

    they must be doing something right, they have doubled the business. its a great little cafe, no matter who the owner.

  7. Will I am
    Posted June 25, 2008 at 3:42 pm | Permalink

    I was searching online for Bella and this is what came up,wow.
    I used to go to the old one for the atmosphere, the tradies roll and the staff knew my coffee order before I even ordered.

  8. Posted June 25, 2008 at 11:56 pm | Permalink

    Reality is that little places like this with high Sydney rent will always find the going tough ‘cos of their very high breakeven point. Wet winters can be brutal for their trade…

  9. Blip_Faithful
    Posted September 6, 2008 at 8:36 pm | Permalink

    For all you sweet gimps who liked bella better, get your taste buds checked…i would rather eat out of my dogs bowl than have one of the old cocroach infested tradies rolls..get a life bella local its pretty obvious your the old owner you sweeeeet dezmon.
    I <3 BLIP

  10. Lisa M
    Posted September 22, 2008 at 6:52 pm | Permalink

    Oh my God,I was looking for the old cafe online to see if they had re-opened elsewhere,I was told by the new staff that the old owners sold the business?
    Obviously there’s more to the story that’s not being told.
    How can these staff just lie to me?
    Anyway I’ve found a new place in North Bondi called BRU,its the best,great ppl and freindly staff.
    Bella was the only reason I went to bellevue hill.
    :(

  11. Notmyrealname
    Posted September 22, 2008 at 10:13 pm | Permalink

    i heard this was being talked about online, its a hot topic in the shops, so i thought i’d check it out for myself.
    i’ve worked for the old owners and for the new ones and all I can say is that the original was the best…
    it was happy, it was loved by everyone and it had soul. the new place is a badly done copy and the vibe surrounding it now is unbearable.
    seems like karma to me.

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