If you haven’t yet payed a visit to The Bearded Bean in the heart of the city, do yourself a favour, drop everything and do it now!

A newcomer to Genge Street, the charming café offers a delectable cabinet filled with sweet treats and snacks to take on-the-go, a dine-in menu boasting finger-licking burgers, hearty salads and specials just to name a few, a killer egg and bacon roll for early appetites and, of course, damn good coffee.

“With the menu at the bearded bean, I’m trying to keep it nice and simple,” head chef Joe Biilmann says.

Open for breakfast and lunch service, the café’s philosophy is simple – using basic ingredients with big flavours and letting the menu items speak for themselves.

Biilmann describes the overall food offering as ‘fast and tasty’ which ticks the boxes for plenty of Canberrans including those who work in the CBD that don’t have all day to wait for a meal. But don’t let that fool you! The quality of the food options here are next to none and the meal sizes are decent so your belly is well accounted for and you won’t be leaving hungry.

Owner Tom Reaby also owned the coffee shop which previously occupied the space but decided it was time for a change.

The fit-out has been refreshed into an industrial urban escape from the daily grind, with exposed brick and concrete features, raw timber bench tops, and an entire two walls covered in black board paint which allows for ever-changing chalk art, that also illustrates the menu.

Its a very chilled-out vibe, we have a relaxing atmosphere with nice food and “beard”iful coffee,” Biilmann laughs.

Since The Bearded Bean opened in May 2016, locals and visitors alike have flocked through it’s doors to experience all the positive whispers and word on the street about the new café.