A Cafe Etc in Brighton and Hove

This cafe resonates a captivating charm paying homage to Marilyn Monroe with a tranquil patio setting at the back with a garden and chickens. Staff were really friendly and helpful, particularly as I needed to charge my phone after travelling on Friday. I was impressed with the expediency my orders were received, especially when I returned on Sunday as it was extremely busy. The Barista gets 10/10 for the delightful chai and latte - they were perfect, and the homemade cakes were delicious. Thank you for such a positive experience whilst visiting Adelaide this weekend.

My first visit. Interesting venue, with rustic charm - very casual. It was lunch time - about 12.30, so not very late in the day. We ordered, but then were told there was no salad left! So we chose another option: bacon and egg muffins. The order arrived - it was bagels - they said there were no muffins left! Okay, accepted that; (but wouldn't an establishment usually tell you that prior to serving?) The food was nice, but the cutlery came in rather dubious, damp-looking serviettes. Then we ordered a coffee and cup of tea. At that point another couple came up to order, but left due to the lack of salad. Whilst waiting for our drinks, the waitress came to the table with $5 refund, because they couldn't supply coffee. (Unsure of the reason - maybe machine not working.) We asked for a refund of both drinks and went elsewhere. It was a public holiday, so I guess that may have an effect on supply, but they are a long-established cafe, so it's a bit surprising; It's not like we turned up late in the day looking for a meal. My lunch companion has been before and not had trouble previously. Staff were friendly and attentive. Menu boards are on the ground and hard to see when customers are standing in front of them, and one board was partially behind a table with customers sitting at it. I felt almost rude trying to read it. I wasn't aware of any hand held menus. Very hot day - be prepared that they only have ceiling fans.

Friendly efficient service great range of food choices and generous portion sizes all at very reasonable prices. 👌 😊

Very hip place to be. Great food and service. You wont be disappointed

$16 for two coffees & a cornflake biscuit. Yikes. Messy tables etc. And it’s one thing to get a coffee not to your liking, but when the cups & saucers are grubby too ?? Ick.

Always busy so book. Always great food, good prices and lovely place to have a bite to eat or simply have a coffee and a chat. Week with going to.

Quick to serve our drinks, Good food. Rude staff. Took our order, we sat down and chatted for 10 minutes and then we were rudely told they were closed and that we needed to leave. They could’ve told us that they were closing when we ordered. Sarcastic, smartarse remarks weren’t needed.

As far as food and value for money this place is great. Really great portions and couldn’t fault a thing on my plate. Well-done to the chef, and the barista was great and fantastic coffee. The waiting staff and front desk staff were really unfriendly and rude. They honestly seemed like serving out food was a huge inconvenience to them and witnessed them very unenthusiastic towards other customers too. It’s a shame, as it has great potential this little place!

Enjoyed breakfast here. Prompt service ordering, & quickly served our meals and coffee, young waitress was friendly. Food was fresh & good value. several seating areas, outside front footpath, inside Marilyn themed and breezy indoor/outdoor space up the side.

Never again. Took our order to have outside and then 5 mins after delivering the order told us they would be shutting in 5 mins. Fair enough if you’re going to close but don’t take our order. Disgusting burnt coffee. Obviously didn’t want to serve us but the lady had taken the order.

Food was tasty and served quickly, compliments to Glen the Chef, the wait staff zoe pleasant and helpful, the older lady the owner is very unpleasant and rude.

BURNT COFFEE, AGAIN! Pretty sure it's the owner who's doing this. Older lady, every time she gets near that coffee machine she burns the coffee. It comes out scolding hot, and as it cools down it gets more and more bitter and pretty much undrinkable. Got an extra star for the cakes. Update 6-12-23. I think this establishment has changed hands since my first review. The coffee seems to have massively improved. The service is still sub-par and carried out by people who look like they'd rather be somewhere else, but the food is good.

We enjoyed our 2nd delicious breakfast, eggs and bacon cooked to perfection at this little Cafe and hope to come again while we're on holiday here in Brighton. Generous servings. We loved the Homely/holiday atmosphere. Staff are friendly and helpful.

Very good food and excellent service 👌

Don't accept reusable coffee cups. Instead they insisted on using a disposable single use coffee cup, to fill my reusable coffee cup. You're steps from the marine environment, benefitting from the customers a beach side location brings. And forgoing a simple step to protect it. All the other cafes along Jetty Road accept reusable, with many offering discounts for it. Go there instead

Awesome place as usual, foods amazing, they even take cash an round it off back to the nearest dollar.

Feral and belligerent owner verbally attacked me after I simply asked for a jug of hot water to heat up my second coffee at her establishment. I'm a teacher working in the cafe that was never full the entire morning, I'm off in a corner where no one else is sitting. She continually verbally abused me as I'm trying to leave and my only response was that I thought she was incredibly rude and I won't be returning. She just kept saying belligerent and disrespectful comments as I refused to engage with her. Wow. I've never encountered someone so clueless in customer service. My crime: I was there too long and plugged in my laptop. I had a meal and two coffees in my time there and as someone who has worked in many positions in cafes/restaurants for 15 years, I am an extremely conscious patron and would have left if the cafe was even close to full. The rest of the staff were wonderful.

Used to be good ...now disinterested staff serve bland amateur coffee with couldn't care less attitude

Great all day breakfast options for meat eaters and vegetarians! Staff happy to swap out options too.

Such a lovely atmosphere, I really love going here ❤️

If could give minus 1 star for service would. Incredibly rude, burnt coffee, said I didn't know what I was talking about said it was too hot, no it's actually burnt tastes disgusting, staff said go away don't come back. Definitely won't, rudest service ever. Went down to espy and ate much better there

Great value, large servings and quick service. Dog friendly too!

The old lady was kind of rude when I asked for food as a take a way. Then I accepted to eat there asking for omelette with spinach, tomatoes and cheese ( vegetarian) and instead of cheese the put chicken on it … the other girl she was nice and said sorry about the mistake ( gave me a vegan slice cake for free lol) . The girl was very nice but the other lady catch my attention. Not a service that I would like to receive

Nice food, decent coffee, staff not the friendliest but great atmosphere. Def worth a visit.

We go here for coffee reguarly, always well made, cant complain.

Amazing (organic) coffee, and great food without being too high-brow!!

Value for money and huge helpings! Quick delivery of the food, I couldn’t finish my serve. No bagels for the eggs Benedict today, sauce was nice! Thank you, will be back again.

Comfort food in the heart of Jetty Road, Brighton. This cafe has a wide selection of breakfasts all tasty, freshly, and quickly prepared. A popular spot with a large back patio and secret garden. Complete with chucks and bunnies.

Great value what ever your taste..

Great spot!! I couldn't believe how quick the food was served, I would definitely visit again :)

Had a lovely breakfast here and would go back in a moment.

Salads were not available, nor the salad sides for mains. It was a public holiday and hot, so this is somewhat understandable. But public holidays are known years ahead, and weather a week or two, so a competent restaurant manager will plan. After all, anyone can make one tasty dish for their family, the skill is in making a dozen different dishes for fifty different people coming at different times. This is why chefs do a 3-4 year apprenticeship. No discount was offered for the absence of sides for the mains. I had a burger, and the patty was good. My dining partner had a chicken focaccia. They were both the same bread, heavy and dry, neither traditional focaccia nor burger bun. I assume this was for the same holiday reasons as the absence of salad. My partner had an iced coffee which for reasons unknown was served in a jam jar. We were given glasses of water but no top-up. The service was reluctant and desultory, it was obvious they'd got in whoever they could for the public holiday. The waitress shoved the burger at me and it would have slid off the plate and into my face if I'd not taken the plate in one hand and the burger in the other. The decor was nice, the place is known as the Marilyn Cafe because of all the pictures, though nobody can say what that has to do with its name. Again, on a public holiday and hot day something less than perfect can be expected. But these are things which can be planned for, and they're also times when cafes bring in a lot of money - and if they do it well, get regular customers from it.

Super friendly service, delicious food and the best coffee.

Never had a bad meal or drink there. Always value for money and fantastic food Friendly staff and lots of places to sit, inside, out the front and out the back.

The place looked nice enough, old school. The food was horrible. Got a chicken salad.. the chicken was beyond dry, could barely swallow it. Came with canned capsicum and dried out carrots and cost $16. Definitely not going back.

Reasonably priced breakfast and i love a place that can cater for dietary needs with no hassles. Service is super quick and staff are lovely.

Dog friendly cafe with great service to people who visits alone with doggie. Been to so many so called dog friendly cafes but not so friendly to people who visits alone due to the limitation of ordering at the counter (which dogs are not allowed to be in most of the time; fair enough). But this cafe is one of those the staff would happily come and take your order then bring the eftops machine to you without going through all the ordeal of leaving my precious puppy behind or chain to a table. One star deducted was due to the coffee being too hot. Otherwise all good!

Loving the indoor doggo and pupper parking on these colder days! Delicious focaccia, warm, aromatic and tasty coffee. This has been a delightful pit stop in our day.

Reluctant rude staff. Slow service. The woman in charge was clearly having a bad day and making sure clients knew it. Won't be returning.

Someone doesnt know how to make coffee. It was terrible, wont go back here for a coffee will try somewhere else.

A great cosy Cafe to visit for a snack, coffee or even lunch... plenty of options to choose from.

Have had more than one terrible experience here - the service is atrocious and staff are incredibly rude.

I was asked to pay cash because the on line banking wasn’t working. I don’t see how this is my problem. (sort it out or give away free coffee because we are almost in a totally cashless society) The front door has a sign on it saying “hold the handle up to keep the door closed”. Go figure! Why not fix the door handle. A clear lack of attention to detail. I don’t think I will be back and sure the people sitting at the table next to us will be. The staff definitely don’t care and are there to punch the time clock only.

Great cappuccino. Loved the lemon curd cheese cake and Turkish delight

I have been to A Cafe Etc many times during my stay and both the service and the food have been fantastic. I will definitely be coming back next time!

Carol and her beautiful staff have been amazing during our stay. They have great coffee and all the treats are home made…. Yum!! The breakfasts are generous size and delicious Make sure you call in and say hi and enjoy the hospitality ❤️

Great vegetarian breakfast great service cool Marilyn Monroe photos everywhere 5 stars 🌟

Lovely little shop with the best tasting coffee

Good food, mainly friendly service , the coffee is rather ordinary .Used to go there on regular basis but the coffee had gone down hill.Final straw that broke the camels back is the No mask exemption sign on the door.

Absolutely disgusted by the attitude of the owner/manager. The coffee is awful, there is a hostile, unpleasant atmosphere in the place. Needless to say, I will never spend my money here again!

Would not go there EVER.....very rude service and very average coffee

Nor the best eggs Benny I've had...

Three and a half average stars is not at all reflective of our experience today. The coffee was creamy and the lamb and mango salad was really a deconstructed yiros. Sooo delicious! My friend had eggs benny and asked to replace the ham for tomatoes; no argument, no attitude, no extra cost. We will definitely be back!!! ❤️☕️🥗

Okay breakfast with terrible coffee. One third of the coffee was froth for latte and the rest tasted only like milk. Also "no exemptions" sign for mask when clearly stated exemptions applied by law in their shop, someone sounds like a hypochondriac in there.

Lovely building. Everything beyond the front door was disappointing

Great place for coffee snacks & lunch. Also breakfast was interesting. New section at rear is a bonus.

Not only is the food here terrible and rushed, but the service is absolutely shocking. Do not waste your time with this foul place! It doesn’t even deserve one star!

Eggs benny and coffee was good, the filipino lady who took order was very lovely and friendly. But the other ladies (the older lady and the coffee lady) didnt seem happy with working there I guess (pretentious?) - the coffee lady gave me a dirty look when she tried to walk thru the narrow doorway aggressively where i was about to scan QR code. The atmosphere & experience was semi ruined by those ones unfortunately. If the filipino lady is still going to be there and if consistency of what we ordered will remain, we dont mind going back.

Love the place... Love the atmosphere... Love the location... Recently terribly disappointed... the past 4 weeks in a row Sat & Sun the young girl serving NEVER has her mask on properly, not cover her nose at all and at best only half covering her mouth. Most of the staff are doing the same. With the high number of Covid cases we are currently experiencing I find ths incredibly disappointing and unfortunately we will now be purchasing our coffees elsewhere!

It's quirky, the decor is pretty cool, service is ok, coffee is ok but expensive.

Unfriendly waitresses. Nice atmosphere but I ordered banana and pineapple cake. I got what I think was carrot cake(think they got it mixed up) It wasn’t fresh and very dry. Disappointing.

Good customer service but messed up order of 3 coffees. Undrinkable takeaway coffees for over 5 mins because they were so hot. Coffee was substandard. Food on other tables looked good. Wouldn't go back, other options nearby.

Coffee is amazing, so are the huge muffins w/cream. The service is always with a warm. Impressive Marilyn Monroe collection.

Truly one of my favourite places. Food is lovely, coffee excellent .. always busy and ambience perfect ..😊

The owner of this place was quite arrogant and rude towards us today; made our visit there the very last. She clearly doesn't have pleasant customer service skills, especially during these global financially striken times. as a small bussiness she should be more mindful on how she conducts her personality. Loyal customers will not comeback let alone new ones! The young staff are pleasant and kind. Unfortunately that does not welcome us back.

Very disappointed with the abrupt manner in which a staff member spoke to my 90 year old friend when she enquired about gluten free snacks.

Delicious and great value for money 💰

Great service with a smile. Nothing was too difficult even when they were very busy! We'll be back for more thank you 😊

Always recommend. A regular for Us. Super friendly staff. Great value and Atmosphere.

Love this Cafe! The Marilyn Monroe decor is fun, and the food is delicious and very reasonably priced. Great coffee too!

A favourite place to have coffee

It is a typical little cafe but it does have outdoor seating

Hands down the worst coffee I’ve ever had. Tip 1. You have prime real estate so make decent coffee and customers will attend. Tip 2. Actually get a barista. Tip 3. You may need to pay my medical bills as I’ve just scolded my mouth. Honestly, we threw the coffee in the bin. Saw you had a horrible rating, gave you a chance and you let us down. The end

Very nice coffee after a long run.

Popular. There is also seating out the back .Getting a park almost impossible on weekends

Nothing but horrible greasy food. Rude staff and staff that call their customers rude and laugh at you when you try to voice your opinion.

All I have to say is what a shame, this place used to be so good and now it's just rude staff horrible food and burnt coffee

Rude owner, seems like she hates being there and anything you ask her is a chore. The staff are a lot nicer and more helpful. The orders always seem to be messed up when I go in and sadly coffee gets burnt quite frequently. Such a shame as the location and the interior is great.

Horrible Eggs Benedict, the bagel was so tough I couldn't cut through it. The order also came out wrong. Took it back and they gave me a steak knife to use, still couldn't cut through. Horrible service. Coffee wasn't bad.

Their Chai latte was really good and orange poppyseed muffin. Been there for lunch in the past and it hasn't been up to usual standards. Garden at the back is beautiful and chill.

Great place for breakfast and brunch. Food was great, I loved the beef burger, decent size and the patty was well flavoured. Lots of Marilyn Monroe decor, service could be better.

Had the tuna mornay 90%potato did not enjoy it at all very dry wont be going back 🤢

Poor coffee ..watery and bitter! Asked for another with the same result!!! Will not go again..😒

Regular customer at this great establishment, fabulous hot coffee and delicious food served promptly by friendly staff!!

Good coffee good service good ambience

I have been here for Breakfast on multiple occasions. Great coffee and always a good feed. Full Breakfast is great and their Omelette options are filling.

They wouldn't give us a bottle of table water with our food & coffee order, citing 'Covid rules'. Illogical to the point of frustrating. The only cafe I've ever seen with such a rule.

Love this cafe. Love the ambience, staff and food. I keep going back whenever I'm at Brighton. 5 stars 🌟

Always amazing food and coffee! I have been going there for 10+ years and it never fails to disappoint!! If you are ever looking for a place to get a good breakfast feed I’d recommend getting the big breakfast with poached eggs and a cappuccino on the side. You will not regret it!!

Terrible coffee, told the staff that it tasted very burt. They suggested putting sugar in it. Walked 30 seconds up the road to C.R.E.A.M. great coffee and customer service.

Always great service price and coffee

Consistently delicious food and efficient service. The secret garden is a delightful space and loving the chooks out the back by the loo! I know the eggs are fresh!

Asked for table water. Refused to supply citing Covid! Must be a specific rule just for this cafe. Was told bottled water for sale but would only accept cash as cost 70c per card transaction. As had just put 2 meals and coffees on our cards it would have been a separate transaction so went without. This was nothing compared to asking for salt and pepper!! As a local of Jetty Rd and a having been a patron of this cafe for many years, I will NEVER go back.

Best option for breakfast 🥣 ☕ 🥖. Very confy place🤙.

I’ve never been asked to leave a cafe so they could close -30 mins before the advertised closing time- with a full cup left! It wasn’t like it was dead around there either- so many people got turned away or offered take away only in the half hour before we were ejected. And they served me the wrong tea. It seems like they don’t really want or appreciate your business- you kind of feel like a huge inconvenience to them, and it’s not the first time I’ve felt that there. Won’t be going back again.

Good coffee and incredibly fast service ... always!

I was very disappointed today with the attitude of the owner of the Cafe in the way she spoke to my friend...i will never go back the again. This is not the first time this has happened.

Food was amazing and the service was excellent. Really reasonable prices and great selection. Will definitely be back.

The coffee is honestly disgraceful

Disappointing. Food/coffee average. Owner always quite rude & staff appear not happy. Tables NOT wiped down between customers in line with COVID. Long time customer.