A few years ago, it was a catering company struggling to find its feet, but now it’s a 24-hour commercial kitchen complete with office, studio, storage and even its own hole-in-the-wall espresso bar. The seed for Book to Cook was first planted when a neglected commercial kitchen was put up for rent on Gumtree – the response was overwhelming and the founders had a lightbulb moment. The venue was soon expanded to incorporate an office space, individual desks, a meeting area, boardroom table and kitchen storage – all of which is available to hire by the hour. The 24-hour commercial kitchen can fit up to three food producers at once, encouraging collaboration and creating a sense of community within the venue.

But for locals not in the market to hatch a new business idea, the jewel in Book to Cook’s crown is the Coffee Drop cafe. What was once an empty space between the walk-in freezer and the roller door is now a sweet espresso bar, which dishes up divine treats concocted by the small food businesses working in the commercial kitchen a few feet away. Open from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm Monday through to Friday, the cafe pours locally roasted coffee and an ever-changing selection of snacks, from French pastries to The Unrefined’s granola to gourmet sandwiches and bagels.

Book to Cook also plans to host cooking classes in the kitchen and community food events in the carpark in the future. For Coffee Drop contact information and trading hours, check out our Stumble Guide.