After last drinks are called, dance-floors clear and the clubs empty out, Fortitude Valley takes on a whole new persona. The nightlife nexus looks markedly different in the day time, when coffee replaces cocktails as the area’s prime export and cafes such as Reverends Fine Coffee, The New Black and Paradise become as popular as their neighbouring watering holes. This influx of caffeine is now starting to trickle into Fortitude Valley’s back streets, with new plant-based eatery Little Digs joining the ranks of hip hideaways turning The Valley into a morning hub as well as a late-night wonderland. Little Digs can be found tucked away on Little Street, an aptly named cul-de-sac that branches off Wickham Street behind Les Bubbles. The brainchild of Gifty Langkapinth, Prince Khamkaew and Sam Berge, the cosy 25-seater cafe (which officially opened on Wednesday April 14) occupies the space formerly home to Via He Viet Street Foods and, before that, Mister Fitz. Via He’s predominantly white colour scheme has been exchanged in favour of a homely aesthetic boasting green paint, rustic furnishings and the addition of lush greenery, while some new eye-catching murals and framed artwork also add extra pops of colour to the interior to contrast with the existing mosaic tiled floor.

Little Digs’s side-street home is an oasis for lovers of plant-based cuisine, with chef Prince imbuing his menu of meat-free eats with a sprinkling of Thai influences. The easy-to-navigate food menu boasts three categories Big Hungry, Little Hungry and a section dedicated to sourdough toast. Big Hungry’s large plates include the Tempting Tempeh (grilled Cajun tempeh with Thai salad and green-chilli dressing), the Yellow Curry (mock-meat chicken, organic tofu, pumpkin, potato and crispy Vietnamese mint), the Big Digs Brekky (scrambled tofu, chickpea fritters, plant-based sausages, mushroom duxelles, hash browns, grilled tomato, avocado and sourdough) and the Croffle – the lovechild of a croissant and a waffle, served with caramelised bananas, walnuts, mixed berries, coconut flakes and vegan coconut ice-cream. Little Hungry’s bites offer salivation-worthy snacks like five-spiced mock-meat duck spring rolls, crumbed and marinated cauliflower bites, grilled garlic vegan roti-like butter bread and deep-fried tempura mushrooms. If you’ve only got time to spare for a quick bite, Little Digs also tops sourdough toast with avocado and vegan fetta, scrambled tofu, hazelnut and cacao spread, and barbecue jackfruit, while an ambient cabinet stocks vegan treats from Sweet Nectar. Fonzie Abbott is supplying the beans for Little Dig’s coffee offering, which is bolstered by a range of smoothies, fresh cold-pressed juices, Italian soda with fruit puree and colour-changing butterfly-pea iced teas.

Little Digs is now open to the public – head to the Stumble Guide for more important details.