Ashgrove oenophiles scored a new reason to raise their glasses when specialty coffee joint and wine bar Gastown opened on the corner of Waterworks Road and Ashgrove Avenue in 2022. Alderley coffee lovers will likely spy some familiar faces at the helm, as Gastown is the new venture from the cheery crew behind beloved community-driven caffeine slinger Soul Revovler Co. When searching for a larger kitchen space to help expand their wholesale pie and sausage roll business, Soul Revolver Co’s owners, Brisbane-born Sloane and Canadian ex-pat Marn, inspected the cosy space once home to long-running caffeinery U&I Espresso (just around the corner from Junk Bar). Inspired by recent travels to Tasmania where the couple soaked up the state’s thriving small-bar scenes, the duo has decided to transform the cafe into a venue that bridged morning and evening trade. Gastown is named in honour of the storied Vancouver neighbourhood known for its Victorian buildings, cobblestone streets and vibrant dining scene (the name Soul Revolver Co is an ode to Marn and Sloane’s favourite Gastown coffee spot, Revolver), with the aim of creating a dimly lit locale perfect for sipping single origins by day or a glass of vino at night. The intimate 20-seater boasts a colour scheme of dark green and walnut illuminated by globe lights. Gastown’s cafe offering is headlined by coffee from The Black Lab Coffee Co., a range of single-origin filter brews from a rotating roster of small Australian roasters and a selection of bites including toasties and pastries from Farine & Co. Gastown transforms into a wine bar on Friday and Saturday nights, pouring drops from an ever-changing array of exclusively Australian labels, classic cocktails and a clutch of craft beers by the can. Guests can also expect a frequently morphing small plates menu.