A Mano Cafe

A Mano Cafe in Annerley is a pocket-sized pasticceria/cafe providing a scrumptious selection of traditional Italian sweets, served along with well-brewed Bear Bones coffee and more.  

Nestled between a barber shop and a Thai restaurant on the corner of Cracknell and Ipswich Roads, the small family-run cafe offers  seating inside the cosy space with additional tables and chairs on the sidewalk. 

Delectable treats range from flaky pastries and delicious slices to classic Italian biscuits, baked daily onsite by hand (a mano) using family recipes; with some sweets selling out before they hit the shelf, as is the case with the cafe's famous fluffy vanilla slice.

Other desserts worth crossing town for include cannoli (chocolate, vanilla or ricotta), rocky road, rum and raisin brownies, cherry ripe slices, Nutella eclairs, tiramisu melting moments, and almond and apricot drops. And on weekends, customers queue for the cafe's custard-filled Italian doughnuts, bombolini. 

As well as mouthwatering treats, the cafe offers a range of  breakfast and lunch options including a bacon and egg breaky brioche, Sicilian meatball sub, Italian toastie (sopressa salami, pesto, sun-dried tomato and cheese) and Caprese bagel - fresh tomato, basil pesto, spinach and mozzarella.   

Besides Di Bella coffee, the cafe has fruit juices, milkshakes, smoothies and frappes.

In addition, A Mano provides catering, from boxes of sweets to special occasion cakes like a traditional Italian cassata cake, and can even arrange delivery.

By Deb Lidster

The menu may have changed since our visit.