Alice Nivens, Port Phillip Arcade, Melbourne

Alice Nivens Cafe is a hidden gem in the Port Phillip Arcade on Flinders Street.  It is such a hidden treasure that I did not even notice it until I was introduced to it by Jacqui, who shared some treats with me at Alice Nivens.  If you are looking for it, it is at the back of the Port Phillip Arcade, behind Kim Sing, the cheap and cheerful Asian cafe.

Alice Nivens has striking artwork on its internal wall, as featured at the top of this post, which conjures up visions of Alice in Wonderland.  There is a range of cakes displayed prettily inside a glass cabinet, and outside, there is seating at tables prettily decorated with flowers (pink rosebuds on the day of our visit).

I am dreadful at having to choose cakes, so I suggested to Jacqui that we get two different cakes and share them.  Our first pick was the violet and lemon cupcake ($4.50):

This was a vanilla cupcake, filled with lemon curd, topped with buttercream and decorated with crystallised violets:

The cake was rather smashing - it was moist, with a lemon tang from the curd and crunch from the crystallised violets.

Our other choice was a slice of coffee and date cake ($6.50):

The rich date cake was topped by coffee buttercream, and finished off with a decadent coating of ganache.  It was rich and indulgent, but deliciously so.

I will definitely be visiting Alice Nivens again - now that I have discovered it, I will never overlook it again. 

Alice Nivens Cafe

Shop 13, Port Phillip Arcade

228 Flinders Street

Melbourne VIC 3000