Pushka is a mouse hole of a place off a lane that’s off a lane (although it does runneth over into the lane). It has all the hallmarks of somewhere cool and funky - it is slightly grungy, a little bit arty, it serves excellent coffee with kitschy teaspoons (Lady Diana from the royal family series is particularly popular), does good bagels and select range of patisserie, and it has crazy toast. It functions as part cafe, part bar (cheap beer!) and part art space. And it has fish. Yeah. Funky.

Half consumed excellent coffee with kitschy spoon. Actually, has anyone else noticed the number of places that are doing kitschy spoons at the moment? It seems to offer a bit of street cred these days

This is one of the toasted bagels - from memory called the King. Whilst they don’t use the traditional dense New York style boiled bagels, these ones are good. And their fillings are top notch - a sprinkle of maldon salt for the tomatoes, good prosciutto, fried egg, excellent cheese.

They also serve a range of baguettes, and as mentioned previously, crazy toast. Actually, I have quite fallen in love with crazy toast, and am now doing crazy toast at work for lunch on my days in. It is a split bagel (or Burgen is a good choice too), smeared thickly with vegemite and avocado. Mmm. Whilst it won’t have the men in white coats knocking at your door, it is a slightly ingenious take on adding salt to your avo’s. I love it.

And this is how Pushka spilleth over into the lane. Don’t be scared by the guy who looks so pointedly at you from the window directly ahead. It is a cardboard cut out, and it has freaked me on a number of occasions