Uni Corner Cafe, shrouded in scaffolding, bollards, and Jersey barricades. Photo: Kazuri Photgraphy.
Uni Corner Cafe stands on Bowes Street in Phillip, shrouded in scaffolding, bollards, and Jersey barricades. Major construction activity around Bowes Street, stemming from the extensive CIT Woden Campus and Public Transport Interchange project has impacted it since it opened in mid-2025.
The cafe is the first independent business foray for longtime friends Manas Agrawal and Vinay Shukla, who have worked in the hospitality industry for more than 10 years. Their experience includes developing their skills at high‑end hotels in Canberra. Vinay previously worked as a sous chef at Jamala Wildlife Lodge.
Embracing the independence of opening their own cafe has been exciting and challenging, but Manas says they feel deep gratitude that local workers and residents have persevered through the construction noise and unsightliness to discover a beloved new local. “We love our loyal customers!”
They look after their strong student crowd, offering discounts and meal deals.
When I pop in for a late lunch, the size of this particular corner surprises me; it is substantial, unmissable, and the cafe’s facade looks inviting.
Inside, floor‑to‑ceiling windows and greenery create a light and airy space. Black and yellow accents offset the cement floors and exposed pipes in the high ceiling.
Floor-to-ceiling windows and greenery create a light and airy space. Photos: Kazuri Photography.
A range of seating options includes cafe tables, retro sculpted‑wire bar stools at the high window bench, and comfy poufs surrounding a broad wooden table. I have the urge to settle at that rustic table, but as a sole diner, it feels greedy.
The menu hits the expected cafe highlights, and then some. All pastries, including the croissants, are baked in‑house. Manas tells me the house‑made sausage rolls and spinach‑and‑feta pastries sell out quickly.
The stable of burgers ranges from freshly ground beef patties to pulled pork, southern fried chicken, and even chicken tikka burgers, all laden with salad and sauces. Gluten‑free and vegetarian options are available.
A smooth coffee with my lunch.
The salads look interesting, with unique house‑made dressings – such as the bright, summery mango and orange vinaigrette. For something heartier, there’s sirloin steak and several pasta choices. I would happily choose either the prawn‑butter linguine or the penne pesto.
If you’re in the mood for sweet, butter‑kissed carbs, the waffles, pancakes, and French toast come loaded with toppings that balance the nostalgic comfort of sticky syrup and ice cream with fresh fruit. The omelette offerings catch my eye, especially the blue swimmer crab variation, cooked with onions, tomatoes, and cheese, and served on a croissant.
Recent weekly specials include matcha pancakes and a scrumptious‑sounding potato‑and‑bacon rosti.
To whet your whistle, Uni Corner Cafe serves fresh juices and smoothies. Popular juice blends include beetroot, apple, carrot, lemon, and ginger for a healthy dairy‑free option. All smoothies are sugar‑free and can be made with almond, coconut, soy, or oat milk. Flavours range from mango and banana to tropical blends, and a green smoothie with avocado, spinach, and almond milk.
Fresh matcha drinks – hot and cold – have recently joined the menu. The three mocktails sound refreshing, especially the virgin mojito with chilled lime, mint, house syrup, and sparkling water.
I start my meal with a flat white. Nice and strong with a silky foam, it is not overly creamy thanks to the lighter milk.
My satisfying loaded avocado toast.
My loaded avocado toast satisfies my tastebuds and my tummy.
The first thing I notice is the bread: toasted perfectly so it’s still soft enough to cut through easily.
The toast holds a lot of avo. The mild, creamy avocado gets a lift from the tart feta crumble, the zebra‑striped zigzags of sweet‑sticky‑tangy balsamic glaze, and a fragrant, green‑tinged house herb oil.
Two perfectly poached eggs add protein, while pepper‑speckled tomatoes and radish slices bring colour and zest.
I enjoy the meld of flavours.
The thoughtful menu that delivers quality food, warm service, and a surprisingly inviting space all make Uni Corner Cafe a standout in an otherwise disrupted streetscape.
Uni Corner Cafe is located at C6/15 Bowes St in Phillip. The cafe is open seven days a week, 6:30 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 4 pm on weekends. Follow Uni Corner Cafe on Facebook and Instagram.
