I drove 45 minutes to a cafe in the suburbs, and I'd do it again.
Sana is a Japanese-inspired neighbourhood cafe in Cheltenham. I went for the menu and the coffee. I left thinking about something else: how one venue got an operator like me into the car.
A menu you don't expect in the suburbs
The food is the most inventive I've seen in a long time. There is a wagyu katsu sando, a Japanese 7-Eleven style egg sando, an udon carbonara and salmon nori tacos. All of it sits on a neighbourhood cafe menu, which is rare.
I'm not the only one who noticed. Good Food listed Sana among its new cafes to try in April 2025, naming the udon carbonara and the Japanese flourishes.
Coffee that holds its own
The coffee is exceptional. It is a house roast, and it is made with care. The specialty drinks are where the team pushes hardest: a banana milk matcha, and a take on the Mont Blanc.
Matcha is a big part of the story here. Good Food reported in May 2025 that matcha outsells coffee at Sana. The same piece noted guests travelling up to an hour for drinks and brunch, which fits my own drive.
The founder is part of the offer
The founder, Steven Chrun, left a secure career as a financial adviser to turn a venue around. That wording is mine; Good Food describes him as a former finance guy who moved from Sydney to Melbourne to be closer to family. He has told the story openly on social media the whole way through, and he has since opened more venues.
So people arrive already knowing who is behind the counter and why. The food and coffee will bring me back. The story is what got me in the car the first time.
It is crafted, not accidental
The founder-led feel is not left to chance. Later Sydney Morning Herald coverage reported that Chrun pays a social media agency about $300 per video, and that his behind-the-scenes content has reached as many as 3.5 million Instagram views. The voice is his. The production is professional.
That is worth copying in spirit if you run a venue or plan events:
- Be open about why you started.
- Put one memorable item on the menu that people will describe to friends.
- Give the drinks the same thought as the food.
- Show the people behind the counter.
Take it to your next event
The same idea applies when you are organising coffee for a team day, a launch or a client function. Guests remember the moment when someone clearly cares about what they are handing over.
If you are planning one in the city, our coffee cart hire Melbourne page covers how we approach it. Before you brief anyone, write one sentence on what you want guests to say about the coffee, then build the menu and the crew around that sentence.
