Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre,
Cnr Victoria and Burnley Streets, Richmond
Tel: 8416 5000
http://www.ikea.com/au/en/store/richmond
Visited Wednesday 20 June 2012
Not everyone loves Ikea, but where else can you get free Wifi, a wholesome breakfast for $3.45 on a Wednesday morning plus free coffee and a free mini Swedish Prinsesstårta for your birthday?
A cooked breakfast (09:30 - 11:00) is normally $2.95 and includes bacon, scrambled eggs, half a tomato, a small sausage and a hash brown. It is $1.00 cheaper on Wednesdays, and baked beans and mushrooms are an extra $0.75 each. If you are an Ikea Family member the coffee is free and they send you a voucher for a free small cake for your birthday.
The free Wifi is a bonus, but people are equally happy to sit and read the newspaper or a book if dining alone.
It actually suited me to pay a visit as I wanted to buy a few household items. I also enjoy the cheery reminders of Scandinavia. As a medical stident living in Oslo I used to wait patiently with others to catch a bus from the city centre to one of the two Ikea stores in the suburbs whenever I needed something cheap but practical for my student accommodation and could also take advantage of the reasonably priced food and drink (a relative rarity as many travellers will attest). It is strangely comforting that an Ikea store in Oslo is pretty much the same as one in Melbourne!
At the Richmond store the first hour of parking is free but you can stay for up to three hours if you spend $5.00 in-store.
Coffee review:
Mug of Cappuccino $2.50 or free for IKEA Family members (bottomless in either case)
Rating: 6/10
Although this is not a recognised coffee house, it is a pleasant enough refuge for those after a quick caffeine fix in the midst of more stressful activities such as shopping!
IKEA uses UTZ Certified fair trade coffee and commercial coffee machines offering a limited selection e.g.: Cappuccino, Latte, Long Black. On the plus side, the coffee has a pleasant strong bitter flavour and a good aftertaste. However, there is probably a bit too much froth on top, and it tends to go cold quite quickly. Still an enjoyable cup of coffee and despite the barn-like ambiance it is quite possible to find a quiet corner and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi or alternatively the reasonably priced food offerings (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
It is strangely comforting that an Ikea store in Oslo is pretty much the same as one in Melbourne! Miami Vending Machines
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