St. Jude, we’re informed, was one of the Twelve Apostles and known as the patron saint of lost causes. It’s also the one of the latest additions to the thriving Redfern cafe scene.

It’s the first joint venture for owners Kate Thomas and Grant Piper, but Kate’s cafe pedigree has already been established via two Sydney classics – cafe DOV in Potts Point and Ecabar in Darlinghurst. The pair discovered an old convenience store for lease late last year and by January had opened a cafe that’s equal parts modern design and low-key charm. The fitout comes courtesy of local interior whiz Arthur Koutoulas, with the help of plenty of custom-made pieces. Almost everything you see here, from the light fittings to the chairs, is making its debut.

The coffee is similarly exclusive. This is the only cafe in Sydney you can try this blend – an organic Peruvian coffee from Rush Roasting in Bowral in the Southern Highlands.

The menu offerings venture back into more familiar territory. Breakfast is a cast of tried and tested favourites: muesli, French toast, eggs with all the trimmings and a breakfast sanga that changes daily. A lesser seen, but recommended option is the Welsh rarebit – a gussied-up cheese on toast with ham and a mustardy sauce.

A lunchtime menu of salads and sandwiches also fits in with Kate and Grant’s vision of “simple food, done well”. But we’ve got no complaints about simple if it involves a rare roast beef sandwich with horseradish and buttermilk dressing or a salad of braised lamb, couscous, spicy eggplant and labna.

Where:  Cnr Thurlow and Bourke Sts, Redfern, 2016
Phone: (02) 9310 3523
Hours: Daily 7am-late afternoon (kitchen closes 3pm)