The Spare Room OLK

This is the best coffee shop I have been to within a Westfield Shopping Centre and would rate it highly amongst any of the coffee shops I have ever been too. Compared to the franchise décor of the shops around it, The Spare Room is so eclectic and looks like something that belongs on King William Rd. The family who own it also own the matching OLK coffee shop upstairs which has a little kids playground. As the owner told me, Spare Room is his ‘adult store’.
The shop is so quaint with mismatched furniture, funky cushions and hanging lights. There is stencilling all over the walls instead of the wallpaper or paint as well. The owner/​barista was so lovely and made us really good drinks. After reading the other reviews which bags out the coffee, I had a chai latte in a mug which was just as good as anything I have ever had! My boyfriend was happy with his coffee, but I guess everyone’s opinion is different and individual when it comes to coffee. I would definitely go back and recommend the Spare Room for drinks, décor and service!

The atmosphere is badass here. It’s my favourite set up out of all the stores in West Lakes. Unfortunately the coffee is a big let down. I’m talking huge. Big mistake. I haven’t tried the cakes, so I can’t comment on what the food is like, but the drinks are not good. The place upstairs called ‘Our Little Kitchen’ is run by the same people and I’ve had bad experiences with their drinks as well. I’m not sure why this is. The café has so much potential! It really doesn’t look like it belongs in West Lakes.
If only the coffee was at least standard, if only…

It isn’t often that you come across a place so jammed packed with character as The Spare Room OLK café at West Lakes (Westfield). It is a really odd mix of chairs, tables, wood, metal and black and white stenciled writing, which I am sure many would see as a complete mess, but for me it works a treat. I admit, my eyes were SCREAMING by the end of my coffee break, and I was nearing a seizure, but otherwise I felt very relaxed and comfortable.
I agree with Jo B that the Coffee was not the best I have ever tasted, and is really the only reason I haven’t given it 5 stars… that and they don’t serve beer. I probably would have stayed all day if there was beer!
Don’t worry about finding the joint… just keep walking until you see the one shop that looks completely out of place and pull up a stool!

The vibe and look of this place is fantastic; if only their coffee was as great, this would be the best little café is the West Lakes shopping centre. The walls and ceilings are stenciled with their name and decorative coffee sacks. All the cute little chairs and tables are full, so I get my coffee take away. Their food cabinet is appropriately themed for the Christmas season, so everything is red and green and very, very sugary.
The two women running the shop are friendly and efficient, and help support the fun and positive atmosphere of this little room.
It’s nice to come across something so individual in the midst of all the typical franchises in this centre.
Sadly though, the coffee is mild to the point of blandness, with no real flavour. I appreciate that it isn’t made to hot, so it can be drunk almost immediately without burning, yet without the flavour and the hit of coffee, it is a disappointment.