It’s a sombre start to the day for Melbourne foodies with Pope Joan confirming its closure for next month. The all-day eatery is the venture of delicious. contributor Matt Wilkinson and has remained a firm favourite of the Victorian capital’s dining scene for the past eight years. Unfortunately the venue space is now slated to become a seven-storey apartment development.

“It has been one of the great joys of my life to feed the people of Brunswick and Melbourne good food made from locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients,” says owner and chef Matt Wilkinson. “The past few years we have seen a huge influx in apartment developments in our neighbourhood and our humble block will also become one in the near future. Of course, I would have loved for Brunswick to have remained a village of quaint weatherboard houses and small cafes like ours but it’s just the way it goes. It’s the end of an era.”

Pope Joan will finish up on June 24 but not before a party (or two) to celebrate its many years in business. The café will be bringing back its nighttime restaurant offering (its first time since March 2016) with a series of four Friday night dinners from June 1-22. Pope Joan’s famed Milawa Chicken Kiev has been promised to make a comeback as a part of this event series.

During the day, a menu of favourite dishes from the venue will also debut from June 1. The daytime selection will feature customer and staff favourites, from Pope’s Huevos to the café’s much adored range of sandwiches (The Pope Joan roll and The Reuben included).

“It’ll be a busy month, I’m sure, but I’m really looking forward to seeing customers, new and old, and thanking them for letting us cook them brekkie, lunch and dinner for the past near-decade,” says Wilkinson.

Pope Joan
77-79 Nicholson St, Brunswick East, Melbourne
popejoan.com.au