Teneriffe welcomes Riffe for Goodness, a familiar face in a new neighbourhood
Felix for Goodness has brought its sustainably minded brunch ethos to Teneriffe with the opening of Riffe for Goodness. Taking over the former Sourced Grocer site on Florence Street, the new cafe feels like a natural continuation of the neighbourhood’s long-standing love affair with thoughtful, community-first dining. Expect familiar favourites, a few new additions and a laid-back atmosphere designed for lingering.
When Felix for Goodness opened in 2014, it joined a wave of fresh-faced cafes looking to change the way Brisbane approached morning fare.
Its considered menu of dishes – all sustainably scratch-made using nourishing ingredients – underscored the ‘Goodness’ in Felix’s name, giving the Burnett Lane nosh spot a rep for tasty food that helped subvert the prevailing sentiment about what brunch could be.
At the same time, over in Teneriffe, Sourced Grocer was fighting the same good fight. Jerome Batten’s Florence Street cafe had been championing an ‘eat local’ approach since it opened in 2011, showcasing produce from Southeast Queensland and the Northern Rivers across dishes like heirloom tomatoes on rye with sunflower puree and black-garlic dressing, and cabbage pancakes with broccoli and goats cheese.
When Sourced Grocer closed just before the pandemic’s arrival in 2020, it left a noticeable void in a suburb not short on cracking cafes. Though the space was soon transformed into the heralded Mexican restaurant La Patrona, many Teneriffe locals still remained misty-eyed about the salad days (pun intended) of Sourced.
If you were one of those locals, then here’s some good news for you. The former Sourced Grocer site is home to a cafe once again, with the kindred spirits behind Felix for Goodness taking over the space and transforming it into Riffe for Goodness – an eatery imbued with the same ethos as its laneway sibling.
To hear the team tell it, the Teneriffe move was one of those opportunities that proved too good for the Felix team to ignore.
“Teneriffe really stood out to us because it has such a strong sense of community and an appreciation for quality coffee, food and hospitality,” says Felix for Goodness’ owner Chanin. “It’s a neighbourhood where people value local businesses and connection, which aligns perfectly with the type of cafe we want to create.”
Riffe for Goodness opened quietly to the public last week after a short makeover. Longtime fans of Felix will note the similarities between the two Goodness gathering spots in terms of style, with Chanin and her crew leaning into the site’s rustic bones – chiefly the exposed brick and worn timbers – to create a look and feel that closely resembles Felix’s established aesthetic.
“The naked brick walls and the elegant space had a very similar feel to our city location Felix, which made it feel like a natural extension of our brand rather than something forced,” says Chanin.
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There’s plenty of elbow room here, with diners free to have their pick of seating between interior and alfresco spaces. Though imbued with the same convivial vibe as its inner-city predecessor, Riffe for Goodness boasts a more laid-back and leisurely atmosphere – one that is more conducive to unhurried visits for brunch, lunch and everything in between.
“Felix is like the ‘city living room’ of the Brisbane CBD – a place where people drop in for comfort, consistency and a moment of calm,” Chanin explains.
“Riffe, on the other hand, is a space where guests come to settle in and connect. Its suburban location gives us more opportunities to build relationships with local businesses and community groups, allowing us to deepen our presence in the neighbourhood and become part of its everyday rhythm.”
In the kitchen, the Riffe for Goodness team is putting forth a menu informed by the same sustainable and local-first approach as Felix. Guests will spy a lot of familiar faves on the list, including a raft of plant-based options and protein-centric add-ons, such as the sweet potato and chickpea falafels with muhammara, an omelette with marinated artichoke and raspberry vinaigrette, and the frittata with mushroom, zucchini and Danish feta.
There’s some newness on the menu that’s unique to Riffe, too, including a Biscoff waffle with cucumber marshmallow and roasted buckwheat, potato rosti with vegan herbed sour cream and roasted broccoli, and the Riffe Bowl, which comes loaded with greens, roasted seasonal veggies and vegan dressing.
A small retail shelf is stocked with take-home coffee bags and house-made provisions, including peanut butter, chilli jam and apple paste.
Coffee comes from Toby’s Estate (with the roaster’s Rico blend as the house go-to), backed by a beverage menu featuring house-made kefir and ginger soda, matcha lattes, smoothies and Prana chai.
At Riffe for Goodness, the Felix team isn’t reinventing its philosophy – it’s simply giving it more room to breathe, allowing its values of sustainability, hospitality and human connection to unfold at a slower, more suburban pace. In many ways, the new cafe feels less like a brand expansion and more like a continuation of Teneriffe’s long-held appetite for cafes that value connection as much as cuisine – something Chanin and her team are keenly aware of.
“We hope Riffe for Goodness becomes a go to neighbourhood cafe for Teneriffe locals – a welcoming place for great coffee, good food and easy catch ups.” says Chanin. “We’d love to be known for consistently high-quality coffee, wholesome food and genuinely friendly service, and to be seen as a cafe that truly feels part of the community.”
Head to The Directory for operating hours and contact details.