Bread, blooms and breakfast – Fletcher’s Pantry & Espresso brings new life to a Burleigh landmark
Some buildings have a way of holding onto their place in a neighbourhood. Long before Burleigh became the dining destination it is today, this heritage-listed pocket was part of the suburb’s daily rhythm – a stop along the route for travellers making their way to the coast and, later, home to a succession of local cafes. Now, the site has entered its next chapter with the arrival of Fletcher’s Pantry & Espresso, a welcoming all-day cafe from the owner of Currumbin favourite Pasture & Co.
Fletcher’s Pantry & Espresso takes its name from Al Fletcher, who built the property in the 1930s. At the time, this pocket of Burleigh was a bustling little hub, with visitors arriving by train before continuing south by horse and cart. After welcoming locals through several different iterations over the years, the heritage building has entered its latest chapter as Fletcher’s Pantry & Espresso.
Owner Dani Riley, who has lived in nearby Tallebudgera Valley for more than two decades, had driven past the building almost daily before the lease became available.
“I always had that dream that if this space ever came up, I’d love to do something here,” Dani says. “When we walked in, we just knew.”
Inside, much of the building’s original character remains. The timber floors have been restored, the heritage features preserved and shelves stocked with pantry staples, local produce and fresh flowers.
The menu shares plenty of DNA with Pasture & Co while giving Fletcher’s its own identity. Several customer favourites have made the move across, including the chilli scrambled eggs with Meredith goat’s cheese, chives and chilli threads, smashed avocado layered with macadamia butter, goat’s cheese, pomegranate glaze and dukkah, and garlic mushrooms served with kale and pecorino on toasted sourdough.
There’s room for a little indulgence, too. The croissant waffle arrives topped with crispy maple bacon, vanilla ice-cream, bourbon caramel and biscuit crumb, while lunch brings hearty house-made lasagne, jalapeno beef burgers, roasted vegetable pie and seasonal soups served alongside focaccia baked fresh that morning.
Much like Pasture & Co, the kitchen makes as much as possible from scratch. Sauces, spreads and macadamia butter are all prepared in-house, while pastries, focaccia and charcoal bread are baked fresh on site each morning. For Dani, keeping the baking in-house isn’t simply about maintaining control over the process – it’s about ensuring customers are getting the freshest product possible.
“It’s the quality of the product,” Dani says. “Here, I start baking at 5:00 am. The longest anything sits before someone buys it is about two-and-a-half hours, so it’s super fresh.”
Coffee comes courtesy of Social Espresso, with matcha, sticky Prana chai, loose-leaf teas and indulgent iced drinks rounding out the beverage offering.
Subscribe for updatesBeyond the kitchen, the pantry shelves mirror what’s used throughout the menu, giving diners the chance to take home many of the same ingredients found in their meals. Northern Rivers honey, local condiments, artisan pantry staples and fresh bread sit alongside bunches of flowers, adding another layer to the experience and reinforcing the neighbourhood feel Dani hopes to create.
While Fletcher’s follows the same philosophy that has made Pasture & Co so popular, it isn’t intended to replicate it. Exclusive pastries, baked goods and menu additions give the Burleigh cafe its own personality while staying true to the fresh, from-scratch approach that underpins both venues.
Open daily from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, Fletcher’s Pantry & Espresso adds another welcoming stop to one of Burleigh’s oldest corners – one where fresh bread, good coffee and a well-stocked pantry are reason enough to linger a little longer.
Head to The Directory for opening times.
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