Proud Mary Coffee

Nolan and Shari Hirte opened Proud Mary in a former warehouse on Oxford Street in 2009, back when Australia was still mostly an espresso only country. The exposed brick room runs long and open, with a brew bar alongside the espresso counter pouring single origin coffee next to a full breakfast menu built around dishes like the potato hash and a kimchi topped brunch plate.

Proud Mary roasts its own beans and has placed inside the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list for several years running, at 27th in the 2026 edition after reaching 4th the year before. Aunty Peg's, the roastery and brew bar just around the corner, extends the operation, and the beans travel well beyond Collingwood now, with sister cafes open in Portland and Austin.