Shooter McGavins Sandwiches & Coffee Carlton

Shooter McGavins Sandwiches and Coffee Carlton tips its cap to a notorious ‘90s anti-hero, but there is nothing villainous about what is coming out of this Grattan Street cafe. In the heart of Carlton, it celebrates the humble sanga with a modern, Melbourne sensibility: unfussy, flavour-forward and made to be eaten hot off the press or fresh from the board.

The menu moves in three satisfying gears — fresh, toasted and hot — with classics like ham and cheese or grilled cheese sitting comfortably alongside chicken on a bun and a breezy veggie sandwich. When the hunger pangs call for something heartier, the portobello mushroom melt and Nashville fried chicken answer with swagger. Breakfast keeps things easy from 11 am to 1 pm with a breakfast burrito and an egg sandwich, while sides of fries and chicken tenders, and a summer green salad round out the spread. Coffee leads the charge, with juice and smoothies providing a bright counterpoint.

Inside, the curved bar sidles up to an open kitchen, turning prep into a little theatre. Bench seats flank four-metre-high windows, perfect for people-watching on the corner, and the outdoor spots are made for sunny pauses and quick catch-ups.

Swing by for a sanga, a brew and a front-row seat to Carlton life — consider lunch a hole-in-one.