It's no Central Perk

Cafe Che Co Cho is for hippies, and West End-ers. It's one of those rare Brisbane beasts, the late-night cafe. Monday is raw food night, the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month are set aside for poetry, and Tuesday is chess night.

Che: Chess

Co: Coffee

Cho: Chocolate

They have delicious hot chocolate, which is what Jody and I opted for Thursday night. We also shared a slice of blueberry cake. The bill was just over $15 and we had to wait at least twenty minutes for a place to sit, but we didn't really mind, even when our seats were outside. A young woman was singing and accompanying herself on guitar, so we listened in the doorway. A few girls sat cross-legged on the floor with their beers.

When the singers and poets took a break, the patrons broke out a harmonica and piccolo. Dreadlocked heads nodded along. A guitarist started strumming not long afterward, and soon three or four locals - including the singer - huddled around him, adding scat-style lyrics and sounds. There was no showing off, just a relaxed group making music together, soaking up life in the West End.