Concrete Playground

Cowbell 808 makes strange sense of ghetto blasters, vinyl records, a graffiti mural and the distant idea that bursting out in fluoro leggings to pull some retro Flash Dance moves might just, for some strange reason, be OK. Bourke Street's newest cafe reeks of retro goodness and is enough to entice any passerby. We think it's got something to do with the old school milkbar vibes on offer.

Cowbell's menu plates up classic dishes with a modern twist. The fat stacked ricotta hotcakes with mascarpone, bacon, ice cream and espresso syrup ($14) is an ambitious hangover cure and the egg and bacon sambo, complete with house smoked thick-cut bacon and BBQ sauce, is a fail-proof gem. The raki cured ocean trout ($16) on toasted rye with celeriac remoulade is tasty and indulgently creamy; the pickled beets alongside lighten it up. And for those with a sweet tooth, the banana sundae with dark caramel, crushed nuts and cherries ($6.50) can't go amiss.

Once the feasting's over, the outdoor seating is a perfect place to soak up the rays. And beverage wise, we'd recommend you give Cowbell's own blend of Toby's Estate coffee a whirl or dedicate yourself to the Elegant Grey Goddess tea ($4.50) by Rabbit Hole, which is served in a ceramic pot with a fancy heatproof glass.

Service definitely comes with a smile here and they're on the ball. So now, dust off the records, reawaken some shoulder pads and get yourself down to Surry Hills' cafe grub offering, vinyl listening retro treasure.