This place gets a 5-star just because it's been around for such a long time and I've had SUCH great memories here. As a university student back in the day -- yes, WAY back -- my friends and I would come here and have tea and coffee in the wee hours of the night, often enjoying a slice of their seriously chocolately chocolate cake. I'm sure some things have changed but it still sits right there in West End, although the round-about is now gone. I clearly remember one night, with my 2 girlfriends, in my one girlfriend's car -- her new car mind you -- and she didn't have her glasses on and she kept going around and around on the round about trying to figure out where to park and almost driving straight into the Three Monkeys. Who woulda thunk that West End was such a happening spot back then in the late 80s/early 90s? But it was and Three Monkeys is proof that when you have a great concept, it will go down in history! read more

I have frequented The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea-house in West End, since I moved here to the big smoke of Brisbane a little over a decade ago. It is a Brisbane institution and a must-visit. A decor that reflects Mediterranean and East-Asian influences. Lots of decorative pieces inside add to the character, as well as Memorabilia from its famous visitors. How many can you identify? You are spoilt for choice as to where to place yourself, inside the many nooks and intimate crannies or, outside the tropical courtyard. Perfect for dates, and catch-ups with old friends. The Three monkeys are famous for their choice of cakes, teas & light snacks. For a quick indulgence, I recommend a nut roll (It's amazing) and went well with my Jasmine tea. Sign the guestbook & leave a piece of your heart behind. read more

The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House - Restaurants Near Me - West End, QLD

Boho chic has a home in The Three Monkeys. This place is so enchanting because it lifts you from your average day and takes you to a place where wooden booths and Mediterranean vibes welcome you. Going deep inside takes you to pillows and booths and so much eclectic character that you feel lifted into another world. The Three Monkeys is definitely the most atmospheric restaurant/coffee house I've ever been to, and it never fails to transfix and enchant me ever time I walk through its doors. It's perfect to grab a quick coffee, read a book while you eat sweets and cakes, or settle in for a focaccia with friends. It's the perfect environment whether you're alone or with a group; a rare dynamic for any place. Three Monkeys is a cosy little den and a perfect hideaway when you want to escape for a while. read more

The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House - Restaurants Near Me - West End, QLD

Before you go here read the reviews. Unlike my partner and I who sat down after making our order, and then read the reviews *palmface*. Average. Below average, even. Service was nothing great. It's cute, but almost as if they don't know it. Like they hate how it looks and try to hide it. Or maybe they haven't properly decided what look they're going for. I don't know, not sure how to describe it. My partner and I both got a focaccia's to share. About $12 each. And it really is just focaccia. Just a sandwich. $12 for a sandwich. Two bean sprouts and some paprika as garnish. Yawn. As far as I'm concerned, if all this place has going for it is the late night coffee, you know who else does that? McDonald's. Plus (for me, at least) it's a lot closer to home. I shouldn't be too negative. It really wasn't that bad. I didn't complain, or anything. Nothing was advertised any differently to what I got. It just wasn't good. That's all. read more

The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House - Front counter - Restaurants Near Me - West End, QLD

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So everyone has got sometime to say about The Three Monkeys... and so do I by the looks of it. I remember when I first moved to Brisbane all my friends kept discussing with reverent awe this great trendy café in West End known only as The Three Monkeys. As always I resisted for a little while before eventually conceding that I had to check this place out. They were right. The entire café is like a labyrinth of retro, kitsch, new-age thingo-mo-bobs which for some reason make me feel right at home. I always tend to sit outside but that may be a force of habit. Inside the café you have the luxury some relatively plush seats to stretch out on. In short, make your own choice. The food is great value. I heard rumors of someone having a cockroach on their plate of nachos here. I decided to take the risk and order myself some. It was delectable and I licked the plate clean. Myth busted. Aside from all the obvious things, The Three Monkeys really is a great place to have secretive slightly diabolical conversations. I have bitched, schemed and seduced in this venue countless times and I will continue to do so. I guess this is achieved because the café feels somehow shielded from the rest of Brisbane. In short, speak, hear and see as much evil as you like at The Three Monkeys because no one will ever pull you up on it (not a guarantee). read more

The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House - Restaurants Near Me - West End, QLD

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I love this place. It's got such a cool vibe and it's peaceful and chill. The decos are amazing and exotic. I had the caramel roulade and at first I liked it but in the end, I felt there was too much mock-like cream and not enough sponge to balance it out. Some caramel was on the top of the slice and this was a saving grace because it cut through the ickiness of cream. But there wasn't enough of it :( But I won't let that deter me at all from going back. Ive always liked this place. The service is great too. read more

The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House - Caramel roulade - Restaurants Near Me - West End, QLD

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Three Monkeys in West End is so often buzzed about that we decided to give this place another try after having just a latte here at the beginning of last year. Famous for their chai lattes, we decided that this was the place to go to satisfy our chai craving. Also known for being one of the more "atmospheric" cafes in town, this cafe gives off an ethnic, hippie vibe, with tapestries and memorabilia lining its walls. I'm not quite sure why this cafe is 'iconic,' but maybe this is why... I was rather curious about their chai latte being served in a bowl, but we both ended up ordering the chai latte (4.5) that came with Kraft honey (err, really?), and an almond biscotti cake to share. The chai latte was less than great, as it tasted like a watered down bowl of milk with some spices. The flavor of cloves was there, but I couldn't really taste any anise, cinnamon, and the usual spices in a chai latte, and found it quite interesting they would choose to serve such a large portion and compromise the thickness. I also found the Kraft honey a bit tasteless, as most cafes will serve their honey with a cute wooden honey dipper. The bowl was also unideal, as it was initially too hot to hold, and by the time it cooled off, my chai also cooled off. Someone please explain to me why their chai is so popular even with Banneton and The Burrow just down the street? Maybe their is more authentic, or just less sweet, like some like it, but I definitely would not recommend this to anyone, especially since it's quite filling! After spending a good five minutes in front of the cake shelf, we decided on the Almond Biscotti cake, which was actually ok, but not what I had expected. It tasted like tiramisu, for one, so if you don't like tiramisu, this isn't a good choice. Secondly, I didn't really taste any almond, and there was one piece of almond biscotti, while the rest of the cake just didn't have any texture to it. Again, it tasted fine, but not worth the $8 and calories. What a disappointment! I was hoping that this place would redeem itself from the mediocre latte I had last year. The funniest part of this was that a table of Taiwanese sitting next to us were bantering about whether our bowl of chai was actually soup... read more

The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House - Chai Latte - Restaurants Near Me - West End, QLD

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The Three Monkeys is one of the most popular spots in Brisbane, especially with the young, uni-student aged crowd. Any night of the week you'll struggle to find a table and probably stand in line just to place your order. But it's worth it for the delicious cake and tea, as well as the relaxed vibe you get to enjoy as you sit sipping your gigantic Chai Latte surrounded by other chattering customers. Somehow, when you're at The Three Monkeys it's easy to forget the world outside; people tend to slow down here, lazing over their food and drink. I absolutely love the interior of The Three Monkeys; the eclectic mix of tables and chairs combined with the narrow but surprisingly large space lends greatly to the casual, winding-down atmosphere. The low lighting ensures guests can enjoy the collection of old theatre posters which adorn the walls while out the back you'll find a cosy, enclosed courtyard cluttered with trees, tables and chairs. You can get meals here but I've only ever had the delicious cake; I've tried both the flourless chocolate and the carrot. Honestly I'm not sure if the cake itself was so amazing, but the atmosphere certainly assisted in making me believe it was. I've also tried their famous Chai Latte; I'm not the biggest fan of this tremendously popular drink but this was the best I've ever had. It comes served in what can only be described as a small bowl with no handle, with makes drinking it a lot more fun. However, I found there was just too much for me; it was enormous. I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to drinking excess quantities of milk (a strange thing to know about myself), so I'm sure those more dairy-enthused among us will love it. read more

The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House - Restaurants Near Me - West End, QLD

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The first time I was in Brisbane Three Monkeys I was surprised with how small is the place because I've been in other three monkeys where has big space. When my friend and I arrived there, we had some difficulty to choose lunch meal for the menu because there is no paper menu where we can choose while sitting, instead we all stand in front of the counter and reading the menu from the board wall on the top of the counter. It didn't happen to us only because we were standing there for a while reading the menu with some other people as well. I think that is one of the major set back of this cafe. I had grilled halloumi cheese with Greek salad and pita bread. It's a descent price I think and it tasted good. I had a chocolate mouse cake and my friend had a baked brownie cheese cake for dessert. I'm pretty happy with the meal so far. My friends and I spent 6 hours talking and talking while eating in three monkeys. It is cozy and comfy place to catch up and chill with friends. I would recommend people to try this place if they go to west end. :) Waitress are very friendly too.. read more

The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House - Cakes - Restaurants Near Me - West End, QLD

Any Brisbanite who really embraces the moniker knows Three Monkeys. The venue is a cavernous wooden space, draped with tapestries and memories, complemented by a jungle garden courtyard out the back. While Three Monkeys is still a place you can count on for a late night cup of coffee and a bit of ambience, that's about all that it has left going for it (in my opinion). The food's never been amazing, the coffee's now poor by the more recent Brisbane standards. Three Monkeys is held up by memories, long may they be made. read more

Stopped in for a take away latte. Could not see the cups or the beans on offer but became aware when I was handed a Vittoria cup. Tasted as one would expect from a mass produced bean. Vittoria is at best average, made a little better or a lot worse by a (in)competent Barista. My latte was dry and average. I did not have food. The establishment looks interesting and the desserts in the fridge looked good. Not worth writing off just for an average coffee experience yet. read more

Used to LOVE LOVE LOVE Three Monkeys but I haven't been back to Australia in a few years and finally went back to Three Monkeys and wasn't completely impressed. I love the backyard and the reason anyone goes there is because of the atmosphere. The chai was lacking. I wasn't impressed. read more

Pleasant little coffee shop near the edge of west end. Pretty solid coffee and good pastries with some very funky decor. A little dark for my tastes, the interior could do with a little better mood lighting, but I've always found the tables outside good for studying on sunny days. It's a pleasant little shop and definitely worth a brunch visit on a sunny morning when the patio out back will shine. read more

Whenever I'm in West End I seem to end up here. It's open when everyone else is shut, it's got tables when everywhere else has a queue and there is always, always some tasty looking tart in the dessert cabinet. Three Monkey's is a bit of an institution in Brisbane - you go there before a gig, you visit after seeing a play. It's old and comfortable and an easy place to kill some time. Part of this excellent ambience comes from the many small, linked rooms filled with old lounges, comfy chairs and aged tables. It's like someone linked a bunch of (surprisingly clean) hipster's lounge rooms together. You always feel at home. There are board games to enjoy and lots of nooks and crannies to hide in and read a book for a while. And you'll need a book to keep you company while you get though their enormous, bowl sized chai teas (literally, you have to drink it with two hands). Aside from the drinks there are lots of fancy Turkish bread sandwiches, tarts and cakes and a few other dishes - including a haloumi platter. Always order this, it is the best. And if you don't like haloumi, you should probably leave town. read more

I've been going to The Three Monkeys since my university days dating 10 years back. Although ownership has changed several times since my first visit, the exterior and interior have pretty much stayed the same. It is a great place to relax over a meal or a cup of coffee or tea... or in my case, their fabulous fruit smoothies. The Chai Latte is also quite a good one... they sure do know how to froth their milk. It's an old West End house re-decorated with mediterranean and eastern influence seating and design... complete with seating areas separated by hanging see through curtains. My only complaint about The Three Monkeys is that it is a cash only establishment (ATMs are right around the corner though) and it is looking a bit dated. Sometimes there is a musty smell because of how old the place is... maybe some cushions need replacing? It is definetely worth a checking out if you've never been there, and The Gunshop Cafe is right across the road... but get there early on busy nights because line-ups go out the door. read more

Three Monkeys is undoubtedly a Brisbane icon, being one of the few places you could go for a late night meal or catch up with friends over a coffee in the sleepier 1990s. The walls are adorned with signed photos of actors and performers who headed there for a post show nibble or sip after gracing the nearby QPAC stages. Despite this legendary status, I think the place rests on its laurels to excess. The food and drink, in my opinion, isn't particularly distinguished. What their 'famous' bowls of chai boast in quantity they lack in quality for me - weak, tasteless and a little bitter. You could definitely get much better in West End. That said, it is a really beautiful venue, especially outside in their courtyard. A great place to take a date or an out of towner who wants a cafe with ambience, and let's say just above average food and drink. read more

It is much MUCH bigger than it looks! Upon first walking in, you're greeted with a small room with a single table and the counter. After ordering proceed to the back, it's HUGE. There was plenty indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor seating was very intimate, darker lighting and chill. Outdoor was covered so the rain/sun won't blast on you. Enough lighting outdoor to do work. Unfortunately didn't try any of the tea/coffee they had. Got an Iced Tea and it ended up being a Lipton tea :(. I did try their breakfast croissant which was filled with ham and cheese. Pretty standard fare though, nothing amazing. A great place to catch a small break from the urban city life and chat with friends. read more

Absolute highlight of our visit to West End. Beautiful, cosy little cafe with great service, delicious and affordable meals. Highly recommend the Chai Tea and Smashed Avocado! read more

Nice coffee, an oasis-like retreat in atmosphere (try their courtyard out the back) and an interesting selection of cakes and cookies. read more

The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House - Restaurants Near Me - West End, QLD

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My friend that I'm staying with said she thought Three Monkeys had the best coffee, so I had to try their latte. After battling with a communication barrier when ordering it half-caff (and explaining what that means and still getting a weird look), I did enjoy a delicious latte. The desserts looked amazing as well, but I did not partake. Maybe next time. read more

I almost propped this score up artificially. I WANT this place to be better than it is, and by some internal logic, I thought that giving it a higher score would make it better. But it's just not possible. I like the venue and the service, and if you're going in for coffee and cake, it's ok (but there's better out there). However it's overpriced, the food isn't great, and I only really go there because it's nearby work and I know what I'm getting. Realistically, I should go for a wander around West End/South Brisbane to find a new place. read more

This place has some of the best wood fired pizza in brisbane! The dips aren't bad either. I don't particularly love the atmosphere inside as I find the tea-house smell overwhelming, but the court yard out back is beautiful. To top it all off, its BYO! A wonderfully cheap night out, we spent about $15 a head and ate until stuffed. read more

Sometimes wondering through bustling West End, I get a little overwhelmed. That is precisely the moment I venture to the Three Monkeys. Perhaps one of the more famous cafes in this part of town, The Three Monkeys has made a name for itself by serving consistently good coffee, tea and sweets over the years. It's exotic interior is filled with rugs, curtains, cushions, and lots of sneaky little spots to hide away. It is easy to loose yourself in this cafe. It is a little dark inside but that adds to the atmosphere. Also, much beloved during the hot summer, this establishment is air-conditioned, yay! They also do not mind in the slightest if you settle down during the day for a period with your laptop out or a good book and slowly sip your way through one or two or five coffees. read more

The Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House - Restaurants Near Me - West End, QLD

Ugh. So everyone from Brisbane has always been "it's cool Linh, it's under a Queenslander!" Zomg. Not worth it. I went there twice; I gave it two whole chances. My iced chocolate was over priced and had excessive amounts of cream - especially considering it was just milk... Not sure where the chocolate went. Nachos, wow. I mean, it's worse than what a five year old could make. Moving right along to the only redeeming thing... The haloumi salad (that said, how hard is it to get haloumi wrong?). Haloumi was good; pita bread was warm, salad was good. read more

Coming to Brisbane from a country where cafes often close after midnight, I've struggled with the cafe culture here (read: apparently after 3:00 or so Brisbaners no longer need caffeine and switch over to beer). Enter the Three Monkeys. Open late. Lots of good coffee. Large desert menu. Large casual food menu (decent nachos, good enchilada, tasty toasties). The atmosphere is exactly what it should be: busy but laid-back, a bit grungy but friendly: very casual. The outdoor shaded patio is great in almost all Brisbane weather, and except when they're super-busy they don't mind a person taking a small back table and reading a book for hours, or writing letters--the kinds of activities cafes are made for. And although I do drink, I also like the option of going out with friends or alone and not drinking sometimes. read more

Pretty poor form. $8 for a slice of cake which was about 2cm thick and tasted similar to the cheesecake from Coles. We got takeaway - 2 slices of cake, and one of the pieces wasn't the right order. Called them when we got home and they made no attempt to correct it. Was an awesome joint a few years ago - but seriously gone down hill since :( sad to see a west end classic go down this road. Won't be back. read more

Had the Grilled halloumi platter, was extremely filling. The outside sitting area is comfortable and decorated with an Asian/South American theme. Inside is smaller and much darker. The food is delicious, but I found the coffee slightly cold. Friend had a Greek salad, which was equally filling, and another friend had the chocolate cake whom was thrilled at the chocolatey goodness. read more

It was weird going in, because outside was all bustle and pollution, but inside, well, it was something else. I'm no expert in coffee or food, but the atmosphere and decorations were fantastic. I spent most of my time trying to take everything in. We took a seat near the entrance, so I didn't get to see inside, which is a pity. I enjoyed the cake, and even though there were lots to choose from, I feelt like there wasn't much overall variety. Which was fine since we only bought one piece. The scoop of ice-cream that came with it wasn't very good though. Had a great time overall. Highly reccomend if you want something a bit different. read more

Spending the day in Brisbane? You have to go to Three Monkeys cafe in the West End. It's a Brisbane icon for tea and cake (and Chai latte). Quaint and quirky this cafe is much loved by locals and tourists alike. You just can't beat the bohemian atmosphere here. It's got an eclectic mix of eastern tea house meets laid back Australian with plenty of intimate nooks for couples as well as large wooden tables that will comfortably seat a group. The cakes are WOW. Lots of choices for the sweet tooth. The flourless chocolate mousse cake is yummo, as is the cheesecake. The downsides... no table service (pick your times to go order so you don't have to wait in queue), not great coffee (go the chai instead) and it is often busy (can't be avoided at peak times but adds to the atmosphere - don't bother on a Saturday night after dinner its just packed). Read full review here: http://www.4220.com.au/Blog/Three_Monkeys_cafe_Brisbane.aspx read more

Very mystical coffee house with a delicious charm that you could just savour for a week. But no longer, don't spoil it now. The little stool type chair things outside were so quaint but my bottom did spill over the sides a tad. Oh yeah the slidey door entrance did confuse me for a minute and delayed me entering the building somewhat.... Also the coffee took a while to arrive, HOWEVER.......it were a public holiday so I guess there's leeway to acknowledge. The coffee itself were so exotically creamy on top and then developed more sensually still with the intense hit of devilishly strong Colombian below. I were blown away and subsequently wide awake for a considerable period. Anywho I digress...a thoroughly delicious experience! read more

Yawn. Watery chai tea. No table service, the most unimaginative nachos around and wobbly tables. They're open late though, that counts for something right? This place is stuck int he 90's, when Scarab and Addable were cool. Lot's of cake, lot's of big pieces of really ordinary cake. read more

Perhaps it's nostalgia creating bias in my review but I've been going here now for over 10 years and I still rate it as one of the nicest coffee experiences. What's good? Decor, selection of cakes, the coffee, the chai is a bit weak but I'm used to the chai van from a chai man and the back area is great for 6+ seating. What's sad? Can be overcrowded, you can lose track of time, dark inside, too much oogleing of people walking past. To end on a positive note, if you've not been here and your a more of a coffee club type, go here and see what's great about a home grown coffee place. read more

Pretty much love this place. One of the first places I take my friends to when we're going to West End for some coffee. I love the chai lattes and the honey! read more

The poor old Three Monkeys is getting a bit tired these days. Even the nachos are not what they used to be, and how hard is it to do nachos? Most of their mains are fairing the same, though you can still get a good lasagne or toasted sandwich. The cakes are still amazing (though probably supplied by an excellent external company), the juices and frappes are great, and there's not a lot of other places in Brisbane where you can get a bowl of coffee. The prices may seem high to some but are pretty standard for West End. This is not a cheap area to eat and hasn't been for at least the last 10 years, though it's multitude of student share houses and proximity to UQ and other tertiary education areas may suggest otherwise. The death of the tree just outside in recent years has made dining outside in the front area less pleasant than it used to be. However the backyard area is still nice and tropical, though sometimes the older air conditioning units inside the shop struggle with the climbing Brisbane temperatures. The Three Monkeys is mostly a piece of Brisbane nostalgia which I am happy to keep visiting as long as they care to stay, though I completely understand people who don't have the same sentimental feelings about it. read more

We got here late so we couldn't sit down but they gave us takeaway. The cheesecake is delicious!

Beautiful cozy place to meet friends or go solo. The environment is warm and welcoming, the feeling is enhanced by the lovely decor. Would recommend highly. read more

I've been here twice, and I'll admit, the moussaka was ok...one could even call it good. But the side salad had not been washed and a mouthful of grit is not a good accompaniment to good moussaka. The second time, I ordered the 'chicken enchilada'. Why, I ordered mexican food at a greek-inspired restaurant, I honestly do not know. I'm relatively sure it was leftover chicken from a previous night which had been cooked with some green peppers, smothered in a cheesy tortilla, and popped into a microwave of all cooking contraptions. And you guessed it.....served with a gritty side salad. I think this may be a better establishment for a coffee and a desert, rather than a meal so I would not mind going back to try one of their delicious looking cakes instead. read more

We tried to order some drinks around 10pm on Thursday evening and were informed that we were only allowed to have them as take out as they were closing soon. We tried to order coffees and was informed that the machine was already off. However their website indicates that they are open until 11pm. The servers behind the counter were unfriendly and acted as though we were an irritation read more

This is a great place for that dessert and coffee, no complaints though can be hard to get a table on a weekend evening. Great place to relax and play one of the board game puzzles or read a book. read more

I used to love the Three Monkeys but it pains me to say they are not as good as they used to be. The opening hours is obviously convenient esp in Brisbane where everything closes at 5:00 pm but I am afraid the way they're going, their opening hour's going to be their only asset. The cake display is still as interesting as it used to be but the quality of coffee has definitely taken a turn for worse. Recently I ordered tea with my cake and I was served an English Breakfast teabag in a coffee pot! I could have done that at home!!! The water glasses are also very dirty; you can scrape the gunk off the rim of the glasses in the main area of the cafe. Still, the backyard area has a good Bohemian vibe and the cakes are good. read more