Mate's Table
Subscribe
Create
Share with the community

What would you like to make?

Add a recommendationShare a place worth gathering around.Create a guideBuild a useful list for your city.
For business

Restaurant

Papirica

22 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

Recommended by 39 people

Updated

Find Papirica

22 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9416 1829
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About Papirica

Tucked along Smith Street, Papirica channels the warmth of a vintage kissaten with comforting, Osaka-style home cooking. The intimate space feels unhurried, lined with shelves of Japanese patches, badges, and retro toys. In the kitchen, everything centers on scratch-made patience—thick, homemade shokupan crisped around juicy katsu cutlets, and savory okonomiyaki loaded with pork belly or seafood under ribbons of house sauce. Strict dietary needs are treated with equal care, turning out dedicated celiac-safe and vegan pancakes alongside plates of creamy omurice and chilled fruit sodas.

  • Osaka-Style Comfort Food: Scratch-made comfort classics like thick katsu sandos on house bread, creamy omurice, and savory okonomiyaki.
  • Dietary-Inclusive Dining: Dedicated kitchen care yields reliable celiac-safe and vegan okonomiyaki alongside classic seafood and pork versions.
  • Vintage Kissaten Charm: Shelves of indie Japanese patches, badges, cards, and vintage toys decorate the cozy cafe space.
RestaurantJapaneseRestaurant

What's On at Papirica

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

The Papirica Experience

Why Collingwood locals and comfort food seekers cherish this authentic Japanese kissaten.

  • Scratch-Made Japanese Staples

    From the homemade shokupan bread to in-house okonomiyaki sauces, pickles, and dressings, every component is prepared from scratch with meticulous care.

    Everything is freshly made from the breadcrumbs to the sauces.

    Paula D

  • Thoughtful Celiac & Vegan Options

    Papirica takes food sensitivities seriously, offering delicious, dedicated celiac-safe and vegan adaptations of okonomiyaki without sacrificing authentic taste.

    When I told the waitress I was coeliac she said “we take it seriously here”

    Kate Miller

  • Nostalgic Osaka Comfort Cooking

    Hearty Osaka-style savory pancakes, fluffy omurice, and thick katsu sandos evoke fond memories of classic Japanese street stalls and retro diners.

    It was a glorious experience, one that brought back great memories of my trips to Osaka.

    S C

  • Kissaten Charm & Wholesome Vibes

    With its charming retro decor, intimate seating, and unhurried rhythm, the cafe captures the warm spirit of a traditional Japanese kissaten.

    This cafe is ran be a cute Japanese couple and man the resto does give off Studio Ghibli Aesthetics.

    Karen Kwok

  • Curated Japanese Crafts & Knick-Knacks

    Beyond comforting meals, guests can peruse an eclectic collection of indie Japanese knick-knacks, vintage toys, badges, t-shirts, and house-made chilli oil.

    they sell shirts and very cute little things such as badges, patches, stickers, and cards.

    AM REVIEWS

  • Unhurried Neighborhood Sanctuary

    A welcoming neighborhood haven where locals and visitors happily slow down to savor satisfying comfort food and leisurely coffee walks.

    I love to sit and take my time, and I have always felt welcome to do just that at Papirica!

    Georgia Ellen

Comforting Osaka-style savory pancakes, fluffy omelettes, and hearty sandos

  • Omurice

    Super soft and fluffy omelette (swipe for pics) paired with their homemade sauce, rice and light salad.

    K

  • Seafood Okonomiyaki

    The sauce was rich, plenty of benito flakes and great taste.

    Bere G

  • Katsu Sando

    That sando was beautiful and mountainous. And delicious. The bread is noticeably sweet.

    Par Hwy

  • Vegan Okonomiyaki

    The vegan okonomiyaki is hearty and despite the generous portion, you won't have any trouble finishing it.

    Ben H

Other favorites

Traditional Japanese kissaten sweets, house confections, and refreshing cafe drinks

  • Basque Burnt Cheesecake

    super creamy texture, smooth, light and a perfect balance of the caramelisation

    K

  • Taiyaki

    quite sweet, but well-made

    Bere G

  • Daifuku

    We got a daifuku home and it was so soft!

    Nichakorn Pongsakornsathien

  • Cherry Soda

    The soda is so fruity and refreshing.

    Par Hwy

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful gestures and handcrafted touches that make dining at Papirica memorable.

  • Vigilant Celiac and Dietary Care

    Waitstaff explicitly reassure diners with strict dietary needs by confirming cross-contamination awareness directly at the table, taking coeliac requirements seriously.

  • In-House Scratch Preparation

    The kitchen bakes its own shokupan bread and crafts its own okonomiyaki sauce, mayo, dressings, pickled vegetables, and kimchi from scratch.

  • Curated Indie Japanese Retail

    Alongside dining tables, the venue features shelves stocked with nostalgic Japanese toys, patches, stickers, badges, and graphic t-shirts to browse.

  • Nostalgic Ceramic & Drink Details

    Drinks and breakfast are served with delightful quirks, from charming elephant ceramic mugs to chilled black and white sesame smoothies.

Before you head over

Practical dining tips on timing, dietary accommodations, and visiting Papirica

  • Arrive Before Noon on Weekends

    The cafe fills up quickly around peak weekend lunch, often resulting in table queues and prep times over 15 to 20 minutes. Arrive before 12:00 PM to secure indoor seating without a delay.

  • Ask for Dedicated Celiac and Vegan Options

    While traditional okonomiyaki relies on wheat and dashi, Papirica accommodates dietary requirements with dedicated vegan and celiac-safe options—just notify staff when ordering.

  • Expect Made-to-Order Timing and Browse Retail

    Every dish is prepared to order from scratch, including house-made bread and sauces. Check out the vintage Japanese toys, stickers, and retail shelves to pass the time comfortably while waiting.

Explore more places in Melbourne

Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.

Browse all Melbourne venues