There were a few things that surprised me about the recent reception to Coldplay mania that hit our shores.

Firstly, I had no idea there were so many closeted Coldplay fans across WA. Not once have I heard any of my friends talk about the band, yet they were all there waving their glowing bracelets in unison.

Secondly, the discussion of crowds or the hours it took to get home didn’t overpower the awe and adoration people left the performance with. I know more about the parking situation of the recent Robbie Williams gig than I do the performance he gave.

And thirdly, the amount of visitors who arrived in WA with no idea how glorious our beaches are. My social media was flooded with videos of people discovering Meelup, City Beach and Cottesloe for the first time.

Of all of them, the latter is likely our most iconic.

On an early weekday last week, we decided to pick up brekkie at Ol’ Buoy, the popular summer pop-up in the old Indiana Teahouse site. Even in the early hours of the morning, the beach was buzzing.

The menu is well-suited to a coastal audience: a mix of nutritious and filling bites that come out quick and in take-away containers.

The avo on toast with a fried egg, $16 (we added a hash brown, $3, which was 10/10), is a standout. Sure, a little tough to slice with a wood knife, but with the addition of salty whipped feta, dill and crunchy bits, it’s an excellent riff on the beloved bite.

A beachside classic, an acai bowl ($16.50), was colourfully Instagrammable and tasted as vibrant as it looks, while a toastie packed with ham, cheese and relish ($10.50) was simple but hit the spot.

The East Coasters can have their packed Bondi Beach and overpriced coffee, we’ll take our sweeping beaches and adorable pop-ups any day.

Ol’ Buoy

Indiana Teahouse, 99 Marine Parade, Cottesloe

OPEN

Mon-Fri, 6am-2.30pm, Sat-Sun, 6am-4pm

BOOKINGS

No

VERDICT

Roll in with sandy feet and roll out full of simple but tasty treats and great coffee. 16/20