King Of The Castle has been a popular coffee shop and café on bustling Pakington Street in Geelong for more than a decade. I was a frequent visitor for several years after it first opened when I lived locally.
A trip into Pako gave me an opportunity to visit again after many years. I was pleased to find that it had changed little. And, most importantly, they were still serving up excellent coffee!
My oat latte was creamy, very smooth and chocolately with a lingering finish. It was my first time trying the combination of Padre beans and Oatly oat milk. It was served with a smile, at a perfect temperature in a large weighty cup – and it was an outstanding drink.
Tucked away at the more industrial end of Pako, King Of The Castle always had a more urban/industrial feel and that remains today. The stunning mural and outdoor seating guide the way from the street to the café proper. Inside, it features a long counter with plenty of seating for the dine-in crowd. The vibe was great, with plenty of people coming and going for takeaway, many drinking and dining in (mid-morning on a Tuesday), and enough background music and busyness from the staff to generate some atmosphere.
Food is an important aspect of the place these days (with an extensive menu and various sweet offerings). The focus on coffee remains strong, though – their Strada machine (from La Marzocco) is kept busy working those good quality Padre beans.
King Of The Castle is a great place for a coffee and still offers one of the most unique spaces in Geelong.
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