Four years ago, Elaine Le transformed Borough Barista in Burleigh Heads into Memento, envisioning a welcoming neighbourhood spot where locals could gather and unwind over a coffee and a chat. Now, she’s brought that same sense of community to Robina by reimagining another familiar locale, Mokacino’s, as the new Memento Robina.
Elaine has been connected to Mokacino’s since its early days, building friendships with regulars – especially one loyal customer, Lynden, who visited the cafe in all of its various iterations three times a week for over 20 years. Even after Elaine left to open the first Memento, she would still return to share breakfast with Lynden. Sadly, Lynden recently succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease, which highlighted to Elaine the fleeting nature of time and how easy it is to get swept up in life that we miss the moments that matter most. This was the catalyst to take over Mokacino’s and debut a new look and a new name – Memento, which Elaine says means good memories.
Memento Robina is more than just a place to grab your morning coffee. Elaine designed it as a ‘home away from home,’ where people can relax, connect and have conversations that go beyond the usual breakfast small talk. To spark these deeper connections, she’s introduced talking cards, which she hopes will get families and friends communicating rather than just chatting.
Once again, Here Agency handled the rebrand, adding warm touches of blue and brown to the interior and introducing a playful coffee-and-baguette logo affectionately named Kevin.
You might like
When it came to crafting the menu, Elaine collaborated with consulting chef Remi Baron and her head chef, Sagar, to design a French-inspired offering that blends classic Australian flavours with unique French twists. Elaine, originally from Hanoi – a city deeply influenced by over a century of French colonial presence – brings her own background and culinary heritage into the menu, adding a personal touch to each dish.
The all-day menu offers an array of choices, from haloumi-filled street wraps to turmeric scrambled eggs and a buttery, garlicky mushroom ragu. Coffee Supreme flows through the machines, accompanied by freshly squeezed juices, with future plans for a liquor license as well.
With a focus on meaningful moments and a thoughtfully curated menu, Memento Robina offers a warm reminder to make memories that matter. And if you’re in the Mudgeeraba area, keep an eye out as Elaine has plans for a third location oh-so-soon.
Image one credit: Here Agency