14 of the best Bendigo cafes to fuel your day

Chloe Cann Chloe Cann
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From fine food emporiums to scenic lakeside haunts, the best Bendigo cafes launch your Central Victorian escapades in style. 

It’s better known for its remarkable gold rush history and historical architecture, but Bendigo has far more to offer than a boomtown legacy. Christened a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy in 2019 – an Australian first – the city has nurtured a burgeoning food and drink scene that capitalises on the fresh produce that abounds the Goldfields region — and doors swing open first thing every morning. We’ve rounded up the best Bendigo cafes to entertain palettes of even the most discerning breakfast and brunch-goers. 

The shortlist 

Best value: Get Naked Espresso Bar
Best views: Whitby
Hidden gem: Bendigo Corner Store Cafe
Best farm-to-table: Peppergreen Farm Cafe
Best pastries: Harvest

1. Fox & Giraffe 

Dishing up some of the finest homemade food in town, Fox & Giraffe is a must-visit while wandering the charming streets of Bendigo. The food is flavour-packed, with the team running a successful catering business that highlights all the peak produce they work with. Step in past the bench seats dotted with cushions to take your pick out of an all-day menu featuring Kel’s Famous Breakfast Wrap with scrambled egg, bacon, cheese and hashbrown, a genius Cob with the Lot crammed with scrambled egg, chorizo, capsicum, onion and cheese, or a grilled Reuben sandwich on sourdough from 9.30am. Take the deliciousness home with you thanks to a retail portion of this Bendigo cafe stocked with gourmet wines, sweet treats, house-made preserved produce and more.  

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Friendly 

Location: 145 Bridge St, Bendigo  

2. Old Green Bean 

old green bean cafe in Bendigo
The menu at Old Green Bean features a mix of global and seasonal dishes. (Image: Old Green Bean)

Sample local artisanal handiwork with a cup of joe at Old Green Bean, who roast their own beans. The baristas themselves are equally skilled, ensuring no mug leaves the countertop looking anything short of creamy majestic. Stick around for a mouth-watering feed, too, as the menu covers refined breakfast classics including avocado on toast with beetroot relish, Meredith goat’s feta and pickled onion, plus a Turkish eggs with crispy kale, chilli oil and garlic and dill yoghurt. If you’re arriving in time for lunch, don’t miss exotic midday menu additions like a Middle Eastern roti with spiced lamb.   

Cuisine: Modern Australian for breakfast, while lunch welcomes international influences 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Cosy 

Location: 179 Lyttleton Tce, Bendigo 

3. The Anxious Goat 

Meals are made with love at The Anxious Goat, a Bendigo cafe arguably best known for their epic toasties filled with the likes of coconut poached chicken and mayo, ham, cheese, tomato and chilli jam, roasted vegetables with pesto, and more. The coffee is equally good, crafted from Proud Mary beans roasted in Melbourne, as are the house-made sweets spanning granola bars, slices and the occasional cake. There’s also some hearty curries to dive into, however, 2025 ushered in a new head chef so the menu is bound to be reinvented with the seasons all over again soon. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $-$$ 

Atmosphere: Hipster 

Location: 87 View St, Bendigo 

4. Peppergreen Farm Café

Peppergreen Farm in Bendigo
Indulge in a slice of freshly baked cake. (Image: Peppergreen Farm)

Start your morning at the source of all things yummy with a visit to Peppergreen Farm and its cafe and gardens, located in the northern end of town. No matter what’s in season, you’ll sample the freshest of flavours plucked straight from the grounds while seated amid blooming native greenery. Focaccias, gourmet pies, eggs on toast with all the extras, farm salads, quiches and further homemade delights keep visitors smiling, while a solid range of teas, coffee and cold drinks help wash all that goodness down. There’s also a dedicated kid’s menu featuring baked goods and ice-cream. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $-$$ 

Atmosphere: Family-friendly 

Location: 40 Thunder St, North Bendigo 

5. Whitby Bendigo

Treat yourself to views across serene Lake Weerona with an al fresco table at Whitby Bendigo. A Bendigo cafe located right on the water, and often host to weddings and large-scale events, the venue serves up generous plates of seasonally inspired fare. Think zucchini, haloumi and mint fritters topped with whatever greens are thriving at the time, plus AM stalwarts done different like the Whitby Benedict with slow braised pork shoulder and apple and pear jam. Sweet tooths will delight in the team’s famed banoffee waffles, arriving as a rainbow-hued mound of honeycomb chunks, salted caramel sauce, banana gel and dark chocolate.   

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$-$$$ 

Atmosphere: Breezy 

Location: 28 Nolan St, Bendigo

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6. Peachy 

Peachy cafe in Bendigo
A trusted spot to grab your cup of joe. (Image: The Meadow)

Keep your eyes peeled for the little white flag out front of Peachy, a Bendigo cafe steaming up your morning hit out of a hole in the wall on bustling View St. The family-run business is completely charming, with the team always up for a chat between popping your Honeybird Coffee Roasters order through and grabbing your obligatory ‘brookie’ (in case you’re yet to get amongst the fad, the sugary sensation blends the form of a cookie with a brownie for pure unadulterated gooey-yet-crunchy bliss). While the menu is tight, Peachy merchandise abounds with super slick t-shirts, jumpers and hats up for grabs to help boost your style points.  

Cuisine: Coffee and treats 

Average price: $ 

Atmosphere: Cheery 

Location: 73 View St, Bendigo 

7. Get Naked Espresso Bar

Another Bendigo cafe spruiking the handiwork of Honeybird Coffee Roasters, who are based in Victoria’s stunning Mount Beauty, Get Naked Espresso Bar pours up the good stuff out of an unassuming glass-fronted shopfront on Mitchell St. Step inside for some seriously expert skills as hot styles roll out the door alongside bottled cold drip and the odd pastry or muffin. It’s all about the caffeine rush here, so you can expect a savvy crowd no matter when you time your visit.   

Cuisine: Coffee 

Average price: $ 

Atmosphere: Slick 

Location: 73 Mitchell St, Bendigo 

8. Out Of Order 

Out Of Order Bendigo
The drool-worthy bagels are a crowd favourite. (Image: Out Of Order)

Specialising in loaded bagels and warm hospitality, Out Of Order is a winning Bendigo cafe in the middle of town. While the bagels are undoubtedly the crowd pleaser — think Philly cheese steak, a classic Reuben, a tuna melt, a traditional Lox with chive cream cheese, capers and smoked salmon — there’s also a spread of ultra-fresh sandwiches to consider. Alternatively, leap straight into the fairy bread: white bread smeared with butter and those vibrant hundreds-and-thousands. Wash your pick down with your preferred poison and don’t skip the iced list which spans strawberry matcha, white chocolate and other temptations.  

Cuisine: Bagels and baked goods 

Average price: $ 

Atmosphere: Relaxed 

Location: 325 Hargreaves St, Bendigo 

9. Edwards Providore 

Edwards Providore cafe in Bendigo
Come to this beloved hotspot for mouthwatering brunch. (Image: Edwards Providore)

Coffee from Fitzroy’s famed Industry Beans? Check. Daily baked biscuits and muffins? Check. A menu spanning time-honoured breakfast and brunch classics? Check, yet again. Edwards Providore not only houses a space that ticks all the boxes, but it’s also a great spot to stock up on fresh produce, peruse one-of-a-kind gifts and homewares, and source deli snacks for the road. This fine food haven is located on the outskirts of the city, but venturing only a little out is well worth the extra few minutes. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Busy 

Location: Shop 7 and 8, Kennington Village, 150 Condon St, Kennington 

10. Hoo-gah 

Hoo-gah cafe in Bendigo
Hoo-gah dishes up Instagrammable sweet treats. (Image: Maybelle & White Photography Studio)

Modelled on the Danish concept of hygge (a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that goes hand in hand with contentment), Hoo-gah is all about embracing life’s simple pleasures in inviting surroundings. Run by husband-and-wife team Gina Triolo and Danny D’Alessandri, this Bendigo cafe is committed to culinary inclusivity, offering punters a range of vegan, gluten-free and FODMAP-friendly options. You’ll find next-level sweets (double stuffed Oreo Biscoff cookies, anyone?) alongside buddha bowls, chilli scrambled eggs, tofu bao buns and plenty more. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Local 

Location: 4 Mitchell St, Bendigo 

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11. Percy and Percy 

percy and percy in Bendigo
This spirited cafe is beloved by coffee aficionados and aesthetes. (Image: Percy and Percy)

Housed within a corner block just outside the CBD that boasts a gorgeous little paved courtyard, bar-style seating out front, plus a smattering of tables inside, Percy and Percy is an all-weather kind of venue with a relaxed atmosphere made for easy Sunday mornings. Owners Elisha and Dan are strong proponents of shopping local and only sourcing the finest ingredients, while baristas work with Coffee Basics beans and milk from independent western-Victoria dairy Inglenook. The chefs tend to select produce purchased from local grocers, Bendigo Fresh, and meat from the award-winning local butcher, Flora Hill Quality Meats. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $-$$ 

Atmosphere: Homely 

Location: 110 Hargreaves St, Bendigo 

12. Bayleaf Foodstore 

Bayleaf Foodstore in Bendigo
Bayleaf stands out for its artfully plated fare. (Image: Bayleaf Foodstore)

It’s no slapdash affair at Bayleaf Foodstore. Instead, the team at this Bendigo cafe luxuriate in the details: think artfully plated fare, the friendliest staff, and snappy service. The menu has a distinct Hellenic slant, featuring dishes such as spetsofai (Greek pork sausage with red pepper, cannellini beans tomato ragu, poached egg, feta and sourdough) and kolokithokeftedes (zucchini fritters, haloumi, green chilli yoghurt, poached egg and green salad), and the coffee is from Melbourne’s St. Ali Coffee Roasters. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian with heavy Greek influence 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Infectious 

Location: 102 Mitchell St, Bendigo 

13. Bendigo Corner Store Cafe

Bendigo Corner Store Cafe
Order one of the thoughtfully curated house signatures. (Image: Bendigo Corner Store Cafe)

For an order of wholesome fare, make a beeline for this reliable Bendigo cafe in the ‘burbs, but not far from the reach of the CBD. While the eggs Benny is something of a house signature (think melt-in-your-mouth Otway ham hock on sourdough), Bendigo Corner Store Cafe regularly runs seasonal specials for brekkie, brunch and lunch that might sway you off menu. Past specials have included soft polenta with wilted spinach, grilled asparagus, smoked salmon and whipped crème fraîche; mango, lychee and coconut smoothie bowls with goji berry, cranberry and oat granola; and deep-fried zucchini flowers, plump with chickpea and beetroot, served on a bed of pilaf-style mixed grains. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Chilled out 

Location: 305 View St, Bendigo 

14. Harvest Food & Wine

Harvest Food and Wine in Bendigo
Harvest Food & Wine operates as a restaurant, deli, and wine cellar. (Image: Harvest Food and Wine)

Continental breakfasts reign supreme at this Bendigo cafe. Situated within Bendigo’s arts precinct, Harvest Food & Wine wears many hats – operating as a restaurant, deli, and wine cellar, too. Waltz in off the street and you’ll be greeted by a gleaming glass cabinet full of lovely cheeses, smallgoods and bronzed pastries, as well as a wall of wine. Harvest is known for many things, but it’s arguably the store’s buttery, flaky croissants that steal the show. There’s also superb house-made lamingtons in addition to a menu of classic breakfast dishes. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Chic 

Location: 55 View St, Bendigo 

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Chloe Cann
Chloe Cann is an award-winning freelance travel and food writer, born in England, based in Melbourne and Roman by adoption. Since honing her skills at City St George's, University of London with a master's degree in journalism, she's been writing almost exclusively about travel for more than a decade, and has worked in-house at newspapers and travel magazines in London, Phnom Penh, Sydney and Melbourne. Through a mixture of work and pleasure, she's been fortunate enough to visit 80 countries to date, though there are many more that she is itching to reach. While the strength of a region's food scene tends to dictate the location of her next trip, she can be equally swayed by the promise of interesting landscapes and offbeat experiences. And with a small person now in tow, travel looks a little different these days, but it remains at the front of her mind.
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From coast to bush: these are Gippsland’s best hikes

    Michael Turtle Michael Turtle
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    Video credit: Tourism Australia

    From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.

    I step out onto the sand and it cries out underfoot. Kweek! I take another step and there’s another little yelp. Screet! Picking up the pace, the sounds follow me like my shadow, all the way down to the water. It’s obvious how this spot got its name – Squeaky Beach – from the rounded grains of quartz that make the distinctive sounds under pressure.

    For many, Wilsons Promontory National Park is the gateway to Gippsland, and the best way to explore it is by walking its network of hiking trails, from coastal gems such as Squeaky Beach through to the bushland, among the wildlife. But it’s still just a taste of what you’ll find on foot in the region.

    Venture a bit further into Gippsland and you’ll discover the lakes, the rainforest, and the alpine peaks, each changing with the season and offering summer strolls or winter walks. Just like that squeaky sand, each step along these trails has something to tell you: perhaps a story about an ancient spirit or a pioneering search for fortune.

    The best coastal hikes in Gippsland

    sunset at Wilsons Promontory National Park
    Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling wilderness with many coastal bushland trails. (Image: Mark Watson)

    Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘The Prom’, as you’ll end up calling it) is an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne, but you might ditch the car when you arrive, with much of the park’s 50,000 hectares accessible only by foot. From the inky water of Tidal River (dyed dark purple by abundant tea trees), I like the easy walks along the coast, among lichen-laden granite boulders, to golden beaches and bays.

    a couple on Mount Oberon
    Panoramic views from the summit of Mount Oberon. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    The trail to the panoramic views at the summit of Mount Oberon is a bit harder, up steep timber and granite steps, but it’s a popular 6.8-kilometre return. The more remote hikes are found through the open banksia and stringybark woodland of the park’s north, or along the multi-day Southern Circuit, which ranges from about 35 to 52 kilometres, with sunrises and sunsets, kangaroos and cockatoos, and maybe even whales.

    a golden sand beach at Wilsons Promontory National Park
    Walk ‘The Prom’s’ golden sand beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia)

    You might also see whales on the George Bass Coastal Walk, even closer to Melbourne on the western edge of Gippsland. This dramatic seven-kilometre trail along the clifftops takes in sweeping views of the wild ocean, occasionally dipping down from grassy green hills to coastal gullies and a secluded beach. It also now links into the Bass Coast Rail Trail for an extra 14 kilometres.

    the George Bass Coastal Walk
    George Bass Coastal Walk trails for seven kilometres along clifftops. (Image: Visit Victoria/Time Out Australia)

    Over at the eastern edge of Gippsland, in Croajingolong National Park, you can wander along the lakeshores beneath koalas and around goannas (I keep my distance since one chased me here!). For those who are even more adventurous, the park is also the starting point for the 100-kilometre Wilderness Coast Walk, usually done over seven days.

    the Croajingolong National Park, Gippsland
    Wander along the lakeshores in Croajingolong National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The best bush hikes in Gippsland

    the Baw Baw National Park
    The alpine heath of Baw Baw National Park. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    Deep in the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine at Walhalla, mining guide Richard tells me how this small town in the mountains east of Melbourne boomed when prospectors found gold here in 1862. These days, you’ll find most of the town’s treasure – its heritage – above ground, with the Walhalla Tramline Walk a wonderful way to explore it.

    Just seven kilometres long, the walk takes you through decades of Gold Rush history, following the original rail trail from lush bushland to the mining sites, and through the charming village of just 20 residents with its wooden cottages and old shopfronts adorned with turn-of-the-century advertising posters. Blazing a trail where trailblazers once opened up the region, this is also the starting point for the 650-kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track.

    Nearby, Baw Baw National Park has walks through gnarled snow gums and alpine heaths that show off the colourful wildflowers in summer and the pristine carpet of white in winter. Several trails are perfect for snowshoes, including a 45-minute route from St Gwinear up to vast views across the Latrobe Valley.

    Further up into the mountains, the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre path that serenades you with the sound of flowing water as you pass mossy rocks and tree ferns en route to two sets of waterfalls cascading over boulders in the remote wilderness.

    The best cultural hikes in Gippsland

    the Mitchell River National Park, Gippsland
    Hike the Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

    Across a pool in a natural sandstone amphitheatre, deep within a cave behind a waterfall, it’s said the Nargun has its lair. A fierce creature, half human and half stone, that abducts children and can’t be harmed by boomerangs or spears, the story of the Nargun has been told around the campfires of the local Gunaikurnai people for generations.

    As a culturally significant place for women, hikers are asked not to go into the Den of Nargun, but a 3.4-kilometre loop walk leads you through a rainforest gully to the entrance where you can feel the powerful atmosphere here in Mitchell River National Park, along Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing waterway.

    the bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park
    Bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

    The Den of Nargun is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail, a series of important traditional Gunaikurnai sites through central Gippsland. Another location is Victoria’s largest cave system, Buchan Caves Reserve, with trails to important archaeological sites of human artefacts up to 18,000 years old. The FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk includes the naturally sculpted white limestone steps of the 400-metre-long Federal Cave, while the Granite Pools Walk goes among tall timber and moss-covered gullies.

    the ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park
    The ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park. (Image: Josie Withers)

    Also important to the Gunaikurnai people is Tarra-Bulga National Park, known for its ancient myrtle beeches and enormous mountain ash trees. Just 40 minutes return, the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk offers a taste of this verdant landscape, while the Grand Strzelecki Track takes you deep into the lost world of forest giants on an epic 100-kilometre trail rich with tradition.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    the WildernessRetreats in The Prom
    Wilderness Retreats in The Prom. (Image: Christian Pearson)

    Wilderness Retreats in Wilsons Promontory offers glamping-style tents with luxurious queen beds. Star Hotel is a reconstruction of a Gold Rush-era hotel from 1863 in the heart of heritage Walhalla. Caves House is a historic three-bedroom house with views over the Buchan River.

    Eating there

    the Carrajung Estate, Gippsland
    Enjoy a post-hike lunch at Carrajung Estate. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    Kilcunda General Store serves great coffee and meals of local produce at the George Bass Coastal Walk. Alpine Trout Farm is located near Toorongo Falls in Noojee. Fish for your own lunch and barbecue it with the provided cookware.

    Carrajung Estate is a short drive from Tarra-Bulga National Park. The winery’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of regional ingredients and you can stay at The Lodge.

    a seafood feast at Carrajung Estate, Gippsland
    The table is set for a seafood feast at the estate.

    Video credit: Tourism Australia