Melbourne’s cafe scene is second to none and these local favourites prove it.
Where are the best cafes in Melbourne? It’s one of the most divisive questions you can ask, with everyone in this sprawling city having a passionate opinion. Of course, there’s no definitive answer. Finding the best Melbourne cafe is a bit like searching for the best sushi in Tokyo. The standard is remarkably high, particularly when it comes to top-notch coffee.
Still, we have our favourites. From Melbourne CBD cafes to neighbourhood favourites further out, we’ve narrowed down the places we’d happily recommend to friends and family. The CBD and inner city naturally have the lion’s share, but we’ve cast the net wider too, whether you’re looking for a North Melbourne cafe or somewhere worth stopping for brunch in South Melbourne.
Find Hardware Société smack bang in the heart of Melbourne CBD. (Credit: Supplied)
Hardware Société is one of the best French cafes in Melbourne, bringing a pop of Parisian charm to the city. So strong was the connection, in fact, that the cafe opened a successful Paris outpost in 2016 before shutting up shop there in 2025. Now it’s just the two Melbourne locations for this formidable kitchen, and the food has never been better.
Think fresh pastries, favourites like the regularly changing Croque Madame and, for the health-conscious, a big bowl of bircher muesli. As one of Melbourne’s favourite cafes, the team fires on all cylinders so consistently that they might as well write a book on brunch. In fact, they have. A cafe with its own cookbook is never going to disappoint.
We’ve found that most of the regulars opt for brunch, so even though Hardware Société is smack bang in the heart of the city, the breakfast crowd moves fast.
Cuisine: French
Average Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Stylish and relaxed
Location: 10 Katherine Pl, Melbourne
2. Operator25
Settle in for your usual coffee order. (Credit: Operator25)
Operator25 is a haven for coffee enthusiasts. (Credit: Operator25)
Led by ex-Bacash chefs, Operator25 is a strong statement in favour of bringing more style to your typical Melbourne brunch. Morning starters from this kitchen are every bit as thoughtful and sophisticated as what you’d expect at a dinner service.
The impressive all-day breakfast menu changes often, but current standouts include a Singapore chilli crab omelette and beef Benedict with sweet soy and lime pulled beef. There’s also a Thai pork omelette built around roast pork belly and a basil-heavy kra pao sauce. It’s an interesting menu that pulls heavily from Asian flavours while retaining some of Melbourne’s brunch classics.
Melbourne’s hard-to-impress coffee enthusiasts also find solace at Operator25. Code Black supplies the beans, with the usual espresso-based coffees joined by filter options and more experimental drinks from the barista team.
Cuisine: Asian-Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Fast and friendly
Location: 25 Wills St, Melbourne VIC
3. Higher Ground
Higher Ground is housed in a heritage-listed former power station. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
Breakfast at Higher Ground is a power move. The same team behind Top Paddock and The Kettle Black opened this soaring CBD cafe in 2016 in a heritage-listed former power station on Little Bourke Street.
Energy is Higher Ground’s main trade. From 7am on weekdays, this eclectic space is buzzing with excited chatter and clinking glasses. Almost 10 years in and you’ll still find queues out the door, even though this massive spot can accommodate plenty of guests at a time.
Across six interconnected levels, Higher Ground masters the art of breakfast in Melbourne. The menu changes with the seasons, but there are always familiar Melbourne staples alongside more ambitious plates. Eggs on sourdough are kept simple, while the kitchen adds its own spin through sides like halloumi with thyme honey and mushrooms with garlic. Pastries are baked fresh each morning at Chéri, the group’s South Melbourne patisserie.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Buzzy and loud
Location: 650 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
4. Saint Dreux
The sleek, minimal cafe is run by the fine folk behind Bench Coffee Co. (Credit: Saint Dreux)
Missing your trip to Tokyo? Head on over to Saint Dreux and it’s like you’re right back in Japan. The sleek, minimal cafe is run by the fine folk behind Bench Coffee Co. and features its own katsu sandwich bar in the buzzy Emporium Melbourne.
Similar to what you’d find across Japan, Saint Dreux keeps things deliberately narrow and does them exceptionally well. Your choices are limited, with the menu mostly made up of different types of katsu sandwiches alongside excellent coffee. If you feel like a sugar hit, the bar also serves Japanese castella cake, with black sesame among the flavours to look out for.
Discover one of the CBD's best hole-in-the-wall cafés. (Credit: Little Rogue)
Get a coffee to-go from Little Rogue. (Credit: Supplied)
You’ll find the entrance to Little Rogue down the iconic Drewery Lane, giving it an air of exclusivity that many tourists tend to overlook. Locals aren’t so easily distracted, so Little Rogue has a massive local following.
This tiny cafe keeps the focus squarely on coffee, with espresso and filter both taken seriously. Matcha has become another signature, and Little Rogue is regularly singled out as one of the best places in Melbourne for it. Look for the blue door beside the graffitied cat, and you’ll know you’re in the right place.
Food is deliberately secondary these days, with cookies and cakes providing something sweet alongside your coffee. That simplicity suits the space. Little Rogue is less about settling in for an elaborate Melbourne brunch and more about seeking out one of the CBD’s best hidden coffee spots.
Cuisine: Café
Average Price: $
Atmosphere: Peaceful and inviting
Location: 12 Drewery Ln, Melbourne
6. Brick Lane
Find the hidden coffee spot tucked behind a red brick building. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
Hidden down Guildford Lane, just a short walk from Melbourne Central, Brick Lane muscles through Melbourne CBD’s solid list of cafes with its atmospheric design.
From the outside, Brick Lane looks like a London standard with gorgeous red brick and snaking greenery adding to the laneway’s strong aesthetic. Inside is just as beautiful; fast-paced and lively with city workers filing through at all hours.
We typically lean towards the thyme-roasted chicken sandwich, but that’s only available after 11am. For an earlier session, go for the red chilli scrambled eggs with manchego or the garden-fresh mixed mushroom medley. The vibe is Melbourne’s favourite breakfasts refined with style.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Lively and fast
Location: 33 Guildford Ln, Melbourne
7. Liminal
Tuck into moreish breakfast plates. (Credit: Liminal)
The Mulberry Group, the crew behind Higher Ground and Top Paddock, opened Liminal in 2019 to huge acclaim. Set in an airy, elegant space adjacent to the famous Lune Croissanterie, the Collins Street favourite hides plenty of punchy flavours framed by a warm, welcoming interior that’s perfect for remote workers.
We’re partial to the signature breakfast roll, stacked high with bacon, salami cotto and scrambled egg on a milk bun. But that’s only if we’re in a rush. Liminal is the kind of cafe where breakfast can easily roll on for an hour or two, with more substantial plates like the corn and prawn omelette with roti. The chilli eggs are another good shout, served with whipped lemon feta and chilli crunch.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Refined and contemporary
Location: 161 Collins St, Melbourne
Inner City
8. Noisette
Step into this long-standing French cafe in Port Melbourne. (Credit: Noisette)
A taste of France in the heart of Melbourne. (Credit: Noisette)
It’s nice to know that we’re never too far from an exceptional, classic French pastry and a great cup of coffee in Melbourne. It’s one of the city’s most dependable pairings, and Noisette takes its position at the front of the crowd very seriously.
This long-standing French cafe in Port Melbourne is so consistent and popular that no anti-chain gourmand would even bat an eyelid if they found out the crew also has locations in Kew and Bentleigh.
I’ve popped around to all three before and am confident in Noisette’s consistency, with beautiful cakes and pastries tied together by the waft of freshly baked bread. Grabbing a perfectly flaky pain au chocolat and walking down to Princes Pier is one of my favourite ways to start a morning in Port Melbourne.
Cuisine: French
Average Price: $
Atmosphere: Industrial and vibrant
Location: 84 Bay St, Port Melbourne
9. Phat Milk
This underrated cafe serves up top-notch coffee. (Credit: Phat Milk)
Phat Milk is one of the more underrated cafes near Melbourne CBD. The team’s dedication to doing cafe staples their own way gives them an edge in this hyper-competitive space.
On the first and third Saturday of each month, the kitchen also pulls in some Middle Eastern influences by cooking up sajj, an unleavened flatbread used in Arabic cuisines. Get the triple cheese sajj melt if you’refeeling a bit dusty from the night before. It’s saved our souls on more than one occasion.
You won’t find standards like eggs benedict on the menu. Instead, go for the pistachio rose acai bowl with Kakadu plum. It may be Instagram fodder, but the kitchen clearly knows what it’s doing with these wild flavours.
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Vibrant and energetic
Location: 208 Mt Alexander Rd, Travancore
10. Darling Cafe
Find a mixed crowd at this busy Melbourne cafe any day of the week. (Credit: Darling Cafe)
Specialty coffee is served alongside an extensive brunch menu. (Credit: Julian Lallo)
Darling Cafe is an iconic South Yarra spot, soaking up the artsy setting of the neighbourhood but holding on to its own identity as a convenient meeting spot for locals and travellers.
Given its location on Darling Street, you’ll find a mixed crowd at this busy Melbourne cafe any day of the week. The menu focuses on quality, locally sourced ingredients and specialty coffee, served alongside an extensive range of pastries, smoothies and drinks.
The menu changes seasonally, although you can always expect Darling to push well beyond standard Melbourne brunch. Current options include a hot honey chicken burger with jalapeño coleslaw, while the sticky plum caramel barramundi is a much more substantial option. Breakfast stays well represented with lighter dishes and cafe staples earlier in the day.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Creative and hip
Location: 2 Darling St, South Yarra
11. Proud Mary
Proud Mary was ranked the fourth best coffee shop in the world in 2025 and still sits at number 27 on the 2026 list. Such recognition doesn’t come lightly for Collingwood’s headlining coffee shop, which favoursseasonal dishes to pair with its overarching coffee program.
We’re not sure it’s possible to visit Melbourne and not find yourself bouncing between those red brick walls. The “rustic yet modern" cliché definitely applies here, but we think Proud Mary goes much further in really dressing this place up with character and ensuring that it feels unequivocally part of the Collingwood psyche.
Exceptional coffee is a given, but the food is equally fantastic. Proud Mary takes brunch every bit as seriously as its coffee, with a regularly changing menu that gives the kitchen plenty of room to move beyond the usual Melbourne cafe standards. Think buckwheat ricotta waffles with lemon myrtle syrup and a Tahitian vanilla coconut rice pudding.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Industrial and warm
Location: 172 Oxford St, Collingwood
12. Convoy
Explore the area on foot. (Credit: Kate Durham)
Get your coffee to-go. (Image: Kate Durham)
Convoy opened towards the end of 2022, quickly becoming a local favourite in Moonee Ponds with its sprawling 140-seat space. The team behind Collingwood’s Terror Twilight stepped up its breakfast game with this beautiful cafe, defined by warm timber and stone tiling.
The breakfast and brunch menu takes cues from all over the world without overdoing it. Everything remains rather simple and flavour-forward, with the prawn roll having been a signature since day one. King prawns are loaded into a potato bun with Kewpie and Tabasco, while the steak frites roll is the more substantial option when you’re particularly hungry.
Start your morning out on the wraparound deck with one of those in front of you, then follow it up with a Saturday stroll around Moonee Ponds.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Vibrant and sociable
Location: 109 Pascoe Vale Rd, Moonee Ponds
13. Sunhands
Treat yourself to a classic Melbourne brunch. (Credit: Nicholas Wilkins)
Sunhands transforms from a cafe into a beautiful wine bar, deli and shop as the day unfolds. (Credit: Tess Metcalf)
Sunhands does the best brunch in Carlton. And that’s without any doubt. Opening at 8am each day, this popular Melbourne cafe takes on a more sophisticated format as the day rolls on, transforming into a beautiful wine bar with a kinetic sense of energy.
While anyone looking for a classic Melbourne brunch will find plenty to satisfy, Sunhands is at its best when showcasing seasonal produce from small-scale local growers and makers. Go for the signature SunhandsPlate, which changes with the seasons and pulls together some of the kitchen’s favourite produce. It’ll remind you just why people love Victoria’s growing seasons so much.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Energetic and communal
Location: 169 Elgin St, Carlton
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14. CIBI
This Collingwood institution is a retail space and cafe in one. (Credit: CIBI)
Beautiful, minimal and consistent. Japanese cafe CIBI in Collingwood is one of Melbourne’s best offerings and something locals are fiercely proud of. Founded by Meg and Zenta Tanaka in 2008, this Collingwood institution brings together the couple’s love of Japanese food and design.
Walk past the beautiful homewares and furniture on sale to a space dedicated to breakfast and lunch. The cafe’s signature Japanese breakfast is inspired by Meg’s grandmother’s home cooking, with grilled salmon and tamagoyaki served alongside rice and miso soup. Here, the Tanakas give the traditional Japanese breakfast a Melbourne twist with top-shelf local produce.
Cuisine: Japanese
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Calm and friendly
Location: 33-39 Keele St, Collingwood
15. Florian Eatery
This Carlton North cafe is serious about sourcing the best produce possible. (Credit: Florian Eatery)
Inside you'll feel the communal and relaxing atmosphere. (Credit: Florian Eatery)
Walk into Florian Eatery, and you’ll find shelves lined with cookbooks and jars of house-made preserves. This Carlton North cafe is serious about sourcing the best produce possible, keeping the ambience light but the flavours heavy and robust.
The unpretentious vibe is why many locals would come here to escape from Melbourne’s most transient trends. Grab the simple Farmer’s Breakfast for the best experience. The plate comes with various cured meats, cheeses, boiled eggs, house-made pickles, fruit yoghurt and rye bread. Everything represents a local producer or supplier, best ordered with an Allpress coffee or soda from nearby Strangelove.
A specials menu is scrawled across a blackboard and typically lists health-conscious dishes made with the best market ingredients of that week.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Communal and relaxing
Location: 617 Rathdowne St, Carlton North
16. Auction Rooms
Nab a table in the relaxing outdoor space. (Credit: Auction Rooms)
The team behind one of Melbourne’s best coffee shops, St ALi, opened Auction Rooms in 2016. All these years later, it’s still referenced as the gold standard in North Melbourne for anyone wanting a fantastic start to the day.
A head-turning blue facade sticks out like a sore thumb in the area, welcoming people from 7am to 4pm daily with a soulful menu big on Mexican, American and Middle Eastern flavours.
It’s hard to peel yourself away from that tiramisu French toast if you’re in the mood for pure decadence, but keeping it simple is always recommended at Auction Rooms. Grab one of the kitchen’s beautiful breakfast boards with grilled chorizo, smoked salmon, potato rosti, soldiers, a soft-boiled egg and chia pudding.
Cuisine: South American and Middle Eastern
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Communal and relaxing
Location: 103-107 Errol St, North Melbourne
17. Roslyn Thai Cafe
Slurp on a comforting Thai soup. (Credit: Roslyn Thai Cafe)
Roslyn Thai Cafe comes from two ex-Long Chim chefs who saw a market for Melbourne locals wanting to start their day with a warm bowl of pork ball congee and Thai-style eggs, better known as khao khai khon. They were right. This tiny cafe on West Melbourne’s main artery is always full of life whenever we pop by, with those small round tables packed with colour from Thai milk tea and coconut ice-cream.
The menu scribbles down favourites taken mostly from regional Thai specialities, whether that’s roti murtabak, popular in Southern Thailand, or khai katha, pan-fried eggs served with a brioche roll, from the north-east. The pork ball congee is another staple and one of the best reasons to come here for breakfast.
Cuisine: Thai
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Tiny and lively
Location: 477 King St, West Melbourne
18. Cham
Get your caffeine fix on Peel Street. (Credit: Jesse Hisco/Visit Victoria)
The contemporary Vietnamese cafe takes its name from the Vietnamese word for indigo. (Credit: Jesse Hisco/Visit Victoria)
West Melbourne has no shortage of great cafes, but Chàm offers something a bit different. The contemporary Vietnamese cafe takes its name from the Vietnamese word for indigo, setting up a bright space on Peel Street where tradition is treated with plenty of creativity.
The menu takes familiar Vietnamese flavours and reshapes them for a Melbourne breakfast crowd. There’s a clear respect for the food Chàm draws from, although the kitchen isn’t afraid to play around with presentation and technique. It makes for one of the more interesting brunch menus in the area, particularly if another plate of smashed avo isn’t going to cut it.
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Bright and contemporary
Location: 25-31 Peel St, West Melbourne
19. The Kettle Black
Pull up a chair in the al fresco space. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
The Kettle Black is a stalwart in the Melbourne coffee scene. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
Located in the glamorous Fifty Albert building, The Kettle Black is a pioneer of Melbourne’s iconic cafe culture alongside siblings Top Paddock and Higher Ground. The chic terrace house that hosts this beautiful cafe has been treated with soft oak timbers and polished concrete, set against mismatched green furniture and marble tiles.
While The Kettle Black has been operating for years, the menu is still a trendsetter for Melbourne’s best cafes. If you’re chasing something indulgent, go straight for the seminal blueberry and ricotta hotcake with seasonal berries, maple syrup and whipped cream.
The colourful plate made The Kettle Black one of the most famous cafes in Melbourne in the first place, and we still can’t get enough after all these years. For something lighter, the seasonal avocado on toast remains one of the kitchen’s constants, usually dressed with whatever produce is looking its best at the time.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed and intimate
Location: 50 Albert Rd, South Melbourne
20. Wild Life Bakery
A generously plated sandwich from Wild Life Bakery. (Credit: Wild Life Bakery)
Wild Life Bakery is one of Brunswick East’s most popular morning starters any day of the week. Huw Murdoch’s tiny bakery and cafe was born out of a mission to learn from the world’s finest bakers, giving him the know-how to craft this ode to baked goods, where customers can see the bread-making process from clear circular windows.
You’ll find one of the best cheese toasties in Melbourne at this spot, as well as a range of daily sandwiches, salads and baguettes all using Murdoch’s 24-hour fermented sourdough. The studious Melbourne baker is also well-versed in coffee, so grab a cup of Market Lane’s finest to help get the day organised.
Cuisine: Australian bakery
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Efficient and cosy
Location: 90 Albert St, Brunswick East
21. Beautiful Jim Key
A satisfying, big vegetarian breakfast. (Credit: Beautiful Jim Key)
A lot is going on behind the curious name of Beautiful Jim Key in Brunswick. The bright Wilson Avenue cafe comes from Harley & Rose owners Josh Murphy and Priyam Chovhan, with Murphy bringing experience from some serious Melbourne kitchens, including Cumulus Inc and Builders Arms Hotel.
Breakfast is fairly restrained, with the kitchen preferring to do a handful of things particularly well before moving into a more substantial lunch menu. The broccoli toastie is an easy favourite, layering pecorino with chilliand lemon, while seasonal dishes keep the menu moving throughout the year.
Beautiful Jim Key itself was a famously intelligent horse trained by Dr William Preston Key, a formerly enslaved man who became a veterinarian. It’s an unexpectedly fascinating namesake for a neighbourhood cafe, although that sense of curiosity fits the place nicely.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Bright and relaxed
Location: 7 Wilson Ave, Brunswick
22. Light Years
The vibrant menu features a generous selection of comfort food. (Credit: Marcelina Jasinska)
Given the calming open design and abundance of natural light, Light Years is a great cafe for remote workers in Hawthorn East. On any given day, you’ll spot locals furiously hitting their laptops while plates of smashed avocado and chilli scrambled eggs fly out of the kitchen.
The breakfast menu at Light Years is a mix of comfort food and fresh produce, focusing on generous servings and reasonable prices. Balance is the key here, and not having to stress about spending a small fortune on your first meal of the day naturally just helps you focus on work more. It’s a win-win when you’re working from here.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Studious and friendly
Location: 132 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East
23. ONA Coffee
Enjoy your drink while being surrounded by lush canopy. (Credit: Supplied)
Every cup is made to satisfy your coffee craving. (Credit: Supplied)
Finding Melbourne’s best coffee shops is an entirely different conversation, of course. The sheer multitude of styles makes the local coffee scene one of the world’s best. But there are coffee shops, and then there are cafes. Most of these venues fit the bill for both, but few can slot into either category perfectly.
ONA Coffee in Brunswick is one such business. As the Melbourne flagship for the Canberra-based specialty roaster, coffee nerds will find little to complain about. Those life-giving hits of caffeine are treated very seriously here.
But the brunch options are just as good. Refined classics are the approach, so you’ll find red chilli scrambled eggs and an Angus beef benny with braised brisket on the menu. But don’t look past the very filled prawn roll, a potato roll stuffed with poached king prawns, ONA’s special hot sauce and pickled onion. It’s one of the menu’s simpler options, but also one of the best.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Studious and friendly
Location: 22 Ovens St, Brunswick
24. Arlo
Arlo is an excellent choice for breakfast or brunch. (Credit: Supplied)
Despite the healthy competition that lines Ormond Road, Arlo remains one of the best cafes in Elwood, and a smart choice for breakfast or brunch.
The bright exterior leads to a warm dining room that keeps many of the building’s original features intact. Here you’ll find locals chatting away in the early afternoon over plates of mushroom steak or a big serving of Turkish eggs.
Most, however, would have the signature Chicken Bang sitting in front of them. The crunchy waffle is topped with cinnamon-spiced fried chicken and streaky bacon, drizzled with kimchi butter and maple syrup. The indulgent dish isn’t something you’d have every week, but on a rainy day there’s no better comfort food in the area.
Cuisine: Asian-European
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed and sociable
Location: 133 Ormond Rd, Elwood
25. Au79
Au79 is a former motor garage reimagined into a bright and airy cafe. (Credit: Supplied)
Locals from Abbotsford and Richmond make this old motor garage part of their weekly schedule. Starting the morning by heading over to Au79 now comes standard for the area, positioning this Nicholson Street cafe at the centre of the community.
The name is a statement of intent. Au and 79 are, respectively, the chemical symbol and atomic number for gold, and this fact is proudly signposted with metallic gold marking the black building. The interior isn’t as regal but the pared-back atmosphere makes room for a bakery, patisserie and an on-site roastery.
Favourites from the breakfast menu include the mango waffle with lime jelly and passionfruit curd, and the vegan big breakfast with toast, potato hash, mushrooms, sautéed greens, avocado and cherry tomatoes. Many cafes in Melbourne cut, paste and refine the local favourites. Au79 is one of several determined to do things differently.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Refined and creative
Location: 27-29 Nicholson St, Abbotsford
26. Bawa Cafe
With a design that brings the outside in, Bawa Cafe in Hawthorn is an exceptionally relaxed way to start your day. The atmosphere is gentle and calming, while staff treat each guest like family.
Grab a timber booth and work through the all-day breakfast menu. You won’t find anything surprising here, but Bawa Cafe is set on using excellent local produce for maximum flavour.
For something fresh, the super green salad should keep you going for the rest of the day, while the eggs Benedict with smoked ham hock terrine remains one of the menu’s most popular items for good reason.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed and friendly
Location: 248 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn
27. Code Black
This Brunswick cafe is part of the city’s broad coffee scene. (Credit: Code Black)
The food keeps pace with a seasonal menu. (Credit: Code Black)
Code Black is a cafe and roasting house in Brunswick and an important fixture of the city’s broad coffee scene. Everything about Joseph Haddad’s masterwork is designed with excellence in mind, from the formidable coffee bar to the unflappable service.
While Code Black now has several locations around Melbourne, this Brunswick flagship sets itself apart by housing the roastery itself. You’ll find the full range here, moving from the house blends through rotating single origins, with coffee served as espresso, filter or even a tasting flight. The food keeps pace with a seasonal menu that regularly moves beyond the usual Melbourne brunch staples.
The cafe is open until 5pm each day, so there’s plenty of time to drop in well beyond the morning rush.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed and friendly
Location: 15-17 Weston St, Brunswick
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28. Napier Quarter
This upscale Fitzroy cafe offers equally impressive food and drinks. (Credit: Annika Kafcaloudis)
Napier Quarter is to breakfast what Gimlet is to supper. It’s an all-class affair, drawing on European influences to build an elegant atmosphere. The food and drink on offer are equally impressive.
The kitchen has always been closely connected to local suppliers, turning out a frequently changing menu that puts good produce ahead of unnecessary complexity.
The menu changes frequently, but expect uncomplicated, produce-driven dishes alongside the signature anchovy toast. Napier Quarter also doubles as an espresso and wine bar, so breakfast has a habit of turning into a much longer stay.
Cuisine: European
Average Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Elegant and upscale
Location: 359 Napier St, Fitzroy
29. Wide Open Road
Sip your coffee in an industrial-chic space. (Credit: Wide Open Road)
The team at Wide Open Road are proud coffee nerds; you can tell from the range of styles of coffee on offer. Even the hardiest coffee snobs can’t help but admit Wide Open Road is one of the best cafes in Melbourne. If not the very best.
The northern suburbs staple is bright and vibrant, aligned with the prevailing design language of typical Melbourne cafes. The menu is also quite similar to what you’d expect from just about any cafe around Melbourne.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Warm and industrial
Location: 274 Barkly St, Brunswick
30. Monk Bodhi Dharma
Tuck into vegan-friendly meals. (Credit: Monk Bodhi Dharma)
As one of the most prominent coffee shops in Melbourne, Monk Bodhi Dharma is as essential to Australia’s Second City as Lune and Vue du Monde. And yeah, we realise that’s an ambitious statement, but this small vegetarian cafe is perfectly symbolic of Melbourne’s progressive cafe culture.
The brick cubby feels soulful and beautifully lived-in, looking like something that dates back to the 80s. Yet this institution has only been around since the early 2010s, building up a strong following which still pours in each day for some Bodhi Porridge with spiced fruit and a cup of some of the best coffee Melbourne has to offer.
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Communal and inviting
Location: Rear 202 Carlisle St, Balaclava
31. Proper & Son
Proper & Son evokes a buzzy atmosphere. (Credit: Proper & Son)
Proper & Son has a simple and effective concept: wherever possible, the kitchen only uses the produce that can be picked nearby. That is, from the vendors of South Melbourne Market’s massive Food Hall.
Eugene Lavery’s cafe is built with recycled timbers and kitschy printed wallpaper, framing the open kitchen where guests can watch the market’s best produce being whipped into dishes like a potato and leek squeak with smoked salmon and egg, and hotcakes with lemon curd, fruit and maple.
Don’t forget to grab one of Lavery’s homemade sodas or a nice cup of Toby’s Estate beans.
Cuisine: European
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Fast and buzzy
Location: 13 & 14/322 Coventry St, South Melbourne
32. Carter Lovett
The cosy cafe puts a spin on traditional breakfast. (Credit: Carter Lovett)
Carter Lovett is often overlooked when it comes to South Yarra cafes and Elwood favourites. But Elsternwick locals are incredibly proud of this cosy spot, which is open all day but is most popular for its elevated breakfast offerings and chirpy service.
Some Cumberland sausage served with chilli fried eggs and zucchini relish will never lead you astray. But just about everything presents something new for the Melbourne crowd.
The vanilla bean panna cotta with gluten-free muesli and poached pear is great for those wanting something different for breakfast. But it pays to keep it simple: the mushroom omelette is one of the best things on the menu.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Friendly and warm
Location: 329 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick
33. Moon Mart
This beloved Korean-Japanese cafe is a must-visit. (Credit: Moon Mart)
There really is nothing in Melbourne quite like those rich, textural char siu bacon and egg rolls flying out of the Moon Mart kitchen almost every few minutes each morning. After moving to South Melbourne in 2024 from its original location out west, this beloved Korean-Japanese cafe built up a new, highly loyal following that hasn’t waned since.
And why would it? With former Moon Park chef Eun Hee An running the show alongside co-owner Mei Onsamlee, this gorgeous white-and-yellow cafe is offering something unique and wildly flavoured.
Authenticity is key, although experimentation has resulted in some of Melbourne’s best breakfast dishes. The great bulgogi sausage muffin comes with house-made pork sausage, fried egg and chilli jam, while the okonomiyaki hash brown remains another signature worth crossing town for.
Cuisine: Korean-Japanese
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Homely and friendly
Location: 315 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
34. Clementine
Step into this bright and friendly cafe on the ground floor of a South Melbourne office building. (Credit: Alex Squadrito)
Big, bold flavours dominate the menu. (Credit: Alex Squadrito)
At first glance, there’s nothing particularly noteworthy about Clementine. It’s a nice, bright and friendly cafe on the ground floor of a South Melbourne office building. There are plenty of those around Melbourne. But the big selling point here is consistency: great food, Dukes coffee and flaky pastries.
The kitchen focuses on big, bold flavours with dishes like a Moreton Bay bug Benedict, loaded with thermidor and hollandaise, or the tiramisu breakfast soufflé with sweet espresso cream and mascarpone. It may look like your typical cafe, but Clementine does things its own way and sticks out beautifully in the South Melbourne sprawl as a result.
Cuisine: Asian-Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Friendly and warm
Location: 67-69 Palmerston Cres, South Melbourne
35. Pillar of Salt
The Royal Benedict is a certified favourite. (Credit: Pillar of Salt)
As one of the best Richmond cafes, Pillar of Salt has plenty of mouths to feed throughout the week. Considering how busy it gets, the efficient and personable service is impressive, ensuring very little wait time between ordering and eating.
The menu reads like Melbourne’s greatest morning hits, although there’s more going on than simply refining popular trends. For something substantial, the salmon Benedict pairs hash browns with poached eggs and miso hollandaise. The massive Californian superfood salad remains a fixture, loaded with quinoa and greens before being bulked out with crispy chickpeas and smoked almonds.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Active and buzzy
Location: 541 Church St, Richmond
36. Elephant Cafe
Tuck into a vibrant brunch plate. (Credit: Elephant Cafe)
You won’t find any swinging trunks at Elephant Cafe in Flemington, but you will start the day with some of the area’s most loveable fur babies. This dog-friendly cafe keeps things simple, focusing on consistency and typical Australian classics done well.
Most locals stop by for a coffee, but those with a bit more time will hang for an hour or two, indulging in dishes like the Benny Salmon with smoked salmon and poached eggs, cream cheese mixed with pesto and capers, and hollandaise on brioche.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed and communal
Location: 135 Mt Alexander Rd, Flemington
North West
37. Emil’s Cafe
This Australian-Arabic cafe champions authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. (Credit: Emil’s Cafe)
Emil and Houda raised six children in the home behind it. (Credit: Emil’s Cafe)
An old-school milk bar has been turned into Emil’s Cafe in Pascoe Vale South. While you won’t find many must-try hospitality spots out in this northern suburb, this beautiful all-day bruncher is worth a trek outside of the CBD.
Run by brothers John and George El-Khoury, the cafe serves modern Australian food with a strong Arabic influence. Their parents, Emil and Houda, opened the original milk bar here in 1978 and raised six children in the home behind it. Although it still looks like a vintage corner store from the outside, once you walk in it feels like you’re dining in someone’s living room. We love the homeliness and feel it adds a great texture to the experience.
Grab the eggs Benedict with slow-cooked beef ribs and tahini hollandaise if you’re indecisive. The Turkish eggs are another signature, served with sujuk and yoghurt and still one of the dishes most closely associated with Emil’s.
Cuisine: Australian-Arabic
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Casual and homely
Location: 347 Reynard St, Pascoe Vale South
North East
38. Second Home
Order the signature eggs benedict. (Credit: Second Home Eltham)
Second Home is the kind of homely cafe you’d find on a movie set. (Credit: Supplied)
Much like Eltham, Second Home is the perfect example of old-world Melbourne and our first stop whenever we find ourselves in the historic suburb. The popular cafe is cinematically set in an Alistair Knox-designed former warehouse, giving it a strong sense of place.
Just the right amount of natural light peeks in through the skylight, presenting the kind of homely cafe you’d find on a movie set. Everything about Second Home is designed like a warm hug and a light handshake; even the charming, casual wording of the menu. The details matter here, and they are always endearing.
Don’t hesitate to order the signature A Hearty Home big breakfast. The top-quality produce plate includes poached eggs on sourdough with smoked bacon, herby tomato, thyme-roasted mushroom, pork and fennel sausage and avocado.
Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Historic and charming
Location: 21 Brougham St, Eltham
South East
39. Mammoth
Find this spot on the corner of Malvern Road and Beatty Avenue. (Credit: Mammoth)
The menu is a blend of European, Asian and Middle Eastern flavours. (Credit: Mammoth)
Mammoth is a South-East Melbourne cafe with a serious following. You’ll find this spot on the corner of Malvern Road and Beatty Avenue, pulling a steady crowd well into the afternoon.
Regulars come here for the kitchen’s worldly touch, which draws on European cooking techniques while bringing in clever nods to Asian and Middle Eastern flavours.
We’re always tempted by the chilli scrambled eggs, but it’s nearly impossible to pass up the chorizo omelette. This substantial breakfast folds slow-braised chorizo through confit potatoes, roast capsicum and gruyère, before arriving with rocket and Turkish toast. It’s the best example of why Mammoth is worth travelling for.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Buzzy and sociable
Location: 736 Malvern Rd, Armadale
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Chris Singh is an arts, travel and food journalist with 17 years of experience in digital media and 4 years of experience in SEO writing. He is the former travel editor of premium men's lifestyle title Boss Hunting and currently balances his role as Deputy Editor-At-Large of the AU review with freelance travel writing gigs at Australian Traveller, Luxury Escapes, Cruise & Travel and Sydney Travel Guide. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences (Sociology and Psychology) from the University of Sydney and once worked as a line dancer for steakhouse chain Lone Star (no, seriously). He's always got his finger on the pulse for good live music and delicious new restaurants, has a particular love of historic hotels and is starting to see the restorative value of the ever-present wellness industry. Although he is a born-and-bred Sydneysider, his favourite Australian cities are Hobart and Adelaide. Internationally, he can never get enough of big cities like Tokyo, New York and Chicago. If you're looking for him, he's either at a concert, on a plane or behind a laptop.
Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.
Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.
You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)
I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.
A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy
Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)
With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.
A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.
I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.
Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.
Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate
Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.
As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate, I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.
Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.
On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.
I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.
Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels
Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)
Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.
COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.
It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.
A detour to the Dandenong Ranges
The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.
The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.
I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.
The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.
After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.
A traveller’s checklist
Staying there
Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.
Playing there
Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art. Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.
