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The best Warrnambool cafes to try on your next visit

Jade Raykovski Jade Raykovski
From sleek coffee bars to laidback kiosks, cafe culture is alive and well in Warrnambool.

You might be over 250 kilometres from Melbourne, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on great coffee or brunch when you’re in Warrnambool. The regional city is serving up its fair share of top-tier cafes, with fantastic food, great vibes and coffee ranging from filter and pour over to batch and cold brew. We’ve rounded up our top picks to check out next time you’re in town, so you’ll have options ready for brekkie, lunch and anything in between.

The Shortlist

Best for vegan/vegetarian: Day Kitty
Best design: Beaches Cafe & Bar
Best views: Pavilion Cafe & Bar

Pavilion Cafe & Bar

alfresco dining at Pavilion Cafe & Bar, Warrnambool
Pavilion Cafe & Bar delivers uninterrupted views of Lady Bay. (Credit: Josh Robenstone)

If you like your coffee with an ocean backdrop, head to Pavilion Cafe & Bar, perched at the end of the foreshore next to Warrnambool Pier. Its floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious balcony show off its best asset: uninterrupted views overlooking Lady Bay. Once you tear your eyes away to look at the menu, you’ll find an elevated selection of brunch options, from wild rice porridge and bagels with avocado and whipped cream cheese, to their signature big breakfast, The Pavilion.

From 12–2pm they serve lunch; if the sea air is stirring up a seafood craving, opt for the salt and pepper squid or prawn spaghetti, and walk it off afterwards with a stroll on the pier. Here just for the vibes? Coffee and cocktails are available all day. Note: There is ramp access up to the cafe.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Lively and friendly
Location: 50 Viaduct Rd, Warrnambool

The Nook on Hopkins

The Nook on Hopkins, Warrnambool
Pull up a seat in this relaxed cafe. (Credit: Ellen Moloney)

Formerly a milk bar, new owners Marife and James Moloney opened The Nook on Hopkins in 2025. This hidden gem of a cafe is located away from Warrnambool’s centre, close to the Hopkins River Bridge and not far from Logans Beach.

It’s quickly become a local favourite, with coffee by Seven Seeds, all day brekkie and lunch, and a welcoming atmosphere (plus access is step-free for those with mobility issues). Our pick is the pulled beef benny: 24-hour slow-cooked brisket, poached egg, chipotle hollandaise, crispy onion and saltbush on buttered sourdough. Yum.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Quiet and welcoming
Location: 8 Hopkins Rd, Warrnambool

The Beach Kiosk Cafe

Located between the beach and Lake Pertobe, The Beach Kiosk Cafe’s cheerful white-and-grey weatherboard façade is easy to spot when you’re passing by. Pop in for brekkie or lunch, or try their renowned fish and chips – available dine in or takeaway, so you can feast in the park or on the beach. Coffee, smoothies, milkshakes and toasties are on the menu, along with favourite dishes like their lamb souvlaki and Korean benedict. The accessible family-run venue also boasts a “scoop station", home to 20+ ice cream flavours.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie, fish and chips
Average price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Cheery and laidback
Location: 65 Pertobe Rd, Warrnambool

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Beaches Cafe & Bar

Beaches Cafe & Bar balcony view
Sip on a cocktail while admiring the ocean views.

Stepping into Beaches Cafe & Bar feels like stepping into a Mediterranean seaside restaurant. The chic blue-and-white decor – complete with leafy greenery and palm trees on the walls – is only outshone by the fabulous views looking out over the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and lighthouse, towards Lady Bay.

The breakfast menu features the usual suspects, while lunch offers a broader range of dishes from fish and chips and a southern fried chicken burger, to prawn tacos and an Asian beef salad. On a sunny day, sit on the deck under one of the blue-and-white striped umbrellas with a cocktail as you soak in the view.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie
Average price: $$$-$$$$
Atmosphere: Sophisticated coastal
Location: 91 Merri St, Warrnambool

Allee Espresso

Allee Espresso, Warrnambool
Kickstart your day with a warm brew from Allee Espresso.

Tucked behind the industrial façade of a co-working hub, it’s easy to miss Allee Espresso. Once you’re inside, however, the entire experience feels thoughtful and curated, from the minimal yet cosy interior, to the warm service and small extra touches (why don’t all coffees come with a little biscuit, we ask?).

Pastries and gourmet toasties rule the menu here, with fillings like jalapeno, parmesan and cheddar, and honey-roasted pumpkin, goats cheese and rocket. Coffee is by Maker and includes batch brew and pour over; non-coffee drinkers are also taken care of with matcha and sticky chai lattes, Tea Drop teas and Grounded Pleasure hot chocolates.

Cuisine: Pastries and toasties
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Industrial-chic, relaxed
Location: 1 Dispensary La, Warrnambool

Day Kitty

For nourishing vegetarian food you’ll feel good about, look no further than Day Kitty. Choose from a colourful range of salads, savoury and acai bowls, smoothies, lattes and coffee; there are plenty of vegan options too, like the nourish bowl with green goddess pesto, and they use certified organic ingredients for the majority of their menu. Check out the display cabinet for any vegan treats, and browse their small selection of pantry staples and healthy snacks to take home with you.

Cuisine: Vegetarian
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Homely
Location: 52B Kepler St, Warrnambool

Jude The Cafe

Jude The Cafe, Warrnambool
Pop into the bright and welcoming cafe for a delicious brekkie. (Credit: Jude The Cafe)

From the pink signage to the white and pink tones of its Instagrammable interior, Jude the Cafe is bright, welcoming and accessible. Run by locals Leah Habel and partner Mitch Warburton, it serves a curated all-day menu that focuses on local, seasonal produce. You’ll find classics done exceptionally well, like the eggs benedict with spinach and bacon, plus plenty of yummy treats in the cake cabinet (including gluten-free options). If you like their coffee from Coffee Supreme, you can purchase a bag of beans here – the staff will even grind it for you.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Cute and inviting
Location: 52A Kepler St, Warrnambool

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Koko Avenue

the whitewashed interior of Koko Avenue, Warrnambool
The cafe interior is white and minimalistic. (Credit: Koko Avenue)

Nestled amongst large-format retailers off the Princes Highway, Koko Avenue makes for an unexpectedly chic pitstop on the way in or out of Warrnambool. Expect well-presented dishes in a bright, beachy space: their all-day breakfast menu includes panko-crumbed poached eggs and housemade corn fritters, while lunch ranges from bao buns and ricotta gnocchi to an extensive cabinet selection.

Their Brekky Combo offers great value; at $16 it includes an egg, bacon and tomato relish roll, crisp hash brown and coffee by Proud Mary. There’s plenty of parking and access is step-free.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Bright and refined
Location: Shop 13/1-49 Raglan Parade, Warrnambool

Rough Diamond

Rough Diamond, Warrnambool
The 1970s office building has been transformed into a thriving cafe serving delicious toasties. (Credit: Rough Diamond)

Housed in a refurbished 1970s office building, Rough Diamond is all about quality, not quantity. Their focus is on coffee and sandwiches, with premium suppliers like Small Batch Roasting Co., Schulz Organic Dairy, Hunted + Gathered and Jane Dough (they also host specialty roasters from time to time). Everyone is here for the toasties, and you should be too; the ham, cheese and pickles – Smoked Virginia ham, tasty cheese, Dijonnaise, dill pickle and roquette salad on toasted Jane Dough sourdough – really hits the spot. On a nice day, sit outside in the cute grassy patio (pooches welcome).

Cuisine: Toasties, Modern Aussie
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Communal, industrial
Location: 203 Koroit St, Warrnambool

ToTo Town

Located on a prominent corner in the historic Western Hotel building, ToTo Town is known for their great coffee by Axil Coffee Roasters – filter, batch brew and cold brew are all on offer – and the consistent quality of their food. For something a little different, try the Cilbir (Turkish eggs served on a bed of house-made garlic yoghurt, finished with mince and burnt butter), or for a lighter lunch, go for the pan-fried barramundi. If you like a drink with your lunch, they also serve local and imported wines.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Charming, vibrant
Location: Unit 1/49 Kepler St, Warrnambool

Tilly Divine Kitchen & Bar

the Tilly Divine Kitchen & Bar cafe interior
This cosy cafe is a lush oasis for all-day breakfast. (Credit: Tilly Divine Kitchen & Bar)

The decor is rather divine at this cute cafe, with cosy seating and leafy wallpaper complemented by real-life foliage. Their housemade cakes pair deliciously with St Ali coffee, while their all-day breakfast menu includes the likes of corn, zucchini and haloumi fritters, several eggs benedict variations, pancakes and waffles. Tacos and salads feature on the lunch menu, and the cafe is licensed, so you can enjoy a wine or cocktail over lunch (or brunch – we won’t judge). A step-free entrance makes it an option for those with mobility issues.

Cuisine: Modern Aussie
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Bright and fun
Location: 174 Liebig St, Warrnambool

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Jade Raykovski
Jade Raykovski is a freelance travel writer from Melbourne, Australia whose wanderlust began from immersing herself in the fantasy worlds of her favourite books as a kid. She started off her career as a graphic designer, before making the switch to copywriter, and now – in what you could say is the role she was always destined for – travel writer. Along with Australian Traveller, her bylines include National Geographic, BBC Travel, Escape and NZ Herald. And while she loves writing about home, she'll never pass up the chance to sip a spritz in Italy.
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Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

    Angela Saurine Angela Saurine
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    From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet. 

    Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it. 

    Budj Bim cultural landscape  

    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is on Gunditjmara Country. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim, ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas. 

    eel tank
    The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour 

    Dumawul walkingtour
    Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance.  The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.  

    Kooyoora walking tour
    Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Kingfisher Cruises  

    Kingfisher Cruises
    Cruising the Murray with Kingfisher Cruises. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises. Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.  

    wawa biik 

    Taungurung leaders
    Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik. 

    Bataluk Cultural Trail  

    Bataluk Trail
    Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.  

    Healesville Sanctuary  

    echidna at Healesville Sanctuary
    Get up close with a resident echidna at Healesville Sanctuary. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm. 

    The Grampians 

    Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians
    Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.