Melbourne’s cafe scene is second to none and these local institutions prove it.

Where are the best cafes in Melbourne? That question would fly around this sprawling city multiple times per day. But, of course, there’s no definitive answer. Finding the best Melbourne cafe is like searching for the best sushi in Tokyo. Every cafe is good and serves up top-notch coffee. Just like every piece of sushi in Japan’s capital will blow your mind.

But we have our favourites – just under 40 of them – that we’ve listed to help guide you through one of Melbourne’s strongest traits. And yes, while Melbourne CBD and surrounds have the lion’s share of our favourite cafes, we’ve tried to keep a wide scope, so you’ve got help when you’re looking for, say a North Melbourne cafe, or maybe a decent cafe in South Melbourne.

The Shortlist

Best Pastries: Noisette
Best Work-Friendly Atmosphere: Light Years
Best for Dog-Friendly Dining: The Kettle Black
Hidden Gem: Brick Lane
Best for Vegan/Vegetarian: Au79

Melbourne CBD

1.  Hardware Société

Find Hardware Société smack bang in the heart of Melbourne CBD.

Hardware Société is one of the best French cafes in Melbourne, anchored by a pop of Parisian charm with an elegant ambience. So distinctly Parisian, in fact, that the cafe opened a successful outpost in Paris in 2016 before shutting up shop in 2025. Now it’s just the two Melbourne locations for this formidable kitchen, and the food has never been better.

Think fresh pastries with lemon curd yoghurt, favourites like a weekly rotating Croque Madame, and, for the health-conscious, a big bowl of bircher muesli with blueberry vanilla compote, vanilla poached pear and toasted hazelnuts. As one of Melbourne’s favourite cafes, the team fire 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.

You’ll find 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 and mornings are often breathlessly chaotic.

Cuisine: French
Average Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Stylish and relaxed
Location: 10 Katherine Pl, Melbourne

2.  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 star dishes include the five-spiced Peking duck leg served with roti, egg, spring onion and a cucumber salad, beef bulgogi tacos, and the vegetarian big breakfast. Most regulars would pop by here for one of the city’s best breakfast tortillas, and you can always expect friendly service beyond Melbourne’s already lofty standards.

Melbourne’s hard-to-impress coffee enthusiasts also find solace in Operator25’s produce-forward approach. Award-winning barista Mikael Jason leads the coffee program, which uses beans from Code Black and blends from the acclaimed Cartel Coffee.

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.

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 to 5pm each day 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. You’ll find Melbourne standards like chilli scrambled eggs and spanner crab benedict. You’ll even see the blueberry and ricotta hotcake that made the group’s other cafes so iconic. But the best dish might just be the soft shell crab banh mi with pickles and gochujang aioli.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Buzzy and loud
Location: 650 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

4.  Saint Dreux

Saint Dreux prides itself on its traditional Japanese sandwiches.

Missing your trip to Tokyo? Head on over to Saint Dreux and it’s like you’re right back on the streets of Shibuya. The sleek, minimal cafe is run by the fine folk at 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 is one of those cafes that only does one thing, but does it perfectly. You’re pretty limited in choice here, with the menu mostly made up of different types of katsu sandwiches and Bench Coffee Co.’s popular single origins and blends. If you feel like starting the day with a sugar hit, the bar also serves excellent black sesame castella cake.

Cuisine: Japanese
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Buzzy and sociable
Location: Emporium Melbourne, shop LG-30/287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

5.  Little Rogue

Get a coffee to-go from Little Rogue. (Image: 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.

The Japanese and Korean-inspired cafe serves quality small-batch roasted coffee from Shamble Coffee Roasters, as well as special imported blends and single origins. Getting the coffee program perfect was a big focus for the team, who also got creative with the food menu.

The most popular order at Little Rogue is those gorgeous maple thyme hotcakes with strawberry compote. But you’ve also got easy winners like miso roasted cauliflower steak and a breakfast sandwich with pork spam, sunny egg, hash brown, cheddar cheese and Carolina mustard sauce on a thick slice of sourdough.

Cuisine: Japanese, Korean
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Peaceful and inviting
Location: 12 Drewery Ln, Melbourne

6.  Brick Lane

Find the hole-in-the-wall coffee spot tucked behind a red brick building. (Image: 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 at 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 Collin 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. This is the kind of cafe where weekend hits the hardest and breakfast can roll on for an hour or two with colourful plates like the chilli scrambled with folded eggs, and the crowd-pleasing shakshuka with smoked mozzarella confit pinenuts.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Refined and contemporary
Location: 161 Collins St, Melbourne

Inner City

8. Noisette

A taste of France in the heart of Melbourne.

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, constantly pushing out 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. (Image: 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.

Every Friday and Saturday, the kitchen also pulls in some Middle Eastern influences by cooking up Sajj – unleavened flatbread used in Arabic cuisines. Get the triple cheese sajj melt if you’re feeling 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

Specialty coffee is served alongside an extensive brunch menu. (Image: Darling Cafe)

Darling Cafe is an iconic East Melbourne spot, soaking up the artsy setting of South Yarra 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, juices and a few cheeky breakfast boozers.

Keep it simple with chilli scrambled eggs flecked by roasted mushrooms, chilli sambal, whipped goat’s cheese and pickled jalapeno on fluffy Turkish bread. Anyone with a sweeter tooth should go for the French Toast, beautifully done with lemon curd, caramelised apples, whipped double cream and salted caramel on a cinnamon-spiced brioche slice.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Creative and hip
Location: 2 Darling St, South Yarra

11. So & So

Brunch comes fully loaded with all the classics.

So & So is another Travancore hotspot that gets by with its dog-friendly policy, as well as an expansive outdoor garden. While inside is cosy, the garden helps So & So stand out amongst Melbourne’s best cafes, framed by pot plants, watering cans and pallets. The green space feels like an oasis of calm for city workers before they head to the city to start their day.

Get the signature Blacksmith. This tasty dish is loaded with braised beef brisket served with Dijon mustard and caramelised onion and is our go-to on Melbourne’s more temperamental days. Not feeling savoury? Go for the Belgian hot waffle with yoghurt, seasonal fresh fruit and pear syrup.

Cuisine: European-Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Peaceful with a green thumb
Location: 206 Mt Alexander Rd, Travancore

12. Proud Mary

Proud Mary is ranked as the fourth best coffee shop in the world, and the second-best in the entire country. Such recognition doesn’t come lightly for Collingwood’s headlining coffee shop, which preferences simple, seasonal 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" cliche 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. The kitchen avoids sketching dishes from other Australian-accented cafes, instead opting for inventive flavour profiles like the fan-favourite buckwheat ricotta waffle with lemon myrtle syrup, and a Tahitian vanilla coconut rice pudding.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere:Industrial and warm
Location: 172 Oxford St, Collingwood

13. Convoy

Get your coffee to-go and explore the area on foot. (Image: Kate Durham)

Convoy opened towards the end of 2022, giving Moonee Ponds an easy pick for local favourite with a sprawling 140-seat space. The team behind Collingwood’s Terror Twilight stepped their breakfast game up with this beautiful space, head-turning with its 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 highlights including a Japanese-accented okonomiyaki waffle with a fried egg and miso mayo, and a braised lamb shoulder eggs Benedict.

Start your morning out on the wraparound deck with a plate of either of these two dishes in front of you then follow that up with a Saturday stroll around Moonee Ponds.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Vibrant and sociable
Location: 109 Pascoe Vale Rd, Moonee Ponds

14. Sunhands

Sunhands transforms from a cafe into a beautiful wine bar, deli and shop as the day unfolds. (Image: Tess Metcalf)

Sunhands does the best brunch in Carlton. And that’s without any doubt. Opening at 10am each day, this popular Melbourne cafe takes on a more sophisticated format as the day rolls on, transforming into a beautiful wine bar, deli and shop, always with a sense of kinetic sense of energy.

While anyone looking for a classic Melbourne brunch will also find plenty to satisfy, you won’t spy any chilli scrambled eggs on the Sunhands menu. Instead, go for a produce plate of seasonal vegetables, house-made preserves, local cheeses and smoked alpine trout. 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

15. CIBI

This Collingwood institution is a retail space and cafe in one. (Image: CIBI)

Beautiful, minimal and consistent. Japanese cafe CIBI in Collingwood is one of Melbourne’s best offerings and something locals are fiercely proud of. The retail and cafe concept is overseen by couple Zenta and Meg Tanaka, who opened this Collingwood institution in 2008.

Walk past the beautiful homewares and furniture on sale to a small space dedicated to breakfast and brunch. The cafe’s signature grilled salmon with tamagoyaki, vegetables, potato salad, rice and miso soup is a traditional way to start the morning in Japan. Here, the Tanakas have given it a Melbourne twist with top-shelf local produce.

Cuisine: Japanese
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Calm and friendly
Location: 33-39 Keele St, Collingwood

16. 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

17. Auction Rooms

Nab a table in the relaxing outdoor space. (Image: 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

18. 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 egg crepes (better known as Kaho Khai Khon. They were right; this tiny cafe on West Melbourne’s main artery is always full of life whenever we pop by, 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 specialties, whether that’s roti murtabak, popular in Southern Thailand, and green curry fried chicken, or khai katha (pan-fried eggs peeking out of a brioche roll) from the north-east.

Cuisine: Thai
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Tiny and lively
Location: 477 King St, West Melbourne

19. The Kettle Black

The Kettle Black is a stalwart of the Melbourne coffee scene. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Located in the glamorous Fifty Albert building, The Kettle Black is a pioneer of Melbourne’s iconic cafe culture along with 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. Try the guilt-ridden Black Forest Waffle with cherries and chocolate mousse for something indulgent. Although, if you spot it on the day’s menu, push for a healthier morning glow with the kitchen’s seasonal avocado on toast, usually jazzed up with unexpected but complementary flavours. Or try the seminal blueberry and ricotta hotcakes 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.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed and intimate
Location: 50 Albert Rd, South Melbourne

20. 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 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. Light Years

The vibrant menu features a generous selection of comfort food. (Image: 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 a plate of candied bacon toast with smashed avocado, poached egg and house hummus sits in front of them.

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

22. Ona Coffee

The seasonal brunch menu at Ona Coffee incorporates local ingredients.

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 their category perfectly.

Ona Coffee in Brunswick is one such business. As the 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 is the approach, so you’ll find chilli scrambled eggs, tiramisu pancakes and beef rib eggs benny on the menu. But don’t look past the very filled prawn roll – a potato roll stuffed with poached prawns and house-made hot sauce, pickled onion, and iceberg lettuce served with a side of crispy potato chips.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Studious and friendly
Location: 22 Ovens St, Brunswick

23. Arlo

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 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

24. Au79

Au79 is a former motor garage reimagined into a bright and airy cafe.

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 97 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 designed to do things completely different.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Refined and creative
Location: 27/29 Nicholson St, Abbotsford

25. 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, calming and staff treat each guest like family members.

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 the menu’s most popular item for good reason.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed and friendly
Location: 248 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn

26. Code Black

Tuck into elevated French toast.

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 with two hard-working machines to the unflappable service.

While Code Black now has a few locations around Melbourne, this Brunswick flagship sets itself apart with an excellent menu. Highlights include the chilli scramble with shiitake mushrooms, glazed pork belly, Asian herbs and prawn crackers, and the Nicoise salad with Fremantle octopus escabeche, nduja aioli and red endive.

The menu is served up until 5pm each day so you’ve got plenty of time to get some brunch in.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed and friendly
Location: 15/17 Weston St, Brunswick

27. Napier Quarter

Napier Quarter is to breakfast what Gimlet is to supper. It’s an all-class affair, drawing a dramatic European design to build an elegant Parisian atmosphere. The food and drink on offer is equally impressive.

Owner Eileen Horsnell prides herself on strong connections in the hospitality industry, as well as Napier Quarter’s talented kitchen team who turn out a rotating menu based on local suppliers.

The menu changes frequently but expect uncomplicated dishes like the nduja fried eggs with pickled scapes and soft curd, and the signature anchovy toast.

Cuisine: European
Average Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Elegant and upscale
Location: 359 Napier St, Fitzroy

28. Wide Open Road

Sip your coffee in an industrial-chic space. (Image: 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

29. Monk Bodhi Dharma

Enjoy vegan-friendly meals at 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 vegan 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 only opened in 2012, instantly building up a strong following which still pours in each day for some Monk porridge with stewed berries and a cup of some of the best coffee Melbourne has to offer.

Cuisine: Vegan
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Communal and inviting
Location: 202 Carlisle St, Balaclava

30. 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

31. Carter Lovett

The cosy cafe puts a spin on traditional breakfast. (Image: 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: 1329 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick

32. Moon Mart

There really is nothing in Melbourne quite like those rich, textural char siu bacon and egg rolls filing 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 ex-Moon Park DNA running the show, courtesy of co-owner Eun Hee An, this gorgeous white-and-yellow cafe is offering something unique and wildly flavoured.

Authenticity is key but experimentation has resulted in some of Melbourne’s best breakfast dishes, including the great bulgogi sausage muffin with onion, cheese and special chilli jam, and a beautiful honey butter roasted rye shokupan with creme fraiche and yuzu.

Cuisine: Korean-Japanese
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Homely and friendly
Location: 315 Clarendon St, South Melbourne

33. Clementine

Big, bold flavours dominate the menu. (Image: 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, Duke’s coffee and flaky pastries.

Glen Bagnara runs a tight kitchen focused on those big, bold flavours like a lobster Benedict, a breakfast souffle, or the Scotch egg with wagyu mince and green pea puree. 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

34. 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 but there’s more going on than refining popular trends, focusing more on California’s coastal flavours. Anyone who has been to West Hollywood before would feel right at home here. And the food is homely, consistent and generous, from the pistachio pancakes and smoked salmon Benedict to the massive Californian superfood salad.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Active and buzzy
Location: 541 Church St, Richmond

35. Elephant Cafe

Stop by for a coffee and pastry at 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 brunch-only benny salmon with poached eggs, cream cheese, pesto, capers, herbs and hollandaise sauce on fluffy brioche toast.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed and communal
Location: 135 Mt Alexander Rd, Flemington

North West

36. Emil’s Cafe, Pascoe Vale South

This Australian-Arabic cafe champions authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. (Image: 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 John and George El-Khoury, the cafe is pitched as Australian-Arabic and favours Middle Eastern breakfasts. Although it looks like a vintage corner store on the outside, it’s like you’re dining in someone’s living room once you walk in. We love the homeliness and feel it adds a great texture to the experience.

Grab the signature eggs Benedict with slow-cooked beef ribs, rosti, tahini hollandaise, and kimchi pear if you’re indecisive; for something bigger, go for Emi’s Big Breakfast, which comes with poached eggs, za’atar grilled flatbread, sujuk, haloumi, shakshuka, sautéed spinach, and potato hash.

Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Casual and homely
Location: 347 Reynard St, Pascoe Vale South

North East

37. Second Home, Eltham

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. Jason M Jones’ popular cafe is cinematically set in a renovated 1973 building originally designed by local architect Alistair Knox.

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 Hearty Home big breakfast. The top-quality produce plate includes poached eggs on sourdough with smoked bacon, herby tomato, thyme roasted mushrooms, pork and fennel sausage, and avocado.

Cuisine: Australian
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Historic and charming
Location: 21 Brougham St, Eltham

South East

38. Mammoth, Armadale

The menu is a blend of European, Asian and Middle Eastern flavours. (Image: Steven Gringlas/Picos)

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, usually with a hefty wait time that runs up until the afternoon.

Regulars come here for the kitchen’s worldly touch, which focuses mostly on European flavours but brings in clever nods to Asian and Middle Eastern flavours.

We’re always tempted by the chilli scrambled eggs and gorgeous chia bowl, but it’s near impossible to pass up the Spanish Omelette. This masterpiece is flecked with chorizo, potato, caramelised red onion, goat’s cheese, and paprika before being served on a rustic slice of sourdough. It’s the best example of why Mammoth is worth travelling for.

Cuisine: Asian, Middle Eastern and European
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Buzzy and sociable
Location: 736 Malvern Rd, Armadale

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