Where to Find the Best Cafe in Melbourne
The Coffee Capital
Where I can find the best cafe in Melbourne is always on my mind. Being Melbourne based aka 'Melburnian,' I’m crazy about coffee. I’m always on the lookout for Melbourne's best cafes. I love exploring new areas and discovering new cafes. For me it goes deeper than that. I want to support incredible businesses doing great things. Whilst it's tempting to keep these amazing finds to myself, more importantly I want them to stay in business so I can keep going back to them! I have found amazing cafes in North Melbourne, fabulous cafes in Preston and wonderful cafes in Melbourne CBD.
I love, love, love cafes in Melbourne CBD. The Melbourne CBD is quirky and nostalgic. The laneways have such an air of magic about them. It's like you never quite know what you could discover around the corner.
If you have probably guessed, I’m super passionate about Melbourne and a tiny bit biased when it comes to our coffee culture. Is it the best in the world? The best in Australia? Has to be. But where is the best Melbourne cafe? Is it in the CBD, in the suburbs, or further afar? I've decided it's my job to find out and share my findings with you.
Where’s your favourite espresso bar? Who does the best cappuccino, piccolo latte or caramel latte? Does a coffee shop nearby have a fabulous recipe for chai latte? Cappuccino vs latte? There are so many great cafes making amazing coffee. It's so hard to pick just one. Here's a few of my favourites in Melbourne.
Discovery of the Best Melbourne Cafes
Melbourne's Bayside Suburbs
I’m starting my discovery of the best cafe in Melbourne in the city’s bayside suburbs. The area is 10km from cafes in Melbourne CBD. The region stretches from my favourite cafe in Elwood. West to a fabulous cafe in Murrumbeena, and south to an amazing cafe in Hampton.
The region has fabulous beaches and clifftop walks. Great parks for children and adults alike and amazing coffee nearby.
Fabulous Cafes in Elwood
A very cool beachside suburb, Elwood is popular with young singles and couples. The streets are lined with beautiful elm trees and the beaches are boarded by a continuous series of parks and paved tracks perfect for walking and cycling on the weekend.
PLAIN SAILING
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Plain Sailing is located at the base of an apartment building just a few hundred metres from Elwood Beach. The owners and staff behind this amazing cafe offer their customers fresh and innovative meals, delicious coffee and super friendly service.
Be sure to sample their fabulous brunches when you are in the area.
THIS IS LIFE
Website l Instagram l Facebook
This is Life Café is just one part of what the owners describe as a wellness emporium. With a nutritionist, physiotherapist, chiropractor and mindfulness workshops also housed under the same roof. The café and a private room for physio and chiropractic work is located on the ground floor. Workshops on mindfulness and kids yoga are held on the first floor.
MISS ALEX & CO
Miss Alex & Co are dedicated to creating their specialty coffee, as well as acai bowls, smoothies and burgers. They pride themselves on fuelling Melbourne’s obsessive coffee disorder. They will tantalize your taste buds with their breakfast, brunch or delicious lunches. Check out their piccolo latte.
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Best Cafe in Prahran
HOBBA
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Serving smooth coffee from Five Senses Coffee Roasters. Hobba is housed in an unassuming garage in Prahran. Underselling and over-delivering. Hobba, caters to families, friends and business folk alike. Fresh, local produce is the star in their dishes. Fried eggs with bubble and squeak, quinoa salads with braised lamb, and galloway beef burgers are all on the menu.
TALL TIMBER CAFE
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Good food. Good coffee. Good people. Tall Timber is a friendly cafe complete with an outside courtyard and street seating away from the bustling thoroughfare. Tall Timber Cafe is simple produce done well.
PICCOLO ESPRESSO
Fuelled with coffee supplied by Five Senses Coffee Roasters. Piccolo Coffee is always filled with a steady base of regulars, who come for the coffee and consistently bouncy vibe. The hearty all day breakfast menu includes smashed avocado with shaved parmesan, truffle oil and poached eggs.
The takeaway fridge is jam packed full of freshly made wraps, sandwiches, croissants and other delicious treats.
Fabulous Cafe in Glen Iris
PLATFORM ESPRESSO
Order l Google Reviews I Phone
Located just steps away from the Glen Iris train station. Platform Espresso is packed with commuters during the week and young families on the weekend. The menu features amazing coffee and tasty twists on old favourites, such as the Brunsch-etta with basil, tomatoes, confit mushrooms, goat’s cheese and pomegranate. Their caramel latte is one of my favourites.
NAPA
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Inspired by California’s relaxed coastal energy and particular blend of cuisines. Napa makes a great fit to the Melbourne Café scene. Serving smooth coffee blends and a tight tapas menu. Napa also has an extensive takeaway menu, including substantial salads, fried-chicken wraps and stacked bagels.
GLEN IRIS PANTRY
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
The Glen Iris Pantry is a place for the community to come together and share great coffee and a bite to eat. The courtyard fills with families on weekdays. Locals wonder down with their friends for relaxed drinks and nibbles on the weekend.
Great Cafe in Malvern East
FERGUS
301 Wattletree Road, Malvern East
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone I Reservation
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Coffee is important to Fergus. Their coffee blends are made by the very talented Mailing Room Coffee Roasters. Fergus’s food is delicious. Whether it’s smashed avo served with chilli jam, or pumpkin, corn and coriander fritters. Coziness and comfort are the Fergus philosophy.
SERVERY AND SPOON
139 Waverley Rd, Malvern East
Servery and Spoon caters for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Providing amazing meals from gourmet salad rolls to traditional Italian fungi pasta. Next door, Servery and Spoon acts as a deli and food store offering pies, patties, salads and even a plate to put it on.
OUR KITCHEN TABLE
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Our Kitchen Table is a cosy cafe which oozes old world charm. A place where freshly baked scones drip with melting butter and silver teapots steam with brewed tea. It’s the perfect place for a cup of tea in the sun and a read of the day’s news. Their recipe for chai latte is bang on.
Amazing Cafe in Brighton
THE LITTLE OX
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone l Reservations
Website l Instagram l Facebook
The Little Ox Cafe has been a Brighton institution since 2009. Serving breakfast and lunch with the best local ingredients and produce. The Little Ox approach towards hospitality is simple. Great food, great coffee and great service. The Little Ox barista brews an excellent house blend using various beans from India, Costa Rica and Sumatra. All thanks to Red Star Coffee Roasters in Port Melbourne.
SAINT MARTINS
Order l Google Reviews I Phone
St Martins pays homage to the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes. Unlike many other Melbourne cafes, you won’t find smashed avocado or French toast here. The kitchen is focused on food with a difference. Slow-braised beans come adorned with a cloud of mozzarella and a dollop of intense corn puree. Fried eggs are paired with sticky braised beef short rib, drenched in chilli caramel. Clark Street Coffee Roasters supplies the smoothest of coffee blends, making it impossible to just have one.
Lovely Cafe in Murrumbeena
CITIZEN CAFE
229 Murrumbeena Road, Murrumbeena
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Citizen Cafe believes in persistence. In brisk early mornings, and stubborn hard work. They believe in community spirit. In knowing the names, faces and stories of their neighbours, as well as their coffee orders. They believe in teamwork, mate-ship, and always giving their best.
DANIEL SON
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Owned by two Murrumbeena locals. Daniel Son Cafe is a great spot for quality coffee and a great brunch in the southeast. The menu doesn’t cater to the health conscious, but rather offers dishes you’ll want to savour on a long Sunday morning. Slow-poached eggs and twice-baked French toast are among the breakfast options. There are also the sandwiches, including the tuna-based Miyagi Melt and the chicken Crane Kick.
Best Cafes in Bentleigh
LITTLE TOMMY TUCKER
More like a tree house than a cafe. Little Tommy Tucker takes pride in catering to young families in the area. It offers plenty of kid-friendly meals and space for prams and wheelchairs. For hungry parents, there’s grilled halloumi with smashed pumpkin, spinach, dukkah and poached eggs on toast. Reliable coffee is a major drawcard at Little Tommy Tucker. The house blend is sourced from Duke’s Coffee Roasters.
GOOD TIMES MILK BAR
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Good Times Milk Bar is a colourful, Californian-cool cafe. All-day breakfast options include egg soldiers with relish, and pastrami Benedict with potato waffles, poached eggs and brown-butter hollandaise. For something lighter the shaved-zucchini salad with butter beans, buckwheat, salted ricotta and pine nuts is next level. Good Times Milk Bar’s amazing coffee is sourced from Small Batch Coffee Roasters.
Great Cafes Bentleigh East
THE MERCHANTS GUILD
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
The Merchants Guild offers a family friendly menu that caters to everyone’s taste. Discover a delicious range of all-day breakfast and lunch options that ooze with variety of flavour. Whether your looking for something healthy, or something to satisfy your sweet tooth. They have you covered. Their recipe for turmeric latte is to die for.
KORNER AND CO
Korner and Co are a family run business located in Bentleigh East. Owners pride themselves in serving good food and great service. They offer their loyal customers a great range of mouth-watering sandwiches, salads, breakfast and lunch. All their produce is fresh and locally sourced.
JUNTO CAFE
247 E Boundary Rd, Bentleigh East
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
An award-winning Cafe in East Bentleigh, Junto Cafe has handmade goodies fit for the entire family. Boasting great coffee, Junto is open for breakfast and lunch daily and available for catering. Junto is Vegetarian friendly and child and pet friendly with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. There recipe for matcha latte if fabulous.
Favourite Cafe in Hampton
THE HAMPTONS BAKERY
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
The Hamptons Bakery is a relaxed, spacious café offering modern cuisine, with a particular focus on artisan bread and pastries. The Bakery’s approach toward hospitality is simple. Great food, great coffee and great service. This unsuspecting oasis offers a lovely space to escape to for breakfast or lunch.
BROWN COW
Menu l Google Reviews I Phone
Website l Instagram l Facebook
Brown Cow is an all-day dining oasis in the heart of Hampton. Committed to fresh produce, Brown Cow is the perfect place to gather, share and enjoy. Great for a morning coffee, a casual bite with friends or alfresco dining under the stars.
