Café restaurants in Melbourne
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Small Block
In this village-like strip of shops, Small Block acts as the community centre; its neighbourly drop-in and stay-awhile vibe is a hub for local activity. Big, beautiful breakfasts (eggs and otherwise) are worth writing home about. Salvaged service-station signage and concrete floors, plus warm and efficient service combine to make a super environment in which to write postcards home too.
reviewed
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Brother Baba Budan
Cute city outpost of indie roasters St. Ali. There’s coffee, of course, and only the odd ruglach or biscuit to distract you. They also sell beans and a good range of coffee-related equipment.
reviewed
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Montague Foodstore
This sunlit café is the friendly, corner store gone gourmet. The Montague serves a range of breakfasts and lunches, incorporating its own breads, jams and relishes. The croque-monsieur (French-style toasted ham and cheese sandwich) will keep you going for days, or, if you insist on a healthier option, the wattle-seed granola is really good. Filled baguettes, salads, cakes and daily specials round out the selection.
reviewed
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Degraves Espresso Bar
The rickety cinema seating and fashionable gloom make Degraves a quintessential Melbourne laneway experience. If you've overindulged in that other Melbourne laneway experience, the hip little bar with no signage, beat your hangover with poached eggs or French toast with maple syrup from the all-day breakfast menu. Or just pull up a pew for an always-good coffee.
reviewed
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Gravy Train
You wouldn't chug across town to get here, but you'd certainly pull in for a bite or coffee if in the area. Gravy Train is the coalface of Yarravillagers: students, workers and pram-pushers all converge on the bright dining room or roofless courtyard. Some artful savoury dishes accompany staple café fare, and there's a good selection of sweet things too.
reviewed
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Hopetoun Tea Rooms
For five generations, ladies and 'nice' families have been nibbling pinwheel sandwiches here, taking tea (pinkies raised) and delicately polishing off a lamington. Hopetoun's venerable status, arcade location and pursed-lip air make afternoon or morning tea here refreshing indeed - the antithesis of Melbourne's constant coffee-taken-in-hip-laneways shtick.
reviewed
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Cafe Fidama
With so many world flavours available, Fidama has thrown open the food-group classification to include influences from the Mediterranean, Middle East and Asia. Dexterous dishes are served up in sleek surrounds - all dark wood, banquettes and bentwood chairs. Locals love it here, so if you find yourself in the 'hood, it's best to book ahead.
reviewed
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Ray
Ray mashes up the flavour legacy of the neighbourhood with the tastes of the vanguard residents. The big communal table is the place to try labna (yoghurt cheese) and rose jam on toasted pide, tomato and bocconcini bread and really good coffee.
reviewed
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Retro
Relaxed, diner-style cafe with window and outdoor seating, and tasty, inexpensive nosh.
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Piadina Slowfood
Piadina fever took hold in Melbourne a few years back and still simmers away at this small, stealthily sited café. They make their own version of the Romagnan flat bread in house and fold them up with all manner of cleverly concocted combinations. A provolone and roast tomato one beats a regular breakfast toastie hands down (note that they open at 6am); at lunch, the meatball filling is a treat. They also do stews, curries and hearty bakes. Service doesn’t take its cue from the titles: it’s swift but the atmosphere cruises. There’s often Studio One or Fat Freddy tunes in the air and the clientele tends towards the creative.
reviewed
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My Dog Café
Station Pier holds many memories for generations of Victorian immigrants and it’s still a working passenger port today. There’s a clutch of swish mega-restaurants on the pier itself – including Waterfront, Campari and 3 Station Pier – serving up bay vistas and variable food to large numbers of visitors. The best view, however, definitely belongs to the diminutive My Dog Café, which has a human food menu as well as a selection of canine treats. And yes, pooches can, and do, eat from the table.
reviewed
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Newtown Sc
Regulars jostle to make eye contact with the person driving the coffee machine - all it takes to order an always-exquisite brew done just they way they like it. At Newtown Social Club, knowing nods are exchanged between locals: as a greeting, and in an aren't-we-lucky-to-have-this kind of way. Food is simple and consciously suburban: think Coco Pops and homemade lamingtons, plus focaccia and soup (in winter).
reviewed
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Kamel
Sugar-and-spice breakfasts reflect the North African and Middle Eastern accents in Kamel's menu. Outside tables are often anchored with lapdogs, fresh from a walk on the nearby beach. Inside, the perky front room gives way to a moody lounge area, where a range of meze dishes are shared over lunch or dinner. Shared, unless you ordered the zucchini-and-mint fritters - too good to give away.
reviewed
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Cafe Segovia
The menu changes like Melbourne weather at this long-running, lively laneway café. Segovia is so familiar to its army of regulars who stop in for coffee or to grab a pasta or focaccia that they've hardly noticed the standard is slipping. Token service and slap-dash dishes are this old-faithful's foibles. It still pulls the punters though, and there are worse places to watch the city go by.
reviewed
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Ici
This small bluestone café is a cosy oasis situated behind the fast pace of Brunswick St and well worth finding for superb coffee and the unique breakfast menu. Try Moroccan spiced couscous with yoghurt and almonds, or French toast with mixed berries and caramel mascarpone, or just relax with the paper as the morning travels through the roundabout outside.
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Palomino
Airy café that keeps locals coming back for sourdough toast, coco pops, cupcakes and absolutely zero attitude. Eggs here come baked or boiled in the shell ready for dunking with sourdough soldiers. Loppers face off with spoon crackers: underneath we’re all the same. The coffee is the best you’ll get north of Merri Creek.
reviewed
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Tre Espresso
Part of the new Sparta Place development, which promises much in terms of bars, shops and general Brunswick bonhomie, this café keeps to a simple formula of Italian staples. Paninis, cakes and coffee are supplemented by comforting dishes such as lasagne and risotto if you’re in for more than a quick bite.
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Rosamond
Rosamond’s tiny interior is a warm haven for the local freelance creative crew, who like their daily rations simple but well considered. And that they are: free-range eggs only come scrambled, but with first-rate toast and fresh sides, and there’s soup, toasties, baguettes, salads and cupcakes.
reviewed
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St Ali
Locals teem into this converted warehouse cafe and educate their tastebuds with delicious Middle Eastern flavours courtesy of Lebanese pizzas, rare beef yoghurt and walnut salads, and eggs with haloumi, tomatoes, fresh mint and dukkah. They’re serious about their coffee here and it’s seriously good.
reviewed
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Brunswick Street Alimentari
Part deli, part fuss-free canteen, Alimentari stocks artisan bread, smallgoods and cheeses. The kitchen serves up delicious Lebanese pies (some love the lamb but we say the silverbeet can’t be beat) with labne, as well salads, bruschettas, meatball wraps and homemade cakes.
reviewed
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Wall Two 80
With a look that was so Melbourne, Sydney had to have one too. Wall Two 80’s coffee is some of the best, as are the toasted pide and pastries. Prop with other loners at the communal table, nestle in a nook with a mate or line up outside along the eponymous wall.
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North Cafeteria
Great neighbourhood café that breaks from the north-side mould with a light white interior and wow-factor chairs (Eero Saarinen, if you must know). Breakfast is the thing here and they have really interesting ways with eggs as well as fabulous French toast.
reviewed
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Julio
This cute corner café, down by the schoolyard, is off the beaten track but always busy with locals. It keeps them content with fresh sardines on toast, baked eggs and tortilla. Their custard-filled doughnuts are legendary.
reviewed
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Armstrong Street Food Store
Take in the slower pace of Armstrong St from the outside tables at this local’s favourite. Well-priced café mains are made with care, or pop in for some pastries to take to the beach. Staff are friendly too.
reviewed
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Smart Little Batch
Carlisle St cafés might not catch the sea breeze, but they provide a relaxed pace, local vibe and reliably good coffee. Batch is run by an ex-Dunedin boy with the Supreme beans and kiwi juices to prove it.
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