Melbourne’s culture is often defined by its cafes, brunches and coffee. But when there are so many cafes on all corners, and many hidden down the tiny lanes in between, how do you choose the best of them all?
Here is a list of the Top 10 best cafes in Melbourne that you must visit at least once – so you can spend less time looking and more time enjoying the one for you.
Beatrix
The sweets at Beatrix aren’t made in a factory – they’re lovingly made by Nat Paull’s team of bakers who take pride in producing ingredients sourced from farmers markets.
Try the chocolate sour cream layer cake with chocolate cheesecake buttercream, or the blue velvet layer cake with cream cheese buttercream and blueberry compote.
While that seems like a mouthful to say, it will be worth it when you’ve got a slice of Beatrix’s cake in your mouth.
Address: 88 Queensberry St, North Melbourne VIC | Tel: 0403 698 836Opening hours: Tue-Sat 9am-4pm
Bowery To Williamsburg
If you haven’t visited one of the most hipster cafes in Melbourne, have you really had the Melbourne cafe experience? Bowery to Williamsburg in the CBD is inspired by Manhattan’s Bowery and Brooklyn’s Williamsburg; bringing the coolest and best quality New York cafe culture to our streets.
Grab a bagel, a pretzel or a coffee that smells like freshly ground heaven and start your day like a New Yorker.
Built to offer cosy in-house seating that gives an industrial vibe of a New York subway, Bowery to Williamsburg provides an efficient take-away service to match the hustle and bustle of the fast-moving CBD.
Address: 16 Oliver Ln, Melbourne VIC | Tel: (03) 9077 0162Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7.30am-3pm, Sat-Sun 8.30am-3pm
The Grain Store
Located behind the barn doors of a building once use for shipments, The Grain Store offers an opportunity to experience Melbourne heritage whilst enjoying a tea or coffee. All fruits and vegetables used at The Grain Store are fresh produce, grown and harvested locally, with no added chemicals.
Let the chef take you on a ‘culinary adventure’ as he serves you only the most nutritious healthy and delicious foods with ingredients that are only natural – the way food should be.
Be sure to book in advance or arrive early in the morning to avoid a queue of like-minded grazers wanting to enjoy one of the best cafes that Melbourne has to offer.
Address: 517 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC | Tel: (03) 9972 6993Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat-Sun 8am-4pm
Koko Black Chocolate
They say we need to protect this planet because it’s the only one with chocolate! Koko Black Chocolate’s founder, Shane Hills, travelled to Germany to learn the art of chocolate making and then went on to Bruges in Belgium to learn how exactly one makes the best chocolate on the planet.
Today, the Koko Black enterprise has thousands of people walking through their doors each year to enjoy only the highest quality and finest chocolate that the world has to offer.
Try one of their signature hot chocolates and take away a chocolate bar or two. They have some amazing flavours; including almond & orange, and macadamia & cranberry. So if you believe in the godliness of chocolate, Koko Black Chocolate is the cafe for you!
There are 7 locations around Melbourne, but the main CBD locations are:
Address:52 Collins St, Melbourne VIC | Tel: (03) 9663 5567Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-6pm
Address:Shop 4 Royal Arcade, 335 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC | Tel: (03) 9639 8911
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm
Jungle Juice Bar
Jungle Juice Bar is hidden one the lanes of Melbourne’s busy CBD and is arguably the most highly rated juice bar in Melbourne.
Choose a juice or something tasty from the aesthetically pleasing menus, which are made from old recycled children’s books. Take your pick out of a range of quality specials; including a Bloody Mary, kransky bagel or an African spiced or Vietnamese coffee.
The juices are freshly squeezed and the combinations are often changing – so ask the staff for a recommendation.
Address: 20 Centre Pl, Melbourne VIC | Tel: (03) 9639 8779Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7.30am-7pm, Sat-Sun 8.30am-7pm
Le Petit Gateau
Le Petit Gateau is referred to as one of the best cake shops in Melbourne.
French-born pastry chef, Pierrick Boyer, has dedicated his life to learning what exactly makes the best pastries in the world. After establishing a patisserie in California and gaining knowledge from Italy, Croatia and Brussels, he has now brought his award winning expert techniques to Le Petit Gateau to satisfy the tastebuds and quality expected of Melbourne’s cafe lovers.
Try the Mister Green Tea and Raspberry Dessert or a classic lemon tart to see what all the hype is about.
Address: 458 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC | Tel: (03) 9944 8893Opening hours: Mon-Tue 7.30am-5pm, Wed-Fri 7.30am-5:30pm, Sat-Sun Closed
The Hardware Societe
Sunday brunch in Melbourne can nearly be considered a religious practice. The Hardware Societe offers a brunch that is often considered the best of all the cafes in Melbourne.
How can you have a bad day when you start it off with lobster benedict, a jamon, fig & manchego cheese baguette with your scrambled eggs or pork belly?
While there is usually a queue outside, a visit to The Hardware Societe will be well worth the wait. In order to try every delicious option available on the menu, you might have to come back again!
Address: 120 Hardware St, Melbourne VIC | Tel: (03) 9078 5992Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7.30am-3pm, Sat-Sun 8am-3pm
Brunetti
Lygon Street Carlton is definitely one of the best choices for cafes; whether you are a local or visitor to Melbourne, look no further than the Italian-style Brunetti.
Brunetti’s founder, Mr Gorgio Angele, began his training in Rome when he was just 10 years old and first came to Australia in 1953 as a pastry chef with the Italian Olympic Team.
Treat yourself at one of Melbourne’s favourite and most iconic cafes and indulge in a large selection of award-winning delicious European pastries, cakes, shortbreads and coffees. Or if you are after something more substantial, try one of their famous pizzas, pastas or antipasti.
Address: 380 Lygon St, Carlton VIC | Tel: (03) 9347 2801Opening hours: Sun-Thu 6am-11pm, Fri-Sat 6am-12am
The Quarter
The strong aroma of freshly ground coffee can be smelt from The Quarter the moment you turn onto the most popular street for a coffee in Melbourne.
While Degraves Street is renowned for its cafes being so crammed that at times you feel that you might be actually sitting on someone, there’s a reason why people don’t mind the lack of personal space.
The Quarter is recognised as a favourite due to its friendly staff, black and white euro art and European ambience. It defines Melbourne coffee culture more than any other cafe serving coffee in the whole of Melbourne.
Address: 27-31 Degraves St, Melbourne VIC | Tel: (03) 9650 6156Opening hours: Mon-Thu 7am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 7am-10:30pm, Sun 8am-9:30pm
The Kettle Black
If you’re looking for a cafe that provides incredible food and drinks and a unique and inviting atmosphere to match, then get yourself to The Kettle Black. Featuring green plants with complimenting green and gold furniture and a marble bar, you’ll be asking yourself how you’ve never heard of The Kettle Black before! Thank god you found this article!
The coffee at Kettle Black is favoured so highly by regulars that they even have a coffee cart out the front for those who don’t have the time to sit down.
Address: 50 Albert Rd, South Melbourne VIC | Tel: (03) 9088 0721Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat-Sun 8am-4pm
So there you have it! Our list of the best cafes that Melbourne has to offer. Whether you’re wanting to satisfy your coffee addiction, your sweet tooth or craving for a breakfast that is hard to match, stop any of our cafes on this list for an experience that will be truly unforgettable.
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