There’s no denying it, Melbourne is the queen of great breakfasts. Our breakfast scene is unmatched, often imitated in cities around the country and the world but never replicated. With so many stunners, some truly iconic brekkies have emerged.
From Indonesian riffs on the humble sausage and egg muffin to one-of-a-kind creations like potato gems covered in fried eggs and salsa, you simply need to sink your teeth into these breakfasts (don’t worry, there are less greasy options too).
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So we’ve done the digging, not just on the spots to go for a great brekkie, but the cult-fave dishes you need to order from these joints.
It’s the crème de la crème of the best breakfast Melbourne has to offer in 2025, here they are:
Anchovy Toast at Napier Quarter
359 Napier Street, Fitzroy
This tiny neighbourhood cafe and wine bar is long standing proof that good things come in small packages. With seats for just 26 inside and outdoor seating when the weather suits, it’s cosy and intimate with big community feels. If you can, perch yourself up along the window for the best seats in the house.
On a quiet street in Melbourne’s oldest suburb, Fitzroy, Napier Quarter is a breakfast situation everybody needs to be initiated in. The iconic anchovy toast is known far and wide, and in this case the cult-status breakfast lives up to its reputation. Thick crunchy sourdough (the perfect brekkie ASMR), layered with mayonnaise, sliced egg, salsa verde and perfectly salty anchovy atop. For hands down one of the best breakfast spots Melbourne has to offer, head on over to Napier Quarter.
Spicy Green Eggs at Terror Twilight
11-13 Johnston Street, Collingwood
Collingwood loves a corner resting cafe, and Terror Twilight is certainly up there as one of the best. They have all the ingredients of a stellar cafe: their coffee is always on point, a delicious menu, and an all-star team always makes you feel right at home. The light-filled space is always brimming with hungry punters, and for good reason.
The name of the game is fresh, healthy cuisine that will soothe your mind, soul and body. And that’s where the infamous spicy green eggs come in. Think folded eggs with spring onion and green chilli relish, coriander, mint, fried curry leaves, pepitas, grated halloumi, with yoghurt and parsley salt on Turkish bread. It can be made gluten free or vegan on request.
Top it all off with something from the souped-up drinks menu, like an ‘upgraded’ coffee with MCT oil and Chaga mushrooms or an iced matcha with oat milk, macerated strawberries and vanilla. Or if it’s that type of brekkie, you can’t go past a Bloody Maria. Either way, you’ve got the makings of something pretty special.
Mushroom Congee at Juniper
269 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
Juniper is your South Melbourne sweetheart, perfect for breakfast any day of the week. The abundant fresh flowers and warm wooden interior will make you feel warm inside, but not as much as the mushroom congee. Juniper’s famed mushroom congee is one for the books, served with greens and a halved perfectly soft boiled egg alongside pickled mushroom, furikaka and chilli oil. They keep this baby on the menu year round, and while you can never go wrong with this selection, it hits differently on a cold or rainy day.
The coffee is outstanding, and if you’re in the mood for something a bit out of the ordinary go for the coconut cold brew. For a little brekkie dessert (that’s a thing, right?), check out the counter side goods from Austro Bakery like the Basque cheesecake or elderflower cream danish.
Spanner Crab Benedict at Higher Ground
650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Without a doubt one of the best breakfasts in Melbourne CBD, Higher Ground is situated in a stunning heritage-listed building in Melbourne’s city centre. They serve up elevated cafe dining all day long with a breakfast menu that's a welcome sight for rumbling stomachs.
The menu is guided by a paddock-to-table philosophy that makes you feel *good* just for eating it. There are few must-trys on the menu at Higher Ground, but possibly the tastiest is their delicately unique take on eggs benedict: the spanner crab benedict. It’s served with toasted savoury danish, poached eggs and bearnaise. For the sweet tooths out there, the signature ricotta hotcakes are one of a kind.
If you’re looking to up the ante on your morning beverage you can swap out your coffee for one of their many breakfast cocktails on offer. This is one of the best breakfast cafes Melbourne locals come back to again and again.
Huevos Sucios at Archie’s All Day
189 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Don’t be deterred by the line to be seated, Archie’s All Day is worth the wait. Even on weekdays, this place is bustling which tells you everything you need to know. On the menu there are all the Melbourne breakfast classics like smashed avocado, hotcakes, and fried chicken and waffles.
But the must-try at Archie’s is the Huevos Sucios (which means “dirty eggs” in Spanish). It sounds like a dish someone with a serious hangover dreamed up, and somehow hit gold. Tater tots (aka potato gems) with fried eggs, jalapeño spiked Monterray Jack, avocado, black beans and tomatillo salsa. If you’re sausage-inclined, do yourself a favour and add the chorizo. You can even add on the Dirty Mary cocktail for an extra tenner, for a combo that will almost certainly cure whatever ails you.
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Breakfast Board at Auction Rooms
103-107 Errol Street, North Melbourne
If you’ve woken up with a serious breakfast craving, this is what will satisfy it. One of Melbourne’s most loved and lauded cafes, Auction Rooms, is also where you’ll find some of the best breakfast Melbourne has on offer.
The breakfast board at Auction Rooms is what breakfast fantasies are made of. Grilled chorizo, smoked salmon, ham and cheese croquette, soldiers, soft boiled egg & mini overnight oats. It’s a bit of everything you could want. There are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options on offer too.
The coffee here is as good as it gets, and if you really want to lean into the coffee scene, go for the Barista Breakfast—a serving of espresso, cappuccino and batch brew.
Cheese Pie at A1 Bakery
643-645 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Breakfast can come in all shapes and sizes, and you really can’t beat a breakfast that can be eaten on-the-go with one hand that costs less than $10. With a cult following, A1 Bakery on Sydney Road in Brunswick is the spot for a cheap and cheerful breakfast in Melbourne.
The family-run bakery, cafe and Middle Eastern grocer founded in 1992, is famous for their cheese pies. If you have a spare hand, grab a coffee too and you’ll be ready to take on the world.
No longer just a Brunswick local, you can now find A1 Bakery at a very hip and chill Fitzroy outpost, doing trade in Fairfield and out west at Highpoint, as well as the OG Brunny spot.
Blueberry Pancakes at Walrus
312 Sydney Road, Brunswick
If you see a line forming down Sydney Road on a Saturday or Sunday morning, you’ll likely be passing Walrus. This joint serves up authentic American diner vibes, done right. Grab a cup of batch brew and get a seat at the bar for the complete diner experience, or you’ll be just as happy in a booth by the window.
Then order the blueberry pancakes and wait for all of your expectations to be met. It’s a hefty three stack of pancakes with warm salty butter between each layer, drizzled with berry compote on top and bursts of berries throughout. Get it with bacon and eggs if your heart so desires.
Make your entire breakfast a blueberry affair, and order the blueberry pie to finish. Served with pillows of whipped cream, get in quick because this bad boy sells out.
Crumpets at Lorna
1053 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully
At the base of the Dandenong Ranges sits Lorna, an award-winning cafe in the humble suburb of Ferntree Gully. Although it's out of the city, there's plenty of reasons to pay this spot a visit. Just one of these reasons is the crumpets. The house made crumpets are famous for a reason, made from an intergenerational recipe and served with tangy yet delicate lemon curd that absolutely hits the spot. Bottomless batch brew and pour-overs line up the coffee menu, perfect for a caffeine hit pre- or post- the nearby 1000 steps track.
Harissa Eggs at Proud Mary
172 Oxford Street, Collingwood
Known for its longstanding dominance of Collingwood’s coffee scene Proud Mary is a staple cafe that also happens to be one of the best breakfast places in Melbourne. The entire menu is stunning, but a true standout is the harissa eggs. This dish is made up of tahini labneh, poached eggs, roasted heirloom zucchini, cucumber, radish, green harissa and coriander served on sourdough. It’s fresh, fragrant, crunchy and with a kick of flavour.
And it’s true that a great Melbourne breakfast requires equally solid coffee. Proud Mary is synonymous with good coffee in Melbourne, so luckily, you don’t need to be making any sacrifices here. You’ll receive customised notes about the coffee you order complete with the coffee bean farm, variety and backstory for each bean. You can get tasting flights of their long black, espresso, cold drip and pour over coffee. The deluxe pour overs are next level and for true coffee connoisseurs.
Locavore Benny at Locavore Studio
148 Main Street, Lilydale
Locavore Studio sits in the leafy suburb of Lilydale, just on the cusp of the wine-filled Yarra Valley. To start a winery tour in the best way possible, stop in at this uniquely gorgeous eatery for an astounding brekkie. The seasonal menu slaps, but there’s a true jewel in the crown of this cafe for those who are prone to a good eggs benny.
The Locavore Benny involves crispy fried chicken, poached eggs, black garlic, hollandaise, and bread and butter pickles served on brioche. The coffee is perfectly dialled in for an all round perfect breakfast experience.
Breakfast Muffin at Warkop
13 Little Collins Street, Melbourne & 12 Risley Street, Richmond
Warkop is home to Indonesian and South East Asian-flavoured sangas from ex-Navi sous chef Barry Susanto and co-owner Erwin Chandra. The original Richmond location was so popular, they opened a second bigger store in the Melbourne CBD.
No matter which store you go to, you’ll find a bangin’ brekkie muffin but there are a few differences. There’s more variety at the CBD store so you can pick your poison, and choose from sausage and egg with bazzinga sauce or bacon and egg with black garlic sauce. Optional add ons are cheese and hash brown and we say ‘duh’ to both. The kopsuguren is a palm sugar ice coffee and is the ultimate breakfast accompaniment.
If you’re in the Richmond store, you can order a good old fashioned standard breakfast muffin and call it a day. Or pick one of the regular sandwiches (the fried chicken and pork sandwich are two faves) and call it breakfast.
Leading image credit: Hifi | Annika Kafcaloudis
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