Ahh, brunch. The glorious meal between breakfast and lunch that turned into the ultimate weekend ritual. Melbourne brunch has taken on a life of its own with some truly show-stopping joints serving up the ultimate brunch experience you’re craving right now.
From places slinging original brunch classics you thought couldn’t have been improved on (but somehow have) to Euro-leaning menus served alongside brunch cocktails and vinyl, Melbourne sure knows how to deliver the brunch goods.
Melbourne Brunch At A Glance:
- Best Brunch Melbourne CBD
- Best Brunch In Melbourne’s North
- Best Brunch Melbourne’s East
- Best Brunch In Melbourne’s South
- Best Brunch In Melbourne’s Suburbs
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You’ll also find Greek, Singapore, and Italian-inspired brunches below that might just blow your mind and taste buds.
So without further ado, here’s where to find the best brunch Melbourne is serving up in 2025, according to Urban List.
Best Brunch Melbourne CBD
Higher Ground
650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Higher Ground | Supplied
Higher Ground is approaching icon status when it comes to brunch in the CBD. Situated in a stunning heritage-listed building, they serve up elevated cafe dining all day long with a brunch menu that will soothe even the hungriest of 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 depending on whether you’re after something sweet or savoury. Their signature ricotta pancakes are known far and wide, while the spanner crab benedict is the go-to for a savoury option.
P.S. Get the full scoop on brunch places in Melbourne CBD here.
INSIDER INTEL
- No brunch would be complete without great coffee, and Higher Ground delivers.
- Looking to up the ante? The brunch cocktails are unreal.
- If you forget to book a table, you can always grab a coffee while you wait.
Operator Diner
Shop 2/130 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
Image: Operator Diner | Supplied
It’s a good old fashioned American diner meets Melbourne-tier cafe at Operator Diner, and it hits hard. The interior is seriously nostalgic with big 70s vibes and the most perfectly ambient lighting. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu — its hands down one of the best brunch places Melbourne has to offer. They’re open early til 4pm everyday, perfect for those days when brunch runs late.
INSIDER INTEL
- The buttermilk pancake stack is a serious contender for best pancakes.
- Walk-ins only, but they do deliver if you’re mid staycation and don’t want to de-robe.
- Their Coke float is an absolute throwback.
Brick Lane
33 Guildford Lane, Melbourne
Brick Lane is a Melbourne CBD brunch institution. The old red brick facade and green lined windows are immediately recognisable as somewhere you’re going to get an epic brunch.
The menu changes with the season, with a focus on fresh and local produce. You can expect brunch favourites like a big breakfast, house omelette, smashed avo, and chilli scrambled eggs. It might sound boring, but trust us it’s not — it’s the classics, elevated.
INSIDER INTEL
- Expect a wait on weekends, it gets busy and you can’t book. But it’s worth the wait.
- The banana smoothie is inhale-able.
- You can perch on the stools out front if weather permits, and hang out in the leafy lane.
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Best Brunch In Melbourne’s North
Ophelia
85 High Street, Northcote
Image: Ophelia | Supplied
Ophelia is the type of place you come for brunch and end up staying long into the day. Between the warm wooden cabinets, sage green highlights, terrazzo flooring and of course, the vinyl wall, it’s all very cool.
The brunch menu is Euro-leaning with dishes like the galette, a spin on the traditional French buckwheat crepe stuffed with zucchini and ricotta, and the pork schnitzel ‘Holstein’ with a fried egg, anchovies, garlic aioli and pickled fennel. For something sweet, the sticky date porridge is a dream.
INSIDER INTEL
- Miso-butterscotch iced latte — need we say more?
- In the mood for a boozy brunch? Their bloody mary will do the trick.
- Come back in the arvo or evening for DJs and a natty wine list.
Humble Ray’s
71 Bouverie Street, Carlton
Life’s good at Humble Ray’s — the atmosphere is spot on, the food is creative, and the drinks will keep you coming back for more. Since opening in 2016, this joint has been a local favourite and now they’ve opened a second location on Swanston Street.
To eat, think classic brunch with an Asian twist with dishes like the crabmeat scramble and the salmon okonomiyaki benedict. To drink, the coffee meets Melbourne standards and then some. For something coffee-free, the soda pops with popping pearls are the perfect refreshment.
INSIDER INTEL
- Their tiramisu iced latte is the creamy caffeinated goodness you crave.
- Croque monsieur is a big winner here.
- The CBD store is bigger with a great outdoor area, so better for groups.
Proud Mary
172 Oxford Street, Collingwood
Collingwood is in no short supply of bangin’ brunch places, but if you ask us this is the real standout. Proud Mary has long been known as one of the best brunch spots in Melbourne, but now it’s been recognised as one of the best cafes in the world. With a flagship store in Melbourne and now with stores in Austin and Portland in the US, this venture is a popular one.
The menu is full of favourites but with an inventive twist. Think hotcakes with ricotta, orange, and white chocolate or avo toast with kimchi, daikon, and tofu cream. It’s everything you could want in a brunch, and it might just be the top brunch Melbourne is serving up.
INSIDER INTEL
- The french toast is like no other you’ve tried, it will haunt your dreams.
- Proud Mary brews some of the best coffee in town, you can’t go wrong.
- Expect to wait around 20 minutes for a table on the weekend.
Dusty’s
34 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
Image: Dustys Fitzroy | Supplied
Dusty’s is where hangovers come to die. Once you’re nestled in the courtyard with a big breakfast and a $10 mini bloody mary, all symptoms will suddenly dissipate. Of course, you don’t need to be hungover for this place to be a shout.
It’s great, honest food without the frills but all the flavour. Plus it’s all very affordable which means you can have your brekkie muffin and eat it too. The coffee’s on point as well, in case it’s too early for a blood orange margarita.
INSIDER INTEL
- $12 breakfast muffins and $4 filter coffee plus $1 for refills — no joke.
- Follow their Insta for a laugh (and the odd deal).
- There’s lottsa vegan options on the menu.
Baguette Studios
15-27 Wreckyn Street, North Melbourne
Image: Baguette Studios | Supplied
Opened by Seoul-born trio Aileen Seo, Paul Kwon, and Jiho Sur, this family-run bakery cafe takes inspiration from Korea, France, and Australia. Sandwiches are the name of the game at Baguette Studios, but their brunch options will also have you drooling on your menu. The chicken and waffle is a big crowd favourite, as well as the bolognese udon and creme brulee french toast.
Or if you fancy a brunch sanga, wrap your hands around their monte cristo. For the uninitiated, the monte cristo is a ham and cheese sandwich dipped in egg and fried. The result is crispy, gooey goodness.
INSIDER INTEL
- The vegan bacon sandwich is a winner for the plant-based punters.
- Get a choc chip cookie to-go for your trip home.
- The menu changes regularly, check their Instagram for updates.
Best Brunch Melbourne’s East
Black Gold
285 Lennox Street, Richmond
Image: Black Gold | Supplied
Things are a bit different at Black Gold — you won’t be craving plain ol’ bacon and eggs for brunch, that’s for sure. They aren’t afraid to go all out in beautifying their dishes and the results are glorious. The acai pancakes are an actual piece of art with ricotta and fruit gorgeously encircling the pancake stack.
But this joint has also made a big name for themselves in the toastie game. So if your favourite brunch is one that comes between two slices of bread, you know what to do.
INSIDER INTEL
- The outdoor seating is great for a side of people-watching alongside your brunch.
- They serve up Ona coffee beans, another win.
- Kitchen closes at 2:30pm, don’t leave brunch too late.
Top Paddock
658 Church Street, Richmond
Image: Top Paddock | Supplied
Top Paddock is Richmond’s brunch queen. The cafe fit-out is bright and airy, with a huge wooden outdoor area spotted with umbrellas. The interior is full of natural light and pot plants, making for a refreshing space to have some chilli scrambled on toast, or the pretty-as-a-picture blueberry and ricotta hotcake. All ingredients for their delicious dishes are sourced from organic suppliers in Australia, and it’s evident in the top-tier taste. This is a place to take friends when they're visiting from interstate, to show them the calibre of brunch Melbourne has on offer.
INSIDER INTEL
- The chocolate malt thickshake is the sweetest trip down memory lane.
- All-day cocktails are absolutely on here — grapefruit spritz, french martini, gimlet, you name it.
- Book online here to avoid waiting in line.
Three Bags Full
60 Nicholson Street, Abbotsford
Opening back in 2009, Three Bags Full is well and truly a part of the Abbotsford furniture by now and they’re still serving up the perfect Melbourne brunch experience. Step inside and the interior is charming and cosy, especially when the sunlight streams in just so through the windows.
On the menu, the Turkish breakfast spread packs a punch in the best way possible while the barramundi is perfectly crisp and set atop a bed of beans. Or if you can’t decide, order the breakfast board and get a taste of an array of brunch treats.
INSIDER INTEL
- The passion fruit mimosa is a great spin on the original.
- Try the New Fashioned — sparkling cold brew with coconut water and an orange twist.
- There's always a knowledgeable barista on hand who can tell you the best blends for even the most discerning of palates.
Best Brunch In Melbourne’s South
OPPEN
20/2 Maddock Street, Windsor
Image: OPPEN | Supplied
The cosy cafe vibes are big at OPPEN. You might miss it if you don’t know where to look, hidden in a corner near the Windsor train station. The Scandinavian-inspired interior design here is guaranteed to enhance your Insta grid — so make sure to take a snap or two. This joint is a wine bar by night and your dream brunch spot by day.
In the mood to indulge? Get the golden French toast drizzled with rich butterscotch sauce and Aperol mascarpone. Or for a fresh, crunchy and colourful flavour bomb, try the ham hock benedict with a crispy potato rosti.
INSIDER INTEL
- Get your hands on one (or three) Viet iced coffee martinis.
- The cocktail list is divine.
- Not brunch, but visit on Thursday night for a $25 steak on carbonara (it’s delish).
Penance Prahran
3a Carlton Street, Prahran
Step into Penance and you won’t want to leave (that’s before you even taste the food or coffee). Nestled down a laneway off Chapel Street, the deep green walls are complemented by gold framed pictures with vibrant plants dripping from the ceiling and hiding in dark corners. It’s moody and gorgeous.
The menu at this Greek brunch cafe is short but punchy. Think housemade spanakopita, baklava porridge, roasted mushroom and sundried fig medley, or yia yia’s eggs. There’s authentic Greek coffee as well as fun creations like a biscoff latte and a range of frappes that are seriously tasty.
INSIDER INTEL
- The cakes are unreal, especially the bundt cake if you can get your hands on a slice.
- Say hi to Charlie, the resident dog.
- Closed on Sundays, so hit them up on Saturday or during the week.
Oltre
Shop 818/163-165 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Got Italy on the mind? Same. Stop dreaming and get yourself to Oltre for an authentic Italian brunch. Choose from Italian classics like the frittata with heirloom tomatoes and prosciutto or what they call the Breakfast In Rome which involves coffee, fresh orange juice, and a pastry. There’s also a range of Melbourne style dishes such as the breakfast bruschetta which delivers all the crunchy freshness you could dream of. You can feel the love just walking into this cosy cafe, and it shows in the food as well. Molto bene.
INSIDER INTEL
- Brunch is served until 12pm, when the lunch menu kicks in.
- The yoghurt butter, blackberry and vanilla lemon cake is wow-worthy.
- Coffee and cocktails are both on point — take your pick.
Best Brunch In Melbourne’s Suburbs
DUMBO
11 Argyle Street, West Footscray
Image: DUMBO | Supplied
Housed in an old milk bar that had been abandoned for 20 years, DUMBO is a tribute to the trendy New York neighbourhood Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. The seasonal menu takes inspiration from cuisines all around the world. From sago pudding to arroz caldo to ‘nduja eggs — no matter what you order, these dishes hit all the right flavours, textures, and combos for a brunch that satisfies.
INSIDER INTEL
- Check out the specialty drinks, especially the Head In The Clouds (we’ve been dreaming about it).
- Bring the doggos, it’s dog-friendly here.
- Grabbing something to go? Head straight to the express window.
Assembly Ground
104 Fletcher Street, Essendon
Assembly Ground might just be your new favourite brunch place in Melbourne. Whether you’re in the area or making the trip just to pull up a seat at this joint, you’re in for a treat. On a sunny day, perch yourself outside and watch the world go by or set up in the bright, clean front room and prepare yourself for one heck of a brunch.
The Hash Benny is a crowd pleaser if we’ve ever tasted one — choose from pulled pork, bacon, smoked salmon or spinach along with eggs on two homemade potato rostis, drizzled with bright pink chipotle hollandaise and topped with pickled cabbage. The fluffy fried jam donut hot cakes filled with house made raspberry jam is the decadent treat you deserve. They use Code Black coffee and whip up next-level smoothies — get the Snickers smoothie with a shot of espresso for coffee and dessert rolled into one.
INSIDER INTEL
- There are lots of gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options on the menu.
- Make sure you book if you don’t want to wait.
- If you’re midweek brunchin’, get your hands on $10 cocktails from 11am to 1pm.
Masak Masak
128 Roberts Street, Yarraville
It’s Melbourne brunch meets south east Asian flavours at Masak Masak. This unassuming little brunch restaurant in Yarraville took over the former Butcher 128 cafe spot last year and has been serving up seriously delish dishes ever since. Honestly? You can’t go wrong when ordering here, but we will say the Singapore Chilli Baked Crab is particularly special — served in a mini cast iron pan alongside a toasted tiger roll and nonya achar. They have some seriously unreal plant-based drinks, like the iced pandan and apple with a whipped matcha cream. This joint is a serious contender for the best brunch in Melbourne.
INSIDER INTEL
- Fan of Vietnamese iced coffee? You’re going to love their Singaporean coffee called Kopi.
- Pastries by Motte, an adorbs micro bakery based in Newport.
- The sunlit backroom is cute, perch up here if you can.
Main Image Credit: DUMBO | Supplied
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