On the hunt for the best cafe in Melbourne? It's a tough one, simply due to the sheer volume of options. The standard the city has set has been replicated all over the world, and it's no surprise as the quality of our coffee is world-class and our brunch is unbeatable.
THE BEST CAFES IN MELBOURNE AT A GLANCE
- Jump To Melbourne's Best New Cafes
- Jump To Best Cafes In Melbourne CBD
- Jump To Best Cafes In Melbourne's North
- Jump To Best Cafes In Melbourne's East
- Jump To Best Cafes In Melbourne's South & South-east
- Jump To Best Cafes In Melbourne's Suburbs
If you're after the best cafes in Melbourne CBD, head over here. Also, if you're looking to sample the best of the best when it comes to Melbourne's best coffee shops, we've also got you covered. And all else failing, if you're in need of a quick and cheap caffeine fix, check out the city's best spots to grab a coffee under $4.
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Whether you're looking for somewhere quiet for a coffee and a catch-up in the CBD, or somewhere 'near me' Urban List has you covered in this caffeine drenched, smashed avocado covered world, with our definitive list of the best cafes in Melbourne for 2025.
Melbourne's Best New Cafes
There's always a new cafe popping up somewhere, offering the best matcha, or the best little brunch plates you can imagine. Good thing we're across them all, here's some of our faves that have recently opened and what to get while you're there.
Como Lane
Williams Road & Lechlade Avenue South Yarra
Image: Como Lane | Supplied
Oozing European class, Como Lane might be Melbourne's most aesthetic cafe. The 60-seater indoor outdoor venue sits flush with Como House, an historic mansion owned by the National Trust, dating back to 1847. At the helm is legendary chef and restaurateur Scott Pickett who also has Smith St Bistrot, Matilda and Longrain in his stable. Offerings span grab and go to a proper sit down meal from brunch to lunch. Expect buttermilk pancakes with stone fruit, whipped creme fraiche and lemon myrtle, chilli scrambled eggs with Longrain’s signature XO sauce, a classic take on shakshuka and breaky bowls filled with salmon, pickles, seasonal greens and veg.
INSIDER INTEL
- Sit outside and soak up the surrounds of Como House, it's stunning. Like, actually.
- You can grab a cracker waygu cheeseburger for lunch if you head in after 11.30am, just to mix your brunch sitch up.
- Their latte art is unreal. Our coffee had a pig in it when we went, yasss!
Ophelia
85 High Street, Northcote
Image: Ophelia | Supplied
The team behind Terror Twilight and Hi Fi haven’t stopped, and their latest project is a day-to-late-arvo cafe and wine bar called Ophelia. Inside you can expect vinyl records spinning like the crew’s other venues, but the vibe and the food couldn’t be more different. It's got a heavy Euroepean lean, giving a touch of class to brunch like their galette. It's spin on the traditional French buckwheat crepe stuffed with roasted zucchini, buffalo ricotta atop a rocket and pepita pesto.
INSIDER INTEL
- Do not, I repeat, do not, miss out on the butterscotch miso latte, it's the biz and worth stopping in for alone.
- Ophelia also has a lengthy natty wine menu and can even do you up a little midday martini if you're keen to get the party started early.
- The cafe is in the former Barry spot. It's had a gorgeous reno and we are here for it.
Osoi
Shop 3, 219 Albion Street, Brunswick
If you're after a matcha spot, this is it. Tucked away just off the Brunswick bike path the guys at Osoi are serving up a stack of different kinds of matchas (more of Melbourne's best matcha over here) as well as coffees and little pastries, making it the perfect lo-fi brunch or catch up spot. Owners Duy and Osoi explores different cultivars, with their standard matcha latte featuring a premium saemidori blend, honoring each unique variety in their creative adaptations. The ichigo (strawberry) matcha, mango genmaicha—reminiscent of mango sticky rice—and matcha cloud—a pandan- infused matcha cream levitating atop coconut water—are highly sought-after.
INSIDER INTEL
- They do a take on a Vietnamese iced coffee that is a proper heart-starter and perfect for extreme caffeine lovers.
- Start with a naturally sweeter matcha to see how the real deal tastes, as opposed to the super sugary numbers you find elsewhere.
- Osoi is off the bike path if you're getting lost looking for it, it's not actually on Albion Street.
Brewsmith
173 Smith Street, Fitzroy
Okay, so Brewsmith is another little hole in the wall that we're aboslutely loving. It's straight on Smith Street, but it's very much a blink-and-you'll-miss it spot. Except for the queues of folks waiting for their coffee out front. They've got a tiramisu iced coffee that'll straight blow your face off, as well as an incredible sandwich range, our fave was the kimchi and cheese number.
INSIDER INTEL
- Plonk yourself down in the tables outside and watch life on Smith Street, it's a very Melbourne experience.
- Brewsmith also do a massive range of matchas if you've got a sweet-tooth.
- They're also (thankfully) open early and wrap up late meaning there's a good chance you can get a coffee whatever your schedule.
Best Cafes In Melbourne CBD
Finding a rockin' cafe in Melbourne's CBD isn't as easy as you think. It's a big space and there's plenty of streets and laneways for the cafes to hide, so we've got a whole dedicated piece to tracking down the best cafe in Melbourne CBD, head over there to check it out. These are just a few classics to tide you over though:
Higher Ground
650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Higher Ground | Supplied
Without a doubt one of the best cafes in Melbourne, Higher Ground is situated in a stunning heritage-listed building in Melbourne’s city centre. They are dishing up elevated cafe dining all day long with a breakfast menu that's a welcome sight for grumbling stomachs.
With options like peanut butter waffles with chocolate and orange yoghurt mousse, there’s a reason they’ve got the rep as one of the best cafes Melbourne has on offer. 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.
INSIDER INTEL
- It’s a Darling Group cafe, you have to go the hot cakes.
- The menu is guided by a paddock-to-table philosophy.
- If you love it by day, you’ll love it even more by night.
Little Rogue
12 Drewery Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Little Rogue | Instagram
This one takes the Melbourne laneway aesthetic to another level, Little Rogue situated down on Drewery Lane in the CBD is an absolute gem. The Japanese and Korean-inspired cafe is serving up quality small-batch roasted coffee from Shamble Coffee Roasters as well as special-import blends and single origins from Netherlands-based, Manhattan Coffee Roasters.
The inside is quaint but cosy, with stools spread throughout and bar seating and with its bakery sibling, Bakemono Bakers, a couple of doors up, there are plenty of baked goods to sample at one of the best cafes in Melbourne.
INSIDER INTEL
- Primed for a laptop session with little nooks and power outlets peppered around the space.
- The coffee is sublime, but they make a mean matcha latte.
- Expect to pay around $5 for a small and $6 for a medium.
Best Cafes In Melbourne's North
Melbourne's cafe culture started in the north. Admittedly on Lygon Street in Carlton (if you're looking for what to do when you're there, check out our guide), but it was quick to spread. Fitzroy, Collingwood and Brunswick are host to some of the cities best cafes and coffee culture in general. Here's some of our faves:
Proud Mary
172 Oxford Street, Collingwood
Image credit: Proud Mary | Supplied
Known for its longstanding dominance of Collingwood’s coffee scene alongside their sister store Aunty Peg’s on Wellington Street, Proud Mary is a staple cafe. Quality coffee is guaranteed and typically so is a queue, their menu has a rotating selection of favourites including ricotta hotcakes and their sesame prawn toast with sambal eggs.
INSIDER INTEL
- In winter the space can get a touch chilly—so be sure to wear a jumper to stay warm.
- More people need to be talking about the quinoa porridge, it’s that good.
- Hungover but craving Proud Mary? You can order the goods via Uber Eats.
Auction Rooms
103-107 Errol Street, North Melbourne
Image credit: Auction Rooms | Supplied
Head to Errol Street for one of Melbourne’s most loved and lauded cafes, Auction Rooms. The coffee is as good as it gets, and the menu features a range of breakfast favourites from chorizo scrambled eggs to black rice pudding which they sling out to the busy weekend crowds. Certified pooch-friendly.
INSIDER INTEL
- There are new specials every weekend.
- If you really want to lean into the coffee scene, go the Barista Breakfast—a serving of espresso, cappuccino and batch brew.
- Try the tiramisu french toast at least once in your life—you will not be disappointed.
Napier Quarter
359 Napier Street, Fitzroy
Image credit: Napier Quarter | Supplied
Dedicated to high-quality ingredients and traditional food with a Euro feel, Napier Quarter knows how to serve a great breakfast. Celebrating the community, the cafe and wine bar has a warm feel to it and serves up comforting dishes like baguettes and tarts.
Whether it’s a frittata, galette, salad or the now iconic anchovy and egg on sourdough toast—Napier has artisan cooking at the heart of every dish. For a traditional breakfast at one of the best cafes in Melbourne, head over to Napier Quarter.
INSIDER INTEL
- The anchovy and egg toast has hit iconic status—you gotta try it.
- Be mindful: Napier Quarter close their doors on public holidays.
- Best seats in the house are perched up along the window.
ONA Coffee
22 Ovens Street, Brunswick
Image credit: ONA Coffee | Supplied
Specialty coffee powerhouse ONA Coffee has been on the scene for a while now, but after years of operating in their hometown of Canberra and Sydney, the team have finally set up an outpost in Melbourne which is best described as a sort of coffee institution in 2025.
INSIDER INTEL
- Get ready for 15+ coffee variants on the menu, we're digging their pistachio cream iced latte right now.
- The team takes their job seriously and will happily offer you any coffee-related guidance you may need.
- Like any good Melbourne cafe, there are plenty of baked treats ripe for the picking.
READ MORE
Best Cafes In Melbourne's East
Ah, the leafy and affluent east. From the ultra-hip Cremorne and on out to the Yarra Valley, it's a beautiful part of the city, loaded with similarly aesthetic cafes. These are the ones we reckon are worth a visit right now:
Niccolo
57-59 Stephenson Street, Cremorne
Image credit: Niccolo | Supplied
It's all about the coffee here, the tidy light-filled store in Cremorne operates as the headquarters for the entire Niccolo empire. Situated on Stephenson Road, this little charmer (some may say one of the best cafes in Melbourne) serves up a variety of their house blends and single origins straight across from the warehouse, meaning you're getting right at the source.
Part espresso bar, part retail space, you're also able to nab a bag for home alongside your morning cuppa—it might only serve coffee but it's having a red hot crack a the title of Melbourne's best cafe.
INSIDER INTEL
- Fun fact: Niccolo was born in Melbourne with it's HQ here, but they've also got a cafe in the heart of Soho in New York City.
- Niccolo is the goods on a slick La Marzocco—one of the best coffee machines going around.
- There are a few seats inside to linger, but people tend to grab-and-go.
Pillar Of Salt
541 Church Street, Richmond
Image credit: Pillar Of Salt | Supplied
Nestled into the heart of Richmond, behind an exposed white brick wall is one of Melbourne’s best cafes—Pillar of Salt, an establishment known for its gourmet breakfast menu and lunch offerings. The charming neighbourhood cafe located on the thriving Church Street amasses a throng of locals seeking their morning coffee fix or one of the cafe’s hefty sangas.
INSIDER INTEL
- All furry four-legged friends are welcome.
- There's heaps of seats out the back in the undercover outdoor area.
- If you love pistachio cream and have a sweet tooth, go the pancakes
Top Paddock
658 Church Street, Richmond
Image credit: Top Paddock | Supplied
The queues for Top Paddock are a good indication of the stunning breakfast offerings within. Gorgeous design meets tasty and inventive food, with a focus on quality local produce. A renowned spot across the city and easily one of the best cafes Melbourne has.
Best Cafes In Melbourne's South & South East
Say what you will about the southside, they do a darn good cafe that part of town. From old school day-to-night coffee to drinks spots that do it all to Insta-worthy spots to selfie your life away while you're brunching, we've got you with these solid options:
Cheri
285-287 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
Image: Cheri | Supplied
Cheri, the latest everything venue by the Darling Group (that’s the Top Paddock and Higher Ground crew, for the uninitiated) in South Melbourne and it bumps. It's also quite possibly the best cafe in South Melbourne, if you ask us. It gives big Italian-summer vibes with a French name, and they’re serving up everything we're after in a venue. Dig into a caesar salad for breakfast, steak frites or even a pizza after 10.30am, and accompany it with a glass of wine, a selection of house spritzes, or cheeky cocktail. If you’re more of a brunch traditionalist, no judgment here, hook into a truffle mushroom scrambled eggs on toast, avo or granola, they're all excellent.
INSIDER INTEL
- You can grab a takeaway loaf of bread, pastries or gelato up front.
- The courtyard is incredible for catch-ups, and you can sneak around the back on Hotham Street to grab a table and skip the queues.
- Their signature Cheri cake is a must; it's the one that looks like the logo, we'll leave the rest to you.
The Kettle Black
50 Albert Road, South Melbourne
Image credit: The Kettle Black | Supplied
This southside institution has been made famous by its high-visual and fanciful dishes and its distinct Victorian-style two-level terrace house. One of the best cafes in Melbourne, Kettle Black’s seasonal menu is always full of flare and colour, combining the relaxed aged feel of the cafe with a spruce of modern Melbourne fare.
INSIDER INTEL
- If you can, snag a seat at the counter (the best spot, in our humble opinion).
- On weekdays, the crew set up a coffee machine outside for speedy takeaways.
- They very recently added a breakfast roll to the menu, and it’s insanely good.
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Rustica
South Yarra, Brighton & Highpoint
Image credit: Rustica | Supplied
This home to sourdough and baked treats on Chapel Street is so much more than your standard bakery. This impeccably designed 100-seat cafe is state of the art, Rustica’s wide glass window showcases all the magic happening behind the scenes of the baking process.
The open floor dining area allows you to soak up all this action whilst sampling the goods and putting back their in-house coffee, from sister store First Love.
Monk Bodhi Dharma
202 Carlisle Street, Balaclava
Image credit: Monk Bodhi Dharma | Supplied
Just off the hustle and bustle of Carlisle Street Monk Bodhi Dharma is a unique gem in Melbourne’s cafe scene. With a plant-based menu and an extensive list of coffee from beans all over the globe and roasted on-site, Monk’s is one of Melbourne's best vegan cafes.
The Best Cafes In Melbourne's Surburbs
Melbourne's suburbs. There's a lot of them, and there's also a lot of cafes that are just absolute gems. Whether you're in the deep north, way out east or on the west-side, we've got you covered with some excellent options that mean you won't have to travel too far for your brunch fix.
Locavore Studio
148-184 Main Street, Lilydale
Image credit: Locavore Studio | Hugh Davidson
Just on the cusp of the wine-filled Yarra Valley sits the leafy suburb of Lilydale, and one of its crown jewels is Locavore Studio. It’s been quietly killing it in the cafe scene for several years now, but the space has recently been reimagined into a cafe-restaurant-providore-roastery hub, and we felt it was only right to give it the accolade it deserves—one of the best cafes in Melbourne.
Perfectly dialled-in coffee, and the seasonal menu slaps. If you happen to come across the Loca Benny when you’re there, don’t pass up on it. Or if you’re munching for a brunching, the daily toasties are grilled to crunch-perfection and come with a delightful side of pickles and chips.
INSIDER INTEL
- The Loca Benny slaps.
- Make sure to peruse the providore before you leave.
- Love Locavore by day? You can now dine there by night with their swish new dinner offering.
Via Porta
Hawthorn & Mont Albert
Image credit: Via Porta | Supplied
Via Porta is a part bakery, cafe, and deli that refuses to let you leave hungry or empty-handed. They know good food and you can bet they know breakfast. Their poached pear French toast with caramel sauce is understandably a crowd-pleaser, cementing their spot as one of the best cafes in Melbourne.
But if you’re looking to opt for something more savoury look no further than their crispy eggs stacked with smoked ham hock, sweet potato puree, candied walnuts, mesclun salad, honey mustard vinaigrette, gouda cheese on sourdough toast.
INSIDER INTEL
- Fell in love with caffe crema in Italy? Lucky for you, they do them at all their stores.
- The Mont Albert location goes beyond your typical lunch options—think crab spaghetti and flaky market fish.
- Find Via Porta’s Eatery-Deli in Mont Albert and Bakehouse in Hawthorn.
Leading image credit: Cheri | Supplied
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