While Essendon’s best food and drink may be less discovered, locals take cafe culture very seriously, so for those who know where to look, it is home to an eclectic mix of hidden gems, either tucked away in the area’s nooks and crannies or perched on the busy traffic-ridden stretch of Buckley Street.
From family-friendly eateries to cafes that boast a breakfast through to dinner menu, Essendon offers old-school institutions, a multicultural selection of restaurants and local brunch favourites that have amassed a loyal following.
Here are the Essendon restaurants and cafes that you need to hit in 2023:
BAM Corner Store
Located at the intersection of Albion Street and McPherson Street, Bam Bread and Milk is more than the average milk bar offering Bain-marie Chiko rolls. Instead at BAM, you’ll find speciality coffee, hand-crafted and New York-inspired sangas as well as shelves lined with local and imported artisanal staples that any modern Melbournian pines for; from Ugly Foods jarred good, Fancy Hanks hot sauce, a range of Ridiculously Delicious’s peanut butter and more.
Bam’s expansive list of gourmet sangas includes —a chicken club and a roast pork belly roll as well as the easy peasy caprese and a vego favourite— the Bam-Broc and mush sanga.
Tony’s Pies
Perched on the cafe-cluster stretch of Buckley Street lies Tony’s Pies, an institution founded in 1984 that has amassed a loyal following as an after-school staple or a post-footy game feed. From humble beginnings, Tony’s has flourished from a three-person team to a thriving establishment serving up top-notch crisp pies and pastries and decadent doughnuts as well as French vanilla slices—a local favourite.
With a range of options but none greater than their steak pie, the rectangle shape can be quite polarising but if anything it aids to the entire pie punishing experience of being able to firmly grip the perfectly puffed and crisped corners and manage the rich meaty filling. Tonys is a right of passage for anyone visiting the Don and a no-brainer in the best cafes in Essendon round-up.
Mr Walker
Inspired by South Gang’s lead guitarist, Mr Walker is a small yet lively cafe in Essendon nestled at the junction of Albion and Tennyson Street. The interior has Californian rock flair with its wallpaper encompassing cowboy boots, skills, cacti and guitars and there are also old-school tunes pumping in the space.
The Californian-inspired menu features Butch sausage and eggs, Southern fried burger as well as juices including, Rodeo Drive and Grant Park. Mr Walker also boasts an expansive drinks menu, appealing to the healthy lifestyle crowd with a range of lattes including, chai, turmeric matcha and beetroot among others as well as the crowd-favourite coffee blend from, St. ALi.
Tutti Trattoria
Tutti Trattoria is a new inclusion in Essendon’s restaurant scene and an addition to the eclectic mix of eateries on the busy stretch of Napier Street. Since its debut in mid-2023, Tutti Trattoria has garnered popularity from patrons far and wide for its contemporary Italian dishes such as polenta chips, New York-style pizza and vodka pasta.
You can also expect traditional dishes including, bruschetta, arancini, polpette (meatballs), quattro formaggi (four cheeses) pizza and Carbonara pasta as well as a pillow-soft tiramisu. Each of the restaurant’s rooms has its own ambience, including a bright elegant and polished bar area on arrival, a room decorated with scopa card prints and chequered tablecloths, reminding you of Nonna’s living room as well as a grand dining space with a lemon ceiling and Sicilian ceramics.
Benyue Kitchen
The Buckley Street-favourite, Benyue Kitchen is a Southern Chinese-inspired restaurant, serving up top-notch traditional and quality regional dishes. Benyues’s chefs have finessed their trade at the acclaimed Lau’s Kitchen, and are now plating up some of the northern suburbs best Cantonese food. While the menu can be overwhelming with choice, options like Peking duck, veggie spring rolls and deep-fried chicken wontons for entrees and Honey Chicken, Szechuan Beef and Benyue special fried rice are understandably crowd-pleasers.
The booze menu is also expansive, pick from a Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley or a Sauvignon Blanc from Adelaide Hills. There’s always room for dessert with Benyue’s dessert menu harnessing Cantonese flavours, enjoy a classic banana or pineapple fritter served with ice cream.
Primrose And Vine
A more recent addition to the Essendon region, Primrose & Vine is a welcome new wine bar that doubles as a bottle-o. The chic corner venue is fitted out with sleek black finishings, hardwood floors and ambient lighting.
The selection here is extensive, and both the bar and bottle shop carries a range of local and international drops, from a Tissot-Maire Crémant sparkling from France or the closer-to-home Vasse Felix, a classic dry Rosé from Margaret River. Alongside the wine, the bar menu features a hefty range of stacked charcuterie boards as well as small plates, pizzas and more, making for a top candidate in the best Essendon restaurant list.
2 Fat Greeks
The Greek neighbour to Tutti Trattoria, 2 Fat Greeks is serving up Greek classics to remember, think souvlaki, pitas and gyros. No matter the day of the week, this joint is buzzing with locals craving an authentic Taverna-style feast. The interior plays with bright blue tones, drawing inspiration from Mykonos and the mediterranean sea. While the menu is expansive in choice, the calamari, mixed dip plate and Saganaki cheese are undoubtedly crowd-pleaser entrees.
The hero here is the Gyros, with smoky chargrilled lamb, pork or chicken wrapped in pita with a house-made Tzatziki as well as oregano seasoned chips. Tuck into either Greek doughnuts, Baklava or Galaktoboureko (custard-filled pastry) to conclude your hefty affair. Having amassed a cult following, 2 Fat Greeks is a strong contender in the best restaurants in Essendon wrap.
Mister Hoffman
A postcode semantic, Mister Hoffman may technically be just out of Essendon but nonetheless remains a neighbourhood favourite and one of the best cafes in Essendon. The cafe is grounded in contemporary modern fare with small nods of exotic charm. With an abundance of light shining through, Mr Hoffman makes for the perfect spot to bask in some rays either indoors or in the leafy enclave outdoor area. Settle in with a warm coffee or something more substantial.
The locally-sourced and seasonal menu has been inspired by the founder’s Oma’s recipes—so their dishes are made with a whole lot of love. Their extensive menu includes, brekkie burgers, vanilla bean porridge, raspberry and ricotta hotcakes and benedict on rosti among many other crowd-pleasers.
Little Thai Kitchen
Serving up authentic and flavour-packed dishes, another Buckley Street go to, Little Thai Kitchen has become a quintessential Friday night takeaway (or dine-in) destination for locals, earning them the favourability as one of the best restaurants in Essendon. Little Thai Kitchen has got the essentials down pat, including Pad Thai, Mussaman and a punchy green curry.
You can also expect crisp spring rolls, curry puffs, satay chicken for entrees, Pad See Ewe and Panang curry puk for mains as well as a concise range of soups including, Tom Yum and Tom Kha.
Woodstock Pizzicheria
One of the most cherished Essendon restaurants, Woodstock Pizzicheria was originally established by the Cannata family in Brunswick East back in 1994. Although the Essendon locale may be newer, it's still imbued with all heritage and experience gathered through the decades.
Their traditional Roman-style pizzas have won the hearts of many locals and their staple options from a prawn and chilli pizza to the name-sake Woodstock with roasted potatoes, caramelised onion eggplant and zucchini have kept the crowds coming in.
Scalable Fish-Op
Perched on the eclectic and busy end of Mount Alexander Road is Scalable Fish-Op, a more refined fish and chippery. With ethically-sourced produce, a more modern menu and their astoundingly crunchy yet light soda-based batter which engulfs each cut of fish and hand-size potato cakes which has racked up a loyal following, this fish n chippery makes for an easy inclusion in the guide to Essendon restaurants. Also on offer are more contemporary options like Skull Island prawns with a chilli-infused burnt butter, the tuna patty cheeseburger, and even Southern-fried fish wings.
Calmer Cafe
Calmer Cafe has become a pub-like establishment since its opening and while the days at the venue may live up to its name, the nights attract a more rowdy scene, turning into a bar in the after-hours.
Calmer Cafe is no one-hit wonder, serving up parmas, cafe classics, aesthetic grazing boards and a variety of salads. With their service bleeding into the late hours of the night, Calmer provide good vibes with cocktails and happy hours, pumping tunes and banging burgers, making for a great cafe in Essendon to hit up.
Friends Of Ours
Perched in the cafe cluster stretch of Mount Alexander Road, Friends of Ours has amassed a loyal following over the years for their gourmet-style menu that sees dishes such as benediction, brekky roll, harm hug porridge, acai bowls and more flying out the door.
You can also expect more substantial dishes such as their chicken, mushroom and spinach risotto and their hefty 150g Angus patty burger royal. This cafe has become a cornerstone in the Don, attracting locals getting their morning caffeine hit on a Saturday morning.
North and Eight
The cherished Buckley Street corner cafe and health enthusiast’s paradise, North and Eight is grounded in healthy and locally sourced values, serving up a selection of healthy breakfasts, vitamin-packed smoothies and super-fueled lunches as well Proud Mary Coffee—a coffee connoisseur’s ideal pick.
You can expect crispy zucchini, sweet corn and quinoa fritters; wild rice salad; vegan pina colada bircher muesli and more. While there are many healthy options, North and Eight also offer more hefty items on their menu, featuring a wagyu cheeseburger with chips as well as a chicken schnitty sanga.
Check out where to hit in the neighbouring Moonee Ponds over here.
Image credit: supplied (Tayt Bale -Bam Cornerstore)