20 Best Cafes in Melbourne

Melbourne, Australia, is known for its thriving cafe scene and coffee culture. Melbourne is the ideal vacation spot for coffee enthusiasts and foodies because of its abundance of distinctive and fashionable cafés perfect for the day and a night out to discover the fun and frolic. Melbourne's cafés provide something for everyone, whether you're seeking the ideal cappuccino or want to indulge in a sumptuous brunch. 

Hunting for Melbourne’s Best Cafe

In this blog, we'll examine some of the best coffee shops in Melbourne, highlighting their distinctive qualities and must-try menu items. Prepare to explore the best coffee shop Melbourne, from popular brunch locations to secret laneway gems. Let’s discover:

1. Industry Beans

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M., Sat-Sun: 8:00 A.M. 

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $20 

Location: 345 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Rating: 4.3/5

Top Review: “My favourite coffee place in Melbourne.”

Must Try: Sweet granola bowl with watermelon

Industrial Beans is at the top of the list whenever someone whispers about the best cafe Melbourne. The place holds a special place in the hearts of the people looking for the best coffee shops in Melbourne for its seasonal brunch menu. With this menu, the place wins over you effortlessly. The brunch menu includes features dishes like coconut and pineapple brioche and soft-boiled eggs with peanut crust. On top of that, this must-see as it is also one of the city's greatest boutique roasters, so the coffee is incredible every time you visit. Apart from adding this place as the best cafe Melbourne, we also consider this Fitzroy location as one of the best attractions in Melbourne you cannot miss.

2. Tall Timber

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 7:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $20 

Location:  60 Commercial Rd, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia

Rating: 4.1/5

Top Review: “Food was delicious, Coffee was nice”

Must Try: Bircher Muesli

Excellent cuisine, good coffee, and good people best define Tall Timber, a modest yet wonderful cafe in Prahran. This is one of the best coffee shops in Melbourne you can go for a peaceful cup of coffee. With its awe-striking setting housed in a gorgeous location and a menu stocked with crowd-pleasing favourites, it is by far the most go-to coffee shop Melbourne.

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3. Fourth Chapter

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 3:45 P.M., Sat-Sun: 8:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $25.50 

Location:  385 High St, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia

Rating: 4.3/5

Top Review: “If you’re looking to spend a blissful weekend & some hearty brunch, this is your place to be!”

Must Try: Chilli Scram

The eclectic and delectable options from Melbourne’s best cafe boast an all-day breakfast menu including sweet potato nachos, Golden Gaytime waffles, and soy-glazed barramundi, to name a few. These dishes are not only delicious but also Instagram-worthy, just like the cafe's open, airy, and plant-filled setting. This is one of those cafes in Melbourne which is extremely popular among youngsters who love aesthetic experiences alongside the rush of caffeine topped with their scrumptious options on the menu. If you are planning on visiting this coffee shop Melbourne, get ready to be blown away by the incredible aroma of the brews.  

4. Pillar of Salt

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 8:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $30 

Location: 541 Church St, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia

Rating: 4.4/5

Top Review: “Amazing brunch! Food yummy and so well presented, friendly staff and good coffee!”

Must Try: Egg Royale

One of the best cafes in Melbourne, Pillar of Salt, continues to draw many customers through its doors each week to partake in its unique breakfast menu and speciality coffee. The fantastic location features a charming courtyard outdoors and shabby-chic exposed brick walls within. The place is known for the size of its portion and is a second home for coffee lovers who vouch for it as the best cafe Melbourne.

5. Higher Ground

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 7:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $30 

Location: 650 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Rating: 4.1/5

Top Review: “Higher Ground Cafe is a culinary gem!”

Must Try: Hot Cake

The crew behind Top Paddock and The Kettle Black has opened a new cafe called Higher Ground in the city's central business district. No doubt, Melbourne has the best clubs, however, you may ditch that and experience this place’s grandiosity at least once. The enormous, high-ceilinged establishment will add to your prolific experience. This is Melbourne’s best cafe which offers great food throughout the day, as you would expect being in the best cafe Melbourne and they are the masters, who serve the best coffee Melbourne has to offer.

6. Journeyman

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M., Sun: 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $30 

Location: 169 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181, Australia

Rating: 4.4/5

Top Review: “Quick service. Tasty food. Great coffee!”

Must Try: Persian Fetta Potato Croquette

Being one of Melbourne’s is not just all play and no work. Being served in the best cafe Melbourne comes with some remarkable experience. Journeyman serves some of the best coffee the city offers in an industrial atmosphere. The food is likewise fantastic and highlights local, fresh products with a seasonal menu that emphasises healthy ingredients and creative cooking.

7. Top Paddock

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $40 

Location: 658 Church St, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia

Rating: 4.3/5

Top Review: “Bustling cafe that is borderline chaotic, but they do churn out top quality food and drinks.”

Must Try: Braised Lamb Shoulder

Top Paddock, is one of the best Richmond cafes Melbourne with a chic interior and excellent cuisine. This is Melbourne’s best cafe and will never leave you craving for more of everything it offers. This is the kind of place that beckons you inside and tempts you to remain for a long. Several options will please even the pickiest palates, such as pork belly with burnt onions and poached eggs, chilli scrambled eggs with shiitake mushrooms and goat's curd, and many others. If you are looking to sip some of the best coffee Melbourne, this is the best coffee shop too.

8. The Kettle Black

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $60 

Location: 50 Albert Rd, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Rating: 4.1/5

Top Review: “Great food, great coffee and great people.”

Must Try: Seasonal Avocado with Finger Lime

Go to The Kettle Black in South Melbourne for fine dining in a stylish atmosphere if you want to elevate your standard Sunday brunch. This best cafe Melbourne, housed inside a stunning white terrace home, serves dishes like polenta porridge with burnt maple and scrambled eggs with the house-cured kangaroo. The food here is just as amazing as the setting bringing it to the list of Melbourne’s best cafe.

9. Combi

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 7:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $30 

Location: 138-140 Ormond Rd, Elwood VIC 3184, Australia

Rating: 4.2/5

Top Review: “One of my favourite places in Elwood especially in summer.”

Must Try: Peanut Butter Cup

The quaint and unusual Combi is located on Elwood's busy Ormond Road. This is also among the best cafes Melbourne CBD with an offer of an exceptional menu ready to please your senses with its mouth-watering and nourishing foods like super bowls, smoothies, and raw desserts and delights. You can miss just everything but not the Peanut Butter Cup in this food heaven

10. Oscar Cooper

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. (Check timings before reservation)

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $20 

Location: 160 Greville St, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia

Rating: 4.3/5

Top Review: “I demolished this breakfast burrito. ”

Must Try: Breakfast Burrito

In addition to providing fantastic cuisine and scrumptious coffee, this cafe promotes regional vendors, producers, and farmers making it people’s favorite and the best cafe Melbourne you can find. So, the Breakfast Burrito, Mango and Greek yoghurt pannacotta, and salt cod hash cake not only taste wonderful but also contribute to good deeds. Whenever you look for Melbourne’s best cafe, this must come to the top of the list.

11. Little Rogue

Time: 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $20 

Location: 12 Drewery Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Rating: 4.7/5

Top Review: “Loved the coffee here.”

Must Try: Filter Coffee

A coastal metropolis in perfect harmony with cosmopolitan defines Melbourne pretty much. Nestled in this beautiful city’s leafy lanes is a quaint cafe ready to surprise you with its ambience and lovely menu. People vouch for their Filter coffee and their succulent creations in the bakery section. Indulge yourself in this beautiful coffee shop Melbourne. When we talk about the best cafe Melbourne, we just get carried away to this vintage place with the best coffee Melbourne. You can count on this place for a cosy me time whenever you want to gift yourself with some time out from the daily hustle.

12. Tusk Cafe

Time: 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 8:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $60 

Location: 133 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181, Australia

Rating: 4.1/5

Top Review: “Real definition of cafe. I love everything about it!”

Must Try: Tusk Big Breakfast

We came across one of Melbourne’s best cafe at this ideal location to unwind on a sunny Sunday. Tusk is a spacious, welcoming cafe with plenty of outdoor dining options. Justifying its position as the best cafe Melbourne, this hip cafe, situated on Melbourne's bustling Chapel Street, offers mouthwatering fare, including Nordic Stack potato rostis with smoked salmon, grilled asparagus, and hollandaise sauce over poached eggs.

13. Denis the Menace

Time: 6:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $30 

Location: 106-108 Chestnut St, Cremorne VIC 3121, Australia

Rating: 4.2/5

Top Review: “What a great space for a neighbourhood cafe!”

Must Try: Denis avo

Denis the Menace is a laid-back and amusing cafe and is also among the best coffee shops in Melbourne that serves tasty food with a sustainable twist. The commitment towards combining delish food, tastiest coffee with praiseworth decor is evident when we realise that reclaimed wood was used to create the unique warehouse-style venue furniture and fixtures. The eco-friendly coffee adds to the laurels of this best cafe Melbourne. This ecologically aware eatery goes further by housing over 12,000 in-house compost worms.

14. Two Birds, One Stone

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $30 

Location: 12 Claremont St, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia

Rating: 4.4/5

Top Review: “Hot chocolate was pretty good and full of goodness!”

Must Try: Ricotta Pancakes

The décor of Two Birds One Stone is upscale, cosy and it is by far the best cafe Melbourne when it comes to enticing aura with white-panelled walls, booths, adorned by unique lighting fixtures. This cafe looks not only fantastic but also plays around with your tastebuds making it Melbourne’s best cafe. All thanks to an amazing yet approachable menu that offers traditional fare like eggs benedict as well as contemporary delicacies like crispy pork belly with Asian slaw and chilli on brioche.

15. Coin Laundry Cafe

Time: 6:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $40 

Location: 61 Armadale St, Armadale VIC 3143, Australia

Rating: 4.4/5

Top Review: “There was a substantial menu offering standard fare and some interesting additions.”

Must Try: Spanish Omelette

The fresh, varied, and scrumptious food crafted using ingredients sourced locally makes Coin Laundry the best cafe Melbourne. You may also find yourself in luck when you stumble upon your favourite breakfast item at Melbourne’s best cafe. Whether it's French toast, bircher muesli, baked beans, banana bread, sweet corn fritters, eggs benedict, or an omelette, you are sure going to comeback for more as this place is also one of the best coffee shops in Melbourne.

16. Galleon Cafe

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M., Sat-Sun: 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $30 

Location: 9 Carlisle St, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia

Rating: 4.6/5

Top Review: “The food is amazing and the coffee is great”

Must Try: Smoked Salmon Bagel

The Galleon Cafe also enjoys a place as the best cafe Melbourne and it holds a special place as a spot among St. Kilda locals. Diners enjoy a delectable casual dinner in Melbourne’s best cafe soaking in the retro vibe. The cafe has personality because of its retro design, mismatched antique furniture, and traditional little booths. If you want your coffee to serve as a gateway from the daily stress, this place also serves the best coffee Melbourne.

17. Stand Up Cafe

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Tuesday: 7:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: Closed

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $30 

Location: 524 Flinders St, (Rear of Building), Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Rating: 4.5/5

Top Review: “Cute little coffee shop tucked into an alley, a basketball hoops adds to the vibe!”

Must Try: Iced Mocha

If you are looking for a coffee which tantalises your soul alongside giving you the right caffeine kick, this is the best cafe Melbourne for you. Hidden away from the hustle of the Central Business District, Melbourne, it is a spot for coffee lovers in the search of best coffee Melbourne. Urbane interiors with a sporty vibe provide the perfect set up to satiate your thirst and hunger all at the same time. Do not forget to try your shots in the Basketball Hoops while you enjoy your moments with friends, family or just by yourself. To add to your glee, if you are living anywhere nearby this place, you are living in one of the best neighbourhoods in Melbourne.

18. Mammoth

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $20 

Location: 736 Malvern Rd, Armadale VIC 3143, Australia

Rating: 4.3/5

Top Review: “Great place, nice coffee, lovely food and wonderful service"

Must Try: Chicken and Avocado Toastie

Mammoth has a wait for a table, but this is best cafe Melbourne and is totally worth it. If we ask the reason behind being one of Melbourne’s best cafe, it is for the creative and spectacular cuisine, which has delicacies like a Golden Gaytime pannacotta and a lobster doughnut burger they serve with a smile. The facility is also a winner and has a sleek and clean look with brilliant splashes of blue.

19. Batch Espresso

Time: 6:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Sat-Sun: 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $30 

Location: 320 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183, Australia

Rating: 4.5/5

Top Review: “Tasty, fresh well presented food and relaxing atmosphere - good service"

Must Try: Chorizo Burrito

By incorporating elements from his native New Zealand into the menu, Batch owner Jason Chan has turned this retro-style cafe into the best cafe Melbourne and a local favourite. You may anticipate and receive delicious meals with a down-to-earth approach from this busy Balaclava location. Holds its place firm as Melbourne’s best cafe and is a place you make your way to for the best coffee Melbourne. Are you a night person then you should surely check this list of best nightout spots in Melbourne.

20. Glovers Station

Time: 7:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

The Average Spent (Two People): AUD $60 

Location: 258 Glen Eira Rd, Elsternwick VIC 3185, Australia

Rating: 4.0/5

Top Review: “Great service, friendly welcoming staff, and tasty coffee and food."

Must Try: Breakfast Bowl

Glover Station's contemporary and pleasant aesthetics mix well with its outstanding cuisine selections to give diners a perfect dinner. Standing with the pride of being the best cafe Melbourne, the tudor-style facades, the opulent yet laid-back vibe of Melbourne’s best cafe offers a menu that is both sophisticated and informal.

Finding Melbourne's best cafe from the treasure trove of the cafe culture which draws seasoned coffee aficionados and cuisine enthusiasts towards it was a tough job. But anything for you! If your a student, you can check out our detailed student guide to help make life easier for you. Coming back to the best coffee shop Melbourne, trying the best cafe Melbourne should be on top of the list of best things to do in Melbourne. All of the mentioned cafes hold a place in our hearts as Melbourne's best cafe and are symbiotic as they provide a variety of experiences, from hip, minimalist cafes to quaint, hidden gems. Melbourne is often regarded as Australia's coffee capital due to its vibrant culture, welcoming atmosphere, and mouthwatering cuisine. Indulge in some of the best coffee and brunch meals you'll ever have by exploring the many cafés this city offers, whether you're a local or a guest. Make sure to check out some of these cafes the next time you're in Melbourne to enjoy the best that the city has to offer.