Looking to find the best places to get brunch in Melbourne? As we all know, brunch in Melbourne is more than just a meal; it’s a cherished tradition.
Discover the city’s vibrant coffee culture and savour the finest brunch offerings Melbourne has to offer. From laid-back cafes to something a bit fancier, Melbourne is the brunch capital of Australia.
Having shared with you the 10 Best Restaurants in Melbourne, our expat writer Heather Little is back and showcasing some of the best places for a Melbourne breakfast from Melbourne CBD to further afield.
| Add a delicious twist to your foodie exploration with the 3-Hour Foodie Discovery Walking Tour in Melbourne. There’s guaranteed to be something for everyone on this list! |
Best places to get brunch in Melbourne
1. Start with an award-winning coffee
Originating in Fitzroy, Industry Beans is an award-winning premium coffee roaster that now has a presence across Melbourne CBD, Sydney and Brisbane.
Takeaway a flat white with a pastry, or linger a little longer and try one of Industry Beans’ seasonal brunch menu items (which is also an all-day lunch menu) which includes a Porcini Nest or the Eggs and Relish with a delicious side of smoked bacon.
2. Get brunch in a Victorian building
Surrounded by modern architecture, Kettle Black is a heritage-listed brunch spot just on the outskirts of town. From the Darling Group team, Kettle Back offers great history and architecture, alongside excellent coffee and a breakfast menu offering favourites such as seasonal avocado and chilli scrambled eggs, alongside other all-day mouth-watering dishes.
3. Graze over the river
Look at any list of best spots for brunch in Melbourne and Top Paddock is sure to be one listed. Based in Richmond and just a hop skip and a jump from South Yarra, Top Paddock is a great spot to catch up with friends on a Saturday morning.
Another one of the popular brunch in Melbourne locations from the Darling Group, Top Paddock offers a lively and buzzing venue with great coffee and a breakfast menu that seamlessly rolls into lunch options which includes a delectable 16-hour beef brisket roll.
4. Beachside brunch in Melbourne
Plain Sailing is just a short walk from the Bayside beach of Elwood a short walk from St Kilda and easily accessible from Melbourne. Plain Sailing doesn’t take bookings so this is one place you will have to queue, but it’s worth the wait.
The offerings here are some of the usual dishes such as Smashed Avo, but also some super healthy options including Bircher Muesli with Poached Pear, and House-Made Banana Bread with Peanut Butter. Add consistently good coffee and you have a perfect weekend brunch spot.
5. Grab-and-go brunch menu in the CBD
Another great independent coffee roaster is Axil Coffee Roasters. With locations across Melbourne CBD and suburbs, you’re guaranteed good coffee and it’s a perfect place to grab and go brunch in Melbourne or hang around for an all-day breakfast menu that includes Eggs Your Way and Rocky Road Waffles.
6. Croissants worth the hype
The early bird catches the croissant at Lune Croissanterie. With the OG in Fitzroy, and locations now in Melbourne CBD, Armadale and Brisbane, Lune is one not to be missed, but expect to queue. With regular servings on the menu such as a rich buttery flaky Croissant, and Cheese and Vegemite Escargot, they also have seasonal specials you can find out about on social media.
The Fitzroy location operates the bougie ‘Lune Lab’ a private bar overlooking the raw pastry kitchen where you can partake in a three-course brunch whilst the croissant craftmanship happens right in front of you.
7. Industrial chic brunch food
Looking for a place for a Melbourne city business breakfast or weekend brunch meal that’s a bit fancier? Higher Ground is always a winner. On the brunch menu alongside great coffee, is Chilli Scrambled Eggs, Smashed Avocado Pretzel and a yummy Blueberry and Ricotta Hotcake. You’ll be inspired by the heritage-listed architectural wonder and the food is exceptional.
8. Take a vacation
Vacation is a newish spot in the heart of Melbourne on the corner of Exhibition Street and Flinders Street. Notably, an espresso bar offering a variety of coffee, Vacation is a little cafe that also offers food items including Toasted Sandwiches and ‘Fancy Toast’ Avocado with Fetta and Banana and Peanut butter. Eat them in the powder pink surrounds.
9. Classic laneway gem
Tucked away down Rankin Lane (a narrow laneway with greenery) just off Elizabeth Street, Manchester Press is one of the best cafes in Melbourne for breakfast bagels. The bagel choices are of both the sweet and savoury variety, and you’re guaranteed a filling breakfast and fab coffee in an eclectic and cool setting.
10. Hearty breakfast in a riverside setting
Join the dog walkers, runners and families amongst the gum trees at Kanteen Cafe on the Yarra River moments from Melbourne CBD, near South Yarra. With great coffee and a good breakfast food selection including Eggs Benedict, Veggie Greens, bagels and crowd-favourite Spanish Eggs. Kanteen is a stunning spot on a spring/early summer Saturday morning for brunch in Melbourne.
11. Beachside bakery
Hamptons Bakery is a Bayside restaurant that rolls seamlessly from breakfast into lunch. Easily accessible by train from Melbourne CBD the breakfast here includes all the fresh baked food items (croissants, bread, bagels) you would expect from Eggs Your Way, to Toasted Sandwiches, lunch then extends into tasty salads and even a Wagyu Beef Burger.
12. French-inspired dining
Undoubtedly one of the best cafes in Melbourne for brunch if the queue is anything to go by, Hardware Societe is a Melbourne institution with locations on Katharine Place and Hardware St. Alongside great house coffee, expect French-inspired dishes including Fried Brioche, Croque Madame Sandwich (with beef cheek) and Steak Diane Roll. Hardware Societe now has locations in Paris and Barcelona, and there’s no doubt that once you’ve dined here you’ll be filled with joie de vivre.
13. Plant-based brunch
Monk Bodhi Dharma is a plant-based cafe in an interesting location just outside Melbourne CBD in Balaclava. Featuring its own house roasted coffee you can also grab an amazing chai here. The all-day breakfast menu at Monk Bodhi Dharma does not include eggs but offers classics such as The Avo and Banana Dharma Pancakes served with dulce de leche ice cream!
14. Take a spin in Collingwood
Named after an indie rock band album, Terror Twilight is a light-filled cafe on Johnston St, Collingwood. With a menu that includes hearty items like Fried Eggs and Breakfast Sausages from local Melbourne provider Meatsmith to all-day food options that include ‘Build your own’ broths and bowls that cater to every taste and dietary requirement. Oh and did I mention they also do cocktails as well as coffee?
15. Corner store cafe
Matilda is a converted corner store in Mont Albert, in the east of Melbourne. Inspired by French cafes the breakfast menu offers a range of coffee, bagels, toasted sandwiches and the deliciously sounding Butterscotch Apple Waffles with ice cream. The food menu also caters for little ones and for our beloved doggos too where they can enjoy their very own Puppy-chino and Toasted Scraps. Sit on the street and watch the world go by.
16. Top artsy brunch in Melbourne
Housed in a renovated hat factory, Three Bags Full is best known for its all-day menu and its coffee. Based in Abbotsford (one of Melbourne’s popular spots and arts precinct) just 2km north of the city, the large restaurant set over three rooms offers brunch food dishes that include Chilli Scrambled Eggs, and Crispy Confit Duck Leg.
17. Homely brunch in the heart of the city
Grain Store is based in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD on Flinders Lane. Focusing on fresh seasonal produce and dining that is more a ‘way of life’ than what is served on a plate, Grain Store offers a rustic vibe and quintessential Melbourne breakfast options and coffee that has earned its reputation as one of the best brunch in Melbourne.
18. Breakfast at a hatted kiosk
Awarded one hat from the Australian Good Food Guide, Pipis Kiosk is a perfect breakfast spot on the Foreshore just south of Melbourne city. Consider walking or cycling there along the beach en route to St Kilda, you’ll definitely deserve a good coffee or a breakfast snack, stay a little later and they do a decent fish and chips.
19. Minimalist suburban brunch vibes
Dundas and Faussett in Albert Park just south of Melbourne CBD, is another gem from the Darling Group. Named because it is at the juncture of Dundas Place and Faussett St, its smart, minimalist layout is a great choice for brunch in a beautiful neighbourhood with its upscale shops and boutiques. With a Southeast Asian flair, the menu includes dishes such as Hotcakes, Bruschetta, French Toast and Omelettes.
20. Instagrammable favourite in Bayside
Arrive at Brighton Soul, on Church St, in the Bayside suburb of Brighton on a weekend, and expect to join the queue for a table at this ever-popular cafe. Dining here is an experience, come for the street art and stay for the food and good vibes.
Start with red velvet, blue algae or taro coffee, then eat dishes such as the ‘Donald Crumble’ waffles served under a dome with dry ice or the ‘Big Zac’ a burger with thick-cut bacon and waffle fries. The owners have recently opened the popular dinner restaurant Bobby Pearl next door.
21. 30 years of breakfast magic
Also in Brighton at the other end of Church Street sits one of Bayside’s if not Melbourne’s most popular institutions. The Pantry Dining Room offers a homely setting, friendly staff and breakfast staples such as Eggs Benedict with perfectly poached eggs, and the healthy option of Breaky Greens or Kabir Eggs.
Alongside tasty Lavazza coffee, the team also serve up a range of breakfast cocktails and non-alcoholic fresh juices. Their all-day menu is also worth a look and they offer some of the best burgers in Melbourne.
22. Laneway luxe
Krimper Cafe is a large industrial space and a popular place for brunch in Melbourne. You’re guaranteed to find something you like on the menu offering food specials such as French Toast, thick-cut bacon and Waffles, and Zucchini and Corn fritters. Coffee is courtesy of Proud Mary roasters, grab it to take away and explore Melbourne’s greenest laneway, Guildford Lane.
23. North Melbourne breakfast
From Melbourne coffee legends St Ali, comes Auction Rooms, an upscale rustic cafe with indoor/outdoor street seating in north Melbourne only a couple of kilometres from Melbourne CBD. Noted for its brunch food like Eggs Your Way and Brioche French Toast are par for the course here, sitting well with Mexican and Middle Eastern dishes too.
24. Country charm in the South Melbourne market
Set in South Melbourne market foot hall, Proper and Son is a homely cafe inspired by the country style. The open kitchen adds a warm and friendly atmosphere and is slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the South Melbourne market. They offer an all-day dinner, but the star has to be the famous egg rolls. Coffee is by ever-popular Industry Beans.
25. A warm welcome guaranteed
One of the places to be seen at the Richmond end of Chapel Street, South Yarra is Middle South East. Not only popular amongst the social media crowd, but the service here is genuinely friendly and the cafe is still family-owned and run. Pale pink and blue hues, terrazzo and brass are the go here. Coffee is freshly brewed in-house and the food is Melbourne breakfast staples with a Middle Eastern flavour. One not to be missed.
26. Hearty fayre in the heart of Bayside
Oli and Arie is on Were St, Brighton. In an industrial light-filled setting, this Bayside cafe offers sweet and savoury delights that feature Armenian Breakfast Pizza as well as a range of sandwiches (with fries!) and the portions are incredibly generous.
27. All day good vibes
Set in a beautiful old bluestone building, Archie’s All Day is a place that turns breakfast upside down. With salads and burgers available all day, you can also have a standard brekky too – whatever the hour. Archie’s is the perfect place to watch the world go by, and listen to some good tunes, before hitting up Gertrude St for some retail therapy.
28. Nostalgic charm
Once at risk of closing due to COVID, Jerry’s Cafe milk bar in Elwood has had a regeneration but kept its old worldly style. The menu changes regularly and they make a number of their baked goods in-house. Coffee is by Inglewood Coffee Roasters and their cafe cuisine includes acai bowls and egg dishes.
29. Breakfast Italian style
Walking into Brunetti Oro on Flinders Lane in Melbourne CBD can initially be quite daunting. This popular Italian-style cafe has various areas or stations that include coffee, cakes, gelato, pizza, pasta and later in the day, Cicchetti.
The charm here is that you’ll get one of the quickest brunch in Melbourne, there is always enough seating, inside or out, and there is always enough choice – for everyone. So it’s always a win-win for business meetings or a quick catch-up in the city with friends.
30. Go-to beach brunch spot
Lenny’s is a resort-style cafe with a seasonal menu. The additional benefit here is the vast menu that offers the likes of Philly Cheesesteak Subs to Chorizo Benedict. Four-legged friends are also welcome here, as the cafe is named in honour of the owner’s dog!
More Melbourne travel guides to inspire you
- 15 Best Sandwiches In Melbourne You Absolutely Need To Try In 2023!
- 10 Best Melbourne Restaurants You’ll Be Craving In No Time
- 10 Best Things To Do In Thornbury Melbourne
- Where To Live In Melbourne By A Local
And if you’re in Sydney, check out our Best Breakfast In Sydney Guide!
Best breakfast in Melbourne
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