MELBOURNE | Melbourne’s breakfast and brunch culture is world-renowned for a reason. From third-wave coffee roasteries and classic smashed avo on toast, to Middle Eastern spreads, Japanese teishoku sets, Sri Lankan hoppers, and Southeast Asian bakeries, the city’s morning dining landscape is as diverse as it gets. Whether you’re looking for a quick espresso and pastry or a long, sit-down session with friends, here is my guide to the best breakfast and brunch spots across Melbourne.
At-A-Glance: Top Melbourne Brunch Spots
| Venue | Suburb / Area | Cuisine / Specialty | The City Lane Highlight |
| A1 Bakery | Brunswick (Inner North) | Lebanese Bakery & Café | Fresh-baked za’atar flatbreads & cheese pies |
| Archie’s All Day | Fitzroy (Inner North) | Modern Australian / All-Day Diner | Classic fried chicken waffles & morning cocktails |
| Beautiful Jim Key | Brunswick (Inner North) | South Asian Inspired Brunch & Café | Creative brunch plates & specialty coffee in a cosy setting |
| Beit Siti | Coburg (North) | Palestinian / Middle Eastern | Traditional home-style Levant breakfast spreads & sahlep |
| Bola Bake | Airport West (West) | Asian/Australian Fusion Brunch & Café | Squid ink mentaiko, Okono Benny & specialty lattes |
| Bossa Nova | Carlton (Inner North) | Brazilian Café | Tropeiro, moqueca curries, coxinhas & bombocado cake |
| Bottari | Melbourne CBD (Central) | Korean Comfort & Café | Korean-style street toasties & black sesame lattes |
| Brunswick Eats | Brunswick East (Inner North) | Neighbourhood Café & All-Day Brunch | Melbourne brunch plates by a former Hardware Société chef |
| Cham | West Melbourne (CBD & Central) | Vietnamese / Modern Asian | Bánh mì chảo skillets, iced-egg coffee & short grain sticky rice |
| Code Black Coffee | Brunswick & CBD | Specialty Coffee & Express Brunch | Batch brew, roastery flights & gourmet breakfast rolls |
| Dua Bakehouse | Collingwood (Inner North) | Swedish-Malaysian “Scandinasian” Bakery | Pandan Princess Cake, semla buns & siu mai sausage rolls |
| Eli Café | Coburg (North) | Filipino Bakery & Café | Freshly baked pan de sal, ube lattes & silog breakfasts |
| Emil’s Cafe | Pascoe Vale South (Inner North) | Modern Australian / Middle Eastern Café | Shakshuka with hummus, za’atar flatbreads & knafeh |
| Falco Bakery | Collingwood (Inner North) | Artisanal Bakery & Café | Cardamom buns & house-loaved sourdough breakfast sandwiches |
| Glory Us | Strathmore & Fitzroy North | Modern Australian Neighbourhood Café | Seasonal breakfast plates & Rumble Roasters coffee |
| Halaya | Melbourne CBD (Central) | Filipino Bakery & Café | Ube Longanisa Benny, Brisket Bistek Melt & Ube Champorado |
| Hardware Société | Melbourne CBD (Central) | French-Inspired Brunch | Baked eggs with chorizo & lobster Benedict |
| Higher Ground | Melbourne CBD (Central) | Refined All-Day Dining | Ricotta hotcakes & slow-cooked lamb shoulder |
| Ima Asa Yoru | Brunswick (Inner North) | Japanese Morning Sets | Traditional Ichiju-Samsai breakfast (grilled fish & rice) |
| Industry Beans | Fitzroy (Inner North) | Coffee Roastery & Seasonal Brunch | Bubble coffee & pandan waffles |
| Karé | West Melbourne (CBD & Central) | Japanese Curry House & Morning Café | Japanese Yoshoku morning plates & house-curried dishes |
| Lankan Tucker | Carlton (Inner North) | Sri Lankan Brunch | Turmeric egg hoppers and biriyani burritos |
| Lunar by Hikari | Brunswick (Inner North) | Japanese Specialty Café | Japanese-style morning coffee, sandos & matcha treats |
| May Bakes | Richmond (Inner East) | Vietnamese-Inspired Bakery & Café | Shio pan “pho-wich”, bánh gối & sticky corn coffee |
| Miyama | Melbourne CBD (Central) | Japanese Café & Desserts | Matcha lattes, fluffy pancakes & Japanese sandos |
| Napier Quarter | Fitzroy (Inner North) | Artisanal Espresso Bar & Wine Bar | Anchovy toast & organic sourdough pastries |
| Neruda’s | Brunswick (Inner North) | South American Café | Chilean empanadas, complete hot dogs & alfajores |
| ONA Coffee | Brunswick East (Inner North) | World-Class Specialty Coffee & Brunch | Reserve espresso flights & quality breakfast plates |
| Plus Coffee Kitchen | Carlton (Inner North) | Modern Australian / Asian Infused | Great coffee & seasonal soufflé pancakes |
| Rosso Coffee Experience | North Melbourne (Inner North) | Coffee Roastery & Café | Single-origin flights & classic roastery brunch |
| Top Paddock | Richmond (Inner East) | Modern Australian Icon | Blueberry & ricotta hotcake with seeds and berries |
| Vertue Coffee Roasters | Carlton (Inner North) | Laneway Roastery & Café | On-site roasted coffee & elevated Melbourne classics |
| Wide Open Road | Brunswick (Inner North) | Industrial Roastery & Café | Single-origin batch brew & seasonal avocado toast |
| Zaatar | Coburg (North) | Lebanese Bakery & Middle Eastern Eatery | Oven-fresh za’atar pizza, halloumi pies & breakfast platters |
CBD & Central
Bottari (Melbourne CBD)
Bringing Korean café aesthetics to the city centre, Bottari serves thick-cut street toasties, fluffy egg sandwiches, and nutty black sesame and grain lattes that make for a satisfying morning treat.
Read More: Read my full review of Bottari, Melbourne CBD
Cham (West Melbourne)
Run by chefs Tony Nguyen and Christa Chan-Nguyen, Cham delivers a design-forward Vietnamese breakfast experience on Peel Street. Don’t miss their signature bánh mì chảo (sizzling skillet with pâté, meatballs, and fried egg), northern-style short grain sticky rice, or iced-egg coffee featuring beans from Saigon roaster Every Half.
Read More: Read my full review of Cham, West Melbourne
Code Black Coffee (Melbourne CBD & Brunswick)
Operating out of their cavernous industrial Brunswick roastery and their streamlined CBD Morning Bar, Code Black remains a stalwart of Melbourne’s coffee scene. They have a few locations now, and all are great. Pair their precision single-origin brews with an elevated, seasonal brunch menu.
Read More: Read my full review of Code Black Morning Bar
Looking purely for your next espresso fix?
Read my dedicated guide to the Best Coffee in Melbourne’s CBD for my top stand-up espresso bars, single-origin roasters, and laneway filter spots.
Halaya (Melbourne CBD)
Tucked into Spring Street in the CBD, Halaya showcases vibrant Filipino flavours mixed with Melbourne café culture. From rich ube cloud lattes to an inventive Ube Longanisa Eggs Benedict on pandesal, Brisket Bistek Melts, and Bicol Express buttermilk fried chicken bowls, it’s a stand-out morning stop.
Read More: Read my full review of Halaya, Melbourne CBD
Hardware Société (Melbourne CBD)
One of Melbourne’s most famous breakfast destinations, Hardware Société continues to draw queues for its French-accented menu. Expect decadently baked eggs served in cast-iron pans, lobster Benedicts, and fried brioche.
Higher Ground (Melbourne CBD)
Housed inside a soaring, heritage-listed former power station, Higher Ground offers one of the most striking dining rooms in the city. The menu elevates Melbourne café classics, highlighted by their famous thick-cut ricotta hotcake topped with seeds, berries, and edible flowers.
Read More: Read my full review of Higher Ground
Karé (West Melbourne)
Specialising in Japanese Yoshoku comfort dining, Karé in West Melbourne serves rich, house-crafted Japanese curries, katsu sandos, and morning plates alongside excellent specialty coffee in a bright, modern space.
Read More: Read my full review of Karé, West Melbourne
Miyama (Melbourne CBD)
Located in the heart of the CBD, Miyama blends sleek Japanese minimalism with indulgent café treats. Highlighted by ceremonial matcha, cloud-like Japanese pancakes, and delicate egg salad sandos, it’s a calm oasis in the city.
Read More: Read my full review of Miyama, Melbourne CBD
Inner North & North
A1 Bakery (Brunswick)
A Sydney Road institution for decades, A1 Bakery is legendary for its fresh, affordable, Lebanese baked goods and breakfast plates. Order a warm za’atar flatbread, a cheese pie, or a sujuk pizza straight out of the oven, washed down with sweet Middle Eastern tea.
Archie’s All Day (Fitzroy)
A Gertrude Street institution, Archie’s All Day effortlessly captures Fitzroy’s relaxed dining ethos. Serving from early morning through dinner, the kitchen turns out inventive, crowd-pleasing brunch plates alongside exceptional coffee and morning cocktails.
Beautiful Jim Key (Brunswick)
Tucked away on Wilson Avenue in Brunswick, Beautiful Jim Key offers a creative brunch menu inspired by Melbourne favourites and South Asian flavours. Named after the famous turn-of-the-century horse, this cosy, unpretentious spot turns out inventive, flavour-packed morning dishes alongside top-tier coffee.
Read More: Read my full review of Beautiful Jim Key
Beit Siti (Coburg)
Translating to “Grandmother’s House,” Beit Siti offers deeply comforting Palestinian breakfast spreads in Coburg. Enjoy home-style sofra sets featuring qudsiyeh, labneh, and galayet bandora with unlimited pita, alongside creative third-culture pastries and hot sahlep.
Read More: Read my full review of Beit Siti, Coburg
Bossa Nova Brazilian Café (Carlton)
Owned by Gabriel and Gabriella Gebaile, Bossa Nova brings authentic Brazilian family cooking to Elgin Street. Order dishes you won’t find anywhere else in Melbourne, like tropeiro (smoked chorizo, bacon, beans, and manioc flour), barramundi moqueca curry, crunchy coxinhas, and traditional bombocado cake.
Read More: Read my full review of Bossa Nova Brazilian Café
Brunswick Eats (Brunswick East)
Located on Nicholson Street, Brunswick Eats is a relaxed local spot run by a former Hardware Société chef. Expect great specialty coffee, fresh juices, and consistently high-quality, classic Melbourne breakfast and brunch plates away from the busier strips.
Dua Bakehouse (Collingwood)
Located inside Collingwood Yards, Dua Bakehouse is a Scandinavian-inspired, South East Asian-influenced (“Scandinasian”) bakery by Raymond Tan. Expect Swedish baking culture fused with Southeast Asian ingredients, featuring house-baked breads (shokupan, pandesal, brioche), Pandan Princess Cake, semla buns, and pork & prawn siu mai sausage rolls.
Read More: Read my full review of Dua Bakehouse, Collingwood
Obsessed with viennoiserie and pastries?
Check out my write-up of Lune Croissanterie in Fitzroy for an inside look at Melbourne’s world-famous croissant cube.
Eli Café (Coburg)
Bringing authentic Filipino baking and breakfast traditions to 72 Moreland Road, Eli Café serves up soft, freshly baked pan de sal, sweet ube lattes, and savoury silog plates. It is a warm, family-oriented local spot that showcases the depth of Melbourne’s Southeast Asian food scene.
Read More: Read my full review of Eli Café, Coburg
Emil’s Cafe (Pascoe Vale South)
Converted from a 1978 family milk bar and home by brothers John and George El-Khoury, Emil’s Cafe offers warm neighbourhood hospitality with a menu rooted in Australian and Lebanese traditions. Expect family recipes like shakshuka with hummus, za’atar grilled flatbreads, house-made falafel wraps, and sweet knafeh topped with rose syrup and ice cream.
Read More: Read my full review of Emil’s Cafe, Pascoe Vale South
Falco Bakery (Collingwood)
Situated on Smith Street, Falco combines traditional sourdough baking with modern café culture. Famous for their cardamom buns and savoury breakfast sandwiches, it’s a top choice for a quick morning bite.
Read More: Read my full review of Falco Bakery
Glory Us (Strathmore & Fitzroy North)
Founded by Tori Bicknell and Mike Byard across from Strathmore station, Glory Us focuses on community hospitality and exceptional technique. Highlights include their signature breakfast plate with prosciutto, chevrano goat’s cheese, and caraway burnt butter sourdough, paired with ethically sourced coffee from Rumble Roasters.
Read More: Read my full review of Glory Us
Ima Asa Yoru (Brunswick)
Offering one of Melbourne’s most serene morning options, Ima Asa Yoru serves traditional Japanese breakfast sets (Ichiju-Samsai). Expect perfectly grilled fish, rice, miso soup, pickles, and delicate side dishes alongside filter coffee.
Read More: Read my full review of Ima Asa Yoru, Brunswick
Industry Beans (Fitzroy)
Tucked off Brunswick Street, Industry Beans is an open-plan roastery and warehouse café known for pushing coffee boundaries. Alongside house-roasted single origins, the kitchen serves inventive dishes like coffee-cured salmon and pandan bubble waffles.
Lankan Tucker (Carlton)
Having moved into their vibrant new Carlton home, Nerissa Jayasingha and Hiran Kroon’s Lankan Tucker continues to lead Sri Lankan brunch in Melbourne. Don’t miss their turmeric egg hoppers with Mum’s recipe curry, the handmade Buriyani Burrito, or Sri Lankan iced Milo.
Read More: Read my full review of Lankan Tucker
Lunar by Hikari (Brunswick)
From the team behind Hikari, Lunar brings Japanese minimalist coffee culture to Brunswick. Stop by for delicate pour-overs, ceremonial matcha, and Japanese-inspired morning sandwiches served in a tranquil space.
Napier Quarter (Fitzroy)
Tucked onto a quiet corner in Fitzroy, Napier Quarter is an intimate espresso bar and wine bar. It focuses on organic produce, natural wines, sourdough pastries, and simple, perfect plates like anchovy toast on sourdough.
Neruda’s (Brunswick)
Celebrating Chilean and South American food culture, Neruda’s serves up warm, homemade empanadas, loaded completos (Chilean hot dogs), and dulce de leche alfajores alongside rich espresso in a colourful, music-filled atmosphere.
Read More: Read my full review of Neruda’s, Brunswick
ONA Coffee (Brunswick East)
Founded by World Barista Champion Sasa Sestic, ONA Coffee’s flagship on Maribyrnong Road is a temple to specialty coffee. Featuring an extensive menu of rare reserve beans and exact temperature pour-overs, it’s paired with a refined, seasonal brunch menu.
Read More: Read my full review of ONA Coffee, Brunswick East
Plus Coffee Kitchen (Carlton)
Sitting on the edge of Carlton, Plus Coffee Kitchen takes both brew parameters and kitchen plating seriously. Expect precision pour-overs, inventive egg dishes, and delicate, soufflé-style breakfast pancakes.
Read More: Read my full review of Plus Coffee Kitchen, Carlton
Rosso Coffee Experience (North Melbourne)
More than just a café, Rosso’s North Melbourne flagship offers a complete roastery experience. Sit down for tasting flights of rare single-origin coffees alongside a crisp, high-quality modern brunch menu.
Read More: Read my full review of Rosso Coffee Experience
Vertue Coffee Roasters (Carlton)
Hidden down a secluded laneway in Carlton, Vertue Coffee Roasters is a micro-roastery and café that takes coffee seriously. Paired with seasonal brunch items, it remains one of Carlton’s best-kept secrets.
Wide Open Road (Brunswick)
Housed in a retro-fitted industrial warehouse in Brunswick, Wide Open Road is a favourite among locals. Their on-site roasted single-origin coffees and seasonal brunch dishes make it an essential northern-suburbs stop.
Zaatar (Coburg)
Located at 365 Sydney Road in Coburg, Zaatar is a bustling Middle Eastern bakery and café. Run by brothers Charly and Zak, it serves fresh-baked za’atar flatbreads, halloumi pies, falafel wraps, and generous breakfast platters in a vibrant space.
Inner East
May Bakes (Richmond)
Tucked away at 24 New Street in Richmond, May Bakes brings a unique Vietnamese twist to Melbourne’s bakery and sandwich culture. The signature house-made shio pan “pho-wich” is a must try. It’s a Vietnamese-inspired sandwich filled with pork pâté, slow-braised bò sốt vang, and pickles, served with a rich northern-style pho broth for dunking. Pair it with flaky bánh gối, young-rice cốm pastries, or a sticky corn coffee.
Top Paddock (Richmond)
A pioneer of Melbourne’s modern brunch boom, Top Paddock in Richmond remains as popular as ever. Famous for its thick blueberry and ricotta hotcake served in a cast-iron skillet, it consistently delivers top-tier food and coffee.
West
Bola Bake (Airport West)
Housed inside a converted warehouse in Airport West, Bola Bake turns out outstanding contemporary Asian and Australian fusion brunch dishes. Owner and head chef Pakchima “Mini” Punapaprasurt delivers inventive plates like squid ink mentaiko pasta, okonomiyaki eggs benedict, and Korean fried chicken waffles alongside specialty lattes and house-made cakes.
Read More: Read my full review of Bola Bake, Airport West
Closed But Not Forgotten
Melbourne’s café scene is fast-moving, and while these local spots have permanently closed their doors or shifted away from morning dining, they played an undeniable role in shaping the city’s breakfast and coffee culture:
- Chez Dré (South Melbourne): An iconic French-style bakery and brunch hall hidden down a South Melbourne alleyway.
- Common Galaxia (Seddon): An inner-west pioneer for specialty coffee, timber design, and seasonal morning dining.
- Cumulus Inc. (Melbourne CBD): While Andrew McConnell’s Flinders Lane institution remains open for lunch and dinner, its famous all-day breakfast service and “Full English” are no longer offered.
- Green Park (Carlton North): A beloved neighbourhood café situated right on the Park Street bike path.
- Gypsey & Musquito (Richmond): Known for its dedicated focus on native Australian ingredients, bush spices, and local produce.
- Lady Bower Cafe (Pascoe Vale): Formerly known as Lady Bower Kitchen, a cosy northern-suburbs favourite for home-style baking and preserves.
- Plern (Melbourne CBD): Originally located on Hardware Street in the former White Mojo space, known for its Thai breakfast congee and traditional sweet and savoury morning dishes before closing.
- Small Victories (Carlton North): A Rathdowne Street staple that set high standards for specialty coffee and high-end brunch in Carlton North.
- The Kettle Black (South Melbourne): Famous for its striking heritage terrace design and setting the early benchmark for high-end, plated Melbourne brunch.
- White Mojo (Melbourne CBD & Balwyn): Celebrated for its camera-ready, indulgent brunch creations, soft-shell crab croissants, and black sesame lattes.