When I lived and worked in Melbourne CBD, I actually made a promise to myself not to go to the same Melbourne CBD breakfast cafe twice. And, ladies and gentlemen, over the course of AN ENTIRE YEAR, I found a new place to get coffee/brunch EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Eventually, it became a bit of a game with myself – I really wanted to go back to certain places that I loved (which I sometimes did to show off to friends), but when I was alone before work, I literally never visited the same place twice. And now that I have moved back, I like to keep this game going with myself in order to keep this post updated.
I feel that this fact says a LOT about the selection of Melbourne breakfast and brunch, so keep scrolling to get your brunch bucketlist started.
If you are looking for the best brunch Melbourne can offer BEYOND the CBD, scroll to the bottom of this post. I have the best brunches of many suburbs in this guide now (St Kilda, Southbank, South Yarra, Prahran, Richmond, Abbotsford, Fitzroy, and more).
One of my favorite facts to tell my tour groups in the city (I was a walking tour guide) is that Melbourne has more cafes per capita than ANY other city in the world. This is impressive, but what’s even crazier is when I tell you that there are NEARLY ONE THOUSAND cafes within the borders of the Central Business District Itself.
Woah.
Of course, I’m not going to list all 1000 here, but I will surely tell you all the best brunch and breakfast option in the Melbourne CBD. And trust me, I have tried all of them (which is definitely where my paycheck went, but like…. *priorities*).
Melbourne is the king of trendy cafe culture, and you’ll have a ball exploring it. Most of these are also laptop-friendly! So if you’re in Melbourne on any type of Australian visa, you can work remotely from many of these cafes with their wifi, or if it’s too slow, an unlimited data eSIM for Australia!
I have TONS of Melbourne tips on this site. Here are some relevant posts:
- Best Brunch + Breakfast in Fitzroy Melbourne
- The 15 Best Airbnb’s in Melbourne
- Complete Map and Guide to Melbourne Hidden Bars
- 100 Things to Do in Melbourne
- Best Brunch + Cafes in Canggu Bali – just a direct flight away
My Top 10 Breakfast + Brunch Melbourne CBD
It makes the most sense to me to start with my personal top 10 places to get brunch and some of the best breakfast in the Melbourne Central Business District. These are my tried-and-tested favorites in town that I have probably brought friends and family to on weekends and may even have a dish or two to recommend to you.
Pretty much all of these will have great coffee (because, I mean, please, it’s a must in Melbourne) AND great food. Make sure to drink plenty of coffee – not only because it’s delicious, but it’s good for you too!
Krimper Cafe Melbourne
Krimper Cafe is awesome because it’s hidden down a laneway that branches out into three laneways. It’s in an old factory – I can’t remember what kind – but elements of machinery are left over for decor.
It’s hard to spot from the street, so it definitely has that totally-Melbourne hidden feel where you have no idea where you’re going. That is, until you open the big double-door and discover a bustling, popular cafe with a full menu full of all the Melbourne morning breakfast classics and more.
Higher Ground Brunch Melbourne
Higher Ground is another way-too-trendy warehouse cafe with class. It’s got biiiiig high ceilings, brick walls, and tons of plants. They have a fantastic menu for any part of the day, but I think it should be on any Melbournian’s bucket list to try their ricotta pancake at least once.
They also have happy hours, busy lunch, and even dinner – but with amazing coffee and brunch food, I love to go in the mornings. They’re part of the Darling Group which owns tons of equally trendy Melbourne restaurants.
Manchester Press
Manchester Press is another popular hidden cafe down a brick laneway teeming with vines and street art. They have a light and airy vibe inside, great coffee (do I even need to keep saying that?), and actually specialize in BAGELS!
You can get some super-fancy bagels with lots of toppings, or you can opt for blueberry cream cheese and honey. They have something for all hunger levels! Perfect for a delicious Melbourne CBD brunch.
The Hardware Societé
The Hardware Societé is a wonderfully decorated French-inspired cafe in the southwest tip of the CBD. It’s colorful with neon signs and has a great menu.
The menu is actually full of very unique Melbourne CBD breakfast dishes (I loved the eggs, pumpkin, and burrata cheese dish). They are all presented wonderfully, and mix ingredients together that you wouldn’t usually expect.
Vespa Rossa (Bourke Pl Restaurants)
Vespa Rossa (prev. Kaikey’s Lane) is a cute little cafe on Block Pl, a tiny laneway branching off of the Block Arcade. You would miss it easily, but there are actually four cafes tucked into this one laneway! Check them all out, as this tiny buzzy laneway is a great place for a proper Melbourne brunch.
Vespa Rossa is my favorite one of them, for its diverse menu and best breakfast specials (hello, Spanigh Breakfast), but mostly because of their french toast. They have one of the richest french toasts I have ever eaten – it’s SO fluffy and delicious! Highly recommended, but it might be a dish to split.
Axil Coffee Roasters
Axil Coffee Roasters actually has more than 8 or 9 restaurants and cafes in the CBD and beyond, all of which will have AMAZING coffee (they roast their own beans, which are sold all over the city). Some of the smaller Axil’s (i.e. the one off Bourke and Russell) serve delicious jaffles and more.
But, my favorite is their full restaurant, which is tucked into a corporate building on William (off Bourke). This Axil has a full brunch/Melbourne CBD breakfast menu, which is great to impress a friend – presentation is everything here! I loved the fritters.
Cafe Andiamo
Cafe Andiamo is seamlessly blended in with all of the other Degraves Street cafes with tables set smack-dab in the middle of Melbourne’s “Paris-themed” laneway. This is a fabulous place to stop for a coffee while all of Melbourne goes by (this is one of the cutest and busiest food laneways in the city).
Not only do they have excellent coffee, but they have amazing Melbourne breakfast options as well. Think – smashed avo, shakshuka, and other creative options. I recommend to everyone to experience sitting and having a coffee or meal on Degraves Street to truly feel the pulse of Melbourne!
Operator 25
Located near the Queen Victoria Market in the northern part of the CBD, you will find Operator 25: an Asian-inspired cafe with the perfect unique options for Melbourne brunch.
They have both breakfast and lunch options – all deliciously infused with Asian flavors – in a cute space with colorful pop art. I had one of the best pulled pork bennys here I have ever had!
Captains of Industry
I only discovered this place after living in Melbourne for a few years, and it was one of those moments where I both couldn’t believe I hadn’t discovered it yet, and absolutely could. It’s probably the MOST Melbourne-y brunch spot on this list.
See, it’s a second-floor venue hidden up a dark and only modestly marked staircase in a laneway. The spot is a cafe, whiskey bar, barber, AND leather maker in one, selling whiskey, cocktails, sandwiches, a few brunchy dishes, coffee, and leather items like belts and keychains. The furniture is all vintage, with OLD barber chairs and sewing machine tables. It’s SO Melbourne.
The coffee is good and the food is decent – grab a seat by the window to look out over Elizabeth Street right at the old post office/H&M. I had no idea that was possible either.
Mr. Tulk Cafe
Mr. Tulk is awesome. It’s actually part of the State Library of Victoria building, and you can reach the cafe on the La Trobe St side. This place is super cute and popular with students from RMIT or people who have been working inside the Library but needed a quick pick-me-up.
The food here is fantastic and exactly what you would want out of a Melbourne breakfast, but they also have some great takeaway options like sandwiches and baked goods. Make sure to also check out the State Library when you’re here – it’s one of the must places to visit in Melbourne.
More of the Best Brunch + Breakfast Melbourne CBD
Now I’ll list a few more places that are either too small to be listed as ‘breakfast’ (probably amazing coffee) or are still good but just not in my top 10 best Melbourne CBD breakfast spots. Honestly, Melbourne does not have any BAD morning meal. This city has perfected the art.
Grain Store
This is a trendy and more minimalistic little number in the southwest CBD near Southern Cross. The Grain Store has a great brekky menu and some delicious home-baked goods too! The whole space is light and airy and they have great table service.
Chapter House Coffee
Chapter House Coffee is tucked into a tiny pathway next to St Paul’s Cathedral, right across from Flinders St. Train Station and Federation Square. It’s a superb location, but the best part about this place is its fantastic coffee!
This is one of my favorite places to get coffee in the CBD – just a flat white will do! They also have a really diverse menu of breakfast and lunch foods that you can eat as you watch all of Melbourne go by in a secluded (yet well-connected) little church archway.
The Fair Trader
The Fair Trader is slotted in a spot amongst all the corporate high rises at the bottom end of Exhibition Street. The decor inside is set up like that of a trade ship, full of crates, stamps, and burlap bags.
They have a great breakfast menu (get the Egyptian Eggs!) and coffee to match. It’s also very spacious inside, so is perfect for a meeting or simply to sit beside the big long window and watch the craziness of Exhibition Street below.
The Journal Cafe
The Journal Cafe is branched off of the Melbourne City Library, and has an aesthetic to match both its name and library next door! They offer friendly service, great coffee, fast wifi from the Library, and a number of breakfast options as well.
It’s a great place to spend a couple of hours laptop-ing in between obligations in the city – it’s just off Flinders Lane near Degraves!
Cuff Food + Wine
My partner and I stumbled upon Cuff nearly accidentally when scrambling for a bite before work one morning. We hadn’t noticed it before for some reason – perhaps because it’s just as much of a dinner venue as it is breakfast – but we were impressed! Their acai bowl and pesto eggs + croissant were a perfect start to the day.
Industry Beans
Industry Beans is a popular takeaway coffee and Breakfast option in the Melbourne CBD. They just have a small little cafe off Little Collins, but if you make your way up to Fitzroy, check out the proper Industry Beans restaurant.
Up there Industry Beans has even more extensive options and TWO full menus – one on the coffee beans, their origin, their undertones, altitude, and more fancy things I don’t really understand, and the other on food!
Brick Lane Melbourne
This is another cafe in a repurposed old laneway industry building, and it will definitely not disappoint! Brick Lane is known for its coffee and creative brunch options in an old warehouse. Don’t get long along the way!
Cafe Segovia
One of three (or four) cafes tucked into a tiny laneway out of Block Arcade, cafe Segovia has great coffee and Italian food, but also does a mean breakfast. I love all the Block Arcade cafes because you can sit in the tiny laneway and watch people as they go by.
Caffe E Torta
Caffe E Torta must be mentioned when speaking of Melbourne CBD breakfast, not only because of their solid menu (I recommend the smashed avo) but because they also have a great story and location.
This small old-school Italian-themed cafe is tucked into the Little Collins end of the Royal Arcade, making it one of the most beautiful places to sit and eat, ever! It’s also historic – it’s been here since 1869 – so it has seen Melbourne through the ages.
You will surely hear the bells of “Gog and Magog” ring every 15 minutes, and be able to see locals and travelers alike marvel at the beauty of the Royal Arcade.
Soul Soul Cafe
New enough that I don’t have a photo, but iconic enough for me to know that this is GOOD, creative, well-presented, colorful and fun brunch in a moderns space.
Best Brunch Melbourne: Other Suburbs
New as of this year I decided I would share more of my Melbourne breakfast and brunch knowledge on this article because a lot of people are reading it. These are my absolute favorite brunch spots in other suburbs for your eating pleasure.
I’m not going to do too big of a blurb on each place, rather just give some simple descriptions so you can choose more favorites.
Best Brunches in Fitzroy Melbourne
I already have an article about the best breakfast + brunch in Fitzroy with 10+ options, but here are my favorites:
- Industry Beans: Provides coffee for a lot of Melbourne. Green, open, trendy. Has a whole card abut the beans washes and origins.
- Bentwood: Delicious food down a side street.
- Faraday’s Cage: off a graffiti street in Fitzroy in a converted house with lots of plants and BEAUTIFULLY presented food – feels like you’re in a mate’s house
Best Brunches in Southbank, South Yarra & Prahran Melbourne
- St Ali Coffee Roasters (South Melbourne): One of the best brunches in South Melbourne + amazing coffee. Read more in my Southbank Guide
- The Kettle Black (Albert Park): unreal brunch food in an open glass space with tons of plants, simple design, and amazing presentation
- CIEL Cafe (Southbank/South Melbourne): Cute and large cafe in the more industrial back area of Southbank. Plenty of space, great coffee, and delicious brunch meals (I got the brunch burger and it was great).
- Darling Cafe: All about the food presentation – the wilder the better
- The Peacock South Yarra: VERY cute cafe just off Toorak Rd in the fancy part of South Yarra that feels like you’re at a friend’s (amazingly decorated) house and backyard. Food is great but give ‘the peacock’ brekky a miss.
- Yellow Bird (Chapel Street Prahran): Very grunge skater-style restaurant/cafe with all kinds of brunch options and great bloody marys
- Journeyman: one of the best brunch spots on Chapel St
Best Brunch in St Kilda, Melbourne
- Galleon Cafe: An iconic St Kilda brunch spot that has been killing the game for decades – also more affordable
- Jerry’s Milk Bar: This is technically in Elwood but it’s the BEST local spot inside a historic milk bar. they have great coffee and well-presented delish brunch and lunch and even pre-made takeaway sandwiches they can heat up for you.
- Wedge St Kilda: a newer brunch cafe in St Kilda that absolutely kills it with the very Melbourne brunch + great presentation
Best Brunches in Richmond + Abbotsford, Melbourne
Read more about what to do and eat in Abbotsford in my Abbotsford Guide. Abbotsford has some of the BEST and cutest cafes with amazing food and decor scattered throughout the industrial district along the river.
- Au79(Abbotsford): One of the cutest + biggest brunch cafes in Melbourne. Amazing food and design.
- Three Bags Full: In a historic warehouse with great food
- GARY: Cute newer brunch spot right next to the river – perfect for before, after, or during a walk
- Black Gold: Some of the best coffee in Richmond
- Pillar of Salt: Cute spot with patio for brunch or takeaway snacks
And there you go, an excellent list of options for breakfast and brunch Melbourne CBD (and beyond)! It’s surely not 1,000 but I genuinely hope it will do for now.
If it takes you as long to knock out this list as it did me, you’ll have at least a year of solid Aussie brekkie ahead of you! Let me know in the comments what your favorite places are and which ones I should add.
Check out more Melbourne guides for things to do and brunches in different parts of the city:
- Places to Visit in Melbourne Travel Guide + Suburbs
- Things to do in Fitzroy
- Guide to Fitzroy Bars on Brunswick Street and Beyond
- Guide to Southbank Melbourne
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.