Melbourne and Coffee are synonymous. So excited we were, we drank way too much coffee every day and had too many pastries as we roam the streets of Melbourne city. Here is a list of the best cafes and bakeries in the city you should visit when you are next here!

Melbourne CBD

Patricia Coffee Brewers
A charming back-alley café in the heart of Melbourne, this is one popular spot opened since 2011 for your daily coffee fix. It roasts its own coffee and food items feature pastries from the brand’s favourite local bakeries, including Baker Bleu, Mörk, Small Batch, Little Bertha, All Are Welcome and others. It is a small and cosy space where you can just stand by the window, enjoy a good cup of coffee, and watch the world go by. Outdoor seats by the alley are also available. Service is excellent.

Address: Rear of, 493-495 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Bakemono Bakers
Amongst our first stop, the bakery is in the midst of the city, operated by a Japanese community. No dine-in available, but do not let that dissuade you from visiting here. With the usual Japanese obsession with perfection, the French bakes here are a joy to enjoy – try the Almond Yuzu Croissant.

Address: 273 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Manchester Press
Using Ona Coffee, an institution here at Melbourne, this is a rustic spot tucked away in a charming lane which you can definitely look to chill in while in the city.

Address: 8 Rankins Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Higher Ground
If there is any café you must visit in the city, this is it. High ceiling, industrial and rustic chic vibes in what used to be a former power station. Make a reservation because the walk-in wait can be long. A popular brunch food item in Melbourne is the Chilli Scrambled Eggs, and here is where you should have it.

Address: 650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Code Black Coffee Flinders Lane
With multiple outlets across Melbourne, Code Black Coffee latest outpost at Flinders Lane is a chic dark theme space for the perfect CBD respite. Plenty of indoor dining seats, and a robust brunch and breakfast menu to feed the CBD crowd.

Address: 189 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Operator 25
Located in a heritage-listed, original telephone exchange building on Wills street, this is an airy space for brunch where the extensive menu features the likes of Char Siu Eggs Benedict as well as other Asian-inspired flavours. Think matcha paleo granola, Balinese pork burger and Thai marinated duck leg for their Asian-influenced mains. Coffee here is from Code Black Coffee.

Address: 25 Wills Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Project Zero
A small coffeeshop tucked away in King Street, Project Zero is a minimalist looking space which serves up robust coffee and pastries such as Almond Croissant. Limited outdoor seats are available. 

Address: Store 1/140 King Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Hardware Societe
Another popular café in downtown Melbourne, it closed its original location, though operates now out from its larger Katherine Place spot. Head here for a more polished French take on café brunch food.

Address: 10 Katherine Place, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Maker Coffee
Located along the quiet lanes behind the busy CBD streets in Melbourne, Maker Coffee offers a great spot to enjoy a good cup of coffee as you escape from the busy city. If the weather is good, grab a sit at the outdoor benches, great for people-watching.

Address: 387 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Fitzroy

Lune Croissanterie
Perhaps the most famous bakery in Melbourne, the branch at Fitzroy is a must-visit with its spacious industrial space with an open kitchen, while the city outlet only offering take-outs. Of course, trying Lune’s croissants is a must, we particularly like the Ham & Gruyere Croissant. Come early or be prepared to queue.

Address: 119 Rose Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Industry Beans
Another coffee roaster in town, their café at Fitzroy is a must visit. Entirely white interiors, with a contemporary industrial theme look, Industry Beans is living up to its name here. Serious coffee drinkers will enjoy their visit here, with various speciality coffee on the menu.

Address: 70-76 Westgarth Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Proud Mary
One of the most well-known cafes in Melbourne, I love the exterior red brick wall facade of Proud Mary and this is a spot where you can expect a solid cuppa coffee be it in their indoor rustic ambience, or the outdoor verandah for some people watching.

Address: 172 Oxford Street, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

Aunty Peg’s
Visit Proud Mary for a brunch, and visit Aunty Peg’s for its coffee bar experience. Both concepts are within walking distance from each, with Aunty Peg’s offering only coffee with a seasonal menu focusing on different themes. From pourovers to Snap Chill, aka Cold Brew Foam Coffee.

Address: 200 Wellington Street, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

To Be Frank Bakery
Frankly, this bakery got our attention as a serious bakery outfit. Head here if you are looking beyond just typical café brunch food. Be early, to avoid disappointment as some of their popular bakes sells out early.

Address: Shop 1/4 Bedford Street, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

Acoffee
Unpretentious café leaving you very much to your own. Not to be taken for granted, the large industrial spaces available for cafes in the outskirts of Melbourne makes these cafes a much better spot to chill in.

Address: 30 Sackville Street, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

Allpress Expresso Melbourne Roastery
Our favourite coffee roasters, we have made it a point to visit every Allpress cafes in each city we visited, including the long drive down to NZ’s Dunedin when Allpress first started, so no exception when it comes to Melbourne. Take a seat at their outdoor tables, sip their coffee and enjoy the conversation.

Address: 80 Rupert Street, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

North Melbourne / Carlton

Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters
Another OG for coffee in Melbourne, started since 2007, Seven Seeds has a couple of cafes in the city. The Carlton location is the largest, and has a great vibe housed within a warehouse amidst the towering skyscrapers around.

Address: 14 Berkeley Street, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

St. Ali & The Queen
This brand needs no further introduction and their latest space at the Queen Victoria Market is a coffee meets cocktails concept. Coffee, pastries, or a cocktail, you decide. The space is gorgeous as well with ample natural light in the day, coupled with warm service from the staff.

Address: 1 Dhanga Djeembana Walk, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Publique Bakery
The brand first opened at the Preston Market before their second outlet at the Queen Victoria Market tucked away at Blender Lane. You will not miss the bakery’s high ceiling shelves are stacked with loaves, rolls and baguettes. The counter is filled with a wide selection of freshly made pastries on-site which include their signature Bow, a pastry filled with almond cream and folded to resemble a Minnie Mouse bow.

Address: 18 Blender Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Small Batch Roasting Co.
Tucked away in a hidden lane from the main road, this is a popular spot in North Melbourne to grab a coffee and pastry. The founder Andrew Kelly is also the man behind another popular café in Melbourne, Auction Rooms, where Small Batch is more of a coffeeshop roastery concept with a focus on sustainable beans. Limited outdoor seats available, but all good vibes.

Address: 3-9 Little Howard Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051, Australia

Bread Club
Losing count of the number of bakeries we visited in Melbourne, though Bread Club is amongst those I will highly recommend. Pity no dine-in here, though you can grab a pastry and roam the industrial-hip vibe of North Melbourne. If you are undecided on which pastry to grab, just go with the Almond Croissant!

Address: 558 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051, Australia

Mork Chocolate Brew House
Visited here years back, and here again because it is worth a return visit. Used to have dine-in facilities, Mork Chocolate is now a take-out and retail outfit, though there are some outdoor tables for you to enjoy your hot chocolate and nibs. Go for the classic drinks, and perhaps some of the chocolate powder to enjoy again when you are back home.

Address: 150 Errol Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051, Australia

Brunswick / Northcote

Ona Coffee Melbourne
An OG here in Melbourne, perhaps our expectations were a tad too high, but head here for their coffee and not their brunch food. Having said, the extensive coffee menu will excite any coffee drinkers looking for their unique morning brew.

Address: 22 Ovens Street, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia

Wild Life Bakery
Amongst our last stop before the drive out from Melbourne city, this bakery café is a must-visit. Using Market Lane beans and Mork Chocolate, have these with their own bakes. Recommend the Cheese Toasties.

Address: 90 Albert Street, Brunswick East VIC 3057, Australia

All Are Welcome
A place where All Are Welcome! Bakery concept with limited seatings, mainly catering to take-out orders. Grab some of the freshly baked French pastries or sourdough bread if you are in the area.

Address: 190 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070, Australia

South Melbourne / South Yarra

Tivoli Road Bakery
Located at South Yarra, Tivoli Road Bakery offers fresh bakes for take-outs. Always nice to grab a pastry, and just chill along the streets of Melbourne people-watching. Wide selections of bakes here, expect a queue.

Address: 3 Tivoli Road, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia

St Ali Coffee Roasters
This is perhaps our favourite café during our stay in the city. Both al-fresco and indoor seatings are great, and make sure you order their Truffle Cheese Toast and Magdalene! The latter is made aka minute and comes with a lemon curd, the pairing is to-die-for! Grab some of the merchandise too, their Nespresso-compatible capsules are good.

Address: 12-18 Yarra Place, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Agatha Patisserie
This popular pastry booth at South Melbourne Market offers an extensive selection of bakes and sweets. Only available for take-outs, expect a snaking queue here.

Address:  322 Coventry Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Market Lane Coffee
One of the well-established coffee roasters in the city, Market Lane Coffee now spots a few branches across the city, and we gladly visited a couple during our trip here. Love a café that makes effort for its aesthetics too, each of its branches are designed slightly differently but with the same welcoming vibes. At 305 Coventry St.

Address: 305 Coventry Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Ranted By The Rantee