(Not quite) a million ways to dine in the west.

FROM Altona to Ardeer, Seaholme to Caroline Springs — and everything in between — these are the best places to brunch in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Make friends with corn fritters at Woodlea's Go West Eatery. Picture: Timothy Grey.

MOVE over Fitzroy, Melbourne might have a new hipster stronghold: the west.

With trendy new cafes popping up almost on the daily (OK, so maybe daily is a slight exaggeration) as well as a host of cool container coffee shops, seaside eateries and barista-come-barber bruncheries, food is definitely going to be how the west was won.

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If it’s been a while since you ventured over the Bolte, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised by the west’s awesomeness. No longer is the gentrification limited to now-trendy urban enclaves the likes of Footscray, Yarraville and Newport. Believe you me, the cool front is definitely settling in everywhere. So if you’re after a new foodie playground to explore, or just can’t be bothered driving to the inner ‘burbs for breakfast, there has never been a better time to go west.

This is our guide to the best brunch spots that aren’t in Footscray, Seddon, Spotswood or Williamstown. Because #suburbanlife

Best of the west

ALTONA

BIRDCAGE CAFÉ: 7 Harrington Square, Altona

Making mornings easier with specialty coffee and sweet treats. Conveniently located over the road from the Westona train station, stop in before work to kickstart your AM.

BESIRK: 1A Millers Rd, Altona

Campos beans and beach views. You know it’s going to be a good when there is Magic on the menu.

HANGAR1ONE2: Shop 5 112 pier street Altona

Dessert for breakfast? Don’t mind if we do. This pavlova pancake with lime chantilly, seasonal fruits and crispy merengue is a must-try. Wash it down with a Code Black coffee. Or a wine (hello, all-day license).

NORFOLK CAFE: 139 Esplanade, Altona

Laid-back cafe with beach views and unpretentious food. Think jaffles, bagels and corn on a stick. Get along on Sundays for music and $10 bowls of steaming hot mussels.

BEACH HOUSE: 22 Pier St, Altona

This is the ultimate family-friendly brunch spot. Atomica coffee and 7 Apples gelato for the adults, playground and character breakfasts for the kids. #winning

CRÈME: 60 Pier Street, Altona

Simple, honest food. Open breakfast through dinner.

TWO BROS ON BLYTH : 51A Blyth Street, Altona

White subway tiles are a dead giveaway that this place is cool. It's probs our new fave for meats, treats and beats. All-day eatery and bar with an impressive and varied menu. We love the Sambal Scramble and the pilates Breaky 22. The Bacon Frenchy is a great hangover cure, too.

PITSTOP CAFÉ: 300/302-330 Millers Rd, Altona North

Family-run cafe offering fresh alternatives to eat in or grab and go.

BACCHUS MARSH

LITTLE LUCKY CAFE: 3 Grant St. Bacchus Marsh

Health-focused eatery offering gluten-free and plant-based options. The new rocky road vegan pancakes with rosewater and mixed berry compote, chocolate ganache a hazelnut and almond crumb, fairy floss and ice cream will rock your world.

BABY BLACK ESPRESSO BAR: 10 Church St, Bacchus Marsh

Delicious coffee, seasonal menu and sweet tunes. Wrap your mouth around the Breakfast Bruschetta. You won’t regret it.

BRAYBROOK

CHURCHILL CELLARS AND COFFEE: 158-160 Churchill Ave, Braybrook

One-stop wine shop, coffee station and snack/sandwich bar. And did we mention alcohol-brewed teas? Now you won’t have to hide your morning GINger tea tonic.

DA COFFEE BEAN: 252 Ballarat Road, Braybrook

If it’s good enough for Dale Morris from the Doggies, it’s good enough for us.

CAROLINE SPRINGS

BREW BROTHERZ: Caroline Springs Central, 12/13 Lake Street, Caroline Springs

It’s the simple things, like coffee dates and croissants, that make life the sweetest.

EFENDI MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE: 25 Commercial Road, Caroline Springs

Open from breakfast through to dinner. Duck in at lunch for a Turkish Adana-style kebab or a chicken or lamb donor.

HOPPERS CROSSING

MORRIS AND HEATH: 13/24-48 Old Geelong Rd, Hoppers Crossing

From the clever folk who brought you 30 Mill Espresso in Malvern and Miss Frank Cafe in Camberwell comes Morris & Heath. Do yourself a favour and check it out.

GRINDSTONE KITCHEN: Shop 2, 50 Old Geelong Road Hoppers Crossing

Bring back lunch dates and get some Tony Montana tacos in ya.

LAVERTON

FAVOR AND GRACE: 87 Railway Ave, Laverton

All-day eatery with a paddock-to-plate ethos. Get around the ricotta and blueberry pancakes with lemon curd, raspberry compote, maple candied walnuts, mascarpone and lemon sugar.

MELTON

LITTLE GEMZ: 323 High Street, Melton

A cafe housed in the former Melton Courthouse. They cater to gluten-free and plant-based diets and have Italian coffee blend Bristot 1919 on pour.

THE JOLLY MILLER: Shop 1, 265-271 High Street, Melton

Local cafe serving fine food, pastries and sweets made fresh on the premises every day. Go for the freak shakes, stay for the delicious breakfast fare.

POINT COOK

COAST CAFE: Corner Citybay Drive and Shiraz Crescent, Saltwater Coast, Point Cook

All-day brekkie is always a good idea. Get some Green Envy with their flavour-packed pesto-scrambled eggs on sourdough with avo and honey-roasted pistachio crumble.

SEVEN OAK TREE: 101/22-30 Wallace Ave, Point Cook

Cafe, bar and bistro with a focus on fresh produce and quality ingredients. The bircher muesli is on point.

GEMELLI CAFÉ: Shop 123, 22-30 Wallace Ave, Point Cook

You can order a Nutella French toast sandwich. BRB. *Starts engine*

WATERSTONE: Greg Norman Drive, Point Cook

This is the social watering hole of the west. Try the Garden Plate. All the cool kids are doing it.

7 BEAMS: Shop 8, 238 Boardwalk Blvd, Point Cook

Because custard doughnuts. That is all.

RAVENHALL

EATING STATION: 269A Robinsons Rd, Ravenhall

Acai bowls with chia popsicles. Fairy floss pancakes. Slow-cooked goat risotto. These guys are nailing the brunch scene.

ROCKBANK

GO WEST TUCK SHOP AND EATERY: 27 Woodlea Boulevard, Rockbank

Urban eatery in the beautiful new Woodlea development. Their turmeric chia pudding is a local fave. The red velvet pancake is also hard to look past. Yes, you read correctly. That does say red velvet pancake. #getinmybelly

SUNSHINE

THE GRANARY CAFE & WINE BAR: 2 Devonshire Road, Sunshine

This charming brunch spot is housed in Sunshine’s heritage-listed Harvester Centre. We love this morning fave of poached egg and avo salsa on sourdough. Because who needs smashed avo when you have avo salsa?

GRIND COFFEE BAR: 1 Foundry Road, Sunshine

Specialty coffee, claypots, breakfast, burgers, matcha lattes and mega shakes. It’s like an explosion of awesomeness.

CAFE MAMBO: Shop 8, Sunshine Marketplace. 80 Harvester Rd, Sunshine

Feeding hungry brunch and lunch goers since 2003. Mambos, as locals call it, is a Sunshine institution. Open breakfast-dinner, seven days.

FOUND 401: Corner Hampshire and Foundry roads, Sunshine

Their beefcake brings all the buns to the yard. And they’re like, we're burger than yours.

We’re not really sure what that means either, but you get the point.

TARNEIT

AT 7GRAMS: Shop 41, 380 Sayers Rd, Tarneit

Money can’t buy happiness but it can buy coffee and cake, which is pretty much the same thing.

LITTLE GROWLING: 180 Davis Road, Tarneit

Grab a freshly baked muffin and coffee to go, or dine in for a wholesome and hearty breakfast.

WERRIBEE

CHATTER BOX: 63 Watton Street, Werribee

The chicken BLT is to dine for.

BLACK SEED: 2-133 Watton Street, Werribee

Humble Harry Roasting Co coffee and house-baked chocolate brownies. Past flavours have included raspberry chocolate and peanut butter crunch. Drool.

THE CROOKED FORK: 1/81 Watton St, Werribee

Forking good food and fine coffee. Try the Buddha Bowl — fried eggplant, grains, zucchini, kale and spring onions with poached eggs and chimichurri. All the yum.

HOT GOSS: 43 Watton St, Werribee

A popular weekend pit stop for cyclists with a wholesome menu and spacious courtyard.

CHIRNSIDE CAFE: Shop 240, Pacific Werribee, Derrimut & Heaths Roads, Werribee

Light and bright cafe with a contemporary, chic fitout. Wrap your tastebuds around the Grilled Greens with roasted cauliflower, hummus, beetroot, smoked almonds, seeds and poached egg.

WHYNDAM CACHE: 243 K Road, Werribee South

This Werribee eatery is a triple threat: cafe, restaurant and gourmet deli in one. Booyah!

CODY’S CAFE: 16/455 Ballan Road, Wyndham Vale

Home of the infamous Scorpion Burger challenge. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to eat a 600g Scorpion Burger doused in four of the hottest chillies in the world.

RAFFAELE’S CAFE: 177 Watton Street, Werribee

Family cafe, bar and grill, established in 2003. Friendly service and delicious food. What more could you want from a local?

JAFFA ESPRESSO BAR: 36 Watton St, Werribee

Unpretentious food. All-day breakfast. Laid-back atmosphere. Enough said.