The best cafes in Melbourne’s outer east

FROM Mooroolbark to Blackburn and Box Hill to Lilydale, we’ve got your lunch goals sorted. Here is our guide to the best cafes in the outer east.

MELBOURNE is known for its cafe culture.

That’s why we’ve spent weeks trawling the state to unearth some of Melbourne’s best-kept brunch secrets. We want to celebrate the local guys that are making our weekend eating rituals that little bit more delicious. So, in honour of the hardworking, local caffeine apothecaries, here is our guide to best places to brunch in the outer east.

CAFE GUIDE: BEST OF THE WEST

BEST BRUNCHES IN THE NORTH EAST

WHERE TO EAT IN THE SOUTH EAST

BRUNCH STARS IN MELBOURNE’S NORTH

*This is how we calculated Melbourne’s outer eastern boundary.

CAFE GUIDE: BEST OF THE EAST

BAYSWATER

HATTER AND THE HARE, 1/21 SCORESBY RD, BAYSWATER

Escape to breakfast wonderland. TRY: Anything on the menu. It’s all amazing. We were particularly taken with Dinah’s Treat — a brownie and buttermilk pancake topped with honeycomb, whipped anglaise, rhubarb and spiced pumpkin caramel.

BLACKBURN

THE LITTLE WOODPECKER: 55 KATRINA STREET, BLACKBURN NORTH

Friendly suburban strip-shop corner cafe with an epic selection of baked treats. TRY: Avo & His Lebanese mates — smashed avocado and feta sitting in a bed of beetroot hummus, served on seeded sourdough and topped with house-made nut dukkah.

AUNT BILLIES: 184 SURREY RD, BLACKBURN

Specialty coffee and beautifully presented plates with a hint of middle eastern inspiration. The modern interior (think polished concrete floors, blonde timber and a wall of ceiling-to-floor windows) is pretty impressive, too. TRY: Ginger panna cotta with poached pears and granola.

FOOD REPUBLIC: 28-30 BLACKBURN RD, BLACKBURN

Recently reopened fusion cafe/restaurant in the heart of Blackburn. House-roasted coffee. Also open for dinner on Friday nights. TRY: Carrot and almond hummus with baked sweet potato, spiced cauliflower, boiled dukkah eggs and herb croutons.

GOURMET GIRL: 21 SALISBURY AVENUE, BLACKBURN

Fully-licensed cafe at Laburnam Village, open breakfast through dinner. TRY: Maple french toast with berries. A house specialty.

CHARLOTTE’S CORNER: 106 CANTERBURY RD, BLACKBURN SOUTH

How do they get them so perfectly round? Stop in for pancakes, coffee and a cronut to-go.

BORONIA

FORAGE FOOD STORE: 157 BORONIA ROAD, BORONIA

When your breakfast matches your juice. TRY: Soft-shell-crab burger in a charcoal bun.

TWO CATS ESPRESSO BAR: SHOP 9 & 10, RAILWAY ARCADE, 255 DORSET ROAD, BORONIA

Specialty coffee and vegan treats from Elena’s Cakes. TRY: The vegan tiramisu or gluten-free lemon and passionfruit slice.

MISH MASH CAFE: 228 DORSET RD, BORONIA

Bacon. Waffle. Eggs. It’s like all our favourite breakfast things in one. TRY: The buddha bowl is great if you want a healthy start to your weekend feast-ivities.

ELSA AND GRAY: 9 RANGEVIEW ROAD, BORONIA

One of Boronia’s best hidden gems. It’s like visiting a friend who also happens to be a really great baker. You can even pick up a beautiful bunch of flowers while you’re there. TRY: Lemon and raspberry cake or an almond croissant.

BOX HILL

THE PENNY DROP: 913 WHITEHORSE ROAD BOX HILL

If you like Middletown in Prahran, you’ll love Penny Drop. Interior design studio We Are Huntly is responsible for the stunning interior, with copper and oak contrasts creating a cosy ambience. TRY: The confit wild mushrooms on crispy polenta with kale, poached eggs and salted ricotta.

CROYDON

LOWER DECK: 6 SAN CARLOS WALK, CROYDON

Go on, you know you want to. TRY: Nutella French toast.

BEKENDALES: 1/50 MAIN ST CROYDON

We’ll just leave this here, shall we. Yes, cheesecake waffles with raspberry compote and coconut crumble are now a thing. TRY: All the waffles. Cheesecake. Chicken. Sticky date pudding. The options are endless.

RUMOUR MILL: 22 MCADAM SQUARE, CROYDON

Health-focused cafe with options to suit all dietary requirements. TRY: Doughnut Waffle sandwich with citrus curd, vanilla cheesecake, candied orange and dark chocolate. Because sometimes it’s healthy to just eat what you want to eat.

KOFI BEANS: 137 MAIN STREET CROYDON

Organic, vegan and gluten-free friendly cafe.

FOREST HILL

THE JOLIMONT: 73 JOLIMONT ROAD, FOREST HILL

Family-friendly cafe with humble breakfast hits. TRY: Eggs benny.

HEATHMONT

Chapter Too

CHAPTER TOO: 110 CANTERBURY RD, HEATHMONT

Buzzing cafe at the top end of Heathmont’s quaint shopping strip. TRY: The Brute. Too poached eggs on corned beef with sourdough toast and hollandaise sauce, topped with pickles.

BARCLAYS CAFE: 196 CANTERBURY ROAD, HEATHMONT

Great value cafe with a mouth-watering selection of chef-baked cakes and slices. TRY: Egg Sombrero. House-made potato AND spring onion rosti topped with tomato relish, baby spinach, Barclay’s chilli beans, field mushrooms and a poached egg.

LILYDALE

HUTCH AND CO: 249-251 MAIN STREET, LILYDALE

With an award-winning fitout designed by interior architects Biasol, this place is bringing plenty of urban chic to the foothills of the Yarra Valley. The coffee — trust us, it’s good — is roasted in-house. And the meals are on point. TRY: Crispy Fritters. Pumpkin fritters with avocado and tahini yoghurt, romesco, za’atar, tomato salsa and zucchini.

ROUND BIRD CAN’T FLY: 170 MAIN ST, LILYDALE

Cafe celebrating local produce, run by ex Yering Station head chef Laura James-Webb. Freshly baked bread, locally roasted coffee, premium milk and boutique wines are a few of the things you will find. TRY: Winter skillet with beans, chorizo, white anchovy, labne, dukkah egg and sourdough.

THE LILYDALE GENERAL: 110 BERESFORD RD, LILYDALE

Get a bright start at the Genny. TRY: Toffee-Apple porridge of oat and buckwheat clusters with apple, caramel, maple and toffee.

MITCHAM

THE MABEL: 9 MCKEON RD, MITCHAM

These guys just get me. Who wouldn’t want to brighter their day with a delicious breakfast and some smooth jazz? They’re also doing some pretty interesting things with their food, like turmeric battered eggplant and camembert with honey, thyme and truffle oil. TRY: Spiced baked cauliflower with pumpkin hummus and house-made dukkah.

DARK HORSE ON THE BRIT: MITCHAM

This local institution is so popular it expanded into the shop next door. All-day breakfast. TRY: Protein Super Brunch with quinoa, kale, chilli, asparagus and egg white. If you’re here for lunch, the eye fillet with prawns, veggies and fried shallots is a steal for $19.50.

TWO BROTHERS: 558 MITCHAM RD, MITCHAM

Friendly cafe run by, as the name suggests, two brothers. Expansive outdoor patio is great in summer. TRY: Gourmet jaffles. Unbeatable.

MOOROOLBARK

MANNA LANE: 9/79B BRICE AVE MOOROOLBARK

Honest food + Specialty coffee. TRY: Head in for lunch and treat yourself to the Popper Burger with jalapeño cheese, relish, pickles, tomato and mixed greens in a brioche bun. Mmmm, burger.

NUNAWADING

THE COAL PIT: 141 SPRINGVALE RD, NUNAWADING

This Middle Eastern-inspired cafe and restaurant is the newest addition to the Nunawading food scene. Open weekends for breakfast. TRY: The Qatayef — two middle eastern style stuffed ricotta pancakes with whipped cream and rose water syrup.

THE PEDDLER: 295B SPRINGFIELD ROAD, NUNAWADING

Rustic, mismatched cafe pumping out Genovese coffee, red velvet lamingtons and smashed avo. What more could one want? TRY: Baked eggs with chorizo, bacon, butter beans, chilli, parmesan and napoli sauce. Because you can never have too much chorizo or bacon.

LITTLE HUGH: 150 ROOKS ROAD, NUNAWADING

We’re calling it. Poached pear and Nutella has to be one of the most underrated combinations ever. See for yourself at this industrial estate cafe (open Mon-Fri). TRY: Hipster Hotcakes. A short stack of ricotta hot cakes with candied bacon, chocolate mascarpone, salted caramel, crushed pretzels and poached pear. This is literally everything you could ever want from a breakfast dish.

RINGWOOD

THE FIREHOUSE: 253-257 MAROONDAH HWY, RINGWOOD

Rustic cafe in a converted fire station. TRY: Breakfast nachos. Poached egg with refried beans, corn tortilla, red salsa and lime. Dinner seven days. Breakfast weekends only.

MISTER FOX: 352 CANTERBURY RD, RINGWOOD

Golf club cafe looking out over the Ringwood Golf Course fairway. TRY: Ooh, Foxey Lady. Poached eggs, smashed pumpkin, raw shredded greens, toasted almonds and vanilla balsamic.

LEAF & VINE: 34 PANFIELD AVENUE RINGWOOD

Modern menu and a beautiful outdoor courtyard with a gorgeous green wall. TRY: Banana pancakes with pecan and chocolate crumbs, honeycomb, vanilla ice cream and maple syrup.

THE YOUNGER BROTHER: 6 RAILWAY AVENUE RINGWOOD EAST

What they said. TRY: Dukkah baked eggs.

BREWHOUSE CAFE: 105 BEDFORD RD, RINGWOOD EAST

This little gem is spicing things up in the Wood. TRY: Their avocado burger is one of the greatest inventions ever. The Ferrero Rocher waffles ain’t bad either.

BRIOCHE BY PHILIP: EASTLAND SHOPPING CENTRE, 171 MAROONDAH HWY, RINGWOOD

Artisan bread, pastries and specialty coffee. TRY: All of their bronuts are worthy, but it is pretty hard to look past a classic cinnamon treat.

CAFE EMJAY: 46 RAILWAY AV, RINGWOOD EAST

Look at this babycino. It is smiling at you. TRY: Freakshakes. Because it's the freakin’ weekend, baby I’m about to have me some fun.

STIRR IT UP: 283 MAROONDAH HWY RINGWOOD

That’s not a pancake. This is a pancake. Coffee by Axil. TRY: Buttermilk mixed berry pancakes.

BEAN IN THE WOODS: 27-29/59-65 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood

Home of delicious coffee and the Big Boy Burger. TRY: The vegan pizzas are on point.

VERMONT

RISE & GRIND 3133: 605 CANTERBURY RD, VERMONT

Friendly, cosy cafe dishing up homestyle food with a modern makeover. TRY: Smashed avo. Pretty hard to beat.

WANTIRNA

THE CAFFEINE SHOT: 117 MOUNTAIN HWY, WANTIRNA

Burgers and coffee. Gluten-free friendly. TRY: The loaded fries are pretty amaze.

KING BEAN: SHOP 7, WANTIRNA MALL, 326-348 MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY, WANTIRNA

Great value local with decent coffee and a delicious menu. TRY: The corn fritters and veggie stack are amaze balls.

HEY MIKEY ESPRESSO: 2/82 LEWIS RD, WANTIRNA SOUTH

Axil coffee. Espressos. Nostalgic jaffles. TRY: The Fresh Prince jaffle with pulled beef, peppers, caramelised onion relish and provolone cheese with a side of crisps.