They say you can’t improve on perfection, but the sandwich, in all its guises and glories, might just be the best thing since sliced bread – and it’s getting better. Every year the naysayers cry bust, but the city’s sandwich boom carries on booming.

That’s why it was an extremely difficult decision to whittle down the city’s best for Good Food’s Essential Melbourne Cafes and Bakeries of 2025. Presented by T2, the guide celebrates the people and places that shape our excellent cafe and bakery scenes and includes more than 100 venues reviewed anonymously across 10 categories, including icons, those best for food, tea, coffee and matcha, and where to get the city’s best sweets, sandwiches and baked goods. (These reviews also live on theGood Food app, and are discoverable on the map.)

Masses Bagels

This hol(e)y grail went from luring masses to the Carlton Farmers Market to opening its own venue in January. The wild-fermented bagels (by an ex-Etta, Embla and Hector’s Deli chef) have an addictive chew and are often still warm when magicked into tartines with atypical toppings. Where else is an everything bagel schmeared with goat’s feta and topped with persimmon, salsa verde and fennel-jalapeno oil?

Good to know: Staff can suggest which bagel (there are five choices) pairs best with your toppings.

5 Smith Street, Fitzroy, instagram.com/masses_bagels

Applehead Deli

From pickles to pastrami, this humble, community-driven spot makes almost everything in-house. Kids are given chalk for doodling, and staff are friendly enough to feel like family. An old-school meatball roll gets a fresh twist from basil-almond pesto, while chicken melts are just the right side of oozy. New specials each weekend keep regulars coming back.

Good to know: Hot sauce from the side cabinet adds the perfect kick to any dish.

100 Latrobe Street, Mentone, instagram.com/applehead_deli

Zita’s Focaccia

The essence of Italian summer is palpable at this sunny sanger spot, beneath a yellow-and-white awning. Slow-fermented dough produces Genovese-style focaccia that’s baked fresh every morning, with light, fluffy results. It’s the perfect vehicle for loaded sandwiches. Feeling adventurous? Fremantle octopus cosies up to stracciatella and ’nduja in a hulking number that strays far from your typical ham and cheese.

Best for: Generously filled focaccia requiring two hands and a decent appetite.

16 Toorak Road, South Yarra, zitasfocaccia.com

Stefanino Panino

Nailing old-school Italian deli sandwiches in new-school surrounds – that’s what makes Stefanino a star. Crunchy ciabatta rolls are stuffed with freshly shaved salami, tomato, buffalo mozzarella and basil, or house-roasted porchetta, roasted peppers, provolone and Dijon. You can also build your own from a selection of salumi, cheeses, spreads, and fresh and preserved produce. Then beat the post-lunch slump with an espresso and cannoli.

Good to know: Drop in before noon if you want to skip the lunch rush.

Collingwood Yards, 4/30 Perry Street, Collingwood, instagram.com/stefanino.panino

Hector’s Deli

When Hector’s hit Richmond in 2017, it signalled a seismic shift in the sandwich scene. The team’s fine-dining chops didn’t mean flourishes that were fancy for fancy’s sake; rather, souped-up versions of staples we already knew and loved. These days, that’s less novel, but Hector’s prevails. With many new locations and menu items, Hector’s is still what many Melburnians (and out-of-towners) consider the city’s No.1 sandwich shop.

Good to know: The breakfast muffins give Macca’s a considerable run for its money.

Multiple locations, hectorsdeli.com.au

Marko’s Schnitzel

If you’re reading this from the south-east, this probably won’t be news to you. But if you don’t get to Moorabbin much, you might not know that for 16 years, it’s been home to a sandwich shop that puts newer, more hyped openings to shame. Tradie hotspot Marko’s does elite choose-your-own-adventure schnitzel sangers, with an old-school salad bar you’ll want to make friends with.

Good to know: There are four types of house-made schnitties on offer. Our pick is garlic and paprika.

2/159 Chesterville Road, Moorabbin, 03 9555 3228

Phuoc Thanh

The family-owned Phuoc Thanh’s original Richmond bakery has been a beacon for banh mi lovers for more than 20 years. The bread, baked fresh daily, is so consistent (and consistently crusty) that it’s supplied to banh mi bar Ca Com. Just as unwavering is the pork, whether grilled, imparting its juicy goodness throughout your roll, or in chunks crowned with crispy crackling.

Good to know: Phuoc Thanh has since expanded to the CBD and Chadstone.

Multiple locations, phuocthanhbakery.com

Rocco’s Deli

Melbourne’s sandwich culture owes a lot to Italian delicatessens. And one of the standard-bearers is Rocco’s Deli, which has been piling high panini on the west side since 1977. Everyone is ordering its namesake Rocco Roll: your sliced-to-order cold cut(s) of choice with pesto, cheese, eggplant, green olives and semi-dried tomatoes.

Must order: The meatball sub is on the menu sporadically, so if you see it, order it.

122 Roberts Street, Yarraville, instagram.com/roccos_delicatessen

Ruben’s Deli

Contrary to popular belief, this Kings Arcade spot isn’t named for the Reuben sandwich (rather, its owner is Amanda Ruben), but it sure makes a mean one. The house-smoked pastrami is thickly sliced, extraordinarily tender and liberally stacked, served on rye with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing. Meat-averse? The salad sanger on seeded spelt is a worthy alternative.

Best for: Sandwiches and filled bagels, but also take-home provisions such as cured fish and chicken soup.

Kings Arcade, 978 High Street, Armadale, rubensdeli.com

In a room dominated by a glimmering silver bench, busy staff dispatch banh mis to metal trays. The food celebrates Australia yet is unapologetically Vietnamese-Laotian. The owners, also of polished Vietnamese restaurant Anchovy next door, invest the time to make their own cold cuts and fish sauce. A counterpoint to outdated concepts of what banh mi can be.

Must order: Pork belly banh mi, delivering layers of delicious complexity.

Good Food’s Essential Melbourne Cafes and Bakeries of 2025, presented by T2, celebrates the people and places that shape our excellent cafe and bakery scenes and includes more than 100 venues reviewed anonymously across 10 categories, including icons, those best for food, tea, coffee and matcha, and where to get the city’s best sweets, sandwiches and baked goods. Download the Good Food app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to discover what’s near you.