Cafes are Melbourne’s superchargers. They provide us with sustenance and crucial caffeination every day, but they’re also anchors for community and sites of experimentation. Naarm’s daytime darlings shine with creativity at all points of the compass, providing perfect cremas and brunch every which way, always with a side of joy.

In the lead up to The Age Good Food Guide 2025, we charge our lattes and reveal our best.

279

Sure, there’s excellent coffee, but 279 is also the city’s premier onigiri specialist. The Japanese rice balls are topped with chilli-cured cod roe, salted kelp, or bonito flakes with grilled cheese. Supersize yours with a bento at lunch, and don’t forget a mochi doughnut − made with glutinous rice flour − on your way out.

279 Victoria Street, West Melbourne, 279victoriast.co

All Are Welcome

East Ivanhoe is the third lucky suburb to be adopted by this regularly mobbed bakery. Crusty loaves are a grab-and-go mainstay, but take a seat for supersized sausage rolls, seasonal sandwiches (perhaps chicken with crunchy apple slaw), and something from the dazzling pastry display. Chase it with an Everyday Coffee espresso.

255 Lower Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe East, all-are-welcome.com

BKK Lab

Boundary-pushing BKK takes Aussie brunch staples and turns them into cultural mash-up marvels. Chilli scramble comes with roti, and a meatball sub is made with massaman flavours. There are also Asian classics like congee and souffle pancakes. The coffee hits right but you can caffeinate more wildly with Thai milk tea tiramisu, a dessert and drink in one.

63 Koornang Road, Carnegie, instagram.com/bkk_lab

Bola Bake

This roller-doored backstreet warehouse is an extraordinary find. It’s been transformed into a vintage-inspired, plant-filled hangout with excellent coffee and matcha. Key dishes include honey-butter shokupan with creme caramel, and squid ink breakfast spaghetti with a sauce made from the Japanese salted roe mentaiko.

22 Fraser Street, Airport West, instagram.com/bolabake.melb

Caffe Amatrice

The terracotta and marble interior channels northern Italian style, and the menu balances classic and contemporary. Brunch might be stracciatella with smoked salmon, herb oil, a boiled egg and rye bread, or thick-cut focaccia sandwiches of porchetta and apple slaw. A rooftop restaurant, Amatrice, has opened too, just in time for summer.

16 Stephenson Street, Cremorne, amatrice.com.au

Cathedral Coffee

Its footprint may be smaller than some cafe’s coolrooms, but Cathedral is no lightweight. Pedestrians escape Swanston Street for Baker Bleu pastries and generous sandwiches, and at night there are cult wines, martinis, duck rillettes and tinned fish. Sore heads are handled the next day with caffe corretto: espresso and a shot of liqueur on a silver tray.

Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/ccmelbourne

Chiaki

A calm and elegant space belies the obsession that goes into every cup of coffee here, whether a single-origin Burundi filter or a refreshing long brew mixed with coconut and peach. Ochazuke – rice with toppings such as wagyu doused with dashi – are comforting, and at night there are izakaya-style snacks with sake.

49 Peel Street, Collingwood, chiaki.com.au

Code Black Morning Bar

The local roaster’s newest location is a clubby den of dark timber and soft light. Fuel up with egg breakfasts on soda bread, or head to the filter bar for single origin specials and sommelier-style service. Need more kicks? The Smoky is made with cold filter, mezcal, raspberry and elderflower.

189 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, codeblackcoffee.com.au

Core Roasters

There’s no better place to nerd out on coffee than Core. Bring your dog, head through the roller door and enjoy impeccable coffee from small-batch, sustainable growers, as well as pastries baked on site. The only hard part? Choosing between pandan kaya croissant toast and mushroom rendang hand pie.

14 Barkly Street, Brunswick East, coreroasters.cc

Emil’s Cafe

Emil and Houda El-Khoury brought up six kids in the house behind their milk bar; now the next generation has turned the whole place into a cafe. There’s heartwarming memorabilia on the walls, and food nods to the family’s Lebanese heritage with hummus shakshuka and chargrilled spatchcock with toum.

347 Reynard Street, Pascoe Vale South, emils.com.au

Florian

This Euro-coded spot is the star of Rathdowne Village for good reason. Marble-topped tables, antique crockery and elegant bric-a-brac set the stage for greeting the sun, ditto the breakfast plate of soft-boiled eggs, gravlax and rye. Lunch is about comfort-centric pastas and loaded sandwiches. A new homewares range brings the je ne sais quoi to all.

617 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North, floriancarlton.com.au

Glory Us

You might not think Fitzroy North needed any more cafes but turns out there was a gap shaped just like Glory Us. Grab Rumble coffee from the takeaway window or sit at the communal table in the plywood-lined space for a crunchy salad sandwich or modern ploughman’s platter with goat’s cheese, onion jam and pickles.

73 Reid Street, Fitzroy North (also at 64 Woodland Street, Strathmore), gloryus.com.au

Hector’s Deli

Melbourne’s pioneer of the statement sandwich elevates the form to an art. Beef brisket with mustard pickles and kraut on rye will whisk you to Brooklyn, while a chicken schnitzel flaps satisfyingly over the edges of its bun. A square, maple-glazed doughnut is the perfect companion piece.

253 Coventry Street, South Melbourne, hectorsdeli.com.au

Ima Asa Yoru

You’ve got choices. Are you up for lingering? Settle into the blue-splashed Ima Asa Yoru for a teishoku set: a tray crammed with pickles, rice, miso soup and a nourishing hot dish such as rice porridge. Just after a quick fix? Head to Ima Pantry down the street for takeaway onigiri, chicken karaage sandwiches and matcha lattes.

1 Duckett Street, Brunswick, imaproject.co

Leaps and Bounds

Named after the Paul Kelly song, this sun-drenched shop strikes a chord with its ’80s playlist and all-day brekkie, which stars a Maccas-esque sausage and egg muffin. Come lunch, vibrant salads – perhaps roasted beet, pearl cous cous and maple tahini – hit all the right notes, too.

84 Bridport Street, Albert Park, instagram.com/leapsandboundsalbertpark

Lilijana

It’s all very Melbourne: a Scandi cafe by a Hong Kong-born ice hockey pro and named after a Slovenian grandmother. Lilijana’s salmon is house-cured and served with ricotta, pickles, eggs and sourdough. Buns are baked out back for $9 snack-size pastrami rolls, and cinnamon and cardamom twists are perfect for fika, the Swedish tradition of slowing down for coffee and cake.

169 Bay Street, Port Melbourne, lilijanaeatery.com.au

Locavore

At the gateway to the Yarra Valley, Locavore’s team takes regional produce and turns it into flavourful brunches. A green bowl comes with nettle pesto and smoked beetroot, and smashed avo is dressed up with charred spring onion and nashi pear. It’s run by a wedding caterer, so expect a little special occasion flair.

148 Main Street, Lilydale, locavorestudio.com.au

Lumen People

Everything here is thoughtfully procured. Coffee is ethically sourced (and meticulously made). Day to night plates include milk buns stacked with Burd eggs and cheddar, a tartine of Brussels sprouts and ricotta, and Mount Zero lentils with pork and fennel sausage. Wine is small-batch and responsibly farmed, and the slender space is cheery and welcoming.

520 Victoria Street, North Melbourne, instagram.com/lumenpeople

Market Lane

The flagship of this leading roaster has become a meeting place for Prahran Market shoppers. Ethically sourced filter and espresso beans are roasted on-site and simple snacks include granola, pastries and sandwiches made with market ingredients (plus mushroom burgers with herb butter on weekends). Coffee tasting sessions are open to all, too.

Shop 13, 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra, marketlane.com.au

Masak Masak

There’s a feeling of merry-making at this former butcher shop, where an ex-Copper Pot chef draws influence from Singapore. There’s kaya toast with thick slabs of butter, beef rendang, breakfast laksa and tiger rolls stuffed with pork belly. There’s also sirap bandung, made with rose syrup, and the espresso is on point too.

128 Robert Streets, Yarraville, instagram.com/masak___masak

Migrant Coffee

Migrant’s bagels borrow from the owners’ Filipino, Thai and Islander heritage. One might come layered with smoked chicken, chilli oil, Kewpie mayo and cheddar; another with avocado, coconut and pesto. Take yours with Coffee Supreme espresso, Thai iced tea or a frosty beer in the open-air area out the back.

Shop 3, 576 Barkly Street, West Footscray, migrantcoffee.com

Moon Mart

After cracking Melbourne’s brunch code, runaway success Moon Mart has left its original button-cute North Melbourne digs for an equally petite address across town. The funky kimchi jaffles with fermented garlic honey also made the move, as did the beloved bulgogi sausage and egg muffin. While you’re there, stock up on house gochujang and XO sauce.

315 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, moonmart.com.au

Nabo

Nabo means “neighbour” in Danish, and this serene cafe embodies its moniker with vinyl nights, supper clubs, Melbourne-made jam on the shelves, and regular creative workshops. Alongside smorrebrod with seasonal toppings, find porridge with roasted fruit and a buckwheat crepe with almond tarator. House-baked cakes are impressive − and irresistible.

2A Williamstown Road, Kingsville, instagram.com/nabo.kingsville

Ophelia

Ophelia is part-cafe, part-wine bar with an “ever-evolving” menu. A glass cabinet houses sandwiches and salads of the day, as well as the rotating savoury scone and baked goods galore. A handful of cocktails and a locally charged wine list are available at lunchtime, with plans to extend this to nighttime trade​.

85 High Street, Northcote, instagram.com/opheliawestgarth

Rombe

Next to the rooftop garden at Burwood Brickworks is the spacious Rombe, where poached eggs come with vadouvan butter and smoked carrot puree, and a bright raw vegetable salad teams with peanut butter hummus. Cakes are startlingly pretty and drinks include the Coco Cloud, made with matcha cream and pomegranate pearls.

T38-39/70 Middleborough Road, Burwood East, rombe.com.au

Roslyn Thai Cafe

Mornings are brighter at Roslyn. That may be thanks to deep bowls of pork congee harbouring soft-boiled eggs, delivered with youtiao for dipping. Or cold brew that doubles as dessert, capped with thick coconut cream and caramelised coconut. Add a towering slice of cake and you’ll be radiant.

477 King Street, West Melbourne, roslynthaicafe.com

Skinny’s Eatery

This retro charmer hoists the Melbourne milk bar to new ground. A nostalgic menu includes Italian-American sandwiches as well as British staples such as Welsh rarebit and scotch eggs. Closer to home are chicken-salt hash browns and cartons of Nippy’s milk. Stick around for $1 batch brew refills, and soda floats spiked with whisky.

107 Gilbert Road, Preston, instagram.com/skinnys.eatery

Stovetop Sessions

This bright 20-seater is all about the coffee, but there’s no espresso machine. Drinks are brewed in single-cup Bialetti Moka pots or in copper briki, the long-handled pots used for making Greek coffee. There’s a decent toastie menu, and all coffee orders are served with warm milk and a biscuit.

1125 Riversdale Road, Surrey Hills, instagram.com/thestovetopsessions_

Sunhands

This triple-threat cafe, grocer and wine bar expertly walks the line between simple and assured. Dippy eggs with toast soldiers segue to vibrant composed salads, stacked tartines and cockle-warming bowls of ham hock soup. Aperitivo hour is best spent at a sunny table along Drummond Street with a Vesper martini and freshly shucked oysters.

169 Elgin Street, Carlton, sunhands.com.au

Walrus

A West Coast diner has dropped on the east side of Sydney Road. The only thing missing is a Chevrolet parked outside. Arrive early to get a timber booth and settle in for bottomless filter coffee (don’t worry, there’s good espresso, too), fluffy blueberry pancakes with butter, and steak and eggs, served sunny-side-up, of course.

312 Sydney Road, Brunswick, instagram.com/walrusmelbourne

With Daniela Frangos and Larissa Dubecki

The winners of The Age Good Food Guide 2025 Awards will be announced on November 18, presented by Vittoria Coffee and Oceania Cruises. The Age Good Food Guide 2025 will be on sale from November 19.