RecommendedEating out Melbourne

Dropout Chaiwala

This venue is a finalist for best tea in Good Food’s Essential Melbourne Cafes and Bakeries of 2025.

June 5, 2025

1 / 6Masala chai is the specialty at Dropout Chaiwala.Supplied

3 / 6A warming cup of chai, perfect for the Melbourne chill.Supplied

4 / 6There’s also cardamom, ginger, saffron and other types of chai available.Supplied

6 / 6Inside the Elizabeth Street store.Supplied

Cafe$

If you need to ask what a chaiwala is, you’re probably early on your spiced tea journey. This fledgling Indian chain, started by former business student Sanjith Konda House (the “dropout” in the name), is a great place to begin. Make like the expats and order masala chai, fragrant with cloves, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, or try a cardamom variation. Be sure to add a samosa.

Good to know: The question isn’t whether you’d like sugar, it’s how much.