The Best Cafes in Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs for a Local Bite

One of the greatest things about Melbourne is the abundance of cafes and brunch spots – there’s just about one of every corner. You don’t need to venture very far for a quality bite to eat. In fact, some of Melbourne’s best cafes are in the eastern suburbs.

Whether you’re a local on this side of the city or are in the mood to venture out and try a new spot in an unfamiliar area, we’ve gone ahead and rounded up the best cafes in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Happy brunching!

Peddler Cafe

The Peddler Cafe has been loved by locals for years. There’s hardly a time you won’t see this eastern suburb cafe bustling with busy tables, both inside and outside – for good reason. This family-run cafe offers impeccable customer service, and every dish on the menu is absolutely mouthwatering – including their rotating specials. The only issue? You’re so spoilt for choice that you won’t be able to pick!

Their braised belly benny is the perfect mix of savoury and sweet if you’re stuck on the fence of what route to go down, with braised pork belly sitting on sweet waffles, topped with two poached eggs, hollandaise, and sweet potato crisps. Feel like something sweet? You can’t go past their vegan pannacotta or berry French toast with Persian fairy floss.

Sitchu Tip: You need to try their toasted pides. Warm, comforting, and exactly what you need for a quick and easy lunch or Sunday recovery session. Our personal favourites are the EBC, BLT and chicken.

295B Springfield Road, Nunawading

Matta Melbourne

This humble Japanese cafe originally started in Balwyn North. Since gaining immense popularity it has opened a second location in Blackburn North, so there’s more love (and good food) to go around!

You won’t find your classic brunch picks at Matta; instead, there’s an array of deliciously comforting Japanese brunch dishes, from udon Bolognese and cold spicy soba salads to a collection of fluffy sandos. Trust us when we say you’ll be back!

335 Balwyn Road, Balwyn North

55 Katrina street, Blackburn North

Aunt Billie’s

Aunt Billie’s is another of the best cafes in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Make sure you book, as this place fills up fast. You’ll always find a group of friendly locals waiting out the front for their morning coffees, and regular cafegoers having smooth mornings and catching up for a chat over breakfast and a coffee. And while the coffee here is superb, don’t pass up a chance to try some dishes from their menu. The harissa scramble is creamy and full of flavour, and the Billy burger is a must for anyone wanting a hearty, juicy meal.

Are you someone who needs to end things on a sweet note? Take some of the cakes in their cabinet to-go and enjoy them over a cup of tea at home.

184 Surrey Road, Blackburn

Mister + Miss

Modern Australian cafe classics are the name of the game at Mister + Miss in Mont Albert. Their extensive menu an array of breakfast and lunch favourites, as well as pizzas for those feeling like something a little less brunch-y.

Choose from savoury breakfast burgers and salmon rosti to sweet pancakes or Nutella waffles for breakfast. For lunch, there’s a variety of pizzas, burgers, and salads on offer. It’s the perfect place to go with a group if you’re all craving something different from each other.

Mister + Miss also have a brother cafe, Mr Robertson, in Nunawading, offering the same delicious meals to the locals on that side of town.

711-713 Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert

Hatter & the Hare

The Hatter & the Hare is notorious for their incredible cakes and pastries – just one of the many reasons why they’re known as one of the best cafes in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Their petits gateaux are carefully crafted by the Hatter & the Hare’s incredible pastry chefs, and they are an Instagram-worthy affair you can’t possibly miss out on. The taste? Just as good as they look!

Did you know they also offer incredible breakfast and brunch dishes? Both classics and unique twists light up the menu, with names inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The gorgeous interiors are equally whimsical.

1/21 Scoresby Road, Bayswater

Crest Cafe

We’re surprised this Wantirna cafe hasn’t gone viral for being one of the best cafes in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Perhaps its unassuming location is what makes it go unnoticed, perhaps the locals are trying to gatekeep this hidden gem (we don’t blame them), but it’s too good not to shed a little spotlight on. Crest Cafe is the place to go to for interesting spins on traditional cafe delights, as well as filling and nourishing smoothies that don’t cost an arm and a leg (under $10 for a smoothie in this economy is unheard of, but Crest makes it possible). Their Mojo Rojo, chilli scramble, X.O mushroom and signature benedict (in a word, meaty) are just some of the favourites we’ve tried and loved. We plan on going back to try the rest of the menu; we might just be a little bit addicted, actually.

17 Crestdale Road, Wantirna

Matilda

This cute Mont Albert cafe is loved by locals. You’ll regularly see groups of friends and young families frequenting Matilda on weekend mornings for a delicious breakfast, or people picking up takeaway meals to enjoy on their lunch break and fuel the rest of their day. Known for their delicious range of toasties and salads, plus their refreshing acai bowl, you can either sit down here for a meal or head across the road to their solely takeaway and catering window, Petite by Matilda. It’s a charming little slice of Paris in Melbourne’s east.

15 Arcade Road, Mont Albert North

Just, Loved

Hello Kitty and Miffy lovers, this one’s for you! Just, Loved Creative Studio & Cafe in Blackburn South is serving up the cutest comfort dishes we have ever laid our eyes on (comforting in both a delicious way and in a nostalgic nod to our childhoods). Here, you’ll find an array of Asian-inspired brunch dishes, including waffles, toasties, udon, and the stars of the show, a Miffy comfort curry and Hello Kitty tomato and rice curry. Make sure you try the matcha here, as it’s incredibly smooth, creamy and delicious.

Doubling as a creative floral studio and events space, it’s the perfect place to throw any function, from engagements to birthdays.

8 Hunter Drive, Blackburn South

Rombe

Nestled within Burwood Brickworks, Rombe is a hidden gem, and most certainly one of the best cafes in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Its rustic charm and alfresco dining options set the stage for all-day dining, from quick coffees to leisurely brunches and special celebrations. Head Chef Jerry Yi, with previous experience at Shihuishi and Red Spice Road, has curated a menu that celebrates locally sourced, seasonal produce.

Indulge in ricotta hotcakes or cacio e pepe eggs, paired with a variety of specialty drinks.

Sitchu Tip: Make sure you try the coco cloud matcha for a light and refreshing iced drink.

T38-39/70 Middleborough Road, Burwood East

Zero Mode

Everything on the menu at Zero Mode is dangerously delicious, from the food to the drinks. Located in the Whitehorse Towers in Box Hill, you need to make sure you book if you want to get in, because the tables here are almost always full; and once you try the food, you’ll find out why.

Zero Mode serves an Asian fusion brunch fare that makes it one of the best cafes in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs by far. Selecting just one dish from the menu is near impossible, so we recommend going with some friends so you can all try a little of each other’s dishes.

If you’re after breakfast food, you can’t go past the truffle mushroom or crab chilli scrambled egg. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, combine savoury and sweet and go for the Wild West waffle, which is crispy chicken, a fried egg, sriracha maple bacon and chilli sauce sitting on a charcoal, house made waffle – it is flavour-filled and incredibly delicious.

Want to keep your lunch healthy? We love their salmon poke bowl. Filled to the brim with refreshing flavours and goodness, you’ll be coming back on the regular to work your way through each one.

Sitchu Tip: they’re also open for dinner but the menu is far more limited, so make sure you go during the day.

G03/850 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill

The Penny Drop

Located just up the road from Zero Mode, The Penny Drop is another must-visit cafe in Box Hill that’s not only serving up magnificent coffee, but an amazing breakfast and lunch spread worth its weight in gold. Think cafe classics with a fun Japanese twist, from savoury sensations to delicious, sweet treats.

Sitchu Tip: Order their divine tiramisu French toast if you’re feeling extra indulgent – it’s incredible!

913 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill

Down the Rabbit Hole Cafe

While Down the Rabbit Hole is best known for their unique ‘bronuts’ (brownie cross between a donut), they sure know how to put on a quality brunch. They’ve got all the classics you know and love, and then some.

Many of the names of dishes on the menu are inspired by Alice in Wonderland, giving the cafe a fun, magical vibe. When you visit, you must try the yuzu benedict!

8/22 Newmans Road, Templestowe

Locavore Studio

If you’re venturing far out into the eastern suburbs, heading into the Yarra Valley for the day or making a pit stop on a larger journey east, make sure you go for breakfast at Locavore Studio. Their light and vibrant cafe is always bustling thanks to the delicious offerings on their menu. Go for an elevated tomatillo and smashed avocado salsa on flatbread, or fill up on a delicious salty and sweet chilli caramel pork belly bánh mì.

If you come on a Saturday, you can even book in for a coffee-tasting session with Proximal Coffee. An extra caffeine-infused pep in your step is the only way to start the weekend, after all. 

148 Main Street, Lilydale

Harrow & Harvest Lilydale

Harrow & Harvest is pink perfection, and another favourite amongst Lilydale locals. Expect incredible breakfast bowls, loaded croissants and juicy burgers, along with other classic breakfast and lunch menu items, including a tempting smashed pumpkin.

Make sure you order from their menu of ‘happy drinks,’ which are a quirky assortment you need to try, from an iced gingerbread and turmeric latte to an iced red velvet and cherry blossom jelly pearl milk tea.

42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale

Three Monkeys Place

Long loved by locals, Doncaster East cafe Three Monkeys Place is situated in the bustling and vibrant Jackson Court. Come here pre- or post-morning shop for a hearty meal that’ll fuel you for the rest of the day.

Three Monkeys Place’s focus is on delivering quality food using the finest produce on offer, and it shows in the food they plate up and from the very first mouthful. Classic, timeless, and one of our go-to spots for when we’re looking to eat out at a cafe in the eastern suburbs.

7 Mitchell Street, Doncaster East

Cafe 1809

Glen Waverley is one of the foodie hubs in the eastern suburbs, with an impressive group of cafes and restaurants all close by one another. A standout is 1809, a cafe at Willow Avenue Shopping Centre. From brekky bowls to perfectly creamy scrambled eggs, everything on this menu is equally as delicious as the item below it.

You can’t leave without trying their French toast. Heaven for any sweet tooth, it’s topped with icing sugar, maple syrup and assorted seasonal fruit. Delicious!

34 Willow Avenue, Glen Waverley

Eastwood

Did someone say lamington hotcakes? Eastwood sure did! That’s just one of the many tantalising brunch options that they have on their menu, too. Despite their unassuming location, Eastwood is often packed with hungry eastern locals looking for a nourishing feed.

They have a wide range of brunch choices, hearty lunch options, and even quick bites when you’re not hungry enough for a large meal but still want something tasty to eat.

1 Robinlee Avenue, Burwood East

Via Porta

Via Porta is both a family-run empire and a must-try for coffee, croissants, and an incredible brunch, with three outposts found across the eastern suburbs – one in Mont Albert (the OG), Hawthorn and Kew.

The pastry offerings in general have been a major drawcard for the cafe and bakery since its inception, with the croissants considered some of the best in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. 

Their almond croissant is to die for, and perfect if you want to enjoy a light and flaky pastry out at one of the best cafes in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs but don’t want a full meal.

677 Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert

Want more local cafe goodness? Why not check out our top picks of cafes in Camberwell, or, if you're looking for a fun activity to do, check out the ins and outs of what's happening around Melbourne.