The Best New Cafés in Melbourne You Might Have Missed in 2023
We've rounded up the best new cafes in Melbourne for brekkie and a brew.
Melbourne's thriving café culture continues to attract people from near and far – from serious breakfast aficionados to lovers of a strongly brewed coffee. Every month, new bakeries, hole-in-the-wall coffee shops, casual eateries, and bougie brunch venues pop up across the city, delighting guests with their originality in both dishes and décor - and 2023 was no exception.
Throughout the year, a vast array of delicious cafés opened across the state. From traditional brunch spots and modern sandwich joints to unique, unconventional eateries, these are the best new cafés in Melbourne that you may have missed in 2023.
Pretty Boy Floyd's
Moonee Pond's abuzz with fantastic sandwich and bagel joints these days, so it's proved only fitting that a new spot would soon join the ranks. It's a doozy, too. Named after the Depression-era gangster, Pretty Boy Floyd's has taken its cues from American east coast bodegas to present a tasty take on US deli culture...and boy, does that mean good things for our lunch scene. They're serving up one epic Katz's Deli-inspired Reuben, a delicious chopped cheese sub, and a moreish Italian beef that's become mega-famous due to it's feature role in The Bear's debut season. You also can't go wrong with their classic BLT. Run, don't walk.
767 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds
Willim
Great coffee dates and brunch catchups are destined to be had at Willim. It's not just excellent Inglewood lattes and a winning peanut butter and banana smoothie being served up here; this bustling new joint is also providing us with one of the cutest facades in recent Melbourne cafe history. On a sun-filled Sunday morning, make a beeline for the courtyard out back (it's dog friendly, FYI) and enjoy brunch hits like sticky date pancakes and Cumberland sausages with spiced beetroot relish, fried eggs and chilli oil on buttered sourdough. Or come a little later for a lunchier affair that includes eggplant schnitzel atop a salad of kale, soba noodles, broccolini and turmeric hummus, with a green goddess dressing, or a slow cooked lamb shoulder with truffled peas, radish, watercress, sorrel, mint verde and a potato rosti.
The right balance of light and healthy meets classic cafe indulgence, we think Willim is onto something good.
83 McKinnon Road, McKinnon
Square One Rialto
We recommend a visit to Rialto Tower's newest brunch spot, where Square One Coffee Roasters are pairing ambitious ideas with refined flavours, in striking, minimalist surrounds.
Whether you're in the mood for a cosy coffee nook, a place to boost your productivity, or a sun-kissed retreat to savour your meal and soak up the relaxed ambiance, Square One Rialto is where to do it. Featuring a seasonal menu where ten chefs from Australia and around the world come together each season to offer their own unique dish to proceedings, you can expect to indulge in seriously elevated brunch fare. We're big fans of Chef Victor Liong’s (of Melbourne's Lee Ho Fook) cumin-lamb pancake with Lanzhou chilli oil, and Chef Mitch Orr's (Sydney's Kiln) Ube waffle with whipped Pepe Saya butter.
Watch as the menu evolves into a cookbook, showcasing 80 guest chefs' creations, with all proceeds going to the Common Ground Project. A new cafe in Melbourne with ambition and a strong ethos is something we're very happy to get behind this year.
525 Collins Street, Melbourne
Two Franks
This new neighbourhood cafe and general store is a little pocket rocket and a fantastic daily fixture for locals in Coburg. Two Franks is also a little slice of nostalgia for owners and sisters Angie and Chryssie, who grew up on Reynard Street. When their family first arrived in the neighbourhood, 202 Reynard Street was a butcher shop - and the butcher's name was Frank. Sixteen years ago, he finished up and handed the keys over to another Frank - and thus the new cafe's name was born.
Keen to preserve and respect the history of the local area and weave that into everything they do at Two Franks, the sister's have done a marvellous job of crafting a welcoming space for locals to meet and come together. Slinging out Small Batch coffee and smiles as well as beautiful bouquets of blooms, pastries, bread and artisanal, take-home pantry staples, this warm, light-filled and charming spot is one of the best new cafes in Melbourne to start your day.
202 Reynard Street, Coburg
Intermission
Intermission is a stunning 1950’s styled espresso café and bar, located within the chic 5-star Le Méridien, that's now celebrating welcoming visitors all-day long. It's serving up artisan coffee by Melbourne specialty roaster, Axil, and an assortment of house baked pastries and open sandwiches to delight both the early riser and city-bound worker.
At dusk, the space transitions into a sophisticated wine bar showcasing a curated collection of local and international wines and aperitivo, paired with a selection of inventive bar snacks and delicious petit plates.
With inviting sidewalk seating, guests are encouraged to sit and savour their morning coffee or gather with friends for their new favourite sip. Quite literally an invitation to pause and relax in the hustle and bustle of the morning city crowd, this is one of the best new cafés in Melbourne to visit this year.
Sitchu tip: You must try their signature affogato.
20 Bourke Street, Melbourne
The Butter Room
A Korean and French influenced bakery, The Butter Room is our pick for best new cafe in Melbourne. Seriously, if you love butter (who doesn't?) you'll love The Butter Room. The magically delicious range of baked goods that star here include the theatrical lava pandoro (Instagram it, you'll see) matcha-chocolate canelés and cream cheese garlic bulbs, croissants that melt in your mouth in an array of flavours from matcha to Injeolmi, Injeolmi buns, more beautiful cakes towering with fruit and cream, angel chiffon cake, black sesame scones....and then there's the drinks list. Run, don't walk, to try their strawberry matcha latte. Theatrical, fun and incredibly tasty, this is a must when sugar cravings hit in the city. Oh, did we mention the next level brunches too?
The Archway, 16 Katherine Place, Melbourne
JC Patisserie Boulangerie
French chic takes an even more sweet and sophisticated turn at this tucked away bakery in Abbotsford. Say bonjour to JC Patisserie Boulangerie, an elegant café serving up a chocolate-drizzled dose of Parisian flair and flavour. You'll quickly be drawn in by the aromas of fresh pastries and bread emanating out from under the roller door; but you'll stay for the youthful charm and friendliness of Le Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef and owner, Jonathan Camillieri.
While maroon marbled walls and a beyond transfixing Art Deco chandelier might seem luxe, the space actually evokes a no-frills pastry shop approach for you to partake in your next sweet-treat fix.
Go for the Saint Honoré, a indulgent combination of layered puff pastry with Chantilly cream, crème patisserie, topped with an éclair, admire the masterful Madeline's all lined up in a row, available in plain, chocolate and orange, and debate over opera cake or cheesecake. Camillieri's unconventional yet incredible croissants are also a must, delightfully flaky and rectangular in shape.
Dépêchez-vous! All croissant-loving Melburnians, add this one to your bucket list in time for the weekend.
17 Henry Street, Abbotsford
Core Roasters
A new classic has landed on Barkly Street in Brunswick East. Think small warehouse vibes and minimal signage, where you head in beyond a roller door and forest green exteriors to a long coffee bar with attached pastry kitchen. Core Roasters is so much more than your standard coffee and croissant place though, as alongside classic almond croissants and carrot cake you'll find pandan and coconut jam squiggled on toast, pastries filled with a mushroom rendang, espresso banana bread and tiramisu cookies. Core Roaster's coffee is exceptional and worth venturing out for on the weekend, but if you are looking for something a little different, try their housemade hot chocolate or a brewed Taiwanese tea, that's then iced and lightly gassed, sweetened and fermented into a fruit syrup sipping confection.
14 Barkly Street, Brunswick East
Tucker's Sandwiches
Werribee is joining in on the sandwich craze with the arrival of Tucker's Sandwiches. For when you need to hit the spot but don’t feel like snacking on an entire culinary encyclopedia, Tucker’s is the place. They're dealing in simple fare done well. Shakes. Coffee. Crazy good sandwiches. From moreish sausage and egg breakfast muffins, beef dips and toasted Turkish rolls with roast porchetta with swiss cheese, pickles and chipotle mayo, to panko-crumbed fried fish with lettuce, house pickles and katsu curry mayo and smoked salmon bagels, the options are seemingly endless and magically delicious.
92 Watton Street, Werribee
Lumen People
Throw in a mix of coffee, wine and tasty morsels, and the Melbourne dining crowd will quickly join in on the fun; that's where Lumen People have quickly played their cards oh-so-right. This petite pocket rocket has quickly joined in on the Victoria Street block party, and it's done so with aplomb. Start the day here and expect a light and bright setting, overflowing with specialty coffee, and dishes the likes of tasty granola and yoghurt, daily soups, banana bread with chocolate ganache and leek and fennel croissant bake (like a frittata, but better). Their are cakes of the day and dishes change regularly according to seasonality and availability, but the vibes remain immaculate every time.
Come 3pm, Wednesday through Sunday, wine is poured and tasty share plates are churned out of the kitchen - and you'll immediately surrender to the calm and easy-going charm of the space. One of our must try new cafes in Melbourne in 2023. De-light-ful doesn't begin to cover it.
Shop 2a/520 Victoria Street, North Melbourne
Drom Bakery
For all your dough-filled dreams, head to Drom Bakery. The talented bakers here marry innovation with time-tested techniques and classic flavours to bring you some of the most dazzling pastries imaginable, alongside artisan bread and mouthwatering sandwiches. Plan a venture out to Bayswater and prepare to leave with bags full - of egg salad sandwiches, poached chicken bagels with aioli, celery, apple, herbs, walnuts and lettuce, salted caramel and yuzu meringue half moons, tiramisu and crème brulee croissants, and spinach and feta sourdough.
1/19 Scoresby Road, Bayswater
Juniper
This sweet new café in Melbourne is the second from the team behind Carlton's super popular Florian Eatery, and she's sitting pretty southside. Juniper is smaller but no less ambitious, with an inviting ambience as soon as you step inside. Luminous gold lighting, large windows and European espresso bars abound, as the kitchen crafts up beautifully presented brunch dishes, with a focus on Asian flavours. The mushroom congee with pickled mushroom and ginger, soft egg, chilli oil and morning glory, but we also can't look past their delectable cured trout or salmon plates, usually served up with pickled fennel, radishes, dill labneh, capers and perfectly toasted sourdough. There's also an enviable selection of takeaway options suited to the lunchtime crowd, with fresh salads and creative sandwiches flying out the door from 11am onwards.
269 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
Co. Bake Space
Cake queens Alice from Miss Trixie Drinks Tea and Alisha from Sweet Bakes have joined forces to create Co. Bake Space, a pink paradise for sweet pop ups and pick ups. The picture-perfect, whimsy shop front, which looks like it was plucked from a Wes Anderson film, will play host to a colourful ensemble of creatives and food whizzes. Think flower workshops by Bloom Boy, homewares sales by like-minded brands, and plates upon plates of expertly-decorated, freshly-baked sweet treats available to purchase.
Keep an eye on their Instagram page for all the details about upcoming events.
239 Swan Street, Richmond
Clementine
A light-flooded daytime eatery has arrived in the lakeside pocket of South Melbourne, and her name is Clementine. Accented with warm timbers, sea glass tiles and copper fixtures, bifold doors also open to a shaded patio, making it an supremely invitable setting. Clementine draws on culinary influences from Europe, Asia and modern Australia, presenting an inventive take on cafe favourites. ?Highlights on Chef David Yuan's menu include 'Duck Season' waffles, with confit duck, orange compote, pickled cucumber, sauté leek, and hoisin seasoning, a lobster florentine, sweet breakfast souffle, and a unique snack combo of crisps and coffee foam. That's one way to get your caffeine fix!
67-69 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne
Hank's Bagelry
Named after Breaking Bad character Hank Schrader, Hank’s Bagelry is spreading the good word around Armadale about how magical New York style bagels can be. Alongside these fresh and flavour-filled bagels, they're also dishing out homemade cookies, indulgent shakes and Inglewood coffee to locals, commuters and passers-by from its hole-in-the-wall location. The bagels at Hank’s are sourced from Elsternwick institution Savion in five styles – plain, seeded, onion, challah and gluten free, and come bursting with flavour, from classic combinations to something more adventurous.
You might be partial to the #1, a beetroot and gin cured salmon with herbs, red onion and cream cheese; the #9, with grilled bacon, folded egg and harissa mayonnaise; and for veggie lovers, the #8 loaded with harissa roasted pumpkin, almond feta, hummus and wild rocket. In true NYC-style, sides can be added including pickles and crisps. Don't skimp on something sweet either, with a selection of homemade cookies including the chocolate and peanut butter 'whoopie pie' meant to be drooled over then promptly devoured.
Light, bright and clean, with heritage accents like stained glass windows, the Leftfield Studio designed space is not just for an on-the-go bite to eat, but a spot to perch on one of the limited outdoor tables overlooking the avenue.
13 Beatty Avenue, Armadale
Sunhands
The team behind Carlton favourite Heartattack and Vine are bringing a new brand of all-day dining to this inner-city suburb, with golden-hued Sunhands. Cosy, light-filled and sitting pretty on the corner of Elgin Street and Drummond Street, this charming spot defies characterisation - it's equal parts cafe, wine bar, deli and grocer. Particular emphasis is paid to seasonal and hyper-local produce. For breakfast, we recommend going for their loaded breakfast plates, heaving with fermented vegetables, house pickles, fresh figs, boiled eggs, fresh Akimbo sourdough, salted butter, cheeses and dips. They're also bringing back a dose of nostalgia with a plate of dippy eggs.
169 Elgin Street, Carlton
Moon Mart
This cheery convenience store meets cafe in West Melbourne is one of our must-tries for 2023. Simple, fresh and tasty Korean and Japanese-influenced classic dishes are on the menu at Moon Mart. Settle in early for kimchi jaffles with fermented garlic honey, or a hash brown okonomiyaki style; pop in from 11.00am for the most delicious pork katsu sando, bibimbap or pork tonkatsu; or simply slip past for a quick coffee, tea and pastry break, and for the abundance of adorable pantry items. We're big fans of their iced teas, and the sweet goodness of the condensed milk iced latte.
11-13 Stawell Street, West Melbourne
Blitz Bar
Melbourne's first self-serve DIY açaí bar has landed in the heart of Malvern... and its name is Blitz Bar! A haven of creativity, nourishment, and outright deliciousness, enter this light filled and friendly space for self-serve açaí on tap, and over 20 delicious toppings to choose from. There's also a customisable smoothie bar, a menu packed with raw health foods, tasty coffee, and nutritious refreshments. The 60-seater venue has gone viral on TikTok thanks to its DIY offering. We recommend pulling up a seat in their gloriously sunny courtyard, where customers can best enjoy their açaí, smoothies, fresh seasonal salads, raw treats and organic hot and cold drinks. Happy days!
183 Glenferrie Road, Malvern
Leaps & Bounds
Behind a baby blue facade in Albert Park, you'll find a bright and friendly cafe named after an iconic Paul Kelly song. Say hello to Leaps & Bounds, where crowd favourites like bacon eggs benedict, spicy Turkish eggs, signature burgers, thick cut and seasonal fruit and saffron syrup loaded French toast, and smashed avocado are served up oh so well. Must try is their Mustang Potato (crushed, with red peppercorn, edamame, sauteed kale, tomatoes, spiced labneh and tahini dressing, with fried egg sitting sunnily atop). On a sunny day, this side of town, a brunch outing truly doesn't get much better than this!
84 Bridport Street, Albert Park
Penny For Pound
Much loved bakery Penny for Pound has a brand-new storefront on Bridge Road, with an expanded offering of freshly baked sweet and savoury goods for you to savour. The new outpost is bigger and better, now with a larger menu for dine-in or takeaway, that includes everything from scrumptious toasted sandwiches, salads, hot pies and sausage rolls, to freshly baked croissants, cruffins and glistening fruit Danishes. If you're a fan of the classics, go for their plain buttery croissant or a salted choc chip cookie, while others who thrive on unique spins can indulge in a confit garlic and cream cheese scroll, a twice baked red velvet croissant, or a passionfruit & cacao nib doughnut.
418 Bridge Road, Richmond
Juno Eatery
Not just an iconic movie figure played by Elliot Page (or an ancient Roman goddess and symbol for youthfulness), Juno can now add impressive brunch spot to its name. Come for the vibrant farm-to-table approach, stay for the sleek yet fun interiors at Juno Eatery, which is all about incorporating organic and seasonal produce into a menu that is anything but ordinary. From the team behind Prior in Thornbury, expect a refined, produce-driven menu that includes a popular panko-crumbed chicken schnitzel with red cabbage slaw and dill and yuzu mayo, a Moreton Bay bug roll, a wagyu benedict with brown butter emulsion, and a thick slab of Rustica brioche ricotta toast (topped with three types of seasonal, house made jam). Interior wise, the light-filled, concrete-filled venue is taken to charming new heights with a series of childlike chalk illustrations by artist Bobby Clark that adorn the walls.
270c McKinnon Road, McKinnon
Campos Coffee
Sydney's award-winning Campos Coffee has opened its first flagship Melbourne cafe - and it's one for coffee lovers everywhere. Positioned at the bustling Toorak Road end of Chapel Street, this cosy hub is perfect for your next caffeine fix and convene.
Every good cup of coffee should have a delicious morsel to accompany it, and Campos have partnered with Glen Iris based bakery and patisserie AM Bakehouse to provide a rotating menu of freshly baked pastries and savoury sandwiches. Delicious vegan and gluten-free options are also available from Mahadeva’s Kitchen for customers to enjoy.
572 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Halcyon Days
The must-try dish at this idyllic new cafe is the carrot cake toast, slathered with marmalade and cream cheese. Escape to this Euro-inspired, easy breezy daytime diner for your next blissful brunch date. Perch upon one of the best seats in the house - the orange or olive green curved stools, and order up the aforementioned carrot cake toast, the hotcakes served two ways (sweet or savoury), or zucchini fritters with herb salad, yoghurt and egg. With coffee or an Aperol spritz on the side, how can you possibly go wrong?
381 Montague Street, Albert Park
Greenwich Deli
A new and pint-sized sandwich shop has arrived in Newport's backstreets, and it's set to steal your heart (and all your money) with its regular rotation of seven mouth-wateringly good sandwiches. Think stacked pastrami Reubens, a fried eggplant, olive tapenade, pesto and spicy vodka sauce sub, and an eggs benny style (pairing braised beef with a hot butter mayo, pickled onion, shredded lettuce and fermented chilli) on brioche bun. They also serve up specialty coffee, a super fresh avocado on toast, and even a Greenwich beef burger. Happy snacking!
70 Hall Street, Newport
Nonna’s House
Italian heritage and nostalgic family memories collide at this modest, '70s style brown-brick home and garage, now transformed into an Italian sub shop and cafe that’s already proved hugely popular with the neighbourhood.
Look for the side gate with the bright red 550 - that’s how you’ll enter, before stepping up to the garage window and ordering the sandwich of your choice. There’s of course a meatball sub - four saucy orbs of meaty goodness (that’s a 60-year-old family recipe) lined up in crisp sub roll served with a heavy snowfall of parmesan. You might also be lucky enough to order up a chicken or eggplant parmigiana number, or the pesto-mushroom roll; there’s even loaded fries topped with creamy carbonara or Bolognese sauce. You can just tell it's all made with love and authenticity.
550 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy North
The Terrace Botanic Gardens
Overlooking the Ornamental Lake and located in the unrivalled setting of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, The Terrace is a true icon that has been reinvigorated and revitalised by The Darling Group (who also have Stringers in Sorrento, The Kettle Black and Higher Ground to their name) and now includes the Terrace Café.
The all-day menu champions the best of seasonal produce and features an array of delicious breakfast and lunch dishes like Turkish eggs with chorizo, tahini yoghurt, dill, cucumber, and focaccia; a breakfast plate of smoked salmon and soft-boiled egg, with pumpernickel, house pickles, tomato, and chive labneh; a slow-roasted lamb shoulder with smoked eggplant puree, tahini roasted eggplant and green chilli dressing; and of course, Darling Group’s famous blueberry and ricotta hotcakes!
The space itself has been reimagined to reflect its natural surroundings, with botanical references and a nod to Romanticism featured both inside and out. Ample seating outside, with umbrellas ahoy, provide the perfect summer setting for taking in the views beyond, spritz in hand.
A chic spot for a moment of respite in the heart of this buzzing city, enter through the wrought iron gates and into another realm… and yes, there’s still homemade scones available.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Alexandra Avenue & Anderson Street (best entered via Gate A)
Calle
Roll into Rathdowne Street for a taste of Calle's exceptional croissant wheels. A cult-favourite item at this Carlton bakery, spirals of glossy pastry are wrapped around oozy fillings ranging from black sesame and chocolate, biscoff and pistachio. Flavours change every month, and other pastries on offer might include almond croissants, chocolate-filled Pain Suisse, escargots, and fruit Danishes. They also have a range of impeccable artisan sourdough and baguette sandwiches if savoury is more your schtick.
649 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
Kudo Bakery
Housed within the heritage-listed Windsor Hotel, Kudo Bakery is a charming, hole in the wall find in the city. It's also a celebration of all thing’s gluten-free, winning rave reviews for its sweet and savoury offerings. Established by husband-and-wife team Felix Goodwin and Elena Nguyen, it’s an artisanal bakery not just for those with a coeliac lifestyle, but also those they wish to celebrate and break bread with.
With a rotating selection of gluten-free breads, rustic sourdoughs, baguettes, sandwiches, brioche, and Danish-style seeded loves regularly presented, the bread here truly has main character energy. Especially the sourdough; it's as close to the real deal as you can get here in Melbourne.
There's also Ona coffee to-go, plus plenty of delicious sweets, with cookies, chiffon cakes, choux pastries and canelés flying off the shelves.
Windsor Hotel, 8 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Tokyo Lamington
Coconut-coated confection: Cult Sydney bakery Tokyo Lamington has landed in Melbourne, bringing with them the humble Aussie sweet treat albeit with a twist. Lamingtons are of course the star, but not just the classics - there's a host of international flavours included in the mix for you to try. Bite down on a yuzu meringue, a fairy bread and popcorn, or a peach and mango trifle. There's also a range of savoury pastries on offer, plus some wonderful onigiri to snack on too.
258 Elgin Street, Carlton
Pidapipo Laboratorio
Ice cream wizardry awaits at Pidapipo's new flagship Pidapipo Laboratorio...just in time for summer! The new Italian dessert destination, located in the heart of Fitzroy, transcends Pidapipo's iconic gelato offering to include an expanded range of gelato cakes, pasticceria items and small-batch artisanal chocolate products. The lab is a space for gelato flavour experimentation, with a temperature-controlled room for chocolate making and a test kitchen for future flavours that may or may not make it onto the menu. The designer space is also a highlight, allowing passerby's and customers the ability connect with the theatricality and processes of gelato-making. A full Wonka-like wonderland.
429-431 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Hamlet
Mount Waverley is home to a new neighbourhood corner spot, Hamlet, serving all-day food, and coffee from local roaster Inglewood Coffee Roasters (also in the same suburb). Executive Chef Franky Pham (formerly St.Cloud, Young’s Wine Room, Vue de monde, Di Stasio) leads the kitchen team, creating a quintessential Melbourne dining experience matched with some unexpected flavours sure to tempt the palate.
47 Marianne Way, Mount Waverley
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