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 Love sushi rolls? Try onigiri, the lunchtime upgrade that’s sweeping Melbourne 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.
