10 Best Coffee Shops in Melbourne

Melbourne prides itself on its coffee culture and many locals rate Seven Seeds as the best spot in town for a quality cup of coffee. Located close to the University of Melbourne in trendy Carlton, the industrial-chic space is popular with students and other hip young coffee lovers. They flock here for tempting sandwiches, cakes, and savoury snacks accompanied by single-origin brews sourced from around the world.

The name refers to the legend of Baba Budan, who is said to have smuggled 7 seeds of coffee out of Yemen and into India in the 17th Century, and Seven Seeds displays its own rebellious spirit with its striking interior design and bold coffee flavours.

There’s a good reason for the lengthy queues that snake out the door of Dukes Coffee Roasters at breakfast and lunchtimes—this chic space is known across the city for its delicious buttery pastries and its top-notch cappuccinos, espressos and flat whites. Dukes’ coffee beans are organic and responsibly sourced from small-scale producers.

Its central location, a short walk from popular attractions like the Sea Life aquarium and the National Gallery of Victoria, ensures a steady flow of sightseers, as well as local commuters seeking a pre-work caffeine shot or lunchtime treats. Service is speedy, so you won’t have to wait too long for your delicious drink even at busy times.

A passion project for coffee-loving Melbourne buddies Bowen Holden and Pip Heath, Patricia Coffee Brewers (named in honour of the founders’ much-missed grandmothers, who had the name in common) is consistently ranked among the best coffee shops not just in Melbourne, but in the whole of Australia.

It’s standing room only in the cosy, welcoming downtown space, which serves guest roasts alongside a hugely popular in-house seasonal espresso blend (the rightly famous Patricia Blend).

To accompany your coffee, pick from an array of sweet and savoury treats sourced from local independent bakeries. The small coffee shop is easy to miss, but you’ll find it on the corner of Little Bourke Street and Little William Street, a couple of minutes’ walk from the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Proud Mary’s coffees are highly sought after across Australia, so a trip to the original Proud Mary Cafe should be a priority for any caffeine enthusiasts visiting Melbourne. And while a whole lot of love and care goes into the blends and single origin coffees, the food doesn’t play a secondary role to the brews.

Hearty all-day breakfasts feature freshly baked sourdough, rye, and gluten-free breads alongside gourmet versions of classics like avocado toast (made here with marinated avocado, salsa verde and pickled shallots) and overnight oats, and the famous potato hash is pure comfort food joy. You’ll find this hipster-pleasing hotspot in the trendy Collingwood neighbourhood of downtown Melbourne, which is fast becoming the city’s best destination for foodies.

Expect bold, robust coffees, inventive brunches and equally attention-grabbing decor at ST. ALi Coffee Roasters. The funky coffee shop occupies a former warehouse close to the Clarendon Centre mall in South Melbourne and has been serving its famous in-house roasted coffee blends since 2005.

The food menu sees traditional breakfasts (think avocado toast and bircher muesli) sitting alongside colourful concoctions like tuna tartare with beetroot, and there’s a whole host of smoothies and juices alongside those famous coffees. Visitors in the mood for something stronger can take their pick from a cocktail menu that includes (naturally) an exceptional espresso martini made with ST. ALi cold drip.

Industry Beans has a string of acclaimed coffee shops across Australia, but the branch in the bohemian Melbourne neighbourhood of Fitzroy is the biggest and busiest of the lot. In an artfully refurbished warehouse close to Fitzroy Swimming Pool and Reyes Park, the bright and airy space has a sit-down cafe and a dedicated coffee bar serving signature drinks like Bubble Coffee (cold brew with tapioca pearls), as well as a chance to peek into the in-house roastery and see the experts at work.

The all-day brunches are almost as legendary as the coffee, and there’s a range of elegantly presented a la carte options, too.

In a tastefully restored former auction house (hence the name), Auction Rooms is a popular spot for coffee and brunch, almost next door to North Melbourne Town Hall. The exposed brick walls and beautifully presented dishes make this a popular spot with the Instagram crowd, and on sunny days it’s worth arriving outside of peak breakfast and lunch times to try to find a seat in the pet-friendly courtyard.

There are plenty of vegan and gluten-free options, alongside batch brews, iced filter coffees and infusions. There’s a dedicated kids’ menu, while grown-ups may find the cocktails go down a treat on a hot Melbourne day.

No visit to South Melbourne Market is complete without a refuelling stop at Clement Coffee. The hole-in-the-wall spot is famous for its tasty breakfast pastries as well as its excellent seasonal coffees and clued-up baristas, who will make sure your drink is prepared just the way you want it. A range of dairy-free milk options make this a good bet for vegans, while donuts and other sweet treats ensure kids won’t complain about making a stop here.

There’s a cosy interior space to enjoy your drink in, as well as a handful of outdoor tables—or you can get your coffee to go as you explore the rest of the market.

Melbourne is a city fuelled by top quality coffee, and many caffeine-loving locals swear by getting their fix from long-standing favourite Axil Coffee Roasters. There are branches across the city, all guided by the same principles of serving only carefully curated, ethically and environmentally sound coffee made via strong partnerships with small scale producers around the world.

The Melbourne Central branch scores extra points for its location next to Melbourne Central railway station. Come hungry: along with an extensive list of hot drinks and cold brews, there’s a tempting array of all-day breakfast items (eggs appear in various forms, including baked with feta and spices) and a short-but-perfectly-formed cocktail menu, of which the espresso martini is an understandably popular order.

Sensory Lab has a reputation as one of Melbourne’s most dependable options for quality coffee and appetising snacks, and the 4 branches in the city are all worth a stop. The LT Bourke branch is tucked away inside the upscale David Jones fashion store and has a suitably high-end feel to its design—all bright whites and polished steel.

The beans are sourced from around the world and roasted in Melbourne, and cups of coffee here come served with dainty miniature cookies or other sweet treats. Should you be in the mood for something more substantial, there are sandwiches, cakes and snacks to help fuel a shopping spree.