My favourite cafes in Melbourne

Melbourne is one of the coffee capitals of the world, but with over 2000 cafes across the city, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to enjoying a good flat white or long black! I haven't tested them all (yet!), but I know enough to be able to give you my best tips. From Balaclava to Collingwood, via St Kilda and Middle Park, here are my favourite cafes in Melbourne.

Where to get the best coffee in the city

Summary

Hello Sparrow
Levanter
Sorsi e Morsi
For Change Cafe
Krimper Cafe
Terror Twilight
But also...

Hello Sparrow

I used to live right next to this cafe, located at the southern end of Chapel Street, on the border between Balaclava and St Kilda, and I also work there occasionally, so I might not be very objective. But it's still one of the best cafes in this part of ​​Melbourne for me, and there's a lot of competition in the area! The coffee is very good, the food excellent, and the service by TJ, the owner, is particularly warm. He is a super friendly Kiwi guy, but also a really talented chef. There are some classics on the meny (eggs on toast, smashed avo), but also dishes that are really out of the ordinary, with a few touches of New Zealand in the ingredients, such as roasted lamb or fry bread. So make sure to head over to Hello Sparrow next time you're in the neighborhood, and say hi to TJ for me!

Levanter

Located on Carliste Street, next to the Balaclava Station, Levanter is my second favourite cafe in that neighbourhood. It's run by Sam, who arrived from Syria in the 2010s. He takes care of the coffee machine, while his mother is in charge of the kitchen. And they both know what they're doing! They serve one of the best coffee in Melbourne, and the Middle Eastern dishes of the menu are delicious. I highly recommend the falafel wrap! I also really like the very pleasant little courtyard at the back.

See also: Melbourne, the coffee capital of the world

Sorsi e Morsi

Sorsi e Morsi is my favourite cafe in St Kilda, just away from the hustle and bustle of Acland Street. Located on the corner of Blessington Street and Barkly Street, its terrace is very pleasant on sunny days. As the name suggests, it's an Italian cafe (Sorsi e Morsi means "sips and bites" in Italian), so expect great coffee and delicious food! They offer a wide menu of very good paninis, and they also turn into a restaurant in the evening, from Wednesday to Sunday. I have never had the opportunity to try their dishes yet, so let me know what you think if you have eaten there!

For Change Cafe

If you regularly take the tram line 96 between the city and St Kilda, then you've probably already passed this cafe many times. It's right on the platform at the Middle Park stop! Perfect for a takeaway coffee while waiting for the next tram, or for a break after a stroll in Albert Park. But don't hesitate to stop there for longer and sit on the covered terrace at the back to enjoy the view of the park. But what I particularly like about this cafe is their social program. All of their profits go to fight youth homelessness. They provide work training and employment to help young people develop their worlplace skills and reintegrate into society. There's also a second For Change Cafe in Brunswick, but I've never tried it. If you want to enjoy a great flat white or long black while doing a good deed, you know where to go!

Krimper Cafe

Back to the CBD for the next cafe on this list. Krimper Cafe is located on what is arguably Melbourne's most beautiful laneway: Guilford Lane, with its red brick buildings and its abundant vegetation, carefully maintained by the locals.

The interior is not bad either. I love the warm and welcoming atmosphere of this former warehouse, the size of which unsuspected from the outside. The exposed wooden beams, the motley furniture, the old pulleys and the light garlands on the ceiling, the bare brick walls, everything appeals to me. And the coffee itself is very good! Be careful though, Krimper Cafe tends to be full on weekends and it can be very hard to find a free table.

Terror Twilight

There’s no need to write a long introduction for Terror Twilight, as the sign above the entrance takes care of it very well itself. “Nice people, great coffee, food & cocktails”. Sounds very promising!

Terror Twilight is located on Johnson Street in Collingwood, one of my favourite suburbs of Melbourne along with its neighbour Fitzroy. What I like most about this place is its atmosphere. An entire section of wall is devoted to a selection of vinyls, carefully chosen by each member of the team. The result is an original and high-quality soundtrack, far from the interchangeable Spotify playlists of many other cafes. It fits perfectly with the soft decoration and pastel colours of the place to create a cosy and warm setting. If you prefer being outside, you can also sit in the courtyard at the back. Finally, coffee is always very good, and even if I only ate once at Terror Twilight, the dish I had (the spicy green eggs) was really delicious!

But also...

A few other cafes could have been included in this list: All Things Equal in Balaclava, that employs people with disabilities, who can thrive and earn a living by working; Goose Coffee, small hole-in-a-wall in St Kilda with probably the lowest prices in the area; Seven Seeds in Carlton, which is also a coffee roaster whose beans you can find in many other cafes of Melbourne; Pavlov's Duck in Collingwood, my go-to place when I work in the neighbourhood; and finally Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar on Bourke Street in the CBD, which has retained its old-fashioned Italian cafe atmosphere. It is said to have been the first place in Melbourne to use an espresso machine in the 1950s!

One Cup at a Time

If you're interested in Melbourne's coffee culture, I invite you to check out the blog I created in October 2024, called One Cup at a Time. I regularly publish articles on different aspects of this so specific coffee culture, and I also present in detail my favourite cafes. Follow me as well on the One Cup at a Time Instagram page!

What is your favourite cafe in Melbourne? Send me a message to let me know!