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Best Cool Cafes Melbourne
Cafés have become an integral part of social life in Melbourne, but you can find them in cities all around the world. They’re perfect for reconnecting with old friends and making new ones since they provide a peaceful haven away from the chaos of public spaces where people can meet and talk freely. In addition, cool cafes provide a chance to refuel and enjoy a fantastic coffee experience all in one place, making them the ideal destination. This is why you should be aware of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
1.Monk Bodhi Dharma
| Key Services | Vegan And Vegetarian Options, Chai Lattes, Micro-roastery |
| Website | http://www.monkbodhidharma.com.au/ |
| Address | Rear, 202 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183, Australia |
| Phone | +61 478 932 556 |
| jake@monkbd.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 7AM – 5PM Mondays – Fridays | 8AM – 5PM Saturdays – Sundays |
The Venerable Bodhi Dharma Melbourne is the home of the quaint coffee roastery and tea house, Melbourne. More than that, the food served at Monk Bodhi Dharma is homemade, healthy, and cooked with care using only the best ingredients acquired responsibly. Monk Bodhi Dharma is the name of a popular coffee shop in Melbourne. They do their own roasting and, whenever possible, source their beans directly from small, seasonal farms and single estates. You can buy the seasonal coffee at the counter, and they will be happy to roast it to perfection for you in any way you like. As a result, they are one of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- A cool cafe that is also a coffee roastery and tea house
- The food served is healthy and homemade
- They source their beans from small, seasonal farms
Customer Testimonial:
“Love this place. Exposed brick, fresh flowers paired,rich wooden tables with wrought iron accents gives a warm intimate feel. Food was fresh and delicious. Staff were friendly and easy going. Really enjoyed our time there.”
Aimee Williams
2. Proud Mary
| Key Services | Homemade Brews, Outdoor Seating Area, Drinks, Brekkies, Single-origin Coffee |
| Website | https://www.proudmarycoffee.com.au/ |
| Address | 172 Oxford St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9417 5930 |
| us@proudmarycoffee.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 7AM – 3PM Mondays – Fridays | 8AM – 3PM Saturdays – Sundays |
Nolan and Shari Hirte founded Proud Mary in Melbourne in 2009. Proud Mary’s products and services make it difficult to begin your day without them. In Melbourne and Portland, Oregon, they want to give every customer a heartfelt experience. They source coffee from the source and sell it in Australia and the United States. They serve all-day breakfast, lunch, high-end tea, fresh juice, smoothies, cakes and pastries, and table-service with their coffee at their retail locations. They are honest, kind, fun, and cheeky, and they enjoy what they do. They enjoy spoiling their customers. As a result, they are one of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Proud Mary has a focus on seasonality
- They sell coffee from the source
- They offer table- service with their coffee
Customer Testimonial:
“Awesome pumping place! Great coffee service all the time”
Robinson Yang
3. St. Ali Coffee Roasters
| Key Services | Artisanal Coffee, Inventive Brunches, Online Coffee Blends, Trendy Warehouse Space |
| Website | https://stali.com.au/ |
| Address | 12-18 Yarra Pl, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9132 8966 |
| support@stali.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 7AM – 5PM Daily |
ST. Ali was an early innovator in the speciality coffee industry; they helped establish the genre in Melbourne and remain at the forefront of the industry to this day. St. Ali was an early producer of speciality coffee, and so can be considered a pioneer in the industry. Since its founding in 2005, ST. Ali has steadily risen to become a market leader. This has been done by serving the best food in each of its categories and by making direct connections with farmers, roasting coffee in-house, and brewing coffee professionally. As a result, they are one of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- One of the earliest producer of specialty coffee
- Serves the best food in each of its categories
- Makes direct connections with farmers
Customer Testimonial:
“Great food, great coffee, great crew; what more could you want? They’re attentive without being overbearing and love dogs as well.”
Harold Yap
4.Patricia Coffee Brewers
| Key Services | Espresso Blends, Artisanal Coffee, Small Treats, Standing Room Coffee Bar |
| Website | https://www.patriciacoffee.com.au/ |
| Address | 493-495 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9642 2237 |
| shop@patriciacoffee.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 7AM – 4PM Mondays – Fridays |
Patricia Coffee Brewers’ owners, Bowen Holden and Pip Heath, are two people you may recognize. They wanted to honor their late grandparents, so they settled on the name Patricia. They released many new lines in December 2011, including Seven Seeds, Market Lane, Small Batch, Proud Mary, Everyday, Blume, and Friends. In 2016, residents of Bureaux began roasting their own coffee, allowing us to better regulate the flavor. To keep things interesting and to support great roasters, they provide both their own seasonal espresso blend (the “Patricia Blend”) and filter coffees, as well as guest coffees. As a result, they are one of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Offer their own seasonal espresso blend
- Also offer filter coffees and guest coffees
- The owners are two people you may recognize
Customer Testimonial:
“Coffee, service and pastries are amazing! Saving for my next trip to Melbourne”
JP Moller
5.Market Lane Coffee
| Key Services | Amazing Muffins, Beans Roasted On-site, Minimalist Store |
| Website | https://marketlane.com.au/ |
| Address | Shop 73-76 Dairy Produce Hall Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9804 7434 |
| hello@marketlane.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 7AM – 4PM Mondays – Fridays |
Market Lane Coffee, situated in Melbourne, roasts and distributes high-end coffee. Their focus is on ethically sourcing, roasting, and producing high-quality coffee. Market Lane was founded by Fleur Studd and Jason Scheltus. Back then, it was nearly impossible to get your hands on fresh, in-season, traceable, high-quality coffee in Melbourne (or Australia). Their plan to aid in finding a solution involved expanding the demand for premium specialty coffee through reimagining the history and future of coffee. They wanted to offer the best coffee in Melbourne, so they looked for, roasted, and served the best beans they could find. As a result, they are one of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Focuses on ethically sourcing, roasting, and producing high-quality coffee
- Offers the best coffee in Melbourne
- Reimagines the history and future of coffee
Customer Testimonial:
“Market lanes coffee is always very smooth and very consistent. You can count on it always be good. I prefer this venue as it is super intimate and chill compared to is busy counterpart at Queen Vic.”
Jordan Ollington
6. Marche
| Key Services | Endless Supplies of Board Games, Social Events Accommodation, Taiwanese Inspired Food & Drinks, Karaoke Private Rooms |
| Website | https://mbgcafe.com.au/ |
| Address | 63 A’Beckett St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9663 8898 |
| info@mbgcafe.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 2PM – 11PM Sundays – Thursdays | 2PM – 1AM Fridays – Saturdays |
Marche can be found on Melbourne’s central business district’s lively A’beckett Street, just one block from Melbourne Central. You may spend hours here playing board games, singing karaoke, feasting on delicious Taiwanese food, and drinking bubble tea and milkshakes made from scratch. Countless gaming boards line the walls. Gather a bunch of friends and head on down to their library, where everyone may enjoy an old favorite or learn something new. They have great drinks and dishes with a Taiwanese twist, and the portions are perfect for sharing. As a result, they are one of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Offers Taiwanese food and bubble tea
- Has a library of board games
- The portions are perfect for sharing
Customer Testimonial:
“Such a cool concept for a venue! Great, fresh food and super fast service. I’d definitely recommend to a friend.”
Georgia-Lee Peters
7. Alchemists Refuge
| Key Services | Drinks Only, Friendly Service, Vast Games Library, Nerd-culture Cocktails And Boardgames |
| Address | Games Laboratory 328 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3000 |
| Phone | +61 3 9602 2075 |
| Operating Hours | 12PM – 5PM Sundays | 5PM – 10PM Wednesdays – Thursdays | 4PM – 10PM Fridays | 2PM – 10PM Saturdays |
A passageway leading to the Alchemist’s Refuge can be found beneath the Games Laboratory. With its wide variety of beers and ciders and cozy seating, this bar is ideal for unwinding with friends over a game of cards or board games. In the library, you’ll find a wide variety of board games, and the helpful staff is on hand to point you in the right direction as you try to choose one that everyone in your group will like. Pub grub, burgers, pizzas, and bar bites are just some of the options available to diners. Everyone can eat comfortably. As a result, they are one of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Has a wide variety of beers and ciders
- Offers pub grub, burgers, pizzas, and bar bites
- The library has a wide variety of board games
Customer Testimonial:
“So many cool games to choose from! And the staff were really helpful in helping us figure out what to play. The food was great too- we loved the pizza.”
Will D.
8. Queen of Spades
| Key Services | Tasty Nacho Chips, Beef And Halloumi, A Plethora Of Entertaining Games |
| Website | |
| Address | 189 Smith St, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia, Victoria |
| Phone | +61 3 9509 4244 |
| queenofspadesbar@gmail.com | |
| Operating Hours | 8AM – 2PM Mondays – Fridays | 8PM – 8PM Saturdays – Sundays |
The Spade Queen All of your board gaming needs may be met at Fitzroy, which is both a cafe and a bar. Craft beer, cider, and wine, as well as classics from the Australian café canon, can be enjoyed alongside a game of Monopoly, Settlers of Catan, Scrabble, or any of the other games available in the extensive library. Foods as varied as Mediterranean-style harissa scrambled eggs with shaved pecorino, burgers, nachos, calamari, and many more can be found along Smith Street. The luxurious environment is complete with high-quality gaming tables and a stylish design. As a result, they are one of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Has a wide selection of board games
- Offers craft beer, cider, and wine
- The food menu has a variety of options
Customer Testimonial:
“Spent a great night with friends and family eating, drinking and playing games. It is a great atmosphere. There is table space from two people and all the way up to large groups. Highly recommended.”
Louis Nottle
9. The Fox Hotel
| Key Services | Craft Beer, Global Eats, Live Music, Vegetarian Burrito, Foxy Fish Plate |
| Website | https://thefoxhotel.com.au/ |
| Address | 351 Wellington St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9416 4957 |
| Info@thefoxhotel.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 8AM – 2PM Mondays – Thursdays | 3PM – 1AM Fridays | 12PM – 1AM Saturdays | 12PM – 11PM Sundays |
Collingwood is home to the pub, The Fox Hotel. There is a contemporary feel to the restaurant’s food, beer, and wine, but it still has a classic feel. The vibe at this former pub, now a hip café, is relaxing. Included in the extensive menu are items such as the Vegetarian Burrito, roasted pork belly, and Moreton Bay bug pie. Every effort is made to accommodate special dietary needs, including those of vegetarians, vegans, and people with allergies. More than a hundred varieties of beer, both domestic and international, are available in the bar’s refrigerator. As a result, they are one of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Pub with a contemporary twist
- Relaxing vibe
- Offers a variety of food options, including vegetarian and vegan options
- More than 100 varieties of beer are available
Customer Testimonial:
“Great food, informal atmosphere and reasonable prices. A great combination.”
Pete Sloane
10. 29th Apartment
| Key Services | Movie-themed cocktails & snacks, New York-style pizza, private booth seating, creative and unique space |
| Website | https://www.29thapartment.com.au/ |
| Address | 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 8506 0765 |
| info@29thapartment.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 6PM – 3AM Wednesdays – Sundays |
The 29th flat is a popular St. Kilda hotspot because of its eccentric furnishings, vibrant color scheme, and abstract art. This Federation house and NYC apartment are a hotspot for celebrations on Fitzroy Street in St. Kilda. The residence depicted in the fictitious 29th flat belonged to Katishe, a scandalous and destitute artist who walked the streets of St. Kilda at night to earn money to support her creative pursuits. The bar’s design is a smart mix of traditional and modern elements from both New York and St. Kilda. As a result, they are one of the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Eccentric furnishings
- Vibrant color scheme
- Abstract art
Customer Testimonial:
“We had so much fun here playing gigantic Jenga and Connect 4 while sipping Sangria. The price was very convenient ($20 for a jar). The place is so peculiar! I liked the menu; it was so original (a newspaper)!!! Friendly stuff and cozy atmosphere!!!”
Valentina Angeloni
Cool Cafes Melbourne
Overall, there are many things to think about when looking for a coffee shop. Not only should you think about the price and availability of Wi-Fi, but also the place’s ambiance, coffee, and cuisine. Also, you can highlight what sets this cafe apart from others in the area. Remember that the atmosphere will be heavily influenced by your purpose for visiting. We hope this helps you uncover the finest cool cafes Melbourne has to offer.
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