The 8 Best Coffee Shops in Melbourne (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 8 picks

The best cafes in Melbourne in 2026 are Patricia Coffee Brewers for a standing-room espresso in the CBD, Seven Seeds in Carlton and Proud Mary in Collingwood for specialty coffee, Market Lane for filter, Higher Ground for brunch in a former power station, and Lune for croissants.

Melbourne takes coffee seriously: most cafes roast their own or use a named local roaster, offer single-origin filter alongside espresso, and serve a flat white as standard. Cafes open early, often from 7am, and many close by mid-afternoon, so plan brunch before about 2pm. For brunch-only picks, see our best brunch in Melbourne.

1. Patricia Coffee Brewers — CBD

A tiny, standing-room CBD coffee bar beloved by office workers.

$ Budget

Patricia Coffee Brewers is a small, standing-room-only coffee bar on a laneway corner in the CBD, with a short menu of espresso, filter and a couple of pastries. It is one of the city's most popular coffee stops.

Order a flat white or a filter, drink it at the counter and move on. Expect a queue around 8am.

Good to know: It is listed as weekdays only, so plan a weekend coffee elsewhere.

Cnr Little Bourke St & Little William St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

2. Seven Seeds — Carlton

A big warehouse cafe from one of Melbourne's best-known roasters.

$$ Mid-range

Seven Seeds' Carlton cafe is the roaster's flagship, a big, airy warehouse space with a full brunch menu and a range of single-origin coffees by espresso and filter. Roasting moved to Fairfield in 2017, but Carlton remains its main dine-in cafe.

Try the filter of the day and order brunch. Buy beans to take home.

Good to know: Combine a visit with a walk through Carlton's Lygon Street and the University of Melbourne.

114 Berkeley St, Carlton VIC 3053

Google Maps Website

3. Proud Mary — Collingwood

A Collingwood roaster-cafe named among the world's best coffee shops.

$$ Mid-range

Proud Mary is a busy Collingwood cafe and roaster with a full brunch menu and rare single-origin coffees. It ranked in the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list in 2025 and 2026.

Order a filter or a specialty espresso and a hearty brunch plate. Weekends are busy, so arrive early.

Good to know: Ask the baristas for the most unusual coffee on the list; they are happy to explain it.

172 Oxford St, Collingwood VIC 3066

Google Maps Website

4. Market Lane Coffee — South Yarra

A specialty roaster with a stall inside Prahran Market.

$ Budget

Market Lane roasts and sells specialty coffee from several Melbourne cafes, including its original shop at Prahran Market. It focuses on seasonal, single-origin coffee and offers tastings of its beans.

Order a filter and browse the market afterwards. There are also shops in the CBD, Carlton, Brunswick East and South Melbourne.

Good to know: Go on a market morning and combine coffee with a browse of the stalls.

163 Commercial Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141

Google Maps Website

5. Higher Ground — CBD

A soaring brunch cafe in a former power station.

$$ Mid-range

Higher Ground occupies a converted power station at the western end of the CBD, with soaring ceilings, a mezzanine and big windows. It serves breakfast and brunch through to cocktails.

It suits a long brunch with friends. Weekends get busy, so arrive at opening.

Good to know: Ask for a mezzanine table for the best view of the room.

650 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

6. Lune Croissanterie — Fitzroy

Melbourne's croissant institution, in a glass-walled Fitzroy warehouse.

$ Budget

Lune is dedicated to croissants, baked in a glass-walled "cube" in its Fitzroy warehouse. Expect plain croissants, pains au chocolat and rotating specials, plus coffee.

Go early, as popular pastries sell out. There are also CBD shops on Collins Street (entry via Russell Street) and Lonsdale Street.

Good to know: Arrive at opening on weekends to avoid the queue and the sell-outs.

119 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065

Google Maps Website

7. Hardware Société — CBD

A French-leaning brunch favourite with two CBD cafes.

$$ Mid-range

Hardware Société serves brunch with a French and Australian touch from two CBD venues, on Hardware Street and on Katherine Place. Expect queues for its sweet and savoury plates.

Book a weekday table at Katherine Place, or walk in at Hardware Street.

Good to know: Katherine Place takes weekday reservations; Hardware Street is walk-in only.

123 Hardware St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

8. Pellegrini's Espresso Bar — CBD

A 1950s Italian espresso bar and Melbourne institution.

$ Budget

Pellegrini's is a long-running Italian espresso bar on Bourke Street, with a counter, stools and a retro look. It serves espresso, granita and simple Italian dishes.

It suits a quick coffee and a slice of Melbourne history after the theatre or shopping.

Good to know: Sit at the counter and order a granita in summer.

66 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps

Frequently asked questions

What is the best cafe in Melbourne?

Patricia Coffee Brewers in the CBD, Seven Seeds in Carlton and Proud Mary in Collingwood are the most often named for coffee. For a bigger brunch, Higher Ground and Hardware Société are favourites, and Lune is the pick for croissants.

What should I order at a Melbourne cafe?

A flat white is the local standard. Most specialty cafes also offer filter coffee by the cup. For breakfast, smashed avocado on toast and eggs dishes are on most menus.

When do Melbourne cafes open?

Most open around 7am on weekdays and a little later at weekends, and many close by about 3pm or 4pm. Patricia Coffee Brewers is listed as weekdays only.

Do I need to book a cafe in Melbourne?

Most cafes are walk-in. Popular brunch spots such as Higher Ground and Hardware Société have queues at weekends; Hardware Société takes weekday reservations at its Katherine Place cafe.

Where can I buy Melbourne coffee beans?

Seven Seeds, Proud Mary and Market Lane all roast and sell their own beans in their cafes and online.

1. Patricia Coffee Brewers — CBD

2. Seven Seeds — Carlton

3. Proud Mary — Collingwood

4. Market Lane Coffee — South Yarra

5. Higher Ground — CBD

6. Lune Croissanterie — Fitzroy

7. Hardware Société — CBD

8. Pellegrini's Espresso Bar — CBD

Frequently asked questions

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