Top 10 Melbourne suburbs for coffee addicts

Larissa Gardner
5 min read

Is there anything Melbournians take more seriously than their coffee? We don’t think so!

With Melbourne Coffee Week set to return in 2017, various events around the city for International Coffee Day in October, an Espresso Martini Festival, a signature brew (the ‘magic’ Melbourne) and cafés practically on every CBD corner, there’s no doubt Melbournians are mad for coffee in all its glorious shapes and forms.

Whether you’re into deconstructed coffees, golden lattes, cold brew or just a good old flat white, we’ve created a list of the best suburbs for Melbourne coffee lovers to live in based on the results of Yelp’s annual Top 100 coffee spots in Australia 2016 survey.

27 Melbourne businesses made it onto the list (the most of any state), reaffirming the city as the coffee capital of Australia. Without further ado here are the 10 best suburbs for coffee lovers of Melbourne.

 Image: Broadsheet Image: Broadsheet

1. Melbourne CBD

It’s no surprise that Melbourne residents and workers really are spoilt for choice when it comes to their daily caffeine fix, with Patricia on Little Bourke Street taking out the coveted top spot of best coffee in Australia, along with seven other Melbourne cafes making it into the top 100. Patricia is a tiny nook of a coffee shop where you can get the best takeaway coffee in the city and try Melbourne’s signature ‘magic’ brew.

Must tries: 

Patricia (#1)

The League of Honest Coffee (#6)

Brother Baba Budan (#12)

Dukes Coffee Roasters (#13)

Cup of Truth (#26)

Market Lane Coffee (#42)

Waffle On (#86)

Manchester Press (#99)

 Patricia. Image: Australian Design Review Patricia. Image: Australian Design Review

2. Balaclava

Coming in at a respectable eighth place on the best coffee list, a cosy favourite for Balaclava locals, hidden in an out of the way laneway next to Woolies, is Monk Bodhi Dharma. The food (consisting of a vegetarian menu) and coffee is so good on a weekend you’ll often find a queue out the door, so get in early.

Must tries:

Monk Bodhi Dharma (#8)

Batch Espresso

3. South Melbourne

South Melbourne is no stranger to a great coffee and coffee culture, with three local cafes making it into the top 100. Cafe design and Melbourne architecture doesn’t get much better than the beautiful Victorian townhouse that’s home to the top cuppa in South Melbourne at The Kettle Black.

Must tries:

The Kettle Black (#19)

Clement (#37)

St Ali (#57)

 The Kettle Black. Image: Livlicious The Kettle Black. Image: Livlicious

4. Collingwood

In true hipster fashion the best brew in Collingwood is housed in a converted warehouse space at Proud Mary. Winner of Beanhunter’s highest honour Australia’s Top Cafe in 2015, you won’t find a cafe in Melbourne with better variety in coffee. With cold brew, espresso, french press, iced coffee, magic mocha and much more on offer. They also have a killer brunch menu and run a Barista Boot Camp.

Must tries:

Proud Mary (#23)

Everyday Coffee (#30)

South of Johnston (#83)

5. South Yarra

You have to venture off the main drags (i.e. Chapel Street and Toorak Road) in South Yarra to find some of the best coffee in Melbourne at Two Birds One Stone. The cafe is modern and sleek, with Scandi inspired decor and a sophisticated buzzing vibe. Another bonus on top of the delish coffee is the all day breakfast with gluten free and vegetarian options that you can even order to takeaway.

Must tries: 

Two Birds One Stone (#32)

The Final Step

Drugstore Espresso

6. Carlton

Coming in as the 43rd best coffee spot in Australia tucked down an alleyway (like all good things in Melbourne!) is Seven Seeds. Seven Seeds has a cool industrial warehouse feel with exposed beams, brickwork and steel framed factory windows on show. Popular with uni students and lecturers, the batch brew filter coffee, house blend and delicious assortment of espresso are not to be overlooked.

Must tries:

Seven Seeds (#43)

Campos Coffee

Vincent The Dog

Queensberry Pour House

 Seven Seeds. Image: Breakfast Out Seven Seeds. Image: Breakfast Out

7. St Kilda

St Kilda’s best coffee shop Miss Jackson came in at 49th on Yelp’s list. This humble cafe is set up the stairs in a quaint converted house in the backstreets of St Kilda. The online consensus is that you’re guaranteed a great cup of coffee here, and the breakfast tacos, Banoffee doughnuts and coconut waffles are definitely worth a taste too!

Must tries:

Miss Jackson (#49)

Galleon Cafe (#78)

95 Espresso

il Piccolo Posto

8. North Melbourne

Awarded top cafe in Beanhunter’s poll in 2013, Twenty & Six Espresso has some of the best coffee you’ll find north of the city. This unassuming little shopfront has a quirky courtyard great for sipping a latte on a sunny morning, as well as indoor seating perfect for watching life go by in Queensberry Street over a warming long black on a bleak and rainy Melbourne day.

Must tries:

Twenty & Six Espresso (#63)

Auction Rooms

Di Bella Roasting House

 Twenty & Six Espresso. Image: Broadsheet Twenty & Six Espresso. Image: Broadsheet

9. Yarraville

Yarraville isn’t a spot synonymous with amazing coffee in most Melbournian’s minds, but those Melbournians clearly haven’t tasted a brew from Cobb Lane on Anderson Street. You won’t be able to resist their baked goods and scrumptious desserts (salted caramel doughnuts, croissants and apricot, fig and pistachio bread) that compliment their Dukes Espresso Blend coffee and house made chai beautifully.

Must tries:

Cobb Lane (#68)

Wee Jeanie

The Cornershop

 Cobb Lane. Image: Olive Sundays Cobb Lane. Image: Olive Sundays

10. Richmond

Top Paddock is a trendy bustling cafe in a corporate area on Church Street. It’s the ideal spot for brunch with ample indoor and outdoor seating, an extensive all day breakfast menu and many and varied coffee options (such as cold brew, filter, mocha, iced and roasted).

Must tries:

Top Paddock (#70)

Pillar of Salt

Fifty Acres

Little Somthin’ Somethin’

So now that we know where we’re heading tomorrow morning to sample a marvellous brew or two, why not check out the five best places for foodies to live in Melbourne.

If you have a favourite haunt for your daily caffeine fix that we missed why not join the debate on the best coffee in Melbourne via the button below.

Happy house hunting!

Larissa Gardner
Larissa Gardner is the Marketing Manager at arguably Australia’s best looking real estate website homely.com.au. With a superb devotion to product innovation, user-centred design and innovative marketing platforms for real estate agents, homely.com.au helps millions of Australians find their next home.

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