If you’re looking for a delicious cup of coffee, look no further than Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD). This Australian city has become a must-visit for coffee lovers. It boasts an impressive selection of local roasters and Instagram-worthy coffee shops. Shops experiment with the latest in coffee brewing and roasting techniques and highly trained baristas craft top-notch drinks.
Melbourne’s famous Flinders Street Station (Photo: Alyx Sariol)
While there’s no shortage of options, we’ve highlighted the best coffee shops in Melbourne’s CBD. Order a drink, sit back and enjoy all that Melbourne’s renowned coffee culture has to offer.
Patricia Coffee Brewers
Black and white coffee from Patricia Coffee Brewers (Photo: Alyx Sariol)
Patricia Coffee Brewers serves a simple menu – black, white or filter coffee – made with exceptional coffee beans. This cozy café is hidden in one of Melbourne’s laneways and is standing room only, as proclaimed by the entryway’s floor. Though it’s not clearly marked, you’ll known you’re in the right place when you see a mass of people happily sipping on a coffee drink while sitting on milk crates. Sparkling water is served as you wait for your drink and the pastry selection makes it hard to choose!
493-495 Little Bourke Street
Market Lane Coffee
Market Lane Coffee found the perfect location for its first CBD location in the Portland House, a heritage building overlooking a tree-lined street. The tranquil space is an ideal place to enjoy an espresso or filter coffee, along with a small selection of treats from Beatrix Bakes. Market Lane sources beans from the best coffee growers and roasts them in small batches. Their mission is to make good coffee accessible in their shops and to home brewers.
8 Collins Street
Vacation Coffee
Coffee being prepared at Vacation (Photo: Vacation Coffee)
Escape the hustle and bustle of Melbourne’s CBD at Vacation, a bright and airy café on the corner of Flinders and Exhibition Street. Vacation roasts and serves its own coffee, along with a nice selection of food and pastries. In the summer months, they serve a tasty take on the quintessential warm weather treat – espresso soft serve! The tall windows let in tons of natural light and offer a view of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Botanical Gardens.
1 Exhibition Street
Little Rogue
If you’re looking for Little Rogue, look for the blue door next to the white cat street art in Drewery Lane. This house-turned-café is stocked with beans from internationally recognized roasters like April Coffee Roasters from Copenhagen and Five Elephants from Berlin. For a taste of something local, they also offer a Seasonal Blend from Melbourne-based Acoffee. Their house made Matcha can be found all over Instagram – they go through 30 to 40 liters of it per day!
12 Drewery Lane
Poolhouse Coffee
An afternoon coffee break at Poolhouse (Photo: Alyx Sariol)
Poolhouse Coffee is just that – a specialty coffee shop in Melbourne’s City Baths building! With its white and blue décor and tropical plants, a visit here makes one feel as if they’ve been transported to summer days lounging poolside. Poolhouse uses a variety of beans from local roasters Duke’s Coffee and Residence Coffee. They have a small food menu and regularly feature treats from Doughboy Donuts and Cremorne Street Bakers.
6 Franklin Street
Everyday Coffee Midtown
With roots in Melbourne’s Collingwood neighborhood, Everyday Coffee has recently expanded to include this CBD location. The shop has a minimalist, modern vibe and is perfectly situated to produce a steady stream of takeaway orders. They roast their own beans and offer a selection of single origin espresso, half-caff and decaf coffees. Everyday also makes their own banana bread and salted chocolate chip cookies, and offers treats from Loafer Bread and ACE Cookies as well.
213 Little Collins Street
Brother Baba Budan
Seating is cozy at Brother Baba Budan (Photo: Alyx Sariol)
Named after a 17th Century Sufi, Brother Baba Budan is a popular shop from local microroaster Seven Seeds Coffee. The shop is small and seating is limited to a communal table and short bar, so takeaway is a popular option here. You can choose from a small menu of food items to complement a cup of single origin espresso or batch brew. It’s worth noting that BBB is open late on Fridays and Saturdays so you can get properly caffeinated for the weekend.
359 Little Bourke Street