The Best Breakfast in Melbourne CBD for a Perfect Morning Start (2024)

Take yourself out to breakfast in Melbourne CBD, for a delicious (and elevated) start to the day.

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Considered our most important meal of the day, we have sky-high standards for breakfast. From perfectly poached eggs and crispy bacon to world class coffees and freshly squeezed juices, there’s nothing more satisfying than a proper brunch, particularly in one of Melbourne's best new cafés,where soggy cereal has no place.

Whether you live in the CBD, commute there for work, or spend your weekends exploring the city streets, every Melbournian needs a go-to brekky spot in the heart of the city.

On your next breakfast expedition, venture to one of Melbourne CBD’s best cafés. Some are tiny takeaway counters, and some are sit-down spots, but they’ll all satisfy your brunch cravings.

These Melbourne breakfasts are worth the wake-up, and in some cases, the wait.

Best Breakfast in Melbourne CBD: Cheap, Cheerful & On-the-Go

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Eggholic

Eggholic is a popular Korean breakfast eatery located in the CBD, known for its creative and diverse menu centered around eggs. Offering a range of delicious dishes from classic breakfast options to more unique egg-centric creations, it has garnered a strong following among locals and visitors alike.

The must-try dish is of course an egg sandwich; think creamy scrambled eggs served within fluffy and light baked brioche, and decked out with an array of meat, cheese and vegetables add-ons. It's the perfect go-to breakfast.

With its cosy atmosphere and dedication to quality ingredients, this is a must-visit morning pit-stop and one of the best places for a cheap and cheerful breakfast in Melbourne CBD.

2/262 Spencer Street, Melbourne

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Bakemono Bakers

We're big fans of the pastries flying out the door atBakemono Bakers. This Japanese-inspired bakery sits pretty inside a converted garage on Drewery Lane, and they've got an impeccable, tightly curated pastry selection for you to spend agonising minutes mulling over.

Think puffy Danishes filled with blueberries and custard or Nutella and strawberry, and then for something savoury, a classic ham and cheese croissant. It's one of the cutest spots for sourcing one of the best on-the-go baked good breakfast in Melbourne CBD.

Sitchu Tip:Grab one of their soul-warming chai lattes on top of your selection of pastries. They brew it in-house once a week and it's delicious.

273 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

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Sloppy Joe's Deli

Sloppy Joe's Deli is an American-style sandwich shop and cafe offering house-made donuts, cookies and specialty coffee alongside their mouthwatering array of sandos. Chew your way to happiness with their epic fried chicken burger, eponymous Sloppy Joe or gooey mushroom melt. A go-to destination for a quick energy boost or a leisurely brunch to kick start your day, this is one of the best spots for a hearty breakfast in Melbourne CBD that will have you coming back for more.

2/190 Queen Street, Melbourne

423 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

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Anda

If you’re the type that wakes up hungry, Anda is the place for you. Open from 6am on weekdays, head to their Spring Street location for sandwiches and coffee that will keep you fueled and full until lunchtime. For a breakfast classic, try their B.E.C (bacon, egg and cheese) on brioche, complete with housemade ranch. If you find yourself getting stuck at your desk for lunch and surviving off cups of tearoom coffee, why not grab a freshly made sandwich to go.

215 Spring Street, Melbourne

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Bobby’s Coffee & Bagels

A firm favourite with the express brekky crowd, Bobby’s pocket-sized bagel shop is the stuff of cream-cheese filled dreams. For strong coffee and bouncy bagels, this is the place to go, with a plethora of delectable toppers to please sweet tooths and savoury mavens alike. Whether you prefer a shmear of cream cheese or an overindulgent lathering of Nutella, you can either pull up a pew and while the day away, or get your bagel on-the-run to the office.

Rear 53-57 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

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Dukes Coffee Roasters

For a caffeine-rich, liquid breakfast, go straight to the source. Wholesalers by trade, Dukes' flagship store on Flinders Lane generates new loyal customers daily. Coffee enthusiasts, Dukes Coffee Roasters, are renowned for their high-quality roasting, selling their products in-store to take home with your takeaway coffee and fresh sweet treats.

247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

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Antara 128

Welcome toAntara, an impressive new eating house with its very own bakery included. It will take your tastebuds on a delicious journey morning through night, with viennoiserie, bread and breakfast, dishes from the woodfired oven, and aperitivo at the standing bar from 5.00pm onwards.

If you're fortunate enough to make your way there for an early morning treat to-go, you can expect the likes of still warm from the oven pain au chocolate, twice baked almond croissants and seasonal pastries.

Looking for a delightful breakfast or brunch with friends vibe? Larger dishes like the housemade wood roasted granola with poached pear, coconut yoghurt and macadamia milk, smoked rainbow trout omelette with mint and pea salsa, creme fraiche and sorrel, and a heirloom tomato and yellow peach toast with honey and almond butter, will have you in good stead.

128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne

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Maker

The team at Maker are meticulous about coffee, sourcing the best beans from around the world to ensure the perfect experience, everytime. All you have to do is turn up. With locations in South Yarra, Richmond and the CBD, it’s obvious that Maker know coffee, and lucky for us they’re willing to share their knowledge. Drop in for a cup (or two) of top notch coffee, and stay for a freshly made baguette or a pastry supplied by Melbourne’s So¨t by Mo¨rk.

387 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

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Operator Diner

Enjoy classic breakfast staples like stacks of syrupy buttermilk pancakes, French toast and breakfast muffins, as well as specialty sandwiches with that Melbourne twist at this cosy and comfortable diner in the CBD. A smooth, uh, operator,Operator Dinerprovides a slick refresh on those ol' slice of Americana diner relics, and unashamedly so. Coffee is by Code Black Coffee Roaster, and house-made special drinks such as iced tea, lemonade and milkshakes will give you a hearty sense of recollection.

New but old school (and oh-so-cool), it's one of the best new cafes in Melbourne CBD.

Shop 2/130 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

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Operator 25

A perfect spot for a quick break or a longer laptop session, Operator 25 is there to help you get through the day. Named after its heritage setting of the original Telephone Exchange Building, this vibrant coffee house plates up culturally influenced fare and a variety of classic and experimental coffee brews.

25 Wills Street, Melbourne

Le Shoppe

Lovers of a brekkie roll, this is your official sign to add Le Shoppe to your must-try list. A fresh crusty bread roll housing perfectly cooked bacon, a crispy fried egg and Pickett’s brown sauce, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better way to start the working week. Le Shoppe by Chancery Lane is a Euro inspired cafe and providore, attached to Chancery Lane Bistro. Fresh pastries, quality coffee and of course that breakfast roll are there to welcome you every day of the week.

430 Collins Street, Melbourne

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The Grain Store

Step inside The Grain Store - and you'll be served up some seriously good food alongside speciality coffee, all housed within rustic yet industrial looks. On the menu? Everything from lemon and blueberry porridge, blue swimmer crab chilli scramble and Spanish baked eggs with chorizo, to lobster florentine, fluffy ricotta pancakes and even a delicious breakfast board. On weekends the menu extends to include more lunch-time fare, drawing on refined European touches and seasonal Australian produce to create beautiful plates worthy of a snap or four!

517 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

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Maverick

Meet Maverick, Little Collins Streets' sophisticated and relaxed breakfast haunt that's serving up new takes on classic dishes. Whether you're in the mood for eggs benedict with house-made pastrami and pickles; cured salmon topped with a soft boiled egg, beetroot relish, watercress and crisps; or fresh hotcakes served with honeycomb, blood orange and double cream, you'll meet your brunch maker at Maverick.

95 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

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Cathedral Coffee

This café by day, bar by night is a relaxed yet intimate hidden gem in the city. Sitting pretty inside the Nicholas Building, Cathedral Coffee is the ultimate escape from the daily hustle and bustle of the inner CBD, with a beautiful arcade ambiance matched with excellent coffee, flaky pastries, simple baguette sandwiches and a European sensibility. Come afternoon, coffee swaps to wine and simple share plates arrive swiftly to your table, all soft butter and baguette, olives and goopy cheeses, potato frittata, crispy trout with buttered-parsley potatoes, beef tartare, various crostini and more. A truly perfect spot.

Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne

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Krimper

Krimper is one of the most beautiful cafes in Melbourne CBD, where the history of the building it resides in has allowed for a warm, dimly-lit and character-filled space to envelop in eager breakfast-goers. Inside, a disused, 100-year-old lift car and mechanical wheels has been used to recreate a dining booth, which has become a key feature of the café, alongside the cleverly unfinished, rough and rustic detailing found throughout. Industrial-era, warehouse style interiors aside, you'll also been quickly captivated by the food, with scrumptious dishes like almond French toast (almond spread brioche, saffron poached pear, pistachio, seasonal fruits and honey mascarpone) through to classics like eggs benny, coconut porridge and baked shakshuka.

20 Guildford Lane, Melbourne

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Cuff

Tucked away inMelbourne's maze of vibrant streets and laneways, Cuff captures an iconic slice of city life. Located in the building known also as the Customs House, next time you're strolling along Flinders Lane be sure to slip inside for some tasty eats. The all-day menu is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, with everything from corn fritters with haloumi and almond romesco, eggs your way, waffles and a panko-crumbed fried chicken burger.

325 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

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Brother Baba Budan

Caffeinating the city for almost twenty years, Brother Baba Budan and their infamous roof chairs are a much loved institution by the Seven Seeds team. The focus is completely on the coffee here, with a limited food menu offering toasties and pastries. So while you won’t be served your usual brunch regulars here, you’re guaranteed an absolutely banging cup of coffee.

359 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

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Dame

A sophisticated spot for all-day dining in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, Dame offers an elevated eating experience, when you’re looking for something a little bit fancier. The gorgeous interior awash with soft pink and red hues, and floor to ceiling curtains create a surprisingly intimate space in the bustling heart of Collins Street. Head here for lavish all day breakfast sets, complete with cocktails.

35 Collins Street, Melbourne

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Liminal

Chic in style, Liminal is a vision of curved leather couches, marble tabletops and brass detailing. As expected, the menu elevates café fare to restaurant levels of sophistication: avocado toast is topped with furikake and finger lime, and where else could you expect toasted pumpkin brioche with buffalo curd, honey and bay leaf oil? If that wasn’t enough, the sprawling space also boasts a wine shop, deli, produce store and event space. So, once you finish brekky you can stock up for lunch and dinner.

161 Collins Street, Melbourne

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Hardware Société

Melbourne institution Hardware Société has a decade’s worth of local brunch knowledge. Lush with salmon pinks, deep greens and marble pendant lights, the decadent interiors set the scene for a French-infused breakfast to remember. From rich croque madame to satisfying eggs benedict, you will never want to eat breakfast at home again.

10 Katherine Place, Melbourne

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Greta

You Greta believe it, the team behind Maverick and Richmond's Mayday Coffee & Food have another foodie gem up their sleeve, and she's an absolute doozy. Serving up dishes and drinks from breakfast through dinner, mornings provide simple, simply delicious fare. Crunch down on warmed and buttered baguettes with jamon or muesli with seasonal fruit and mascarpone, or try heartier fare like anchovy toast with gribiche and soft eggs, an omelette topped with stracciatella and mushrooms... or their famously good sandwiches. We're partial to the mortadella with scamorza and olive, and their beef cheek with mozzarella, pesto and Napoli dip was a hot contender for best takeaway sandwich during lockdown.

450 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

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Higher Ground

Higher Ground’s refined industrial digs are home to specialty coffee and fresh modern plates, to be enjoyed all day in any of their many dining spots to suit your mood. For breakfast, you can’t go past the chorizo Bolognese toastie with mozzarella, rocket, sherry dressing and guindillas- equal parts indulgent and satisfying. For something lighter, try the kale and cauliflowers salad with miso, almond hummus, avocado, poached egg and puffed rice. You will feel lighter than air, ready to start your day.

650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

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Tori's

Sometimes the perfect cafe is a bakery... and that's where Tori's steps up to the plate. This little bakery, with its cosy vibes, memorable vintage interiors and artisanal cakes, offers a sweet escape from hustle and bustle of city life. Bring in your favorite book, grab a spot on their comfy couch and let them serve you a delicious array of coffee, hojicha and premium matcha before you begin choosing a bite to eat. Their home-baked cakes and treats taste as good as they look, everything from lychee shortcake and madeleines with magical flavour combinations, to banoffee pie and black sesame cheesecake.

28 Niagara Lane, Melbourne

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Brick Lane

Not just another brick in the wall, this bustling bakery-cafe destination serves up craft coffee and creative brunch options that are designed to change with the seasons. Hidden down a beautiful laneway and behind its vintage exterior, Brick Lane is serving up delicious takes on the classics in quintessential Melbourne cafe-culture style. Settle in for smashed avocado or eggs benedict... and all the coffee.

33 Guildford Lane, Melbourne

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Caffe e Torta

This Melbourne CBD stalwart is a true gem of the cafe scene, serving up all the old-world European charm and a focus on simple dishes that are big on flavour. Caffe e Torta is the perfect place to take a break from shopping and settle in for the afternoon, or to start the day off in style while observing the morning bustle of suits. The cosy Italian vibes provide a sense of escapism, so take the time to enjoy warming cups of cappuccino, and their hearty soups and classic egg dishes. The signature bolognese is also worth its weight in gold.

314 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

If you loved our picks of the best cafes in Melbourne's CBD, why not take it one step further with our 36 must book restaurants in Melbourne's CBD, or check out the markets around the city you need to visit at least once.

By Kelsey Harrington & Adrianna Barro

Posted 18 Mar 24

The Best Breakfast in Melbourne CBD for a Perfect Morning Start (2024)
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