One of the things that surprised me the most about Melbourne was the word "brunch". Not that I had never heard the word before, but because Melbourne brunch is such an experience in itself and I wondered how I had lasted so long without it! The unique combinations and fusion dishes, plated artfully and precisely have turned Melbourne brunch into its own cuisine. There are cafes that specialize in brunch and each of these cafes have an unique interior, ambiance, menu and most importantly, a story of their own.
Brunch can be a way to treat yourself in style occasionally, especially on a student budget. There are a range of brunch cafes that provide quality food for a considerably affordable price. As a self-appointed foodie and wanderer of this city, I declare it my duty to enlighten you all with some of these cafes, their food and also their story. Here are my reviews on a small fraction of the brunch cafes around Melbourne CBD. Enjoy!
(This list is not in a particular order)
(The price ranges were calculated on average for one dish and one drink per person)
Humble Rays
With a Zomato rating of 4.8/5.0, Humble Rays is incredibly popular and always has a continuous stream of customers outside its door. Lucky for me, this establishment is located about 5 minutes from my place, so I've been a frequent visitor over the last few years. Opened in 2016 by Chef Sutinee Suntivatana, Humble Rays provides a series of Asian-influenced brunch dishes and coffee from St. ALi . Humble Rays is very generous with their portions, with beautifully plated dishes and very reasonable prices. Their bright and colorful ambiance also creates a very nice set up for a relaxing catch-up or even a joyful birthday brunch!
My personal favorite is the chili crab scramble (picture on the right) and their egg benny (left) is an absolute winner too. As their motto says, "stay hungry, be humble". However, I recommend arriving a bit early as there is nearly always a waiting line to be seated at this popular cafe.
Approximately $20-$25 per person
Vertue Coffee Roaster
Vertue Coffee Roaster (hereby shortened to Vertue's) is a hidden gem and it pains me to release this well-kept secret. Concealed perfectly at the corner of a petrol station, Vertue's is the epitome of modern, minimalist interiors, open lighting and hipster vibes. The gigantic 'Has Garanti' coffee roaster steals all the attention once you enter, and the sharp smell of freshly roasted coffee tugs at your nostrils. If finding the door to this concealed cafe wasn't exciting enough, scanning their innovative and diverse menu will get your heart fluttering. The dish in this picture is the "Big Boss" and it was a wonderful combination of rich and balanced flavors. A trip to Vertue's is incomplete without trying their freshly roasted coffee, so make sure to taste it! If you don't enjoy the bitter taste of espresso, I recommend the iced coffee as it comes with a scoop of sweet ice cream :)
Approximately $25-$30 per person
Krimper cafe
A cafe that is hidden behind a tall, mysterious wooden door in one of Melbourne's many narrow alleyways, I accidentally stumbled on this cafe in Guildford Lane as I was admiring the beautiful series of street art and decorations that fill the alley. Opening that large wooden door takes you into a whole new world, of bustling staff and friendly chatter with brick lined walls and a very rustic vibe. My research taught me that the cafe tables and chairs are made from recycled lift doors and old timber pieces that were obtained on site. The minimal lighting and industrial warehouse style of the interior also adds to its charm. We ordered the french toast and Shakshuka Baked Eggs along with some drinks. The baked eggs were flavorful and warm, much better than others I've tried at popular Melbourne brunch spots. The french toast was toasty yet gooey and sweet, with a beautifully poached apple. The cafe was full when we arrived but the staff were fast and very friendly. Overall, I think Krimper cafe is a great representation of Melbourne brunch culture and it is yet another worthy find!
Approximately $20-$25 per person
Stovetop
Located about 3 minutes from the University of Melbourne main campus, Stovetop has always been a popular spot for university students. However, late 2017, the cafe evolved significantly after a major upgrade; interior-wise, concept-wise and menu-wise. The "new" Stovetop has an urban cafe feel, with a brick wall show casing wine bottles and low hanging light bulbs. The cafe is always packed during brunch and even lunch hours. The "counter area" is usually filled with Unimelb students and staff awaiting their morning coffee fix. The menu doesn't disappoint either with items ranging from "field mushrooms" and "miso and sake cured salmon" to " sticky pork ribs ". The ambiance is particularly calmer in the afternoon, so I would recommend coming to enjoy their "white chocolate and raspberry waffle" and a warm drink over a relaxing chat at this time. Personal favorite : chili scrambled eggs
Approximately $17-$22 per person
The Hardware Societe
If you already know a bit about Melbourne brunch, you're probably wondering why this name hasn't been mentioned yet. Snuggled into a corner of Hardware Lane, among a few other brunch cafes, this cafe still stands strong and powerful amidst its rivals (purely for effect, there's no actual feud between the cafes that I know of). The cafe is owned by a husband-wife duo Di and Will Keser, and they have even opened a branch in Paris to bring Melbourne Brunch into the city of Love! This location can get quite busy so be prepared to wait in line for a few minutes. Additionally, our orders were a bit delayed due to the rush so it does test your patience. I ordered the baked eggs and although it was flavorful and tangy, the portions were a bit small. Metta ordered the lobster Benedict (shown in picture) and she found it lacking flavor. All in all, our first experience at Hardware Societe was not too great. However, it's so popular that we're willing to give it a second chance, maybe we ordered the wrong dishes or it wasn't the best day. Maybe we'll have a change of heart next time!
Approximately $25-$30 per person
Special mention : CAFE BLUSH
Although more of a lunch restaurant than a brunch destination, Cafe Blush has earned a special spot on my list for one special dish. Before I go into that, Cafe Blush is a Japanese-inspired, high tea and pasta place on the 2nd level of Emporium mall. A fusion of traditional Italian and innovative Japanese! It has a delicate, white themed interior and rose gold accents with green decorative plants hanging from the ceilings. I have yet to try their high tea selection but the setup seems very aesthetic and elegant.
Onto my special mention. This amazing dish pictured on the right: the Mentaiko pasta. Quoting the menu it consists of "spaghettini, mentaiko, onsen egg and nori". The combinations of flavors is simply genius, with the runny egg yolk and nori seaweed fusing to create a beautiful symphony in your mouth. It's the type of taste you will savor even months afterwards. This is a dish I have been in love with since I first tasted it; the treasure in the menu at Cafe Blush waiting to be discovered and devoured.
Approximately $20-$30 per person
That's it for now! New places are still popping up regularly in Melbourne CBD so I will definitely be back with another brunch cafe compilation soon enough! I hope these reviews helped:)
Lots of love,
Nethmi
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