… For me personally, it boils down to two things: aesthetic and innovative food/drinks. I’m a sucker for those pretty Instagram cafes that dishes up decadent stacks of pancakes with just about everything you can imagine on them (insert ricotta and honey here) or a gorgeous smoothie bowl that makes me feel like a healthy goddess.
To help my lovely readers out, I decided to go on a mission to find 5 of the best cafes in Melbourne that I believe offer a perfect combination of Instagram worthy brunch spots that don’t hold back when it comes to quirky and scrumptious breakfast items.
*Disclaimer: I’m fully aware that there could be about 20 cafes on this list that are well worth the title of ‘Instagram Brunch Goals’ so I’ve decided to present just a couple, to make it short and sweet.
…Leave your favourite brunch spot in the comments below so I have a reason to drag my family/boyfriend/friends/cat to test them out 👼…
@Rustica_hq
With multiple locations across Melbourne, Rustica Sourdough is the perfect place to spend a cold winter’s morning sipping a latte in their cosy digs. From pastries to artisan bread and all the way to a full food menu, the team at Rustica have got their dishes down pat with season ingredients and flavour combos that are sure to catch your eye.
Whether you’re popping in for a gourmet pie or their Mexican Sliced Pork, Chilli Pickled Carrot Slaw, Lime and Corriander Aioli (a mouthful in every sense of the word), you’ll feel at home in the contemporary setting that will have your Insta followers commenting ‘That looks amazing, where is it?!! 😍😍😍’.
@kettleblackcafe
This stunning South Melbourne cafe lives inside an airy, bright space that feels modern and yet still timeless with its classic birch-wood accent stools and marble countertop. Remember those pancakes I was talking/drooling over earlier? Yep, this is the place.
Think deliciously fluffy hotcakes with creamy ricotta, rich honey and blueberries scattered quite heavy-handedly with chia seeds on top. I haven’t inserted a picture of them here, purely because you need to witness them for yourselves! A masterpiece for the eyes really.
@hardwaresociete
Truly a cult classic in Melbourne, the Hardware Societe has two locations in Melbourne and one in the swoon-worthy city of Paris! If you won’t be making any trips to Paris any time soon, never fear as the Melbourne branches are just as exciting and tres chic. Their French-inspired menu is at the height of luxurious brunch meals so perfect that even you’ll be wondering if you’ve somehow been transported to the City of Love.
Here’s the place to bring all your girls together for breakfast mimosa’s (there’s no shame drinking alcohol in Europe in the morning so I feel like the same applies here) and eggs benedict with LOBSTER. Yes, you read that right. Lobster.
@DarlingCafe
This Instagram cafe really takes the cake. And I mean literally, they could be known of the Dessert capital of Brunch. Menu items like Apple Crumble Porridge and Sticky Date Pancakes? Yeah, that could get me out of bed on a Sunday morning.
Their pristine location in South Yarra will have you feeling wide-eyed and alert with the industrial style decor and illuminated logo of OX (hugs and kisses) taking centre place in their cafe. The star of the show, however? Well, that goes to their smoothies which are served in none other than a lightbulb. If ever your Instagram needed a jolt of bright, colourful food porn, here’s your chance.
@fourth_chapter
Let’s say you had a big night out the day before and you’ve woken up with that hungover feeling that we’ve all felt once (or twice, or three times, I’m not judging). Where do you find yourself heading to? The answer is probably McDonald’s, but the answer you should be striving for is Fourth Chapter.
This Prahran based cafe might be just what you need to bring you back to life. With soothing greenery artfully placed around the cafe and clean, white walls, the healthy menu at Fourth Chapter and its delicious bowls like this acai one, or their Mango matcha bowl will have you feeling a-okay and ready to start the day after you leave. Be sure to try their Pink Panther smoothie for a delightful combination of dragon fruit, banana, mango and honey.
And so that’s it, folks! Let me know if you head to any of the places on the list, and if you’re not in Melbourne but are currently in the middle of planning flight details to go to these cafes, why not do a Melbourne city tour straight after?
Sightseeing Tours Australia offers a Morning Melbourne City Tour that will have you exploring laneways wafting with the smell of fresh coffee, and some of the iconic attractions like the Royal Exhibition Building and Brighton Bathing Boxes.
So grab a bagel and head on over!
