74 Cake & Coffee in Melbourne

Whether you are looking for a bite to eat in between presentations in the CBD, searching for somewhere to hook up with friends in Geelong or in need of some tucker by the beach in St Kilda, Melbourne's cafe selection will always provide plenty of options. There are relaxed beachfront places, hip inner city coffee bars, burger joints, child-friendly cafe restaurants and Italian places where the aroma of home-cooked sauces is hard to resist. So take advantage of what the City by the Bay has to offer and make a date with Quandoo to grab a bite at a superb local cafe.

Whatever draws you to the centre of town, Melbourne's cafes will be the ideal places to rest your feet or get ready for the evening to come. Whether you are watching an Essendon or Carlton match in the AFL, heading to see some Big Bash cricket at the MCG or getting ready for a gig on Brunswick Street, you can be sure to find cafes nearby on Quandoo's Melbourne listings. Why not combine tickets for the footy with a plate of home-fries and Victorian steak, or a delicious helping of pork belly served with Asian slaw?

Melbourne has a diverse population, with Greek, Italian, Eastern European, British, Vietnamese, Chinese and French influences. All of these communities have added something to the city's food culture, resulting in an array of Melbourne cafes that offer an endless variety of dishes to try. You can dine in a relaxed setting, share quality time with your family and make any meal a really special occasion, so book the perfect place with Quandoo the next time you're in town.

Morning or evening, rain or shine, Melbourne's cafes have menu options that will suit your schedule. For instance, there are some fantastic breakfast bars, serving sweet treats like waffles and fresh fruit alongside eggs benny, avocado and feta on toast, oatmeal porridge or classic fried breakfasts with beans, pancetta and eggs. At lunchtime, you can pick from fish tacos, chicken Parmigiana, bruschetta and smoked salmon, or risotto with porcini mushrooms.

And if you need a quick bite in the evening in an informal setting, Melbourne's cafes serve up substantial meals like all day breakfasts, burgers, or pan-fried steak served Chilean-style with avocado, sliced tomatoes, egg and home-made bread. These cafes are an ideal halfway house between full-on restaurants and takeaway places. Instead of sitting for hours and taking it slowly, you can book tables at these dining spots and enjoy fine food, a shot of espresso and dessert, before heading on to your destination. It doesn't matter how packed your schedule is, you can book tables before work, for a midday break or in the early evening. Just pick one of the Melbourne cafes on Quandoo, select a time and get ready for a dinkum Victorian feast.

Of course, the star of the show at most of Melbourne's finest cafes is the coffee. Victoria's capital is a world-famous coffee-drinking city. It's the birthplace of the flat white, has ten coffee machines every block (on average), while some people say that you're never more than 50 metres from a coffee shop in the city centre. That's great for coffee connoisseurs, but how do you find places that fuse the finest coffee with gourmet cuisine? There are some incredible Melbourne cafes that offer just that, and you can find all of them on the Quandoo database. Enjoy a beautifully prepared flat white or espresso with a perfectly made crema, and pair it up with a satisfying sandwich.