The Best Cafes in St Kilda for Your Next Brunch Date

Vibrant St Kilda isn’t just a suburb. It’s a Melbourne icon. This eclectic neighbourhood is a magnet for food lovers, boasting one of the city’s most exciting cafe scenes. Whether you’re after artfully crafted vegan dishes or a hearty full English breakfast, St Kilda’s cafes are the kind that people cross town for—yes, even those North-siders brave the river for a taste.

Cafe culture here truly is a way of life. So, let’s dive into culinary heaven as we guide you to the best cafes in St Kilda, where every bite is pure bliss.

Hello Sparrow Cafe 

Cosy, unpretentious, and packed with flavour, Hello Sparrow feels like a home away from home, but with way better coffee. Chef Tj, with roots in Auckland and Queenstown, brings a sharp, no-nonsense approach to brunch, letting top-notch produce do the talking. The philosophy? “The best flavours come from the freshest ingredients.” No gimmicks, no fluff—just damn good food. Whether you’re here for a hearty big breakfast or something a little more wholesome, Hello Sparrow serves up one of St Kilda’s best.

126A Chapel Street, St Kilda

Monarch Cakes

Monarch Cakes is a Melbourne institution with a rich history that spans over 85 years. Known for its traditional European cakes and pastries, Monarch Cakes has been delighting locals and visitors alike with its time-honored recipes and old-world charm. The star of the show is the famous Polish baked cheesecake, alongside other beloved treats like the chocolate kooglhoupf and the rich, moist plum cake. Stepping into Monarch Cakes feels like stepping back in time, where the warm, welcoming atmosphere and the irresistible aroma of freshly baked goods make it a must-visit cafe in St Kilda.

103 Acland Street, St Kilda 

Trouper

At Trouper, exceptional coffee meets an irresistible all-day brunch menu. This local favourite delivers a standout cafe experience with a menu that strikes the perfect balance between comforting classics and creative delights. Indulge in hearty staples like the egg and bacon roll, chilli scrambled eggs, or smashed avo on toast, or explore more adventurous offerings like the sticky date porridge and the prawn roll with a toasted milk bun, dill, capers, cucumber, pickled daikon, and potato crisps. With top-notch coffee, friendly service, and a lively Gen X playlist, Trouper is the ultimate destination for a relaxed brunch or a quick bite in St Kilda.

141 Chapel Street, St Kilda

Lady of St Kilda 

Lady of St Kilda is a vibrant all-day eatery that delivers bold flavours and Mediterranean charm in the heart of St Kilda. From breakfast to dinner, their menu reels you in with delights like the The Good Morning Istanbul—a sublime brunch featuring a sesame pita and sunny-side-up egg, minced beef, lamb, onion, herbs and garden salad, with a heaping of tzatziki or tahini. The sambousek, a big, flaky pastry, is a must-try, and don’t forget to add their gorgeous Bloody Mary to your order for the perfect brunch experience.

Open seven days a week, Lady of St Kilda is a go-to spot for everything from morning coffee to late-night cocktails. And the name? It nods to the iconic ship that once anchored in the bay, giving St Kilda its name and a sense of maritime history that’s as rich as the flavours you’ll find here.

204 Barkly Street, St Kilda

The Banff

The Banff is a St Kilda legend that has been delighting locals since 1942. Originally an army galley during WWII, it has evolved into one of the area’s most cherished spots. Reimagined in 2008, Banff now offers a warm, mountain-cabin-inspired atmosphere that perfectly complements its hearty and flavourful menu.

Open daily from 7am to 10pm, it’s a charming cafe serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the menu a varied delight. In the mornings, whether you’re craving the classic B&E roll, indulgent Mexican baked eggs, or the vibrant smashed avocado with feta, Banff delivers exceptional value and comfort.

Its nostalgic nod to its wartime past, combined with a welcoming vibe and excellent food, makes Banff a must-visit for anyone living in or exploring St Kilda.

Unit 29/145 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda 

The Wedge

Wedged between the corner of Acland and Carlisle Streets, The Wedge is a must-visit spot for a delightful treat, known for its exceptional coffee and Middle Eastern-inspired brunch. Kick off with a chai latte and dive into their vibrant menu featuring falafel Scotch eggs paired with baba ganoush, crispy flatbread, pickled turnips, pomegranate, and Tripoli sausages. Save room for their luscious banoffee waffles topped with vanilla bean ice cream and a baklava crumble.

The delectable dishes on offer and cosy atmosphere make this cafe in St Kilda a top choice for a memorable brunch.

72A Acland Street, St Kilda 

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Sister of Soul

True to its name, this vegan and vegetarian cafe has a whole lot of soul, contributing to St Kilda’s community gardens in between nourishing its locals with wholesome, delicious food. Many of Sister of Soul’s dishes have become staples for their loyal fanbase, like their blueberry and acai bowls, panko eggplant bao buns, turmeric tofu scramble, Thai red curry topped with crispy tempeh, linguine Bolognese, or their rainbow buddha bowls. They even have a list of vegan friendly wines, beers and cocktails, or you can try something a little more left field with their spiced carrot and dandelion lattes.

73 Acland Street, St Kilda 

Galleon Cafe

A true local institution, the hippie flavoured Galleon Cafe harks back to the peace and love touting St Kilda of old. Eternally laidback, the brekkie bagels and lunchtime burgers come on mismatched crockery and the cheerful wait staff stop by for conversations over coffee. All a welcome reminder that sometimes, they still make them like they used to.

9 Carlisle Street, St Kilda

Woodfrog Bakery

The Woodfrog Bakery takes its bread very seriously. Taking the time to nurture the ingredients from scratch, the result is high-quality bread full of nutrition and flavour. Specialising in sourdough, Woodfrog’s St Kilda branch offers a huge variety of bread and patisserie treats baked daily, along with freshly brewed coffee. 

108A Barkly Street, St Kilda

The St Kilda Dispensary

For eggs served with a side of history, there’s no beating The St Kilda Dispensary. What is now a charming café was once the largest dispensary in the Southern Hemisphere, housing doctors’ surgeries, a pharmacy and dentists. In its newer culinary iteration, as apothecary-inspired café with bold colours, quirky touches and fresh feels, it’s prescribing top coffee to many a local, with their kitchen preparing everything from healthy plates, smoothies in beakers and indulgent hangover cures. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, try one of their injectable doughnut delights. 

13 Brighton Road, St Kilda

Space-cafe

This charming St Kilda cafe is shooting for the stars with its winning combination of friendly service, wonderful atmosphere, great coffee, and an all day breakfast menu and lunch daily. From baked eggs to avo on toast, French toast to Croque Monsieur, plus lunches that range from wholesome burgers to steak and chips, this is a quintessential Australian café experience, elevated in all the best ways. Settle in, relax and enjoy. 

183 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

Sorsi e Morsi

In our opinion, this is one of the best kept secrets in St Kilda, nay, all of Melbourne. Sorsi e Morsi is an Italian cafe meets restaurant, offering a slice of the Mediterranean in Melbourne’s iconic beachside ‘burb. At the heart of it all is good Italian food, great service and a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

For breakfast and brunch, dishes run the gamut from braised beef brisket with potato dauphinoise, fried egg, sautéed mushrooms and a cacio e pepe sauce, to corn and basil fritters with capsicum jam, creamed corn, mascarpone and spicy baked beans. Everything is fresh and so, so tasty…just wait around a little longer and then you even get to tuck into stuffed zucchini flowers, a glass of vino and hearty bowls of delicious pasta. Buono mangia! 

31 Blessington Street, St Kilda

Worked your way through the best cafes in St Kilda? We’ve got plenty more delicious eateries to fuel your appetite. From gourmet burgers and Italian pizza joints to romantic date nights and bottomless brunches, we’ve whittled down the coolest things to do in Melbourne to make sure your next food date is a complete success. 

Writer

Kelsey Harrington

21 February 2025

Kelsey Harrington is a Melbourne-based writer with a sharp eye for the city's ever-evolving food, wine, arts, and culture scene. Her journey into the creative industry took the scenic route—what started as a passion for capturing Melbourne’s energy through a camera lens led her to Sitchu, where she worked her way up to Melbourne Editor. With over four years in the industry, she’s all about uncovering the best places to eat, drink, and explore. Off the clock? You’ll find her diving into a platter of fresh oysters and crudo, gallery-hopping, or sipping an extra dirty martini while plotting her next adventure.