The Best Cafes in Geelong for Brunching in Style

Geelong runs on sea air and good coffee. Between beach walks and city streets, you’ll find bakeries turning out warm, buttery things, brew bars for the purists, and brunch spots that make a day feel instantly better.

Come for a quick takeaway before the coast, and stay for a long-table moment that turns into a local habit. These are the best cafes in Geelong right now.

The Birch

Newtown’s quiet achiever, The Birch, is a cafe locals guard closely. Mornings deliver impeccable coffee and thoughtful plates, from coconut brioche French toast to crispy chilli sambal eggs and avocado. As the day rolls on, it shifts into wine, small dishes and the gentle clink of regulars settling in. Timber, sunlight and an easy sense of calm define the space. Come for the daily tipsy hour from 5pm to 6pm, stay for the house focaccia with pork crackle butter, which is outrageously good.

359 Pakington Street, Newtown

Ket Baker

Ket Baker is the Bellarine’s croissant powerhouse — a bakery where European technique and organic ingredients turn every loaf into a small masterpiece. From glossy, expertly flaky croissants and morning buns to slow-fermented sourdough still warm from the oven, everything feels intentional and deeply crafted. Visit the original Wallington bakery for farm-gate charm or the sleek Geelong CBD outpost for a quick pastry fix. Either way, go early. There’s a reason it sells out.

377 Grubb Road, Wallington 

enter via rear carpark, 1/174A High Street, Belmont

Funk by Botanical Brew

Funk by Botanical Brew is Geelong West’s prettiest wellness pit stop, a light-filled studio pouring the adaptogenic drinks your algorithm keeps circling. Collagen matcha, mushroom cacao, iced botanical tonics and wholefood treats define the menu, delivered with the same clean, slightly boujee energy that built its cult following. It’s ideal for a mid-morning reset or post-Pilates pause. Order the iced cacao tonic; locals swear by it.

152 Shannon Avenue, Geelong West

At Randy’s

After losing her mum at 17, Kelly turned her love for cooking and cherished family recipes into At Randy’s, a heartwarming cafe in Geelong that honours her mum, nana, and her beloved Vizsla, Randy. The menu is a tribute to comfort, with dishes that taste like home and coffee that feels like a hug.

Be sure to try the Hummingbird Cake, drizzled with honey and white chocolate ganache; a sweet slice of love in every bite.

84A Hope Street, Geelong West 

Rossco’s 

If you’re in Geelong West and craving a sandwich that actually counts as a meal, Rossco’s is your new north star. Inside this modern-vintage, orange-and-white dream, the menu goes straight for the nostalgia nerve: cloud-soft bread piled with curried egg, roast chook that hits like childhood done right, and a Reuben with full emotional-support-potential. And the merch? Those beanies aren’t accessories — they’re an identity.

1B Yuille Street, Geelong West 

Rebecchi’s

Rebecchi’s is where Geelong’s coffee scene meets New York deli culture, all tucked inside Boom Gallery’s creative buzz. Owner Sam blends music and menu with ease: Italian subs, chopped cheese, tuna melts, rhubarb sodas and a Caesar with slow-cooked egg that locals already swear by. With Ona coffee on bar and rotating guest roasters, it’s a community pocket built on flavour, warmth and genuinely great hospitality.

11 Rutland Street, Newtown

Brown Deli

Brown Deli is a Geelong cafe locals keep on speed dial. Bagels and toasties are the headline act, with hits like Korean fried chicken layered with sweet chilli and slaw, smoky chicken avocado chilli toasties, and classic salmon lox done right. There’s comfort in the peanut butter porridge, plenty for vegans, and coffee that always delivers. A true neighbourhood favourite, for very good reason.

Sitchu Tip: The strawberry iced matcha is non-negotiable.

5 Cunningham Street, Geelong 

Cafe Go 

Cafe Go is a charming blue weatherboard retreat, serving up creative meals six days a week. Here, comforting cinnamon porridge sits alongside vibrant Persian eggs and hearty Moroccan nourish bowls. Relax with a coffee by the crackling fireplace or unwind in the peaceful leafy courtyard out back. With its warm, inviting atmosphere and delicious, wholesome food, Cafe Go offers the sweetest escape from the everyday.

37 Bellerine Street, Geelong 

Sodi 

Sodi on Pakington Street has mastered the art of being wildly welcoming without trying too hard. Dogs sprawl happily at your feet while cocktails arrive cold and considered. The menu leans playful but polished, from Mexican-style zucchini and corn fritters to buttermilk cinnamon scroll pancakes and an avocado toast that earns its cult following. Fully licensed, effortlessly social and always buzzing, it’s as good for long brunches as it is for late-afternoon drinks.

149 Pakington Street, Geelong West 

Neck of the Woods

For specialty coffee and irresistible baked goods, look no further than Geelong’s Neck of the Woods. This charming cafe, run by a husband-and-wife duo, serves up Campos coffee alongside delicious treats and freshly prepared light cafe fare. From classic brekky toasties to fresh berries with granola and yoghurt, and indulgent salted chocolate chip cookies, each bite perfectly complements your coffee. It’s the ideal spot to start your day on a high note in Geelong.

136 Myers Street, Geelong

The Local Geelong

The Local Geelong is the cafe and bakery every neighbourhood dreams of. Serving hand-rolled pastries and multi-day sourdough from 7:30am, this spot uses top-quality local produce to craft a menu that changes daily. Enjoy seasonal delights like croissants, salted caramel scrolls, lamingtons, brioche burgers, potato leek gratin danishes, and salted chocolate cookies. Paired with exceptional coffee from Everyday Coffee, it’s the perfect place to enjoy breakfast and beyond in Geelong. Don’t miss it.

175 McKillop Street, Geelong 

Pavilion

Brunch with bayside views never misses, and Pavilion proves it daily. This 1927 icon has been refreshed into a bright, modern all-day hangout, with a menu built for long mornings and even longer lunches. Think avo on sourdough with whipped feta and green chilli, a blueberry–banana açai bowl stacked with coconut and buckwheat granola, and a lush honey-butter French toast crowned with mascarpone and salted caramel. The pulled-pork eggs benedict is another standout — rich, balanced and an instant favourite. Add a strawberry iced matcha or tiramisu brew, grab a seat by the sand, and you’ve officially found your new summer ritual.

95 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong

King of the Castle

At King of the Castle, a standout cafe in Geelong, you’ll feel like royalty with every bite. Situated in a stylishly revamped repair garage, it offers a globe-trotting menu worth waking up for. Indulge in brekky tacos with buttery scramble or Thai poached eggs on crispy roti, topped with fresh herbs and chilli jam. With a spacious setup and a dedicated plant-based menu, this cafe ensures there’s something delicious for everyone, making it a weekend favourite.

24 Pakington Street, Geelong West

Winter’s Cafe

Winter’s Cafe is a must-visit cafe in Geelong for those who appreciate a twist on the classics. This spacious spot dishes out an all-day menu that’s as bold as it is delicious. Try the Mexican-inspired Winters Benedict with pulled pork, corn, and chipotle crema, or go for a hearty falafel bowl packed with lemon-pea falafels and hummus. Weekends? Don’t miss the bottomless brunch with free-flowing drinks. Grab a seat, dig in, and enjoy.

Sitchu Tip: Winter’s Cafe is perfect for families, with plenty of room for prams both indoors and outdoors.

330 Pakington Street, Newtown

Kilgour St Grocer

Kilgour St Grocer is where the old-school charm of a corner store that’s been around since the 1960s convenes with modern cafe cool. A local favourite, it serves up specialty coffee, classic sandwiches, and tempting sweet treats, with waffles making a weekend appearance. The vibe is laid-back yet stylish, offering a range of curated hampers online — though nothing beats handpicking your own in-store.

164 Kilgour Street, Geelong

Coffee Cartel Brew Bar

This specialty roaster and brew bar serves traceable, ethically grown beans with surgical precision and style. Pull up a window perch or share the communal table as world-class brews pour from baristas’ hands to your cup. Expect rare varietals, experimental roasts, and beans so good they double as gifts. For true coffee obsessives in Geelong, Coffee Cartel is the ritual, the temple, the experience.

1/80 Little Malop Street, Geelong

Mano Deli

Mano Deli is a retro gem in Manifold Heights, celebrated for its cosy vibes, good old fashioned service and mouthwatering menu. From Zeally Bay sourdough toast and sweet crumpets with berry compote to hearty toasties and sandwiches brimming with local flavours, there’s something for everyone.

Sitchu Tip: Don’t miss the Ode to Iberia sandwich, a delicious nod to the venue’s former life as Iberia.

137 Shannon Avenue, Manifold Heights

Born & Bread Bakehouse

In a reimagined mechanic’s garage, Born & Bread is where Geelong’s heart beats loudest — three generations of bakers shaping dough like it’s a family language. Slow-fermented sourdough, glossy brioche and golden focaccia move from oven to counter with reassuring ease. There’s nduja-streaked fougasse, warm sandwiches, flaky danishes and cheese-studded scones. Watch the bakers in action and taste the kind of care you can’t fake. It’s bread, but elevated.

2/364 Pakington Street, Newtown

Travelling through the area and keen to explore post delicious brunch at one of the best cafes in Geelong? Check out these gorgeous places to stay in Lorne or all along the Great Ocean Road. En route, surf your way across our road-tripper’s guide to the best beaches in Victoria.

Writer

Kelsey Harrington

19 January 2026

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.