The Best Cafés in Port Melbourne for a Coffee Catch-up

The lively bayside suburb of Port Melbourne is known for combining inner-city ease with a laid back beachy lifestyle. It’s also home to a thriving café scene that has locals and visitors spoilt for choice. You’ll find long-standing local favourites, acclaimed roasteries, cosy bakeries and even a French-Mauritian fusion café among its many venues.

Gear up for the day with a morning at any of these gorgeous spots that we rank among our favourites of the area. 

Frontside Food & Wine

This is our favourite cafe in Port Melbourne for summertime catchups, with sun-dappled outdoor seating made for chatting over coffee, and feasting on delicious bites; think nduja scramble with a hot honey glaze, fancy open toasts and a seriously good pork cheek benny. Inside is just as pretty, warm and welcoming, and come lunchtime, dishes turn to heartier fare like chicken cotoletta and duck ragu pappardelle.

Turn things up a notch by indulging with a glass or two from Frontside's rather impressive wine menu. Gruner Veltiner from Austria, anyone?  

1A Fennell Street, Port Melbourne 

Adette

She's called Adette…and she's serving up some of the best brunch in Port Melbourne. The new kid on the Bay Street block is serving up excellent coffee, smoothies, breakfast and lunch all day everyday. Choose from a creative menu of flavour packed gems; Biscoff French toast and breakfast burgers through to maple glazed pumpkin salad, tacos and spaghetti arabiatta with chilli prawns. There are even espresso martinis, watermelon cosmopolitans and Aperol spritzes alongside to help ignite a fun little boozy brunch moment. Need we say more? 

321 Bay Street, Port Melbourne 

Vertue Coffee Roasters

Rocking some serious curb appeal, this royal blue roastery is serving up full-bodied brews with fuss-free bites to match. If you find yourself portside, Vertue Coffee Roaster’s tidy rotation of house blends and single origin espresso lay the foundation for a cup that’s perfectly balanced and meant to be savoured. A popular takeaway coffee spot for morning commuters, the food has been designed with busy locals in mind – think grab and go cabinet goodies that pair perfectly with your latte.

425 Graham Street, Port Melbourne

Local Rules Coffee Roasters 

A local Port Melbourne café with great coffee and good food, Local Rules Coffee Roasters is one sweet little spot, not least because of the mouth-watering jam donuts and yoghurt-parfaits-on-the-go popular with regulars. Stop by for a coffee, a wrap or avocado on toast, or stick around for heartier breakfast fare of eggs benedict, pancakes or their epic range of burgers. The Local Rules (with double beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, American cheese and sauce) and Dr Vegan burgers (with pulled mushrooms, slaw, mayonnaise and chilli jam) are must-tries, washed down with a Biscoff shake, iced coffee or green juice. 

23 Centre Avenue, Port Melbourne 

Coe & Coe

If you’ve been to one of Coe & Coe’s other locations, you know to expect three things: great coffee, banging paninis, and all-around good vibes thanks to their top-notch staff. The same goes for Port Melbourne. Where breakfast is concerned, the egg and bacon panini with sweet hickory BBQ sauce is a simple classic. Come lunchtime we’re ordering the Burger Life panini loaded with chicken, cheese, avocado and jalapeño aioli – pair it with a juice or smoothie and you have yourself a mighty fine meal.

1 Fennell Street, Port Melbourne

Hurricane Handsome

This bright and buzzy corner café takes a round-the-world approach to brunch. Spy everything from smashed pumpkin with grilled halloumi, semi dried tomato pesto and fried eggs on toast, their signature grilled sweet corn and zucchini fritters with smashed avocado and feta, Spanish-style scrambled eggs, whole grain porridge with turmeric, honey, fresh berries and granola, and pulled salmon tacos. This popular café in Port Melbourne also sports an outdoor parklet dining area, making it a lovely spot to catch some morning rays.

329-331 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

My Sista Says

If points are awarded for pure adorableness, My Sista Says would be the clear winner. Bright yellow chairs, peppy wall art that espouses “love and happiness” and some of the best pastries in town make this café a treasured local gem. Did we mention the service is also warmer than a slice of freshly toasted sourdough? Well, now you know. Sit in for silky smooth coffee and generously portioned brunch favourites. 

118/120 Bridge Street, Port Melbourne

Grey and Bliss Café

This local favourite is a stylish spot for top-notch coffee with a smile. We love the quaint décor – think stained glass windows, a quirky mirror wall and hanging lights made from vintage knick-knacks – but not as much as their healthy staples and delicious indulgences. Treat yourself to their cauliflower and potato croquettes, eggs benedict or signature ricotta and blueberry buttermilk hotcakes which come with maple-glazed banana, whipped mascarpone and crispy kataifi pastry. Heaven.

197 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

Zoux Bar

Nourish thy self. Coffee, toasties and toasts, açai bowls, smoothies, and porridge are the order of the day at this health-focused café in Port Melbourne. In a smoothie state of mind? They range in delectable flavours from berry bliss to matcha, mango and pineapple. In the mood for something a little more substantial? Build your own porridge or acai bowl, or tuck into a pesto and avocado toast or veggie patch toastie, with grilled eggplant, sundried tomato, vegan cheese and rocket. Your mind, body and soul will thank you. 

53 Nott Street, Port Melbourne 

Balderdash

In what was once a 19th century pub, Balderdash is now serving up expertly-brewed coffee and wholesome, satisfying food. These days the space is a cosy, Scandi-chic affair made for lingering in – and linger you’ll want to, whether it’s over your first flat white of the day while reading the paper, or a chai and flaky almond croissant for afternoon tea.

295 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

Heart Bakes 

Be drawn in by the magically delicious scent of freshly baked cinnamon scrolls and stay until your heart has grown three sizes. That's the kind of wholesome goodness delivered in spades at the sweet little corner shop Heart Bakes. This is one of the best cafes in Port Melbourne to take a settle into, great coffee in one hand, perfect sweet treat in the other. From fudge chocolate chip cookies and flaky almond croissants, to breakfast muffins, earl grey cream cheese cupcakes and the aforementioned delectable cinnamon scrolls, the hardest part will be limiting yourself to just one or two selections from the heaving front counter. 

220 Bridge Street, Port Melbourne

Station Street Trading Co.

You’ll find some of the finest fare in town at this inviting neighbourhood café. During winter they’ll keep you warm with heating and blankets, while in summer their wide windows let the sunshine in. Sit down for classic café dishes that you can customise with countless sides, plus excellent coffee, milkshakes, smoothies and fresh juices.

166 Station Street, Port Melbourne

Rock Paper Scissors

After 15 years building cafés and restaurants for other people, former carpenter Zack decided to branch out and start his own. And boy are we glad! Rock Paper Scissors has a gorgeous fit-out, with woodwork tables and accents (no surprises there), plus pitch-perfect Toby’s Estate coffee. Their menu is full of healthy delights and all-day breakfasts, with everything from buttermilk pancakes and smashed avocado, to a haloumi, pumpkin and grain bliss bowl and housemade bircher with strawberry labneh, plus a swathe of salads. Drinks wise, take a smoothie to-go or indulge in a fresh juice or milkshake. It's the quintessential Australian café that Port Melbourne does so well. 

136/138 Rouse Street, Port Melbourne

Four7Six

Start the day right with reviving coffee, pastries and food at Four7Six. This hidden gem on Bay Street always hits the brief, whether it’s cooking up sautéed mushrooms and haloumi, spicy manchego scrambles or pressing crispy fresh waffles. If you’re not in the mood for caffeine, try their fruit mélange or blue flower tea, which will soothe and warm you from the inside out with gentle floral flavours.

476 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

Now that you've had your fill of the best cafes in Port Melbourne, continue your brekky-and-brew exploration of the city with our favourite gluten-free cafés and brunch spots, plus these must-try new cafés. If you’re looking for a boozy good time, why not book into one of these epic bottomless brunches?