Best Cafés in Prahran: Our Edit of Dreamy Brunch Spots

A lively neighbourhood that's packed to the brim with buzzing cafés, Prahran is a hotspot for some of the best cafés in Melbourne. Here you'll find it all, from grungy warehouse fit-outs to cafés that spice things up with a touch of glamour, right through to industrial New York-inspired digs. The array of cafés peppered throughout Prahran will take your brunch game to a whole new level, trust us.

To help you along your brunch journey, we've rounded up the best cafés in Prahran for an essential coffee and breakfast pit stop. You can thank us later.

Officina Gastronomica Italiana

Officina Gastronomica Italiana (OGI) in leafy Hawksburn Village is one of the best new all-day cafes in Prahran. Formerly Officine Zero, after ten years owner, Emilia-Romagna born Claudio Casoni, has doubled the venue's footprint, and is now offering a dinner menu brimming with traditionally made pasta to locals, loyal customers and newcomers alike.

OGI is a true celebration of Italian authenticity, conviviality and artisans, with its floor-to-ceiling wall of wine providing an impressive backdrop to the evening’s conversation, replicating the charm and authenticity of Italy’s ​enotecas. 

The outdoor courtyard is equally perfect, made for sitting and sipping on an perfectly brewed coffee, or on one of Claudio’s hand-selected aperitif wines from Emilia-Romagna. 

'If you're wondering why this on our list of best cafes in Prahran, fret not - OGI has maintained the espresso bar vibes of Officine Zero with its considered and flavour-packed breakfast and brunch menu. Think artisanal fruit toast and portobello mushroom breakfast bruschetta (lathered in a parmigiano reggiano spread, we cannot), Tuscan baked eggs with slow braised wagyu beef ragu and a San Marzano sugo, and nduja scrambled eggs with extra pickled chilli. 

532/534 Malvern Road, Prahran 

Oscar Cooper

With insanely tasty brunch options, a killer bottomless brunch menu and known to be the perfect spot for people watching in Prahran, this weekend hotspot is one of the southside’s finest. Drop in for a quick coffee or sit back and watch the morning turn into the evening with the all-day breakfast menu. If you’re a newbie to Oscar Cooper, do yourself a favour and try one of their damn fine jaffles – the chicken, chive and gruyere is where it’s at. Crispy fried chicken burgers, carrot, haloumi and herb fritters and breakfast burritos are also laced throughout the impressive menu. Add some bottomless margaritas into the mix and you'll quickly discover this as one of the best cafes in Prahran. 

160 Greville Street, Prahran

Maso Palu

Another authentic Italian cafe in Prahran is Maso Palu, serving as the gateway to the Italian Alps right here in Melbourne. From Roman classics to Alpine specialties, they're dishing out the Italian dream, spiced with a touch of Dolomite magic.

Early morning, head here for a sweet fixing of pistachio tarts, croissants and other delectable pastries alongside expertly crafted lattes. Come brunch and lunch, beautiful pastas, meatballs in sugo and polenta ai funghi - there's even a hearty bowl of spätzle, plus wines by the glass. Perfetto! 

107 Greville Street, Prahran

Hobba

We love the warm, industrial fit-out of Hobba, one of the best cafes in Prahran for creative breakfast and lunch dishes, cosy vibes and prime sidewalk seating. Airy and brick-lined, settle in and enjoy enough food to feed a whole pack of hungry wolves (and by that we mean your friends and family). Start with the drinks list, with everything from mango smoothies and iced chai lattes to house blend coffee from 5 Senses and even espresso martinis. Poke bowls and pork belly benedict are just some of the menu highlights. 

Sitchu Tip: It's also a fantastic spot for early-rising locals, with Hobba open from 6.00am Monday through Saturday, and 6.30am on Sunday. 

428 Malvern Road, Prahran 

Morning Market 

The delightful, sun-filled Morning Market, which got its exemplary start along Fitzroy's Gertrude Street, has extended out to Prahran and has been making delicious waves ever since. This is one of the best cafes in Prahran for wholesome, local-produce laden eats, with a range of sandwiches, seasonal salads and baked goods made fresh everyday. They also offer large cakes for pre-order. The kimchi toastie, chorizo quiche, chicken, walnut, granny smith apple, pickled celery and cress sandwich, and Basque cheesecake are just some of the delightful to-go highlights. Come winter, their range of daily soup specials hit just the spot. 

Sitchu Tip: Perfect for your own weekend brunch-at-home agenda, Morning Market is a must for picking up fresh eggs, flowers and artisanal provisions guaranteed to elevate your home cooking skills. 

579 High Street, Prahran

Journeyman

This contemporary cafe in Prahran has a buzzy vibe and cool industrial fit-out, and is home to expertly crafted coffee and innovative brunch fare. Say hello to Journeyman, with its beautifully exposed rafter beams and Dukes beans a brewin' tempting you within. Chorizo baked eggs with a green olive ragu and chilli scrambled eggs, Belgian waffles with a blueberry compote, a delightful candied bacon and avocado toast, and Persian feta and potato croquettes with poached eggs, corn salsa, crispy kale and chermoula line the ludicrously elevated menu and you'll be hard-pressed to choose just one dish for yourself.

169 Chapel Street, Windsor

Crooked Letters

With bagels very much the breakfast bite of choice here in Melbourne, this pretty pink café is known for serving up some of the best in town. Whether you take yours stuffed or schmeared, Crooked Letters' flavour-packed assortment of fillings covers all bases. For the simple spreaders, there are both sweet and savoury options featuring the likes of blueberry and orange zest, PB&J and caper and dill. For something a little more substantial you’ll find all your brunch favourites in bagel form – think benedict, haloumi and BLAT…yum!

293 High Street, Prahran

Kookaburra’s Kanteen

As an in-house café to Prahran’s Love Tree Interiors, it’s no surprise that this Australiana-themed cafe’s décor is beautiful – a serene, light-filled space kitted out with dusty pinks, fresh greenery, and dreamy art. The menu at Kookaburra's Kanteen is equally soothing, with plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available across wholesome bowls and oozy toasties. To drink, there’s coffee with every alternative milk under the sun plus kombucha, hunger-busting smoothies and fresh juices.

202 Chapel Street, Prahran 

Grand Lafayette

In a celebration of food, Grand Lafayette sees everyone’s most popular brunch dishes get a grand makeover, with each dish taking its inspiration from Asian flavours and ingredients. Housed over two shop fronts and seating for over 100 people, Grand Lafayette caters to the brunch crowd by day, and during the evening switches gears to become a Japanese all-you-can-eat restaurant. It's one of our favourite cafes in Prahran, for tantalising flavours that never fail to deliver. 

9 Clifton Street, Prahran

Fourth Chapter

Homey and ever so chic, the grand front door invites you into this bright and welcoming café in Prahran. The folks behind Fourth Chapter serve up impressive and impressively vibrant fare with a generous array of contemporary sweet and savoury all-day breakfast dishes, a handful of indulgent lunch bites and tasty drinks on offer. For the romantics or lovers of a pop-up picnic, you can order a picnic basket to go.

385 High Street, Prahran 

Middletown

Upgrading the café scene in Prahran to royal status, Middletown is a brunch destination with a whole lot of class. Inspired by the persona of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton herself, this luxurious café features champagne-hued banquettes and royal blue panelling; even the coffee machine has been designed to fit within the interiors. As for the food, the all-day menu has all your brunch favourites covered, all made with fresh seasonal produce. For something a little different, head in the sweet direction, and indulge in tiramisu pancakes or matcha French toast. Coffee is from Code Black. 

229 High Street, Prahran

St Edmonds

Loved for its inherently cool vibes, St Edmonds is a trendy local hangout within a street-art clad heritage building and one of the best cafes in Prahran for a low-key breakfast. Smack bang in the middle of Prahran, the folks behind St Edmonds dish up a contemporary all-day menu which is as pretty as it is tasty to eat. Plus, their fresh coffee, smoothies, and baked sweets always go down a treat.

154 Greville Street, Prahran

Tall Timber Eatery

This friendly café, with its rustic interiors, pots of herbs and sun-dappled courtyard is a place to chill out all day. The idea behind Tall Timber’s menu is simple food done well, so expect a health-packed menu with familiar brunch faves – smashed avo (or smashed pumpkin) on toast, eggs your way and warm, spiced beef salad. When it comes to coffee, the house blend, Niccolo Coffee, is used for white coffees, while the black coffees are made from a rotating selection of guest roasteries.

60 Commercial Road, Prahran

There's no denying when it comes to coffee and brunch that the best cafes in Prahran have got it covered. So we've rounded up the best of the bunch. But we’ve only just scratched at the surface of what this inner-city hot spot delivers. From cosy nooks to grungy hangouts to stylishly on-trend brew bars and glamorous restaurants, Prahran’s foodie scene has never been one to sit still. Much like across-the-Yarra Richmond.