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 café scenes. Whether you're after artfully crafted vegan dishes or a hearty full English breakfast, St Kilda’s cafés are the kind that people cross town for—yes, even those North-siders brave the river for a taste. Café culture here isn’t just a trend; it’s 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 

Hello Sparrow is a cosy spot in St Kilda that feels like a home away from home. Their menu reflects a passion for wholesome dining with dishes that are both flavourful and nourishing. With a culinary background rooted in Auckland and Queenstown, Chef Tj brings a unique touch to St Kilda’s brunch scene. The focus is on fresh ingredients, with a simple philosophy: “The best flavours come from the freshest produce.”

Whether you’re after a wholesome meal or a classic big breakfast, Hello Sparrow offers one of the best brunch experiences in St Kilda.

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 spot 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 café 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, this charming cafe serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a delightful array of options. 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 

Wedge Espresso

Wedged between the corner of Acland and Carlisle Streets, Wedge Espresso 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 

Neighbours Cafe

This mellow coffee shop and cafe in St Kilda comes replete with a green and sun-lit garden terrace, offering delicious brunch options and sandwiches. Settle in for great coffee alongside perfect smashed avo toast, pulled pork benedict with champagne hollandaise, shakshuka and breakfast burritos. There are plenty of vegan options too, making this a friendly little joint that's a vibe for all. 

42 Chapel Street, St Kilda East 

Drunken Monkey

Another wonderful little gem in St Kilda is Drunken Monkey. This charming and friendly cafe gets plenty of brownie points from us; the food is absolutely vibrant, fresh and delicious, there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, prices are more than reasonable, the vibes are open but cosy, and the coffee is on point!

Sitchu Tip: Try the big brekkie or the veggie stack. 

G10/181 St Kilda Road, St Kilda

Fitzrovia

Fitzrovia is a locally-loved café serving up specialty coffee, award-winning eats and friendly service. Overlooking Albert Park, the homely space leans provincial both in flavours and vibes, churning out some truly delicious dishes thanks to fresh, local ingredients. Think carrot cake spiced toast to hot chilli jam scrambled eggs with tamarind, kaffir lime, crispy shallot, coriander and spring onion on ciabatta. Whether it’s a casual breakfast, mid-morning coffee or afternoon aperitivo, there is something fresh and delectable to be devoured. 

2/155 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

Sister of Soul

True to its name, this vegan and vegetarian café 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 Café

A true local institution, the hippie flavoured Galleon Café 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-café 

This charming St Kilda café 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 café 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 cafés 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.