Café Crush: Melbourne’s Brunch Spots with Beautiful Interiors

In what feels like the blink of an eye, cafés have gone from simply a place sip your latte and eat your eggs to architect-designed marvels of form, function and style. For a beautiful backdrop to your next brunch, head to one these gorgeous venues with next-level interiors.

Higher Ground

Towering ceilings and massive arched windows welcome ample natural light into this restored former power station. Higher Ground’s unique layout splits the space between cosy lounges, coffee tables and a mezzanine level overlooking the bustle below, while steel and concrete are layered with natural textures like cork and timber to create a super-modern yet intimate feel.

650 Little Bourke St, Melbourne 

Bawa

The architects of Bawa have seamlessly brought the outdoors in, with floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the café with sunshine, while ferns overhang ceiling lights in a burst of foliage. Foolscap Studio’s thoughtful use of organic materials like timber, leather and travertin will have you feeling instantly relaxed while sipping away at genmaicha tea or digging into your superfood salad.

248 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn

Kitty Burns

The intimate interior of this Abbotsford café is full of playful charm, with a recurring pitched roof design that creates the feel of a cubby house indoors. Handmade pale turquoise tiles line the bar, while Australian blonde timbers soak in rays of natural light. Scandi simplicity rules in the furniture choice – anticipate lots of clean, modern lines.

24 Acacia Place, Abbotsford

No. 19

Local design studio Biasol have created a minimalist-cum-futuristic dining space at No. 19, with steel frames and concrete benches leavened by warm globes, artfully placed ferns and pops of vibrant Aegean blue. The space is both highly stylised yet warm and welcoming – a testament to the design’s sophisticated touch.

214 Union Rd, Ascot Vale

Abacus Bar & Kitchen

Subtropical plants surround a large, central fig tree that rises up amidst polished concrete and marbled tables. This shock of greenery is complemented by smooth wooden benches, glowing spherical lamps and brown leather banquettes, introducing a beautiful, zen-filled space that encourages visitors to linger over their lattes.

383 Chapel St, South Yarra

AU79

Inspired by the Gardens of Babylon, this Abbotsford cafe is a visual feast both on and off the plate. Design firm Mim have waved some serious interior magic, turning an old mechanic’s garage into a lush indoor sanctuary. Brass detailing stands out against soft pinks and greens, while plants hang from every corner of the bright, airy space.

27/29 Nicholson St, Abbotsford

 Willow Urban Retreat

Housed within a double storey heritage building, everything about this café – which forms part of a one-stop wellness spa/retreat – is made to inspire absolute zen. Pared-back lines meet tall arches, skylights, and a palette of natural stone and jade onyx, soothing the mind as well as nourishing the body.

1203 High St, Armadale

Bentwood

Honouring its previous life as a furniture showroom – this timber-laden space features many of its beautifully constructed ash and pine fixtures – Bentwood deviates from the cool tones of its trend-driven contemporaries by draping itself in shades of deep, rusted red. Exposed brickwork throws back to the area’s industrial past while a unique ceiling grid creates intricate patterns of light and shadow.

237 Napier St, Fitzroy

Grub Fitzroy

This neighbourhood icon doesn’t have an interior under the strict definition of the word – it’s essentially a covered courtyard brimming with eclectic charm. Featuring a 1965 Airstream van surrounded by an assortment of mismatched furniture, blooming plants, garden gnomes, Persian rugs and a ping pong table, it’s a cheerful mish-mash that works together like magic.

87-89 Moor St, Fitzroy