Sure, it’s a place, but it’s also an adjective. Melbourne cafe culture is renowned the world over, and while it’s true that Victoria’s capital city does boast some of the best brekky food in the world, there are a handful of places that not only obey all the rules of “how to Melbourne”, they make them.

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Small Axe

Where: 281 Victoria Street, Brunswick

Located in the heart of Brunswick in Melbourne’s north, Small Axe may be the first restaurant in this southern city to serve breakfast pasta, and you’re not going to hear any complaints about it. This most famous dish features a delicious house-made pasta, cured pork cheek, cheese, mint, peas and a slow-cooked egg. Other delicious treats include the Sicilian meatballs, and the polenta-crusted sardines. Small Axe serves Code Black coffee (another Melbourne institution), is fully licensed, and is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch.

Photo: Small Axe/Instagram

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Higher Ground

Where: 650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD

This central cafe has got to take the cake for its ‘wow’ factor. When you enter Higher Ground, the first things you’re likely to notice is its immensity; the ceilings are 15 metres high. What you’ll smell, however, is the scent of perfectly roasted coffee and delicious fare. We recommend the roasted and pickled mushroom for a unique take on a brekky classic. Feel free to add oysters to your meal at any time, too – in fact it’s encouraged. It’s open daily for breakfast and lunch so check out the whole menu here to get excited.

Photo: Higher Ground/Facebook

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St Ali

Where: 2-18 Yarra Pl, South Melbourne

St Ali provide coffee to many of the best cafes in Melbourne, and their Southern outpost is a testament to just how seriously they take their java. With a small but appropriate menu, every morsel serves as as a tribute to the coffee they make and serve, and while it’s oh-so-Melbourne in its essence, you wont find too many foodie frills here – just modern Australian tasties. Think smashed avo or quinoa pudding. For the full menu, or to purchase some delicious coffee, click here.

Photo: St Ali/ Facebook 

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Dennis The Menace

Where: 106-108 Chestnut St, Cremorne

The first thing you should know about this hidden cafe – seriously, it takes a few attempts to work out you’re there; so Melbourne – is that it’s heralded as the place where playful meets sustainable. This Cremorne cafe has quickly become a favourite with Melburnians since opening it’s doors in 2015. Designed with sustainability in mind, repurposed materials make up the bulk of the internal architecture, which is filled with rustic plant pots for all the produce that will inevitably end up on your plate. For locals, perhaps one of the best parts of the cafe is their $10 takeaway menu, which goes past your standard egg sandwich and features delicious roti, and a kale and buckwheat salad served with poached eggs. Check out the full menu here.

Photo: Dennis The Menace/Facebook

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Common Galaxia

Where: 3/130 Victoria St, Seddon

The west side of Melbourne truly is booming, and few cafes have made a bigger splash than Common Galaxia. The eatery’s menu changes regularly, in line with the seasons and the best produce available at any given time. Some highlights from the permanent menu include the sweet french toast and also the delicious smashed pumpkin with asparagus. If you’re popping in for a quick treat, we very much recommend the chocolate brownie milkshake. Check out the full menu here.

Photo: Common Galaxia/Facebook

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Tom Phat

Where: 184 Sydney Road, Brunswick

This has to be one of the most unique brekky offerings in all of Melbourne. Tom Phat’s delicious Vietnamese-Australian fusion, quite literally, sets hangovers on fire. While the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, their brekkies are truly one-of-a-kind with offerings like the Viet-fried free-range eggs with chilli-soy, fried shallots and a tiger baguette. For those with a sweeter tooth, there’s a black sticky rice with mango, lychee, coconut, and jaggery yoghurt – the perfect start a summer’s day. Tom Phat also boast amazing coffee and, if you’re up to it during breakfast, delicious cocktails.

Photo: Tom Phat

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Archie’s All Day

Address: 189 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

Archie’s is a Gertrude Street institution. In an area littered with clever cafes, each serving excellent food and boating amazing coffee, Archie’s is still a cut above the rest thanks to their amazing decor, friendly staff and impressive food that always has a little twist. Take for example their “Dirty Eggs”. It’s not uncommon to find Mexican-styled eggs in Melbourne cafes, however at Archie’s they lat their perfectly fried eggs and spicy beans on a bed of crispy deep-fried potato gems instead of a tortilla. Why? At Archie’s, a better question always seems to be ‘why not?’ Check out their menu here. 

Photo: Archie’s/Facebook[/listicle]

(Lead image: Common Galaxia/Facebook)

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