A household name when it comes to Melbourne cafes, Manchester Press is one not to be missed – the author of this list even had a friend who just came back from Melbourne who exclaimed that this café is an absolute must-visit.

Located right in the middle of the city along Melbourne’s famed graffiti adorned streets, the café, which was established in 2011, is exceptionally well known for its bagels. Whether closed or opened, there exists every type of bagel imaginable, be it sweet or savoury.

Highly recommended is the Avocado & Fetta Smash (AUD$16.50), with a delicious avocado, lemon and chilli smash. Keep it vegetarian, or add chorizos for an extra AUD$5. If you’re craving something sweeter, don’t miss out on their legendary blueberry bagels. Wash them all down with a rich cuppa, and be sure to get there early, as the queue will be inevitable.

Open 7am – 5pm (Mon-Fri), 9am – 5pm (Sat & Sun). 8 Rankins Lane, Melbourne
VIC 3000, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9600 4054.

Image: Manchester Press’ Facebook

Located just a mere five minutes walk away from Manchester Press – a good excuse to indulge in a second meal – is The Hardware Societe, a Melbourne café institution. Small but with a big reputation, this café is incredibly popular for brunch.

With a French meets Spanish influence, topped with a contemporary Aussie twist, one particular dish that is constantly raved about at this place is the Baked Eggs (AUD$19). Whether you order it vegetarian-style with roasted pumpkin, or opt for the chorizo sausage version, this staple will not disappoint. Of course, the café also serves up some good coffee, alongside sweet treats like macarons and other baked goods.

There’s both indoor and outdoor seating here, and we recommend the latter if the weather is nice – it’s a great people-watching spot, not to mention you’ll get some good ol’ natural light for that Instagram shot. Unfortunately, this charming space does not take reservations, so get in early, or risk queuing for up to half an hour, especially if you’re in a big group.

Open 7:30am – 3pm (Mon-Fri), 8am – 3pm (Sat & Sun). 120 Hardware St,
Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Tel:+61 3 9078 5992.

Image: www.mykikicake.com

It’s hard to be labelled the best café around when you’re in a city like Melbourne, where there’s a café every ten steps – but Top Paddock might just take that title. It’s located outside of the CBD, in the rather affluent Richmond suburb, which makes it a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

When it comes to the menu, there are several must-try dishes, one of them being the highly Instagrammable Blueberry & Ricotta Hotcake (AUD$22). You might actually have seen the dish floating around Instagram before – it is that famous. Complete with seasonal berries, macadamias, seeds, lemon myrtle sugar, cream and strawberry eucalyptus syrup, it makes for a decadent dessert.

For something more savoury, try The Top Paddock (AUD$23). If it is named after the café itself, it must be good, right? With bacon, sausage, veggies and house-made relish piled on toast, this is a satisfying main. This is starting to be a trend now, but again, get there early, for there’ll be a queue for sure.

Open 7am – 4pm (Mon-Fri), 8am – 4pm (Sat & Sun). 658 Church St, Richmond VIC
3121, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9429 4332.

Image: www.toppaddockcafe.com

If you suddenly have a craving for Asian food while Down Under, head straight to this spacious and bright café. Since it’s opening in 2012, Breakfast Thieves has dished out quality Australian cuisine with a distinct Asian twinge.

Built upon the remains of an old chocolate factory in the lively and artsy Fitzroy suburb, this is the ideal café to chill out at in between visiting the numerous small galleries and independent design boutiques that dot the area. The menu might be limited, but you know that this means every single dish is done well. As a true-blue Singaporean, don’t give the Fiery Kung Foo (AUD$25) a miss – it’s a crisp soft shell crab burger featuring a Singaporean chilli and ginger crab sauce.

Good news for those who might not be able to make a trip all the way down to Melbourne: the café’s three founders – who are all Malaysians, by the way – opened a second outpost in Kuala Lumpur just two years ago, right in the heart of Bangsar. Expect the same food quality and an inviting, relaxing atmosphere.

Open 7.30am – 4pm (Mon-Fri), 8am – 4pm (Sat & Sun). 1/420 Gore St, Fitzroy VIC
3065, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9416 4884.

Image: www.breakfastthieves.com

For hard-core coffee lovers, this one is for you. Located just a short walk away from Queen Victoria Market – also highly recommended – this café makes for the perfect rest spot amidst all that shopping.

With a strong emphasis on its caffeine offerings, don’t leave without trying at least a cuppa – from the long-standing flat white to the popular latte or cappuccino, most drinks are priced at AUD$4. If you’re not much of a coffee drinker, they have a wide selection of teas, juices, soft drinks and even beer.

For mains, there shouldn’t be a wrong choice. If you need some help choosing, however, the Eggs Benedict (AUD$16), complete with English muffins, corned beef and a seeded mustard hollandaise sauce should be a fail-safe option. If you have a sweet tooth, try the Brioche French toast (AUD$16) with blood plum curd, stone fruit and vanilla labne.

Open 7am – 5pm (Mon-Sat), 8am – 5pm (Sun). 106-114 Berkeley St, Carlton VIC
3053, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9347 8664.

Image: Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters’ Facebook

Main image: www.toppaddockcafe.com