The 10 Best Brunches in Fitzroy, Melbourne for 2023 (By a Local!)


Welcome to Fitzroy: the neighbourhood with the best brunches in Melbourne.

Hi, I’m Lauren and I’ve spent the past decade of my life conducting an extremely thorough review into the art of brunch. It’s true: brunch is my favourite meal of the day and Melbourne my favourite city in which to eat it.

I’ve been fortunate to have now eaten my way across 100+ countries around the world — thanks to my career as a travel writer — but the one place I always returned to was Melbourne. Every single year, in fact. And whenever I was in town? I’d rock up in Fitzroy and spend the next month sampling its best brunches.

I’ve tried them all. But like, literally. I’ve genuinely been to every single cafe that currently exists in Fitzroy and sampled dozens of the brunches that are up for grabs on their menus.

How did I manage that? Well, I live in Melbourne now. And I’m not saying that I moved here — that I got residency for Australia — with the sole intention of spending my life eating beautiful brunches, but I’m also not not saying it.

This article is a guide to the best brunches in Fitzroy. It’s not an enormous list, because I’m not a business directory — and unlike other publications, I don’t want to just list every single place that offers a brunch in this neighbourhood. Instead, it’s a curated rundown of the actual best places. These are the spots that I’ve been to multiple times, that I’d queue for an hour to eat at, that I bring friends and family to, and that showcase that perfect blend of quality, creativity, and consistency.

And because I live in the inner north of the city, it’s a super-updated guide. If there’s a new cafe in town, I’ll be queueing up to support it on opening day, and if there’s a place that’s closed down, it’ll be off the list immediately. This article was last updated in September 2023.

Here, then, are the best brunches in Fitzroy.

This is quite possibly my favourite thing to eat in the entirety of Melbourne.

Stagger Lee’s: My Favourite Brunch in Melbourne

If you could only have brunch in one place in Fitzroy, it should be at Stagger Lee’s. This place, you guys. This place is absolutely phenomenal. In fact, if we’re real-life friends and you’ve come out to visit me in Australia, you already know this, because this is the spot I take everybody I know to.

It’s home to quite an eclectic menu and every single item on it is on a whole other level of excellence. My absolute favourite dish (I think I’ve had it half a dozen times now) is the anchovies, which is pictured above. Now, before you start recoiling at the idea of eating anchovies, let me tell you that these are unlike any anchovies you’ve ever had before. They’re fresh and pickled in vinegar; served on garlic toast, with sugo (a traditional, tomato-based Italian sauce), fried eggs, basil, and breadcrumbs.

But don’t just take it from me: every friend who’s tried it has been like, oh damn, this is the most amazing thing I’ve ever eaten. To which I’ve been like: I KNOW!

While I continually find myself returning to the anchovies, there are a handful of other dishes I’ve also tried and loved. The sweetcorn and jalapeno cornbread with chilli maple bacon is fantastic — a beautiful balance of sweet and spicy. The Mexican breakfast tacos are as good as any I’ve had in Mexico, and the beef brisket and grilled cheese sandwich is perfect for a lunchtime indulgence. Dave’s mum is a huge fan of the nectarines: toasted sourdough topped with balsamic roasted nectarines, pickled golden beets, toasted hazelnuts, burrata, and basil — I still need to try that one.

The vast majority of menu can be made gluten-free, and there are tons of vegetarian and vegan options, too.

Finally, there’s plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating, so you can usually get a spot, even at peak times.

Address: 276 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065.
Opening times: 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. during the week, and 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the weekends.
Prices: The cheapest dish on the menu is the eggs on toast for $15, while most everything else is between $20 and $25. The anchovies I mentioned above are $25, while the cornbread is $26.

Link to menu: I took this photo of the menu in March 2023, it’s still up-to-date in September 2023.

The life-changingly good fritters from Elektra: I can’t recommend these highly enough!

Elektra Himalayan Alchemy House: For the Food (and Chai) of Your Dreams

I’m obsessed with Elektra: a Himalayan restaurant on bustling Brunswick Street that’s home to some truly interesting dishes.

My go-to on their menu is the incredible Gurkhali fritters, which are pictured above. If you opt for it, you’ll be served deep-fried eggplant and zucchini fritters topped with baked carrot chips, smashed avocado, pomegranate seeds, spring onions, pickled vegetables and a garlic-coconut-yoghurt-hummus blend, it’s so good. Like, seriously good. Like, almost my favourite dish in Melbourne good.

Honestly, they hit it out of the park with all of the meals they offer. I’m a big fan of their Everest benedict, too, which consists of grilled chicken, crispy bacon, poached eggs, spinach, and a Sriracha hollandaise, all served on a particularly unusual rice crepe. That one’s pictured below, along with their smashed avo, which is yet another favourite of mine.

And finally, I adore the chai that they serve here. As somebody who once consumed an entire litre of masala chai in a single day[!] while traveling in Nepal, I can confirm that this stuff is legit. It’s the perfect blend of spicy and sweet, with several flavour options (like matcha, turmeric, and dark chocolate) and plenty of milk substitutes. Personally, I stick with the standard hot Himalayan chai and swoon over it every time I come here.

The vast majority of menu can be made gluten-free and, being a Himalayan restaurant, you won’t struggle to find a vegan option that suits, either.

Finally, there’s lots of indoor seating, and four tables outside, so you don’t usually have to wait for a table, even on a sunny Sunday morning.

Address: 268 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065.
Opening times: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. during the week, and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the weekends.
Prices: The cheapest dish on the menu is the toast for $7.50, while most everything else is between $20 and $25. The fritters are $22.50, the Everest benedict is $24, and the smashed avo is $22.

Link to menu: My photos of the food menu and drinks menu are up-to-date in September 2023.

The super-creative porcini nest at Industry Beans: looks like a birds nest, tastes like heaven

Industry Beans: An Innovative Menu and Fantastic Coffee

Offering up a fun and imaginative menu, Industry Beans knows what it’s good at, and the answer is: brunch. And also coffee.

Not that any of the restaurants in this list offer up bad coffee. This is Melbourne, after all: if your coffee sucks, you’re not going to survive more than a few months. However, Industry Beans does do a slightly better brew than the rest of the spots on this list. And the coffee menu? Let’s just say, it’s particularly fun choosing which beans you want yours made with.

It was so stand-outedly amazing, in fact, that Dave and I opted to include it in our breakdown of the best coffee in Fitzroy over on Everything Victoria, our Victorian travel site. We even buy our beans from Industry Beans every week so that we can recreate those smooth flat whites at home.

But what about the food?

I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as the other spots on this list, purely because they’re a specialty coffee roaster and so I assumed the food would come secondary to that.

I was so wrong.

My go-to at Industry Beans is one of their most popular dishes: the porcini eggs. While I may have originally ordered it for the aesthetic, I came away raving over its flavours. The “birds nest” is made from crispy fried potatoes that are resting atop a bed of kale. Inside, you’ve got wild mushroom duxelle, pickled mushrooms, and truffle oil. And it’s finished off with a perfectly-cooked poached egg that’s been dusted with porcini. If you love your mushrooms as much as I do, this is definitely the dish to go for.

Dave’s favourite, meanwhile, is the chilli barramundi eggs. Sous vide line-caught barramundi is folded into scrambled eggs, then mixed with sambal oelek (an Indonesian chilli paste), chilli oil, togarashi (a Japanese spice mix), native succulents, and bonito flakes. It reminded me a little of okonomiyaki, but like, a creamy, spicy scrambled eggs version. Highly recommend!

The sweetcorn fritters are delicious, too! A paprika-charred corn and black garlic fritter, green pea-dusted poached egg, spiced chickpeas, microgreens, romesco sauce, and toasted hazelnuts: it’s absolutely fantastic and I particularly love the crunch that the dried chickpeas add to it all.

One thing I love about Industry Beans is that they really lean into their reputation as coffee experts throughout their food menu, infusing it into various ingredients, like the coffee-rubbed Wagyu burger, coffee-infused togarashi, and coffee spiced chickpeas.

Address: 70-76 Westgarth St, Fitzroy VIC 3065.
Opening times: 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. during the week, and 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the weekends.
Prices: The cheapest dish on the menu is the eggs and relish on toast for $16, while most everything else is between $20 and $30. The porcini nest is $28, the chilli barramundi eggs is $29, and the smashed avo is $24.

Link to menu: My photos of the food menu, coffee menu, and drinks menu were taken in September 2023.

Sonido: For Retro Colombian Goodness

For something a little different to Fitzroy’s other brunch offerings, skip the cafe scene and head straight to Sonido: a vibrant South American spot with more arepas than you can shake a maraca at.

Their Colombian single-origin coffee is smooth and smoky; so good that Dave can rarely tear himself away from it. I, on the other hand, am steadily working my way through their other Latin American beverages: my favourite, so far, is the lulo juice (lulo is a tropical fruit from South America that tastes a bit like a blend of rhubarb, kiwifruit, and lime).

There’s kumis, too: a cold Colombian fermented milk drink, and aguapanela, which is made from sugarcane and lime. Excitingly, they have a handful of South American sodas, like Inca Kola (from Peru), Pony Malta (from Colombia), and Guaraná Antarctica (from Brazil).

The one drink I haven’t been able to work up the courage to try? Their Colombian hot chocolate, which comes with added cheese. Every reviewer that mentions it describes it as delicious, but I just cannot get my head around plopping a glob of melted cheese in the bottom of my chocolate drink. But, you know, there’s a saying in Colombia: “amor sin besos es como chocolate sin queso”, which means love without kisses is like chocolate without cheese.

To each their own.

So we’ve now established that Sonido is the place to go if you’re keen to try a new drink, but how’s the quality of the food?

Arepas are the name of the game here: a round flatbread that’s made from ground maize and filled with a variety of interesting flavours. At Sonido, you’ve got a whopping 11 options to choose between, from the classic cheese filling, to guacamole, to bacon and eggs. You’ve got huevos Pericos (scrambled eggs with tomatoes and scallions), frijoles (refried beans), chorizo, morcilla (black pudding), and ropa vieja (shredded beef), too. In other words, there’s a flavour for everyone, no matter your tastes or intolerances.

You can choose to have your arepas served in a pocket (like a pita pocket) or on a plate (with the ingredients piled on top of it, rather than stuffed inside). Dave usually goes for the chorizo or morcilla pockets while I opt for the ropa vieja plate with an added fried egg — so, so tasty! We also usually grab a couple of beef and potato empanadas for even more Latin American goodness.

There are various habanero hot sauces up for grabs, and Sonido also makes their own picadillo, salsa, and chimichurri, which are freely available on every table — they’re all so flavourful and well-worth ladling on to your arepas.

Really, the only downside to Sonido is that the space is pretty small — at peak times, you might have to wait for a table.

Address: 69 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065.
Opening times: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. during the week, and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the weekends.
Prices: The cheapest dishes on the menu are the pan de bono (Colombian cheese bread) for $5.20, and the beef and potato empanadas for $5.40 each.

Link to menu: Here’s their September 2023 food menu and drinks menu.

Yes, this over-the-top French toast dish is vegan!

Cafe Louis: The Best Vegan Brunches in Melbourne

Let’s face it: with all that bacon, eggs, and dairy, brunch is hardly the most vegan-friendly of meals. Most restaurants cater poorly to vegans as it is, offering up a token salad and little else, so it can be a real struggle to find a delicious meal if you’re repping the plant-based lifestyle.

Cafe Louis is the exception; it’s absolutely the place to go if you’re craving a fantastic meat-free meal.

Oh, and if you are a carnivore don’t let the vegetarian label put you off visiting — this is some of the best and most innovative plant-based food I’ve had, rivalling any meat-filled brunch I’ve sampled in Fitzroy.

Set in a bright and airy converted warehouse with high ceilings and calming green walls, Cafe Louis is a surprisingly laidback space for the neighbourhood. Throw in a vintage music selection and a handful of welcoming staff and you’ve got yourself an eatery with nothing but immaculate vibes.

I’ve focused on the savory eats throughout this brunch guide, but if you’re in possession of a sweet tooth, then look no further than Cafe Louis’ Biscoff French toast. It’s one of the most unhinged meal choices I’ve made in a very long time.

You’ve got French toast that’s layered with Lotus Biscoff spread, then fried and coated with a crumbed cornflake crust. On top of that, you’ve got an upside-down waffle cone that’s filled with dragon fruit-flavoured ice cream and balanced atop a layer of fairy floss. A small pot of maple syrup provides the finishing touches, while the edges of the plate are laden with berries, raspberry coulis, and edible flowers.

Yes, this was my only meal of the day, why do you ask?

But in all seriousness, this tasted as incredible as it looked and was actually far less sweet than it sounds.

Dave doesn’t have the palate of a seven year old, so he opted for something a little less likely to trigger a diabetic coma: the smoked eggs benedict. Dave is lactose-intolerant and can rarely have eggs benedict, so this was particularly exciting! Plant-based teriyaki pulled chicken (tasted like the real thing!) was paired with kale, crispy apple slaw, and poached eggs (with a vegan egg alternative as an option), all served on a toasted bagel topped with homemade vegan hollandaise sauce. So good!

Cafe Louis has a whole range of meat-free meal options on their menu, from smashed avo to bao buns to English breakfasts to juicy burgers. With such a large space inside, you’ll never struggle to get a seat, either, so it’s definitely a good option for those busy Sunday mornings.

Address: 93 Moor St, Fitzroy VIC 3065.
Opening times: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday; closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Prices: The cheapest dish on the menu is the smashed avocado at $20, while everything else ranges between $21 and $25.

Link to menu: They don’t have physical menus; you can view an up-to-date menu on Mr Yum.

The chicken kottu at Pavlov’s Duck was packed full of flavour!

Pavlov’s Duck: For Excellent Sri Lankan Breakfasts

Dave and I love Sri Lankan food, so when we discovered Pavlov’s Duck, we promptly began to salivate.

This fantastic little restaurant is located on the Fitzroy side of Smith Street, with lovely staff and excellent coffee. And the food? Amazing.

Personally, I chose to veer a little off-piste from the traditional flavours of Sri Lanka and opted for the breakfast hopper. Now, if you’ve never been to Sri Lanka before, you might not be all that familiar with hoppers.

The ubiquitous breakfast dish of Sri Lanka, an egg hopper consists of a thin and crispy crepe-like bowl that’s made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk. Inside, an egg is cracked into the bottom and heated until the egg white is set but the yolk remains runny.

The hopper is crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside, with the egg adding a creamy richness to the dish. It’s usually served with a variety of sambols, curries, and chutneys, which add an explosion of flavours and spices to this already incredible dish.

But as I mentioned above, I opted for the breakfast hopper, and the breakfast hopper should have really been named the English breakfast hopper. I’m sure all of my Sri Lankan readers are cringing at the thought right now.

So instead of an egg hopper that was filled with curries and spices, I instead chowed down on one that contained crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, a hash brown, and homemade baked beans. And it feels sacrilegious to say this, but it was so, so, so good! Like, I wouldn’t even consider ordering anything else good.

Don’t worry: they have a traditional Sri Lankan-style hopper you can order, too.

Dave opted for the kottu, which is one of our favourite street food dishes in Sri Lanka, consisting of shredded roti bread mixed with vegetables, egg, and a choice of meat or vegetarian ingredients. Dave went for the chicken curry, but they also have a meat-free curry option.

If you’re new to Sri Lankan cuisine, I’d also consider having a taste of their milk rice, known as kiribath. This dish is prepared by simmering rice in coconut milk, which gives it a rich and slightly sweet flavor. Once cooked, the rice is poured into a tray and allowed to cool and set. The result is a thick, custard-like rice cake that can be sliced and served with a variety of accompaniments: in this case, it’s a spicy onion relish and rich chicken (or vegetarian) curry.

If you’re not sure about the Sri Lankan flavours, or are going to be brunching with a picky eater, the menu is home to plenty of standard dishes too, like eggs benedict and French toast. I recommend the smash on hash, as the hashbrowns at Pavlov’s Duck are soooo crispy and delicious!

Address: 401 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065.
Opening times: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. from Tuesday to Thursday; 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. from Friday to Monday.
Prices: The cheapest dish on the menu is the eggs on toast for $11, while everything else ranges between $17 and $26.

Link to menu: My photos of their food menu and drinks menus are up to date in September 2023.

I’m ready to declare it: Sir Charles makes the best eggs benedict in Melbourne

Sir Charles: For the Best Eggs Benedict in Town

I know, it’s a big call, isn’t it?

But as you may have gathered, I’ve tried a hell of a lot of breakfast classics throughout my brunch-vestigations in Melbourne, and I’ve yet to meet a better benedict.

Sir Charles is a lovely, airy spot, packed full of plants and greenery, with bright white walls; there’s plenty of tables, too, so it’s a good option during those busy weekend mornings. Staff are friendly and happy to offer recommendations, and there’s a vast drinks menu to peruse.

I’ve tried almost every dish on Sir Charles’ menu, so allow me to walk you through some of the best options.

Obviously, we have the eggs benedict. Sir Charles does several versions (bacon, salmon, or mushrooms) and my favourite is the salmon. To me, this is the main reason to visit Sir Charles. It’s quite an unusual take on the dish. What I love most about it is that instead of using an English muffin for the base of the breakfast, Sir Charles uses the most perfectly crispy, buttery, flaky roti. It adds such an amazing texture to the dish and had me wondering why more places don’t do the same. Atop the roti, you’ll find a creamy Sriracha hollandaise sauce, tender smoked salmon, two panko-coated eggs, and a sprinkle of burnt chilli. Trust me: this is the dish to go for.

“The Smash” is an interesting smashed avo concept — as you can see from my photo above, the avocado is absolutely blanketed in spiced peanut dukkah, which adds a fun, crunchy texture to the concoction. The avocado is drizzled with dill oil, topped with a poached egg, and accompanied by some fried cauliflower popcorn. So good!

Dave is a huge fan of the fried chicken burger — he eats these all over Melbourne and is convinced the Sir Charles’ version is one of the best. Southern fried chicken, avocado, chilli mayonnaise, bacon, and lettuce; add some fries to the mix and it’s pretty damn close to perfect.

One more recommendation: the super-interesting “Wild Party” dish! Mushroom and corn fritters are balanced on a rich truffle mushroom sauce, then weighed down by poached eggs, smoked pumpkin sauce, and pickled cabbage. What an interesting mix of flavours! You can substitute the eggs with mushrooms to make it vegan.

Address: 121 Johnston St, Fitzroy, VIC 3065
Opening times: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday; 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the weekend.

Link to menu: They have an up-to-date (as of September 2023) menu on their website.

The incredible buffalo soldiers at Alimentari

Alimentari: For Delightful Italian Brunches

An institution on Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street, Alimentari first opened its doors way back in 1998, after its owners spotted a need for an Italian deli in the neighbourhood.

Twenty five years later and Alimentari is still thriving, expanding its offerings to include fresh Mediterranean sandwiches and salads alongside those authentic Italian groceries. It’s also home to one of the most popular cafes in the neighbourhood, along with some of the tastiest brunches I’ve ever had.

My favourite dish is the buffalo soldiers, which is pictured above. So freaking good! The crispy soldiers are made from polenta, which perfectly complements the creamy mozzarella that’s been wrapped in salty, pan-fried prosciutto. The dish is then served in a tangy tomato sugo and pesto, adding a real depth of flavor to the dish. As I say to Dave every time I order it: I’ve never had anything quite like this before!

I’m also a huge fan of the huevos rancheros with the added disclaimer that this dish is more like an Italian take on huevos rancheros, rather than anything resembling the Mexican dish. It was more like a shakshuka, to be honest.

But if you don’t pay attention to the name, you’re going to come away seriously impressed.

You’ve got what might just be the richest tomato sauce in the world (in a good way) that’s been poured over a mix of chorizo and manchego, with a fried egg on top and a generous portion of sourdough. In particular, the chorizo is fantastic and adds such a smoky flavour to the dish. And that tomato sauce? Life-changingly good.

Address: 251 Brunswick Street Fitzroy VIC 3065
Opening times: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. seven days a week. Sandwiches are available from midday.
Prices: The cheapest dish on the menu is the toast for $7.50, while everything else ranges between $16 and $24.

Link to menu: They have an up-to-date (as of September 2023) menu on their website.

Bentwood: For the Warm, Cosy Vibes

When autumn rolls around in Melbourne, the only thing on my agenda is to head Bentwood for brunch.

Because at this cosy cafe, every hour is golden hour.

Seriously, I don’t know how they manage it but the light is always so warm and welcoming here — even in the very depths of winter. Located on leafy Napier Street, Bentwood is what Fitzroy dreams are made of: a vast brick-wall facade, floor to ceiling windows, an Italian-themed interior, and an old espresso machine serving up some seriously impressive flat whites.

I’ve been singing Bentwood’s praises ever since I tried my first dish of theirs. It’s an underrated spot, not often included in round-ups and favourites, which makes little sense to me. Their dishes hold their own against any of the places I’ve included in this article and now I’m trying to spread the word.

So what to order when you get there? There’s so many great options to choose from.

I always order their eggs benedict: shredded roast pork shoulder is served on a crispy corn and jalapeno waffle, then topped with a rich achiote hollandaise, poached eggs, chimichurri, and spiced pork crackling. Too good and such an interesting take on the breakfast classic.

We’re big fans of the smashed avo, too, which is mixed up with minted zucchini, fresh herbs, and hunks of feta cheese. The dish is then sprinkled with a smoked almond and wattleseed dukkah and served on thick cut toast. Again, such a fun remix of a dish that can often get a bit same-y.

If you have yourself a sweet tooth then you have to try the espresso churro waffles, which are served with mascarpone, hot fudge sauce, strawberries, and ginger crumb. It’s seriously divine and the contrasting flavours go together surprisingly well.

Bentwood is located in a large space, with plenty of tables indoors and outside, so makes for a great option if you’ll be heading for brunch at peak times. The menu is regularly changing, too, so be sure to pop in every few months to see what new dishes they’re serving up.

Address: 237 Napier St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Opening times: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday; 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Prices: The cheapest dish on the menu is the eggs on toast for $14, while everything else ranges between $20 and $23.50.

Link to menu: My photos of their food menu and drinks menus are accurate in September 2023.

The spectacular huevos rancheros at Arcadia

Arcadia: The Best Option on the Block

It took me a long time to make my way over to Arcadia, purely because it’s located next to the supremely popular Archie’s All Day: a competitor that often has queues leading around the block for its brunches. 

Most weekends, you can find me standing in said queues.

Well, I shouldn’t have bought into the Archie’s hype so hard, because when I finally made my way to Arcadia, I immediately declared its brunches to be even better than Archie’s. (With the added bonus that you don’t have to queue for an hour to get a table.)

Located on buzzy Gertrude Street, Arcadia has been taking up space in Fitzroy for years, working its way through a handful of owners. Its current iteration is its best, in my opinion. You’ve got excellent coffee options (with beans sourced from Industry Beans), great beer, a large, varied menu, and plenty of healthy dishes.

Let’s jump into my favourite items on the menu.

One of the tastiest options up for grabs is the huevos rancheros — and as somebody who has spent the better part of a year travelling across Mexico, I really appreciated their unusual version. Those crispy corn tortillas are topped with a smoky adobo salsa, spiced black beans, perfectly cooked eggs, a tangy avocado salsa verde, and rich manchego cheese. I highly recommend adding chorizo to the dish for an extra $5 — it’s packed full of flavour and spice; perfectly cooked.

The zucchini and corn fritters are always a good option, too. Arcadia’s ones are paired with juicy capers, fresh tomatoes and avocado, habanero chilli lime mayo (so good!), and your choice of bacon, salmon, or mushrooms. So simple but so delicious.

If you’re visiting with a particularly hungry disposition, I highly recommend the side of maple glazed sweet potato! Its sweet and earthy taste goes so well with the accompanying coconut labneh and scallions.

And did I mention that Arcadia has some absolutely fantastic cocktails, too? If you believe that brunch should be a boozy affair, you certainly won’t be disappointed here!

Arcadia has tons of tables — both indoors and outdoors — so it’s pretty rare for there not be a table available, even on a busy Sunday morning.

Address: 193 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, VIC 3065
Opening times: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday; 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Prices: The cheapest dish on the menu is the eggs on toast for $14, while everything else ranges between $17 and $23.

Link to menu: My photos of their food menu and drinks menus are accurate in September 2023.

So there you have it!

Fitzroy: Come for the Brunches, Stay for the… Brunches

Or, at least, that’s what I did.

 

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If you're heading to Melbourne, you *have* to hit up the hipster Fitzroy neighborhood while you're there! The brunches will change. your. life.

17 Comments

  1. April 29, 2016
    Reply

    Whenever I see pictures of food that looks that good, I just imagine the photographer swatting forks away from hungry people trying to dig in. Brunch looks delicious! I know I would have a hard time waiting to get the perfect shot ;)

    • May 11, 2016
      Reply

      Hahaha. I always feel a little bit of shame over being that person who’s taking photos of their food! But in reality, it only takes 10 seconds and means I can write posts like these :-)

  2. April 30, 2016
    Reply

    These food pics have my mouth watering! Melbourne was my favourite place in Australia, we went on a cheesy Neighbours tour and quiz night while we were in Melbourne which was so much fun!

  3. April 30, 2016
    Reply

    Hi, Lauren! I love your blog, and appreciate your clear and honest writing. Also, beautiful photographs!!! I’m glad to hear that you had such a positive experience in Melbourne. Looking forward to reading more!

  4. May 1, 2016
    Reply

    Oh man, I literally have not eaten all day, (it’s 7pm now, I’ve been packing and stressing on my last day in Chiang Mai) and then I read this post!?! Well at least in a short while I’ll be getting some Ramen to help with with hunger pains.

    • May 2, 2016
      Reply

      Hahaha! :-) Hope you enjoyed your time in Chiang Mai!

  5. Ahh I miss living in Melbourne, and the delicious food, so much.
    Your photos and wonderful and bring back so many memories!

  6. May 5, 2016
    Reply

    I would love living in a place where restaurants serve food that look like this! :) I visited Melbourne for a very short time during a short trip to Australia, but I fell in love with the city immediately because it has a bit of the big town feel. I’m happy to hear it won you over as well!

  7. May 5, 2016
    Reply

    Just moved into Carlton north. My flatmate is one of the coffee roasters at industry beans!

    • May 20, 2016
      Reply

      Oh, really?! That’s so awesome!

  8. May 9, 2016
    Reply

    Is it reasonable to plan an entire vacation when the reason you’ll give to people for going to said place is “brunch”? Because Melbourne looks tempting.

    • June 22, 2016
      Reply

      Totally reasonable. You need to go! :-)

  9. May 23, 2016
    Reply

    This looks soooo delicious! You made me really hungry now :-D Cheers!

  10. May 24, 2016
    Reply

    Ah this post has me feeling so home sick. I’m so glad you have learned to love Melbourne as much as I do. I’m loving travelling but some days I miss it so much. I’ve told my friends they better be prepared for brunch everyday for a month when I return. ohhh the smashed avocado I’m going to eat!

  11. Francesca
    March 9, 2023
    Reply

    Honestly, the brunches in Australia are just. so. good. But these look like another level! Thanks for making me hungry…

    • March 9, 2023
      Reply

      Aren’t they?! I’m obsessed with the brunches in Melbourne and truly believe they’re the best in the entire world.

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