Across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, the café and bakery scene is in the midst of a fresh wave of openings. Established operators are expanding their footprints, while newcomers are entering the scene to an enthusiastic response. Today’s morning destinations are about more than what’s on the plate, with interiors becoming part of the experience, from European-inspired bistros to Nordic-style spaces.
From Vietnamese salted coffee and freshly baked goods to neighbourhood favourites drawing queues out the door, these new openings reflect a continued appetite for well-made coffee, seasonal dishes and pastries worth planning a morning around.
The best new cafés and bakeries in Melbourne
Heist, South Melbourne
The prawn cocktail has found a new home between slices of Japanese milk bread at Heist, a new South Melbourne café from the team behind local favourite Clementine. The menu draws on retro classics with a contemporary spin, from vol-au-vent à la king and loaded baked potatoes to beef ragu on toast, a nostalgic take on mince on toast made with 16-hour-braised beef, Chinese five spice, parmesan and salsa verde. For something sweeter, an Elvis-inspired French toast comes piled with banana fritters, whipped cream and maple syrup. Those in a hurry can pick up sandwich boxes, quiche Lorraine and salads from the grab-and-go selection.
Designed by Jessica Ellis Studio, the interiors take their cues from the Australian milk bar, with soft blue and yellow tones, honey-coloured timber, and a central coffee bar with chrome counter seating.
Upper Middle, South Melbourne
Front-of-house veteran Franck Sammut, who spent eighteen years at France-Soir, has opened Upper Middle, a casual all-day spit in South Melbourne.
“The menu and the space both draw on the food and places I love: simple things done well, European touches, and a room with personality. My hope is that it becomes part of people’s daily routine, a spot they return to without thinking,” says Sammut.
Led in the kitchen by head chef Lakshay Kapoor (Le Cordon Bleu, formerly Bistro Thierry), the offering spans brunch staples and St Ali coffee, alongside a baguette and pizza bar serving everything from margherita to nduja with pickled chilli and jalapeño honey. Our pick: the baguette with DOP prosciutto, stracciatella, tomato, basil pesto and rocket.
The best new cafés and bakeries in Sydney
Cà Phê Mai, Double Bay
Both a neighbourhood café and contemporary wine bar, Cà Phê Mai has brought a fresh take on Vietnamese dining to Double Bay. Opened by couple Cindy Mai and Ed Loveday, the venue draws on Mai’s family recipes and the pair’s travels through Vietnam, pairing nostalgic flavours with a relaxed, European-style bistro atmosphere. Since opening in mid-June, it has quickly gained a following for its blend of tradition and modernity, combining Mai’s family history in hospitality with Loveday’s experience across Sydney’s bar and wine scene (ACME, Bar Brosé).
By day, the menu centres on their signature pho gà, made from Mai’s generations-old chicken broth recipe, alongside Hanoi-style spring rolls and vermicelli bowls. Paired with the house speciality, salted Vietnamese coffee, is a range of Vietnamese-Australian breakfast dishes, including bánh mì filled with hash browns, eggs and Vietnamese pickles, and a bò lá lốt sausage and egg muffin.
Evening drinks shift to low-intervention wines, sparkling rice wine and produce-driven cocktails.
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