Cafes with trendsetting coffee

A list of bars and restaurants in Melbourne wouldn’t be complete without cafes – after all, this is one of the world’s great coffee capitals. Melbourne is brimming with cafes specialising in top-notch brews – and often cheaper than you would find at third-wave coffee shops in Hong Kong, London or New York. Grab a cup on the go at Dukes at Ross House, a sophisticated Flinders Lane spot that uses ethically sourced beans, or Brother Baba Budan, a small shop offering seasonal brews made with beans from around the globe.

Brave the lunchtime crowds for a seat at The Kettle Black, notable for both its specialty coffee and its location in a 19th-century house nestled next to a modern building in south Melbourne. Nearby is St Ali, a pioneer of the local coffee scene that offers in-house roasting, expert brewing and a solid selection of breakfast and lunch items in its industrial space.

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