Sooo tasty!!! I recommend the dragonfruit smoothie, huevos rancheros, tomato salad, and the toasties, but you really can't go wrong here. The tea and coffee were also excellent. read more

I love this place. Having it right under my nose I never would of found it without all the yelping tips and what a find. I've been here a few times now and each time struggled to choose something off the menu as there are too many enticing options. I probably would have given it a 4 star rating but the amazing special I ate today has totally tipped me over the line. Saturday we ate the ricotta cake special. This was a delicately light with a creme brûlée light golden crust. It was served with fresh figs and mandarins with an orange curd and sprinkled with mint and cacao nibs. So many of my favourite things all on one plate. There are a lot of decadent brunch options including the brisket sand which and pork belly blt but if you're going to indulge you won't be disappointed. Even the avocado and goats cheese offering is somewhat different with a sprinkling of buckwheat that is rather tasty. Their coffee is really good and the baristas take pride in what they do. Overall I really like this spot and super happy it's in my hood. read more

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I'm always travelling to Fitzroy for brunch but I should appreciate more the area I live in. Hence, this warm saturday arvo, I decided to explore a top cafe in South Melbourne Located on a quiet street, this unobtrusive cafe opens out to a rustic interior with interesting foldable looking chairs, square tables and a high hipster factor (without the hipster music). Before you even sit down you are asked for your choice of beverage . Staff are quite attentive and considerate The menu is quite interesting but my eyes couldn't go past the mushroom pate on sourdough toast, poached eggs, feta, salad and honey walnuts. My brunch friend wanted something sweet so we got the ricotta hot cakes with hazelnut mascarpone and passion fruit curd . Coffees arrived quickly with gorgeous coffee art. The coffee is quite robust but creamy. Not my favorite but definitely a wake up call. The mushroom pate was delish with solid bits of mushroom. There was so much of it too. I didn't even need the poached eggs but I couldn't resist. The walnuts went so well with the mushroom and feta (plenty of it was provided). Such an interesting but complementary combination of flavours and ingredients. The ricotta hot cakes were equally sublime . Fluffy. We had three of them layered like a sandwich with rhubarb and poached pear stuffed inside. They went so well with the sour but sweet passion fruit curd and the hazelnut mascarpone. Omg heaven in my mouth As we were sharing, share plates were brought out. When we finished our savoury dish, additional share plates were brought out so that we had clean plates and cutlery to thoroughly enjoy the sweet brunch choice. Table was cleared readily to make room on our table and water jug was replaced when it was nearing emptiness. Very very attentive staff Love this place!!!!! read more

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This place is good. So good, in fact, that it's the place I worked when I wanted to work in a hot café to learn more about the wonderful world of third-wave coffee (disclaimer - yes, I worked here once upon a time). A great space filled with wood, natural light, and good tunes, a kitchen that creates food around seasonal (and local) produce, and cracking baristas that will make your latte/ristretto/magic with love and the utmost care. A rotating list of single origin coffees from Seven Seeds and Market Lane mean there's always something new to try through pour over or aeropress. Produce grown on the roof often makes appearances in the daily specials, and you may even get to taste some of the honey made by Dead Man's busy bees. read more

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To quote (well it's more of a derivation from his actual quote but anyway..) Joey Tribbiani: "Coffee - goood!, Food - goood!"... So I can't find a reason to not like Dead Man Espresso really. I haven't really explored South Melbourne breakfast/lunch options however (thanks to Danielle S) I think this is about to change! We had lunch there on Sunday and it was really nice. Located on Market St, it's a short stroll from the South Melbourne market, Coles in Clarendon centre or Woolies in South Melbourne Central. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the place has a sleek feel about it. My flat white was nice and (after toying with the idea of getting the Roscoes Chicken & Waffles) I opted for the Pork Bun - Waffles are a sweet option in my book so...! - which was quite nice. They have a good selection of items on their menu to suit different tastes and I know that I'm definitely trying their blackberry waffles and smoked brisket sandwich on my next visits. read more

Dead Man Espresso - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

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I was a huge fan of Seven Seeds so I was excited to try Dead Man Espresso, and it did not disappoint. Up a few steps from Market Street and through the single entry door, you'll find aesthetically pleasing interiors decorated with cacti and modern wooden finishes. Whether you're an inside dweller or someone who prefers the outdoors, you'll find your perfect spot, with plenty of seating inside and out. It's table service here, so sit back and peruse the menu as your coffee is brewed fresh from the Seven Seeds blend. Restrooms aren't often mentioned in reviews but I thought I'd give it a whirl- if you've maybe had a few too many coffees, rest easy knowing that behind a door that blends into the wall, there's one just for you. At first a bit hesitant about the Green Pancakes, I was persuaded by the offer of smoked salmon and poached eggs. And to my surprise, I loved it! The pancake was a little strange at first given it was made of vegetables, but the flavours of everything blended well together. Do I give this place a thumbs up? Sure do. read more

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Dead Man Espresso has long been my favourite cafe in South Melbourne. Well, almost. I actually removed a 5 star review from here a while back as I grew increasingly frustrated with a slip in service and care. I decided to give it up all together after a sloppy, rude incident involving being handed a dripping mess of a coffee that was poured almost entirely outside of the cup, without so much as a bat of an eyelid. BUT I'm pleased to say I'm back. Needing a quick coffee fix on the way out somewhere I broke my boycott and saw familiar faces had returned behind the machines. The service was back up to scratch and all felt right in the cafe world again. So here we are again, faith restored. The coffee is always spot on, offering Seven Seeds espresso and the occasionally rotating filter brew (yes, served inside my cup now). The food is outstanding, with interesting offerings like a BLT with pork belly and "green pancakes" which are deliciously delicate broad bean fritters. It's breakfast only on weekends with lunch options and sandwiches available during the week as they service a large crowd of people hosting business meetings. Even when busy, Dead Man Espresso never feels rushed. I've always found it a relaxing spot, ideal for savouring the coffee, food and any company you've brought with you. read more

Dead Man Espresso - Yummy poached stone fruit with my muesli. - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

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Walking past the evenly spaced wood panelling on the exterior of this South Melbourne cafe you might never assume that within is a cafe pouring soul-enriching coffee and green pancakes that will leave you forgetting there's anything else on the breakfast menu. There's ample seating including a gorgeous deck area and a long communal table in the centre. The staff are cheerful and happily provide table service. I arrived hungry for breakfast and ordered a flat white with the green pancakes that a friend had rated so highly. Green pancakes I hear your mind try to imagine what they might be. Well, for the uninitiated, these are savoury pancakes packed with greens (leek, spinach and who knows what other leafy goodness) topped with smoked salmon, watercress and poached eggs. If you want a wholesome start to the day acquaint yourself with these bad boys. read more

Dead Man Espresso - There's ample seating at Dead Man. Take advantage of the long table in the centre of cafe and watch the baristas at work. - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

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Ambiance: Dead Man Espresso has a really clean and spacious look about it, which I really liked. Cafes usually end up a bit cramped and although those are cute and nice in the right circumstances, sometimes wide open spaces to sit down and relax without all the hustle and bustle is what you need as well. Customer Service: Although the service is attentive and helpful, it was pretty slow unfortunately. Don't expect for a quick pop-in and pop-out. Food: I had the Rosti - Smoked Salmon, Avocado, and Potato Rosti. It was alright, but a bit underwhelming especially considering that it costed about 17 dollars. Nice meal, but not at a great value in my honest opinion. --- Dead Man Espresso was cool, but didn't live up to the hype for me. I'll definitely come back every now and again, but I won't be excited about it. read more

Dead Man Espresso - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Had a ladies who brunch date with my gorgeous friend Nessy and saw that their menu has changed. Green pancakes are still there but what tempted me is the fried chicken with waffles. I can never resist the temptation of savoury sweetness! The chicken was crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside. The waffle was drizzled with maple syrup and was fluffy enough, however it would be nicer if the outside was crispier. Nessy had the scones and that looked amazing as well. To finish off I had a soy mocha made with Mörk chocolate which really hits the spot. What a fantastic brunch!! read more

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I ventured a little out of my way one day after work. Thought since I was sort of close, it was the middle day and I had wanted to try it out for a while I might as well make the effort. I'm really sad to say I was disappointed. This little venture proved to me just how important customer service is! I sat in a window seat, with the beautiful sun shining in and a book to read while I ate my breakfast. All the makings of a great cafe experience. Unfortunately the guy who served me was so rude, short and just plain uninviting. I felt uncomfortable the whole time I was there. So much so that I scoffed my avo on toast, didn't even crack my book open and then spent 10 minutes waiting for him to move away from the counter just so i would be served by the lady, who was nice enough. That's how uncomfortable an experience it was. But I do have to give credit where it's due. The breakfast was spot on. Avo on toast with pomegranate and other bits and bobs. A great hot choccie too! I'll probably give it another go. I'm all about second chances. But as far as first impressions go, I hope dead man espresso can work on their customer service. read more

Dead Man Espresso - Smashed avo - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

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How can you not love Dead Man Espresso? Great location in South Melbourne, relaxed interior, friendly staff and great coffee with seasonal menu. Dead Man grow most of their fresh produce on their roof, yep their roof! Head Chef Bex Kaye pays that extra special attention to the detail of each dish which ensures a great dining experience. I've had a sweet tooth lately so opted for the Hot Cakes with Banana cream custard with a maple, caramel & cinnamon crunch. I swear heaven went into my mouth. The caramel crunch went so well with the hotcakes and banana cream - the dish was amazing. I live no where near Dead Man but made the trip especially there to check it out and was so glad that I did. read more

Dead Man Espresso - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

I had heard a a lot of hype about Dead Man Espresso before finally committing to coming! Luckily this great little cafe lived up to my expectations. Looking quite a lot smaller than I was expecting the cafe makes up for it's small space with is BIG attitude. Quickly snapping up the last table on the indoor/ outdoor balcony we ordered our rounds of coffee and took a look at the very well presented menu might I say. I couldn't go past the special of the day; The Snapper, served with Chorizo, Kipfler Potatoes and Parsley Hash. It was a very good sized serving and incredibly tasty. We also ordered the Smoked Salmon Rosti which looked very appetizing indeed, great for anyone gluten free! The coffee also was well above average (although I have come to expect that from South Melbourne cafe's), but all in all a very positive experience I can't wait to go back and try something new. read more

Dead Man Espresso - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Great food, great coffee, great service. Only reason not a 5 out of 5 was that brekky was $21, not that I'm complaining was worth it read more

Dead Man Espresso - Latte - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Really happy that dead man was open on Easter Sunday cos I was really craving eggs. The campfire breakfast was right up my alley however the mushrooms were over flavored by its herbs. Coffee's great and a cosy atmosphere. Recommended. read more

Dead Man Espresso - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Well, they say don't judge a book by it's cover but I will add don't judge a cafe by it's name. I thought the name was pretty cool, and one of the yelp reviews gave suggested that it was pretty impressive. However, as it turned out, I was probably expecting a lot more than I actually go. The staff were okay, as was the open steak sandwich (though it took ages to prepare, and was a little on the small side) but the thing that really put me off the place was the coffee - it was absolutely disgusting. Okay, I never knew the difference between good and bad coffee until I came to this place, and when it comes to coffee, at least the one I had, this was absolutely the worst. I won't be coming back here any time soon. read more

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Dead Man is everything a coffee shop should be. A bit out of the way, friendly, slightly offbeat and boasting a creative-but-not-weird menu. I've been visiting Dead Man as many as three times a week (we used to have to tell the staff when we'd be away as they'd notice we hadn't come in) since perhaps it's second week of operation. It's always nice to see a business evolve like this and I'll admit, there's a bit of smugness that goes along with discovering somewhere that later gets named amongst the best breakfast spots in the city. When we first started Dead Man-ing they didn't have gluten free options (now they have several), they've introduced seating on an outdoor deck with heaters so you can watch the world go by. Recently, they also introduced a very tightly curated wine + beer menu too. Dead Man Espresso (as you can probably guess from the name) does coffee very well. They offer several different beans and delivery methods (drips and whatnot are available). 9 in every 10 visits, I order the avocado, radish, blood orange and fetta on toast. It's heaven on a plate. My only tiny gripe? They've got so popular that occasionally the consistency in terms of quality isn't up to scratch. But really, if i were a betting girl, I'd bet it'd be great. read more

Dead Man Espresso - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

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The listing says they have WiFi but they don't. . I'm not usually a WiFi user by the WiFi in my flat isn't working and I needed it. That was why I chose this cafe so it was a bit disappointing. read more

Quite possibly the best café I visited in Melbourne. I'm a visitor to Melbourne and stumbled across this place quite by accident and I'm so glad I did. I only ordered eggs, bacon and their 10-year aged puerh tea, but the eggs were velvety, the bacon really filling and the tea out of this world. I asked for a side of their tomato corn salsa and I actually moaned when I tasted it -- it was *that* good! And so fresh! I have one full day left in town and I'll definitely be back. read more

This is the type of joint where you wish you had a magical bottomless stomach because when you examine the menu you just want to try everything. Being within walking distance of our accommodation made this cafe a no-brainer to go to, especially with all the raving Yelp reviews. Obviously a swift choice for breakfast/brunch. From the outside you can tell straight away the interior was going to be just a trendy and funky looking. It has a kind of garden but docklandish style. The moment we walked in it was packed, full with mainly the younger hipster crowd. Very Melbourne. The food was downright delicious. Honestly I really did want to sample everything and when we ordered four dishes the waitress gave us the "it's not going to fit on the table" face. But we don't care, serve it our food in tiers, lady. I think the star dish for me was the super porridge. It was indeed super, there was a colossal lathering of ingredients but they worked well together. Especially the rhubarb addition. At least I think it was rhubarb because it bloody tasted like it albeit didn't look like it. The bircher muesli was also a hit, I did see alot of other diners had ordered that one. I dared to order diet coke but I knew they wouldn't have it, not this establishment. Nope its all freshly squeezed straight from the farm juice here. Although they do have some alcoholic selections of the cocktail variety. Possibly a weekend menu thing? I'm unsure. The cafe was open, clean and tasteful to dine in. Not too noisy when you drown out the sound of hipster talk around you. I found the chairs probably the heaviest I've ever had to pull out. Luckily my man was with me, found him something to do there. The customer service was attentive, hopefully we didn't agitate them too much. I know on my next trip south I would go there again, it's default divine and slightly off the beaten track. read more

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Hidden away just off the main street, this little cafe is definitely worth a visit. It has indoor and outdoor balcony seating with wooden and metal decor. The coffee is delicious and the service is very friendly. My fiancé and I both ordered waffles, mine with apple crumble and his with bacon and maple syrup (he added 2 poached eggs). While the meals did lack a little in presentation (could do with a small garnish on the top of both to add height) they tasted delicious and were a good size. I would definitely come back again for a coffee and another meal because the experience was so enjoyable. read more

Excellent coffee. Chicken waffles were decadent and filling. Service friendly. Sit outside under umbrellas, on a long, covered verandah facing the street, or inside. Recommended for good food in a casual, friendly setting. read more

This is/was my favourite coffee place before I moved away. For the coffee that is, I've never eaten there. And the coffee is fantastic. The balcony/landing is great in the warmer months, but in colder times it can be hard to get a seat inside. If you're at the South Melbourne Market, make a trip over Clarendon St. Curious fact: you can observe the comings and goings from a nearby brothel, if that interests you. read more

Dead Man Espresso is one of Melbourne's iconic coffee havens with a modern chic feel. Arriving on a packed Saturday Dead Man Espresso was a happening place with crowds of people taking up every available space of this architectural wonder. They even put extra chairs on the delightful front decking area. Dead Man Espresso is full of life with the whir of coffee being ground, loud conversation, and friendly engaging baristas and staff who flow well as a team. It's slightly off the beaten track on Market St South Melbourne. There is a cool history (as described on their website) of how the site used to be a swamp in the 1830s. With newcomers arriving in Australia they erected tents in the swamp and it was called Canvas Town. The Dead Man name may be associated with this history as this was a place of hardship and misery. I wondered about Dead Man and any pirate theme, and could well envisage Jack Sparrow as a barista in this cafe. The fit out is iconic with timber walls and large windows. The naked bulbs, concrete grey floor, bicycle out the front and elevated position, enhance the ambience. The coffee at Dead Man Espresso is top class with Seven Seeds, Market Lane and other top Melbourne Roasters and blends. My long mac single origin was a sensation. Awesome food options (yay for All Day Breakfast) include the popular BLT with pork belly, the Dead Man Big Breakfast, Buttermilk banana pancakes and Full of Grace granola. On Friday nights they have their Beef Burger Brew with a great range of burgers including the Swampy Burger. read more

We came for the coffee, which was really good (and worth coming just for that). We also had brunch. We had the waffle and apple crumble, which were both tasty. The portions were big and we couldn't finish either. read more

I had the green pancakes and I was not sure I would like it. They were delicious! They are little pillowy, savory pancakes with smoked salmon on-top, pesto, salad and a poached egg. What else do you need? A coffee blended by 7 Seeds just for them. Yeah I would go back! read more

Dead Man Espresso - Green pancakes with salmon and poached egg. - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Had a soy flat white and it was a solid cup. Also tried the scones and they were great! Very filling and were as good as homemade ones! Great vibes at this place! Will certainly be back! read more

Scrambled eggs on toast with side of sausage and mushroom - amazing! The eggs are fantastic, just the right side of not too runny not too dry yum! The sausage is good, herby and tasty! The toast is light and just a smidge of yummy butter. Mushrooms with thyme - perfect! Happy happy happy! BUT hold everything the Dead Man BLT with pork belly on brioche with gazpacho is genius!! Slices of gorgeous pork belly all crispy and succulent. The pork just falls apart and though inherently naughty it would have to be one of the best breakfasts I have had in ages! ....... Read more on my blog read more

Excellent food, the best coffee I have had in a very long time. Only downside was the service which was decent but not up to the standard of the food. On my second visit I sat on he balcony watching the world go by as I soaked up the winter sun. Definitely go here. read more

Down this neck of the woods, you are quite spoilt for choice for the true lover of great coffee and a good simple menu. Coffee was excellent, nice and smooth and no bitter or nasty aftertaste. Had a simple poached eggs on toast with avocado and a side of bacon which was absolutely amazing. Great to see that this combo is on the menu as it is a popular order: Bacon is amazing and could easily eat it on its own. Crispy and so tasty with almost a sweet and salty feeling. The staff are very attentive and friendly and has a very modern yet slightly retroish feel. Definitely be coming back when in the area. read more

Having just moved to South Melbourne work-wise I tried Dead Man for lunch and a coffee so i'll break it down. The coffee was really good (especially after spending the last three weeks in Thailand) and in a decent sized cup for once but I was surprised at the cost of the food menu $5.50 for AVOCADO?!? I got the eggs with Avocado included on sourdough, added the smoked salmon (also $5.50) and slid in just under $25...(ok maybe i'd not ready for Australian prices yet...) Staff were very friendly - I'll go for coffee again without a doubt. read more

We had a quick breakfast before heading to the airport on Tuesday morning. The service was friendly and relaxed, not slow but definitely not rushed. The coffee was very good, even by Melbourne standards. The food was creative and delicious. It was great to have a menu that broke from norms without turning into demented fusion. The bar seating on the deck was perfect. I'd revisit and recommend. read more

To be honest, I've probably lost this review somewhere, as nothing came up. I got onto dead man just around the time they first opened, yet, this is the first I'm writing about. Staff have changed over the years, there's some menu tweaks but the venue and space itself are still very much the same. Dead man is still producing great coffee, and it's still very bust with office workers from nearby networking and in meetings. It's great too see longevity in one of the better coffee hang-outs of south melbourne, and it will be here to stay for a while, as it is always busy. read more

This place is amazing. I wish I had frequented it earlier in my trip to Melbourne so I could have gone back multiple times. The coffee is the best in South Melbourne. The take away breakfast sandwiches are also great. Best food for the price as well. Very pleased with my experience here. Would totally go back. read more

Dead Man Espresso - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Very Hostile Environment!!! As soon as we walked into the cafe we felt we were not welcome. We were ignored and when we went to order they told us they will bring us a menu which took even longer. When they brought us our drinks. The girl with short bleached hair and tattoos just threw our drinks on the table without eye contact or a smile. Like she was forced to do it and had too look elsewhere with disgust. As we observed her...her attitude towards white customers were very different. She smiled and laughed with them. I just thought maybe she had a busy/bad day but I just realized she have a distaste towards Asians. Everytime she walked pass us..she would look up or felt disgusted by our presence. My gf and I felt uncomfortable we had to leave. Its 2017 and I'm surprised people are still racist especially in a business establishment. There are many cafe shops that have a friendly vibe... Just not this place. read more

Solid. Seven Seeds coffee hit the spot & food is pretty good. Pork belly brioche was all rich and fatty and melt in your mouth, the gazpacho shot of soup on the side is a bit confused. Great kale hash with some tasty kaiserfleisch (thickcut bacon). Came for some crispy pancetta but alas no dice. Black pudding here ain't got nothin on St Ali (that place has spoilt me, no other pudding compares!!) but it's a nice little spot with a chilled out vibe. promising. read more

Dead Man Espresso - kale hash & kaiserfleisch very yum. - Cafes Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Dead Man Espresso was a reconmendation from a food blog I stumbled upon, what a lucky punch! I was on business in Melbourne and had a few hours to kill in Sth Melbourne in between meetings, perfect timing to give it a try. After a look at the lunch menu of about 10 well-picked choices, I went for the Green Pancakes ($18). What a treat! They are small size pancakes with plenty of green veggies in them. They get served with a herby butter, a lovely green sauce and a sizeable serving of smoked salmon. Great composition, flavor touching sweet and salty nerves and altogether a healthy yet filling meal. I've eaten at a lot of upper class hotel restaurants over the past weeks while traveling on business, but this was my favorite food in weeks. Great latte (+latte art) as well. Give it a try, you won't regret it. read more

Came here for their chicken burger as I had heard it was great. Don't think I would go back. It was Meh, the 2 star rating has it spot on.

Nice quiet cafe at South Melbourne. My second time here and decided to go for their big breakfast since I'm graving for some baked beans. Love the coffee and looking forward to come back to try their fried chicken and waffle read more

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My husband and I had an amazing breakfast here while in Melbourne for our honeymoon. The atmosphere was cozy and everything we had was delicious. I had the waffles with bacon and maple syrup, and my husband had the ricotta cakes. The waffles were cooked perfectly and I snuck a bite of the ricotta cakes and they're amazing. We highly recommend Deadman Espresso. It has been a highlight of our trip and we're trying to come back before we head back home! read more