This is one of those places that I had seen for a while but had never got around to actually visited. Well, I pretty quickly rectified that recently, and it was certainly one of those moves that I am glad that I made. Yep, it is one of those cafes that seem to be more at home in the inner suburbs, but happens to be right in the heart of the city. The service is pretty good, and they even has some rather nice breakfast options as well, including beans, something that I find very hard to resist. read more

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Great social enterprise concept. Works on both levels, ie as an altruistic social enterprise and as a very good cafe. The decor is quirky and on trend. I chose the Thai red curry. This is a rustic and tasty dish that I enjoyed. A lovely meal on a cool late winter day. Good vegetables throughout. I particularly loved the beautifully cooked brown rice as well. This was a good dish The world's most beautiful woman had the mushroom toastie. She reported this very tasty but more of a red capsicum toastie with more of that than the promised mushroom. Again, she polished off the lot. The coffees to finish were superb. The coffee here is of an excellent standard. This is a good place. Food was good, coffee was good and the service was great too. This is a very sound option in this area for breakfast or lunch. read more

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Absolutely love the concept but am a bit let down by the execution. Came here twice this week already and will definitely be back but the coffee really wasn't at the quality it should be even though profits get donated to social causes Pretty average coffee and long waits even when there weren't too many people in an off peak time In the morning rush don't be surprised with a 10+ min wait for takeaway But that said love what they're doing here In the vein of lentil as anything read more

Kinfolk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

This nice little cafe is located near the southern cross station. It serves wonderful Mork Hot chocolate and coffee. The granola bar was extra good with crunchy nuts and sizable portion for a good snacks or breakfast. The environment is a little crowded, and the toasts are a bit pricy for what it is. The walls are very well decorated and the lighting in the place is good. It's worth spending an afternoon drinking coffee and reading here. The noise level is quite low when we visited at noon. The staffs are friendly and they are volunteers. It is best to come here by tram since there is no parking spaces. The Kinfolks are also linked to charity and part of their profit goes into donation, which might justify the price a little more for their food. The coffee goes for normal 4$ AUD and there is not much more we can ask for. Overall, it was a great experience having lunch here. read more

Kinfolk - Mocha with thick chocolate. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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This little café opened in early 2010 and has been choc-full ever since. I'm still surprised, though, meeting people who haven't visited to experience the feel-good vibes that belong here. A social enterprise, Kinfolk directs the majority of its profit to three charities. Most of the staff are volunteers and work hard to produce a comforting breakfast or lunch time experience to weekday punters. They come for the Di Bella Coffee, Little Bertha cakes and a tight little menu that changes daily with the season and available produce. Think soaked grains with hot milk in winter, open faced sandwiches with baba ganoush, salted zucchini in spring, and poached chicken salad with herbs in summer. With a communal bookshelf, a resident poet and lots of beautiful artwork, you're going to walk out pretty happy with the world once you've been here. The best bit? When you pay you will be given a coffee bean which you can then place in one of three jars on the counter. Each represent the current supported charities and you can choose where your money goes. How's that for good karma? read more

Kinfolk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Kinfolk is a social enterprise, or a social business to use their words. The concept is admirable. The staff are all volunteers, and the profits are distributed between four development projects. (Skimmed from their website) I went for a catch-up session with a friend. Inside, the tables are a mish-mash of communal and single tables. The decor is hard to describe...but works. The menu is written on a blackboard which is hung on the back wall. As we arrived, the waitress was in the process of exchanging the breakfast menu for the lunch menu. I ordered a latte and the fried eggs on toast. My coffee wasn't too bad, but I noticed that the crema on my friend's long black started dissipating 10 seconds after it was served, which was a bad sign. I never asked him how the coffee was. My fried eggs were good, cooked well. It arrived on a slice of toast, with pesto, feta cheese, and salsa verde. The dish itself could have used more seasoning. The salsa was fresh, but the portion was really small, consisting of a few halves of tomatoes. It wasn't a bad dish, but overall lacklustre, especially in the competitive brunch scene of Melbourne. Overall it's a pretty good place for breakfast or brunch. Based solely on the food and coffee, I probably won't go back since I have other favourite places. But knowing that you're helping out just by having brunch makes you feel good inside. And the staff are really chirpy. No jaded hospitality veteran here. read more

Kinfolk - Fried eggs on toast with pesto & salsa verde. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

My first 'port' of call when I come to Melbourne is always Kinfolk. Faux city puns aside, its a cafe - yes - but also a community that feels like your best friends house the minute you walk in. The menu is rustic and seasonal with equal vegetarian and meat dishes, all using locally sourced ingredients. Like a best friend, Kinfolk introduces you to impressive Melbourne brands like Storm In A Teacup on the tea menu. I'm a tea lover, and really enjoyed the Lemonzilla tisane with an added twist of turmeric - order with a side of honey. The Tuscan beans with kale and root vegetables was like a breakfast stew with a hearty side of GF toast. I requested an avocado hit that came out as a side of guacamole (a breakfast must have!) - and they added apple to the mix which I've never had and enjoyed. My waiter was super lovely and very attentive - and the fact that Kinfolk staff are volunteers is remarkable. Grab a window seat, a good friend or a good book, and settle in for a few hours - you'll feel right at home here like I always do. read more

Kinfolk - Tuscan beans and smashed avocado with the surprise addition of apple - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Imagine a social enterprise cafe with mainly volunteer staff offering a friendly smile and table service! Well it exist in the name of Kinfolk, located right next to the Southern Cross Station in Melbourne's CBD. Sit by the bar or a communal table, either way you can take in the chilled vibe. My order of the quinoa porridge was not only delicious but was akin to a work of art. Decorated with edible flowers, sweet syrupy bits and something crunchy for added texture. A bowlful of healthy, yummy goodness to nurture the soul. A rudimentary glance around the place offered me a view of the wooden theme decor from their tabletops to the timber floors. You can admire the artwork on the wall with photos of the reno crew who helped to build this place and a wall of names from their many volunteers across the globe to leave their mark. You too can leave your mark at the counter when you check out, a coffee bean is offered to you to choose 1 out of 3 jars to represent which charity you can support. Love it! read more

Kinfolk - Quinoa porridge - so pretty and tasty! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Good food for a good cause! I like this place, second time I go and I was not disappointed. The staff is super friendly, the food is good (and looks pretty! There were flowees in the fish special today) and the whole atmosphere is hipstery & cool! 100% of their profit goes to charity. What is there not to love? read more

Kinfolk - The fish special today! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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I've been using Yelp heavily to guide my eating and drinking in Melbourne during this trip. Kinfolk was more of a location pick than a star pick but I wasn't disappointed. My partner and I shared the quinoa salad while he ate the baguette and I had a zucchini frittata. Because of the menu, a small collection of dishes that rotates, I can't guarantee that anything we ate will be available on your visit but since everything we had was tasty I'd say take your chance. The coffee of course was superb. Moreover, all their profit goes to charity so if you aren't a troll eating here will make you feel full and satisfied. read more

Ripper do! If there was an Olympic medal for waiting the longest time to check out a cafe after established fact of opening, I may just win gold. How many years has Kinfolk been open now? I think its about 2.5, and it's my first visit in. I've been well aware of the Establishment and concept for some time now, it's great, a little beacon of hope for the less fortunate in tough economic times. Good to make a difference in the sometimes harsh world. One hopes kinfolk continues to thrive in this ever more expensive cost of living world we find ourselves in. Rising costs threat donations. One can now donate directly to one of the four charities. To benefit those whom are doing it tough. Money goes to much needed cause and supports important solutions. Staff are enthusiastic and eager; they put back into the cause by donating time for free. Coffee is good, and its a cute little artistic space. It has a down to earth honest Earnest. No -one is putting up a front, their faces plastered with big fake disingenuous smiles. One seems welcome and genuinely so. There's a cute little roadside table with plants and bits and pieces on it for the smoggies, or those who like to eat roadside, along with a touch of smog and the passing traffic. Still, it's grand to be outside. read more

What a fabulous enterprise. Staffed by volunteers, Kinfolk invests in community based projects which you can nominate where your money goes to by placing a bean in a jar. They also do a decent coffee for the Southern Cross end, so there's no need to feel guilty about having an extra coffee for the day. I didn't get a chance to try the food, because it was an impulsive decision to stop in. So next time Kinfolk, you are on. Also, they do a little mag that you can take home for a gold coin donation. Warm fuzzy feelings continue all afternoon. read more

The avocado toast was to die for - and everything else on the menu was unique and fresh. Some of the ingredients I had never heard of, so if you're someone with a dietary restriction make sure you ask the server what's on the plate before you order it. The decor of the restaurant is adorable, and overall it was the best breakfast I had during my stay in Melbourne. read more

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I liked Kinfolk. The ethos is a great one, although there isn't a lot of information in the place about the details of the social enterprise. I quite like the idea that you can say the staff are volunteers, and then give them quirky, sometimes not great, but always friendly service. The food was pretty good. I can't say it was amazing, but the soup, the sandwich and the salad was all good. read more

Everyone who knows me, knows I am a bit of a bleeding heart and social impact nerd kind of gal. And this is why I love a good social enterprise and Kinfolk. All profits generated are donated to charity and it is virtually run by volunteers as well. Throw in an awesome location, good local produce, coffee and funky interior and you're onto a winner. I had breakfast here and the long blacks are smooth and creamy on the palate. The breakfasts are simple, but done well. Like the smashed avo with goat cheese on Dench bread and two poached eggs. That is my favourite and I keep returning to it. Highly recommend this place. Such a good vibe and cause #swoon read more

I am a huge fan of social enterprises that give back to the community. Some might say a die hard fan. To that end, I am obviously going to be a supporter. BUT. Amaze. The food is also great. Done and done, now I can eat my way to happiness and feeling "socially good". read more

I walked past this place so many times on my way home from work, curious to know what it was but never remembering about it during the day. One day, I was meeting a friend for coffee down in the west corner of the city, and remembered about Kinfolk. Basically, I'm glad I did. Kinfolk is a different kind of cafe. For a start, it is not-for-profit, and is largely run by volunteers. On the counter, they have a jar of coffee beans, and invite you to place a bean in one of four jars, each representing a social cause. Much of the interior was sourced second-hand, continuing the sustainability theme. There's always a really interesting mix of customers, from middle aged business men to the usual hipster crowd. The coffee and food at Kinfolk is always served with a smile, which is thanks to the great volunteers who work there. Who knew that getting people to work for free would result in better service? Lastly, and maybe most importantly, the coffee at Kinfolk is delicious and the food is always interesting- think mandarin and polenta cake. Really, it's hard to go past the combination of good coffee and social responsibility. read more

I first heard about this at a Sydney meetup called "Think Act Change", and been always wanting to come out and check it out. The cafe is basically a social business where all the proceeds go supporting social project, so basically you're making an impact on the world rather than making someone get richer. (Drink coffee, change the world?! or if you do an interesting spin on the WWDC 14 slogan you could say "Write the code, Drink the coffee, Change the world"). The environment is very arty and quirky (typical of Melbourne style or the style you'd find at most Korean run cafes), and the food and coffee was good. The staff at kinfolk are mostly volunteers too, and have interesting stories to share too. Location wise, it's close to Southern Cross Station, so it is very easy to get to from just about anywhere in the city (or from out of the city). read more

This is one of my favorite places in Melbourne. A cafe with a social conscience and a happy, hipster vibe in the boring business end of downtown Melbourne. Just go.... Get a coffee. Have lunch. Great people, good music, poetry, art and youth your purchase you can put a bean in a jar to send a share of the profits to your preferred cause. Love it! read more

The whole Donkey Wheel House building is home to a set of social ventures but you would never know it until you settle your bill at Kinfolk. While the profits from everything are distributed amongst the projects described on the wall this doesn't affect the quality of the food and experience. The menu changes daily based on the chef's imagination and the seasons. read more

Kinfolk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

kinfolk as the name suggests is community oriented with volunteers as employees, ingredients sourced locally and support for organizations such as the asylum refugee Centre and urban seed. it is on the other side of Spencer st outlet Centre and easily accessible by trams. there is a seating area and an area to stand as you wait for takeaway. food to go is provided in environmentally friendly biodegradable packaging. the curry, risotto, and salad dishes change often so check out the chalkboard for their menu. the standard paper menu includes toasties, pasta and slow-cooked chicken. it is quite pricey for what you get. I got a heavy salad for 12.50 which is equivalent to a 8-9 dollars salad at lunch time. it contained Farro, broccoli, pepitas, cheese and roast pumpkin. taste was OK. my colleague got the slow-cooked chicken for around 20ish and said it was quite pricey and average. came with some garlic bread which was nice. I also got a mocha which uses mork chocolate and it was scrumptious. yummmmmm the raw treats are varied and look delicious. staff are Uber friendly. service is quick. they do no have an onsite microwave and salads are apparently prepacked. pros supports a good cause great staff good coffee quick efficient cons average not fresh food very pricey read more

Kinfolk - Heavy salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

This is a great cafe near Southern Cross station, and a great place to hang out if you've got time while waiting for a train. The staff are all volunteers and really friendly and helpful. The environment is cozy and quirky, and large tables in a small space encourage you to sit with and get to know strangers and fellow travelers. The food and coffee is also top notch and well priced. Overall great food for a great cause--can't get much better! read more

Kinfolk is an eclectic cafe right by Southern Cross Station. All the staff are volunteers and the profits go to a cause that you can help choose by dropping a bean into a jar of your choice. Their Di Bella brew coffee is a winner along with their changing menu. Grab a soup and salad or toastie and you won't be disappointed. read more

Was walking past and noticed some young hippsters holding chalkboards offering free coffee served by volunteer training batistas! Happy to help them out by enjoying a free fresh cup of brew! read more

Kinfolk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Great spot near Southern Cross station and just next to a tram stop. In addition to their regular menu, there's daily specials on the board. I only came in for some chai and the vegan smoothie so can't comment on food but our drinks were delicious and flavoursome. It definitely a type of cafe where you can be sure that everything is served and prepared with love, nutritious ingredients and using fresh seasonal produce. Kinfolk is staffed by volunteers and donate their profits so this is a place where your tips will go a long way. read more

This café is busy - and rightly so. The atmosphere is relaxed and the décor is welcoming (in a cool, industrial, funky way). I came for a catch up coffee with a friend at 8am on a weekday and the place was jumping. Coffee is good, but can take a little while - the service is nice. The order came in parts, rather than together, which was strange - but not to worry it's a good place for a catch up. read more

Kinfolk is a social enterprise - the wait staff are all volunteers with the profits going to local charity. The rustic decor buzzes with optimism and community spirit. Knowing that the person bringing me my morning coffee is doing it for free, to make a contribution to the local community changes the dynamic between us in astounding ways: this person is not at work, I am not paying for their time. They are here to benefit the most disadvantaged communities by converting my money into charitable giving through their labor. The implications of how this alters the relationship should be a cause for pause, how many wait staff cop unacceptable behaviour from customers just because of the perceived dues arising from the idea that "I am paying for your service." ?! The coffee was spot on and the basic eggs and bacon on sourdough delicious. Kinfolk ticks all the boxes and then some. read more

Kinfolk - Kinfolk bacon and eggs breakfast. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Came here for breakfast straight off the bus from the airport, and it was one of the best meals I had during my 2 week travel through Australia. The smashed avo toast w/goats feta & side of bacon were amazing. The almond milk turmeric ginger latte was incredible because I'm largely lactose-intolerant. This was an incredible and welcome introduction to Melbourne and the continent as a whole. read more

A feel good cafe with all profits going to charity. There are a couple of staples on the breakfast menu, smashes avo, porridge and toast. Look out for the daily egg special. The lunch menu rotates based on the daily produce. The head chef used to work at Vue Du Monde so look out for your artistically styled breakfast plate! read more

Stopped by for a latte and it was great quality. There's lots of treats to tempt you while you wait for your order. If you have time, they also have a nice lunch menu. read more

There is one thing I realised about this place, it's always full! Popular destination for coffee and food by many people working in the CBD area. Great vibe for casual or informal meetings. read more

Fantastic vegetarian breakfast and lunch options. A phenomenal find from a road-weary vegetarian business traveler.

Feel good after your coffee and support a place that provides training to help others help themselves. Karma lives here and serves coffee, sandwiches, salads etc - also close to The School of Life (see my other review). read more

The coffee here almost brought me to tears, and the toasties are a revelation. And who doesn't love a good old fashioned social enterprise?

Great food!!! Highly recommended for breakfast or brunch. Love the taste profiles of its toasy-based dishes. Coffee is good altho a tad too cold for my liking read more

Pretty decent, the risotto was a little under cooked but had good flavors. The turmeric latte was a little odd, the filtered coffee was better. My friend got the Wasabi sandwhich and that was pretty good. Price was average, service was and little off, but the server seemed new, so it was underatandable. read more

Mediocre service. Over-priced coffee and food. I know it's an altruistic business model but you should at least get the quality for which you pay. Will never go again or recommend. read more

A little hiccup to start with however overcome by good staff and a good attitude, chicken burger for both of us was excellent, close to station for a quality bite in transit , well done kinfolk. read more

Good stuff, and a great first impression of Melbourne. Coffee was absolutely amazing. I only had some toast, but my girlfriend won't stop raving about the granola! read more

Great, busy cafe with super staff that are volunteer. Fab food and vibe. Hearts in the right place too.