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St Ali

4.1 (112 reviews)
Open 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

St Ali Photos

ST ALI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Trendy
Casual
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - St Ali

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V C.

What better way to start the day than with a cup of warm joe from the famous St. Ali? But first, finding this cafe was no easy feat. It involves some navigating unfamiliar streets as it was hidden in a teeny tiny alleyway and the restaurant was unmarked, but keep at it as you will get rewarded with one of the best coffee in Melbourne. St. Ali isn't exactly your quiet cafe. The interior is loud and hipster, but if you prefer a more peaceful and brighter atmosphere, there is a small patio outdoor. For breakfast, I had the Wagyu Steak Sanga ($24). The presentation was immaculate, consisting slices of perfectly cooked Wagyu steak on top of sourdough toast. They also give you a generous amount of salad on the side, not a fan of the arugula salad, particularly due to the blue cheese (personal dislike). The steak, however, was deliciously seasoned and quite tender... Despite it being boring halfway through. For my drink, I opted for the flat white coffee and it was a dream!! Rich, slightly bitter, well bodied with complex flavors... I enjoyed every sip of it. In all, a visit to St. Ali has been a memorable one! Great service, beautiful food and even more beautiful coffee. Definitely a spot worth many return visits.

hotcakes and oj

cute cafe with great service. I enjoyed my long black and 2 sides - the smoked salmon and tomatoes. My friend got the hotcakes which were beautiful and delicious, very thick and fluffy. They were topped with white chocolate ganache, strawberries and edible flowers.

Seared rare tuna niçoise salad.
Eepeng C.

St Ali was recommended to me by a friend, and I sure am glad I got out of the CBD long enough to stop by. Casual vibes, bench style seating and friendly staff await your arrival. It's table service here and there's plenty of room for all your friends. I ordered the tuna niçoise salad, which featured seared rare tuna, a winner in my books. Light and filled with flavour, I'd definitely get this salad again. The refresher juice with watermelon, apple & mint was a welcome thirst quencher given the warm day that it was. My only regret- leaving town before getting the chance to come back and try their highly raved about coffee for myself.

Smoked salmon, potatoes with capers, and poached eggs; these are a few of my favorite things...
Shannon S.

A cafe in Melbourne. I have heard, by many a folk, that this little hidden joint makes the best coffee in Melbourne. When I arrived however, I immediately shouted "beer" before I could process my thoughts and unfortunately missed out on discovering the validity of their reputation. Nevertheless, I arrived during lunch rush hour and was promptly greeted with a smile and shown to a table that would accommodate my obnoxiously large red pram - noting that the space is a comfortable size although you wouldn't assume so from outward appearances. The menu was printed in mimic local newspaper style (super hip) and the floor manager wore a blue bow-tie and gold chain around his neck. Prices were pretty good (average $18) and the menu selection was varied and appetizing; if you weren't sure what you wanted to eat before you arrived I'm sure you could choose something from the menu and leave satisfied. I ordered smoked salmon on potatoes with capers and the flavors were perfect albeit the potatoes being cold; not cold enough to complain, just cold enough to notice. Since I skipped the coffee experience, which was the main reason I decided to eat there, I can't really say if this is one of the best cafés around. I've been to many cafés, all hidden, hip, and specializing...and St. Ali is one of them. Thus being said, I would still like to try the coffee and I would definitely recommend that you experience one of their meals at least once, if only to Instagram a photo of it.

Joe P.

Wow. Great coffee . Off the beaten path for sure. Melbourne revolves around the river and CBD. St Ali is a short walk south. They have a special that includes three different coffees. A great idea for tourists like us. We also had a very enjoyable breakfast.

Elixir mocha
Sheenal S.

This large bustling industrial style cafe is where I caught up with a workmate Saturday morning around 10.30 for brunch. It was easy to get a table and we shared this long wooden table with another couple. We placed our coffee orders at the same time but my friends coffee arrived 10 minutes before mine. Negative. I ordered an extra hot skim mocha for 5 dollars and it was the size of a macchiato. Elixir mocha and all. Yes it was good but no elixir. And the size of it is just disappointing. My friend got charged an extra dollar for her almond latte. :( My mexican cousin which appears to be the most raved about dish on reviews with their secret corn fritter recipe was quite disappointing. First of all it tasted nothing like corn. You get three small fritters that could have been baked. They are green on the inside. Reminded me off the spinach cutlets that my mum makes. Lacked flavour. Had to douse it in salt and pepper. The accompanying tomato base and corn kernels did nothing to complement the flavour. We also got kingfish on a bed of beetroot pure with pomegranate seeds. The fish was delicious. The skin was delicately crisp and the fish so succulent. The beetroot puree with its slight sourness complemented the fish. Amazing but again quite a small portion. The bill came up to around 60 dollars. The most expensive brunch I've had in Melbourne and with small portion sizes too. Oh and if that wasn't bad already, while eating my morsel of a kingfish, the waitress tried to take my plate away. I had to use my ninja reflexes to thwart her attempt. There is a 4% surcharge if you use an amex and 2 percent for other credit cards. *shakes head* - as if everything else wasn't overpriced already.

Koo koo ca choo (with added bacon)
Paul A.

Who was St Ali? Where were they from? How were they canonised? Perhaps St Ali is the patron Saint of brunch. In which case they'd be more than pleased with this long standing legend on the scene. On my recent visit my chirpy smile was greeted at the door with straight faced nonchalance. Fortunately the person who took my order was happy, friendly and helpful. I sat down with the weekend papers .. no worries here finding something to read - there's LOTS to go round. My coffee came out quickly, which was smooth and more than acceptable. The mini jug of warm milk accompanying it was a nice touch, plus useful for getting a bit more out of the cup. Being an egg man I ordered a "Koo koo ca choo", which looked and tasted bloody delicious! A lovely blend of flavours and textures. The potato hash was crunchy, the mushroom fricassee beautifully creamy, truffle earthy. I added some bacon too. The poached egg was soft and gooey on the inside but one egg white was rubbery and firm, I had to put in some effort to cut through it. However I scoffed it all down and could've easily eaten another. It's a popular place with a mixed clientele, though a victim of its own success a bit, with quite a chaotic queue in order to settle my bill. All in all St Ali's three miracles are it's longevity, amazing food and honest coffee. Worth a pilgrimage. Music - medium, lots of hard surfaces and busy means you need to speak with a raised voice.

tallulah f.

If you don't keep your eyes (and maybe your nose) peeled you may just miss this little coffee cafe, hidden away down a back street in South Melbourne, St Ali is one of Melbourne's most talked about and most prestigious coffee roasters. Besides all the hype I have been to St Ali a hand full of times and have had differing experiences each time. The coffee is always at a consistently high level opting to try their coffee of the week is always interesting and a bit of a treat. I have found the food however to be a little over priced, after ordering a Greek style salad and being presented with a plate swimming in feta and little greenery or tomato I was a little reluctant to hand over my credit card after the meal. My friends however ordered breakfast of poached eggs and corn fritters which comparatively looked incredible! If you are planning to head to St Ali for a Sunday brunch do be prepared for a pretty decent wait they get VERY busy and the staff are run off their feet. To compensate, the coffee roasters have recently opened their warehouse directly opposite the restaurant where they will serve you freshly brewed coffee while you wait for a table.

Kurt Z.

First off, let's start by saying I'm a huge fan of Matt Perger. Second, walking inside and feeling the vibe was enough for 5 stars. Then my first taste of espresso blew my rating to a ten. Then I tried the pourover coffee and a cappuccino. Then my head exploded. Simple decor, comfortable, community tables, friendly staff, inviting, not pretentious, and all in all, made my top three favorite cafes I've ever visited.

Neil B.

"Serious coffee" Taken to be seated and handed a coffee menu, the folk at the other end of the table look like friends of Mick Gatto. The food looks utterly amazing, but the coffee is the star - having the cold drip and it's defuckinglicious. The venue is ramshackle and disjointed, and adds to the charm. Music is good, loud enough you can hear the tunes, but not to deafen.

sneaky St Ali
Kevin L.

My review relates specifically to the quality of the coffee roasted and served as I think it is a point which most people have missed because this is what they are known and recognised for. Loved my visit there. St Ali chompy is a great hearty & bold blend. I feel like drinking a long black of this is a meal in itself. The flavours are full & rich. Definitely a nice standard blend to have at any time. I brought home with me the Guatemala Finca San Antonio and have been doing pour overs, plunger & drip. A nice bright first taste which smoothens out to leave a very sweet after taste. Definite notes of plum, cocoa and butter. There are only a few cafes here in Sydney that are using their beans and I for one am looking forward to more.

Gorgeous lattes
Rachel R.

We went on a Wed around 1pm and while there was no queue, it was very full. Its a loud & bustling environment full of many shared tables, great food, and exceptional coffee. This is definitely one of the best lattes in Melbourne. The food menu is extensive, with breakfast served until 3pm. There is plenty for vegetarians and the portions seemed generous. We especially loved the corn fritters with poached eggs, fresh corn salsa, and a touch of haloumi. The people next to us had a salted caramel doughnut that was drool-worthy. Service was speedy despite the full space. And they seemed genuinely worried that I didn't finish my dish (it was huge). It's not quiet in there, so don't plan on having a hushed conversation. There is table service for taking your order, but pay at the counter when you're done.

Hidden gem
Amanda C.

This place is such a hidden gem! It's on a side street in South Melbourne in what looks like a garage. There's no sign saying St. Ali either but the people walking in make it more obvious that you're at the right place. The super high ceilings, friendly waitress and antique share tables make the place quite inviting. Their coffee is St. Ali's brew - amazing! Try their fluffy bits (pancakes) or the truffle gruyere toaster. Great place to enjoy a brunch while catching up with your friends and fam!

Crumpets with goats cheese, maple syrup & hazelnuts.

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5 years ago

Good vibes, tasty food and up there as one of my faves. Only dowside is the noise. I found it hard to hear my friends

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Review Highlights - St Ali

The jam donut pancakes was a favorite of ours but their egg dishes (mmhmmm My Mexican Cousin) are equally awesome.

Mentioned in 8 reviews

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St Ali - coffee - Updated May 2026

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