Where it all began…read more.. Here...my expressive non-dislike for the taste of coffee began here. Years ago, as a naive coffee hating American from the south raised on buckets of Foldger's, I had no idea that coffee could be so delectably savoury, flavorful, and variant. Campo's exposed me to an entirely new culture and is still the only cafe in Melbourne that I go out of my way to visit (or that can possibly entice me to leave work early from an "upset stomach" that one time but never again because I am very responsible). I'm not sure about any other Campo's, but definitely check out the one in Carlton. Though there is no wifi and it's not pram friendly, the coffee is amazing (with multiple varieties, blends, and daily specials to choose from), the staff is knowledgable and friendly, and the food is consistently scrumptious.

Found this place randomly when I wasn't even looking for a cafe but couldn't help walk in…read more Friendly and genuine service. Coffee was amazing. The halloumi burger was to die for, so good!! If you're in the area and need a quick lunch or coffee give this place a go.

Located inside the chadstone mall, I didn't expect anything - as coffee shops inside malls in the…read moreUS are never the best places to eat... I was so impressed by the food here -- the crab cakes were cooked perfectly, the mushroom omelette flavorful, and the red velvet pancakes were out of this world! So beautifully presented, & well cooked! We need to up our breakfast game in the states!

As an upscale cafe chain, this place does deliver One major…read morecriticism would have to be the inconsistency of their takeaway coffee in that they mixed my order up twice in a short period of time That being said, they always pour a great coffee and the staff here are fantabulous :) The seated area is comfortable and allows a nice view of passing traffic. If you're in the need for a coffee when shopping at the fashion capital swing through; you won't be disappointed!

A real weekend morning treat. The food is always delicious and fresh. I was craving pancakes and it…read morewas a weekly special. they even included a side of syrup which makes my American heart melt. The iced latte was made to perfection as well. Staff is always so friendly.

Wide Open Road is like that friend you've had since you were a kid. They are always there when you…read moreneed them, they provide support in times of need, they don't mind how you look or who you're dating, they just want to make you happy. They don't have hour-long waits on the weekends (the analogy has ended at this point). You know who never lets you down? Wide Open Road. They take their coffee very seriously here at Wide Open Road, so much so that there is a coffee menu, which makes me feel like a total dork when all I order is a skinny flat white. But for me, it's all about the food. I always tend to go for the healthier option when it comes to breakky (I tend to get less healthy as the day goes on) so on past occasions have treated myself to the Bircher Muesli and the Cauliflower Quinoa Fritters. Both delicious and filling. Sometimes, yes, you will be asked to wait a few minutes for a seat but PLEASE don't leave in a huff of disgust. I have never had to wait more than three minutes even when they've threatened us with twenty. The staff here are so bloody efficient and friendly I basically want to move in.

Nice ambiance , I felt the menu to be a little pretentious , food was decadent to say the least ,…read morefriendly staff , quick service (dishes did seem a little cold though ) busy place so obviously very popular , a go to place for a coffee though

Only worth going back for the coffee. This establishment serves puny portions of chocolate waffles…read morefor $18. I understand that this is a brunch place where prices are inflated, but there are boundaries to that. When I asked the staff about the portions they told me that is normal. Pictures are proof see for yourself. AVOID AVOID

Never heard of a "10% weekend surcharge" before coming here, but the flat white was good…read more Restaurant owners blatantly passing on costs to customers instead of just taking slightly lower margins: a tale as old as time.

What a cool spot to kick it! Lots of brick, wood, plants, ample seating, and a big window ideal for…read moresun and people-watching. No wait either time, both a weekday and weekend day. I've gone twice. I keep coming back for their lattes. They're so smooth and really not bitter. I'd also recommend their coffee-rubbed wagyu burgers. Love the sauce that's inside it, and the bun it's on is yummy.

This cafe is off the beaten path, blinked and you will easily miss it…read more Located in a hidden alleyway of Raffa Pl, precisely next to a gas station. From the outside, this looks like one of the crappiest Cafe I've ever been to in the city, but once inside, the atmosphere transforms into something different... The space actually feels like I'm walking into someone else's backyard! High glass ceiling, wooden furnitures, industrial vibes adorned with lush greeneries hanging throughout the restaurant - what a relaxing ambiance and the kind of place that invites you to hang a little bit longer. Originally, I came to try their famous salmon garden entree, but unfortunately they no longer have that on their menu *Sad*... So I settled for their breakfast pasta and happy to say, it doesn't disappoint in any way. The pasta comes in a pretty ceramic bowl, the presentation was fancy to the eyes, consisting of bacon, three kinds of cheese and poached egg. The dish was seriously creamy without giving you that nauseating feeling, absolutely yum! For my drink, I had the hot chocolate and it was a disappointment, slightly bitter, grainy and watered down, should have stick with the coffee, next time. The pricing was quite affordable per my Melbourne cafe standard. The service was quick and efficient, although I feel they kinda rushed you to order. But that aside, what a delicious find!!

Walking behind the Shell service station down a dodgy Carlton alley doesn't seem like a good time,…read morebut Vertue makes the trip worthwhile. Spinning the alley corner you are immediately greeted with giant open doors and polished floorboards, leading to an impressive counter layered with fresh coffee blends, beans barreled up and ready to be ground, and some great looking snacks to go with your caffine. This is definitely a place for coffee lovers, with various batches of beans available for purchase to take home and brew yourself. They also have a lovely seating area with a menu available for eats, but I was only stopping for coffee. And what a coffee it was! Beautifully roasted with a maple finish that made me feel like I was drinking a coffee flavoured pancake. I have no idea what magical method they use on their soy, but it was light, fluffy and sweet. So go down that dark alley and find one of Carlton's finest establishments.

Pros: - Super friendly staff…read more- Bangin' coffee from Dukes. - Pretty serving ware. Order a pour over and I swear you'll be tempted to steal the pretty glass it comes with. - Enough sweet temptations to break the resolve of any healthy eater. - Lots of "grab and go" options for lunch Cons: - Can be tricky to find the first time (it took me 20 minutes!). Pro tip - come in via the concourse level of Southern Cross station. - It's a bit dark in there due to the surrounding buildings. - Only four tables inside that are big enough for 5 people but are generally only used by 2 who give of the "I don't want to share" vibe.

Oh Story, where were you back when I was stuck in Docklands? Churning out delicious Dukes coffee in…read moreespresso, filter and batch brew in a pretty little space with cheery dudes behind the counter - it's great to see places like this satisfying the masses of workers that flood the area on weekdays. So as a place for great coffee, Story is a no-brainer. For lunch, they have a good selection of salads, baguettes and flat bread sandwiches for eat in or take away. As a dine-in cafe, the seating arrangement is a little awkward. It appears to be designed for solo lunchers, but the way people space themselves out doesn't always work out like that. Thankfully my lunch buddy and I came a little later and were able to snag one of the larger tables to ourselves to enjoy a more relaxed lunch and a chat. Probably better for take away, unless you can time it right. I wouldn't recommend it as a work-meeting type spot. Overall though, solid cafe with great coffee.

This place is certainly one of the more popular of Melbourne's coffee shops, though when I was here…read moreit wasn't anywhere near as packed as I have heard that it can become. Personally, I thought that it was okay, but is really wasn't one of my favourites, probably because it lacked that really cosy atmosphere that some of these places tend to have. The service was okay though, and the tea wasn't too bad, but it really wasn't the best.

Great coffee! If you're not living in the area, its worth the trip over. I've not eaten there yet…read morebut I do hear great things. They roast their beans on site. The space itself is quite large and has a very funky ambiance. On weekend this place is packed with people brunching and revelling in the amazing coffee. You can also buy beans to take home (I did stock up to take some neans home to Scotland!) Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, this place is a must-try!