St Kilda Road has 15 verified spots worth your time for cafes. Every venue below is a real, operating business with a Google listing — no placeholder names, no made-up addresses.
| Venue | Rating | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurelle Café & Restaurant | 5/5 | 47 | — |
| Oltre - Alimentari e Cucina | 4.8/5 | 437 | — |
| OPPEN | 4.7/5 | 675 | — |
| MiddleSouthEast | 4.7/5 | 589 | $$ |
| Lerice | 4.7/5 | 156 | — |
| Philoçoffee Espresso Bar | 4.7/5 | 83 | $ |
| Tradeblock Cafe | 4.7/5 | 74 | $ |
| The Cupcake Queens | 4.7/5 | 62 | $$ |
1. Aurelle Café & Restaurant
Address: 397 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Rating: 5/5 (47 reviews)
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 47 Google reviews. Rated 5/5 by locals.
2. Oltre - Alimentari e Cucina
Address: Prahran Market, Shop 818/163-165 Commercial Rd, South Yarra
Rating: 4.8/5 (437 reviews)
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 437 Google reviews. Rated 4.8/5 by locals.
3. OPPEN
Address: 20/2 Maddock St, Windsor
Rating: 4.7/5 (675 reviews)
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 675 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
4. MiddleSouthEast
Address: 670 Chapel St, South Yarra
Rating: 4.7/5 (589 reviews)
Price: Mid-range
MiddleSouthEast is a verified local spot in St Kilda Road. Check their latest hours and menu before visiting.
5. Lerice
Address: 147 Cecil St, South Melbourne
Rating: 4.7/5 (156 reviews)
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 156 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
6. Philoçoffee Espresso Bar
Address: 162 Albert Road, South Melbourne
Rating: 4.7/5 (83 reviews)
Price: Affordable
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 83 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
7. Tradeblock Cafe
Address: 597 Saint Kilda Road, Melbourne
Rating: 4.7/5 (74 reviews)
Price: Affordable
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 74 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
8. The Cupcake Queens
Address: 417 Saint Kilda Road, Melbourne
Rating: 4.7/5 (62 reviews)
Price: Mid-range
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 62 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
9. Maker and Monger - Melbourne Cheese Shop
Address: Prahran Market, Stall 98/163 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Rating: 4.6/5 (422 reviews)
Maker and Monger - Melbourne Cheese Shop is a verified local spot in St Kilda Road. Check their latest hours and menu before visiting.
10. Reverie Cafe, Prahran
Address: 31 Izett Street, Prahran
Rating: 4.6/5 (355 reviews)
Price: Mid-range
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 355 Google reviews. Rated 4.6/5 by locals.
11. Cafe Safi
Address: Ground Floor/484 Saint Kilda Road, Melbourne
Rating: 4.6/5 (327 reviews)
Price: Mid-range
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 327 Google reviews. Rated 4.6/5 by locals.
12. Livingstone
Address: 16A Claremont St, South Yarra
Rating: 4.6/5 (299 reviews)
Livingstone is a verified local spot in St Kilda Road. Check their latest hours and menu before visiting.
13. Mimolette
Address: 80 Punt Road, Windsor
Rating: 4.6/5 (153 reviews)
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 153 Google reviews. Rated 4.6/5 by locals.
14. BENCH COFFEE CO. St Kilda Rd
Address: 580 Saint Kilda Road, Melbourne
Rating: 4.6/5 (149 reviews)
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 149 Google reviews. Rated 4.6/5 by locals.
15. CHEF RICHARD
Address: 89 High Street, Prahran
Rating: 4.6/5 (107 reviews)
Price: Affordable
A local cafe in St Kilda Road with 107 Google reviews. Rated 4.6/5 by locals.
About This Guide
Every venue in this guide is a verified, currently operating business sourced from Google Places API. Data last refreshed: 2026-03-31. If a venue has closed or moved, let us know.
More St Kilda Road: St Kilda Road Suburb Guide · Cost of Living · All St Kilda Road Guides
Where to Go
Slater Street Bench
A polished specialty-coffee stop built for the office crowd, Slater Street Bench is best for a sharp espresso, batch brew, or quick pastry between meetings. Broadsheet notes its clean fit-out, Clement Coffee focus, and role in lifting St Kilda Road’s cafe standard: Broadsheet.
580 Bench
From the same team, 580 Bench keeps things minimal: strong coffee, simple food, and a calm lobby-cafe feel. It suits commuters who want quality without a long dine-in commitment.
Cafe Safi
Cafe Safi is a reliable weekday option for St Kilda Road workers chasing coffee, breakfast, lunch, or catering. It is especially useful when you need something practical, quick, and close to the business end of the boulevard.
Pedro Espresso
Pedro Espresso leans into fast, efficient coffee service without feeling like a generic grab-and-go counter. It is a good pick when you want a proper Melbourne coffee but do not have time for a long cafe sit-down.
Tradeblock Cafe
Tradeblock Cafe stands out because it is connected with deaf hospitality training and ordering through Auslan. Go when you want a quieter, more meaningful cafe experience, but check opening times first because student-linked venues can run on limited schedules.
Local Tips
St Kilda Road cafes are shaped by the rhythm of offices, apartments, trams, and nearby institutions, so timing matters. The busiest windows are usually before 9am, around 10.30am, and during the lunch rush; for a calmer coffee, aim for mid-morning or early afternoon.
Many venues here are weekday-first rather than weekend-brunch destinations. Always check current hours before making a special trip, especially around public holidays, school holidays, and Christmas shutdown periods.
If you are travelling by tram, pick your cafe by stop rather than by suburb name. St Kilda Road stretches a long way, and “near St Kilda Road” can still mean a decent walk from where you actually get off.
For takeaway, the best bets are compact specialty counters like Slater Street Bench, 580 Bench, and Pedro Espresso. For a more practical meal, look for cafes attached to office towers, where sandwiches, salads, catering-style lunch boxes, and fast service are usually the strength.
The area is also close to the Shrine, the Arts Precinct, Albert Park, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, so a coffee stop can work well before a walk or gallery visit. Just do not expect the late-night or beachy energy of Fitzroy Street or Acland Street; St Kilda Road is more workday Melbourne than seaside St Kilda.
FAQ
What is the best cafe on St Kilda Road for specialty coffee?
Slater Street Bench is the strongest pick for specialty coffee, especially if you care about beans, brew quality, and a focused coffee menu. 580 Bench is another good choice with a similar stripped-back approach.
Are St Kilda Road cafes good for brunch?
Some are, but the area is better for weekday coffee, breakfast, and lunch than long weekend brunch. For a classic Melbourne brunch scene, nearby South Melbourne, Prahran, Windsor, or St Kilda usually offer more variety.
Can I find good takeaway coffee on St Kilda Road?
Yes. The corridor is built around commuters and office workers, so takeaway coffee is one of its strengths, particularly at compact venues such as Slater Street Bench, Pedro Espresso, and 580 Bench.
