If you’re in Melbourne and want drink coffee with the local bunches, here is a list of just some of Melbourne’s bike-friendly cafés that serve coffee to riders every day of the week.
Bicycle Thieves, 445-453 High Street, Northcote
In a nod to Northcote’s Italian heritage, this new café is named after the famous 1948 Italian film Ladri di Biciclette. Opened in October 2020, the kitchen makes everything from scratch, including the butter on their house crumpets and the hazelnut chocolate spread that they use in their jaffles with baked banana, mascarpone and hazelnuts. The café caters for large bunches with indoor and outdoor seating, and in true Italian style, if you’re up for a quick coffee you can gulp down an espresso at one of the raised tables just like they do in Italy at a coffee bar.
Tour de Café, Pier Road, Mordialloc
If you ever ride the Beach Road loop, you can’t miss this conveniently located café (with stunning views) at Mordialloc Pier that is often the turnaround point for many cyclists. We’ve only ever stopped here for coffee and a muffin but we’ve seen a few cyclists getting stuck into the fish and chips too!
Fifteen Pounds, 21 Railway Place, Fairfield
Find a space on the bike racks outside this café and choose something from their simple, but delicious, menu. The breakfast menu is available all day so you don’t have to rush your ride. There are vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options to choose from and if you don’t have time to sit and eat, there is a takeaway breakfast menu available that the locals swear by.
Seven Seeds, 114 Berkeley Street, Carlton
Located just near the Queen Victoria Market this warehouse style café is a local favourite, serving an all day menu and a seasonal coffee menu sourced by their team of local roasters. For anyone who is familiar with the Melbourne coffee scene, Seven Seeds is brought to you by Mark Dundon and Bridget Amor, the original owners of St. Ali. Coffees are made using the freshest crop and highest quality coffee beans from Africa and the Americas. Source cards provide the most transparent information about how the coffee was purchased and how much the producer earned, so you can be sure that what you’re buying is supporting the local grower and community. The team serve the Seven Seeds Espresso Blend for milk based drinks, and the head barista will choose from a single origin list to present as batch brew, espresso & single serve filter.
O’Mara Cycles, Corsair Café, 304 Beach Road, Black Rock
Does it get any better than this? This bike shop/café is a one-stop shop for all your cycling needs from servicing, clothing and accessories to baguettes and an espresso! If you’re new to Melbourne, this is a great start and end point for your ride; the team can hook you up with local clubs and bunches or provide local knowledge on various rides.
The Pint of Milk, 19 North Road, Newport
What was an old suburban milk bar is now a laid back, local favourite of cyclists, families and workers every day of the week. Serving Five Senses Coffee by the friendly team, you can get in and out quickly or if you have some more time, you can hang your bike on the outside wall and enjoy breakfast (or lunch). We love the little touches that acknowledge the shop’s history and our favourite are the lolly bags on the counter, just like the old days!
Wide Open Road Coffee Roasters, 274 Barkley Street, Brunswick
These guys know their coffee and are committed to providing you with quality, sustainable and ethically sourced coffee. Their coffee menu is impressive with lots of options to choose from (their cold brews are delicious!) and coffee is roasted . If you’re hungry, try something from the menu. All food is house-made and we know that you’ve all probably tried smashed avo, but seriously, try it here. We also love the bacon sandwich with a fried egg.