My Top 5 Fave South Melbourne Haunts

1. Chez Dre

(Rear of) 285-287 Coventry St South Melbourne (03) 9690 2688

Tucked in an alley off Coventry St South Melbourne is a cosy french-themed patisserie – Chez Dre.  Open daily from 7.30am to 4.30pm, make sure you get in early to relish both savoury and sweet treats freshly baked by the busy but meticulous chefs.  Some of their generously-portioned popular dishes from their all day breakkie menu include their Moroccan baked eggs with spicy herb lamb sausages, minted yoghurt and baguette and Mexican-inspired corn and jalepeno brioche with black-eyed beans, tomato salsa, and guacamole topped with a fried egg. Or how about a more “french-inspired” croque madame with thick crust toast, smoked ham, melted gruyere cheese, rich béchamel sauce and a crispy fried egg on top! It’s easy to spend a few hours here as you will find the aroma of freshly roasted coffee and delicately baked cakes collaborating to tantalize your senses, undoubtedly teasing you for more. Indulge in the variety of flavoured macaroons from pistachio to strawberry or dig into their opulent chocolate tart sprinkled with gold leaves. 

2. Dead Man Espresso

35 Market St  South Melbourne VIC 3205 (03) 9686 2255

I fell in love with this unpretentious, welcoming joint the moment we were seated overlooking their intimate fresh outdoor setting with high chairs on a bar top bench peeking into the tranquil market st neighborhood. We ordered their infamous coffee and real spicy chai latte – where you could still see the cloves, cinnamon and spices atop the frothy goodness. Their wholesome and mouthwatering selection of weekend all day breakkie includes the creamy avocado on toast and star attractions like the juicy pork belly sanga and crispy potato rosti. The avocado on toast was a real winner with depths of flavour from a surprising crunch of pistachio amidst creamy avocado, citrusy fetta, followed by a burst of orange and then the freshness of herby basil. With its exceptional food, great service with constant water refills, it’s easy to see why this is one of my favourite South Melbourne haunts.

3. St Ali

12-18 Yarra Place  South Melbourne VIC 3205 (03)9686 2990

Voted by many a coffee afficianado as one of Melbourne’s best coffee joints, St Ali brings a quirky but likeable personality into the South Melbourne neighbourhood. Featuring interesting menu items such as “My Mexican Cousin” – a “secret recipe of corn fritters, fresh baby spinach, haloumi, kasundi with poached or fried eggs” and  “magic mushroom” – a flat omelette of field mushrooms, cherry tomato, oregano and pine nuts, occasionally you might get lucky and be served shots of new coffee flavours of the day to go along with your breakkie. 

4. Cafe Sweethearts

263 Coventry St South Melbourne (03) 9690 6752

If none of the above cafes will accommodate you, Café Sweethearts will. With its massive breakfast portions, it will surely hit a spot for you. My personal fave? The lumberjack – with a triple stack pancake, doused with maple syrup, topped with salty bacon and a soft-centred fried egg. The mix of salty and sweet seem odd at the get-go but the ingenious combo actually works. For a true protein kick, make sure you try the Spanish eggs with whole egg whites beaten and scrambled with tomatoes, onions, corn, and jalepeno on sourdough toast served with a side of tomato relish. Once you’ve looked after the tummy rumbles, sit back and watch the busy South Melbournites go about their Sunday shopping as you sip on your coffee or selection of teas.

 

5. G.A.S.

253 Coventry St South Melbourne (03) 9690 0217

G.a.s. (short for gastronomy) is a truly a celebration of top-notch gourmet cookery.  The casual dining atmosphere with the bustling crowds sitting side by side on high chairs by long tables brings you back to a market feel whilst the serves of food on heavy wooden chopping blocks add a touch of classic food styling. Make sure you try the scrumptious, saucy Middle Eastern Eggs “served in an iron pan with spiced stewed tomato sauce, grilled haloumi cheese and paprika accompanied with toasted Turkish bread”.  Or be tempted by the vast array of  grazing platters including the crispy savoury gozleme (Turkish filled pizzas), lamb kofta balls and their version of spicy jalepeno cheese fritters. Or be wowed by their simple yet effective filler of a breakkie – Croque Monsieur with ham, cheese and béchamel sauce.

Top 5 Takeaways in Melbourne

Check out my guest post at http://www.travellers-magazine.com/guest-post-top-5-takeaways-in-melbourne/ for my Top 5 Takeaways in Melbourne. :)