We are pretty lucky in Melbourne, having so much choice when it comes to eating out.  As more venues open in and around the city there are now some great cafes and restaurants popping up in the suburbs.  Here’s a few that I’ve found some great eats at recently.

5 Cafes to try this Summer

1. Poacher & Hound

A quick detour off the Monash and you’ll find Poacher & Hound at the
front of the Spectrum Business park in Mount Waverley.  A modern design inside and out with a
spacious cafe floor and plenty of seating.  The coffee tastes great and the artwork is on point too.

The menu is enticing with lots of colour on the dishes using garnishes from the chef’s garden.  Gotta love a good photo opportunity right.  The meals are full of flavour and a great size. 

You need to try:

Egg
Mistress – 2 coddled eggs with cheesy potato, bacon and chives…YUM.

2. Strawzenberry

Tucked away in the corner of Eden Rise shopping centre this is the place to visit when it warms up.  From smoothie bowls and cold pressed juices to gelato and crazy shakes this little juice bar will be pumping.  They have recently added some healthy avocado options to their menu which I highly recommend.

You need to try:

Avo2 – Avocado on sourdough with a mix of grains and seeds, topped with spinach, rocket and a slice of chia coated lemon.

3. Leroys

What’s not to love at this spacious cafe located in Newport.  I’m not a local to here otherwise I would be there more often.  The coffee was great and the food was amazing with lots of flavour.  The staff were friendly and stopped to have a chat with great recommendations off the menu.  When I visited this cafe they were renovating out the back to create an outdoor seating area that also caters to families.  I know my boys would love the sandpit and blackboard!  I had a sneaky peak and was told that it should be ready before Christmas!

You need to try: 

Everything!  Seriously though the OMG pancakes really make you go Oh Em Gee!  I mean look at the size of the pancake AND it’s topped with whipped ricotta coffee cream, salted coffee cacao, hazelnut crumb, popping candy, burnt fig ice cream and chocolate fairy floss.  There was a party going on here. 

4. Cafe Liquid

Cafe Liquid is located in Box Hill South on Canterbury Rd.  It’s quite a small cafe and it doesn’t open on a Sunday.  You’ll find a display cabinet full of focaccias to go as well as house made sausage rolls, gourmet pies and an array of delicious muffins, cakes and slices.

You need to try:

Their Rueben sandwich!  One of the yummiest Ruebens I’ve tasted.  With house made pastrami by the chef, the locals love them. 

5. The Mabel

In the back streets of Mitcham at the end of a strip of shops, this cafe has a vibe of its own and is becoming the place to eat for locals and the not so local.  Another one worth traveling for.  The owners quirkiness and style comes out in the branding as they refer to The Mabel as their illegitimate cafe love child.  They also sell fairtrade coffee from Jasper which has been exclusively made for them.

You need to try:

Nothing says good morning like a good cup of coffee and at The Mabel their coffee blend with the same name is the perfect start to a day.  I also loved the Nicola Granola.  The specials are constantly changing so make sure to check them out too.

Have you found a great cafe recently?  I’d love to check it out too so leave a comment and tell me where I need to try next…