Melburnians are enamoured, besotted, and obsessed with coffee. And because cafes are the place to get that bitter-yet-sweet black nectar, we’re obsessed with those too.
Cafe culture makes a place more liveable, according to the latest Domain Liveable Melbourne study by Deloitte Access Economics and Tract Consultants. It’s one of those things that adds to the amenity, hand in hand with walkability, and helps develop the community in any given suburb.
The study measured the distance to cafes from the centre of any given suburb and number of cafe jobs available in Melbourne’s 307 suburbs as a way of seeing which had the most lively cafe scene. The tiny inner-city enclave of Cremorne, wedged between Richmond and South Yarra, took the top spot.
“For me, it’s the coolest part of Melbourne,” says Wani Sak, the owner of 1983 Espresso and Panini Bar on Cremorne Street.She and her fiancee Melinda Aloisio opened the cafe in 2012, and then six years later took over the space two doors down for the restaurant and bar Ms Frankie.
Cremorne beat out Melbourne CBD, Southbank and South Melbourne as the prime spot for cafes, with those suburbs ranking second, third and fourth, respectively.
While the study did not measure the quality of cafes in any given suburb, one of its authors Adam Terrill from Tract Consultants says looking at the number of them gave a good understanding of where cafe culture was at its highest.
“The provision of cafes in any given suburb provides a local amenity for residents that can be enjoyed – and the quality of cafes across Melbourne is generally pretty good no matter where you go,” Mr Terrill says.
With businesses, of course come people, and with people – you guessed it – cafes. It’s a $2.2 billion industry in Victoria, and coffee alone is about 10 per cent of our discretionary spend, says University of Melbourne marketing professor Simon Bell.
“It goes to the heart of what our identity is,” Professor Bell says. “There are some aspects of our coffee culture that’s really ahead of the world – Melbourne International Coffee Expo, which attracts the world’s best in specialty coffee; the sheer number of micro roasters that we have in Melbourne, for example.”
It’s even started to influence how the rest of the world does coffee and brunch.
“Aussie cafe culture is finding a foothold in the US – the flat white, the smashed avocado – those are the sort of things that have become associated with an Australian-style cafe.”
For Ms Sak, the growth of Cremorne as a cafe hub has led to a burgeoning nightlife scene as well, with more restaurants and bars opening and thriving.
“It’s becoming more of an understood location,” she says. “It’s a little sub-city on the fringe.”
Written by:
Jemimah Clegg
As found on Domain.
Cremorne’s café scene is not just thriving in numbers. It is rich in character, quality, and local flavour.
From award-winning sourdough bakeries to sleek espresso bars, the suburb offers something for every kind of coffee lover or lunch-break wanderer.
For those working in the area, the abundance of excellent cafés is more than a lifestyle perk. It is part of what makes the neighbourhood so dynamic and liveable.
Whether you are starting your day, grabbing a midday pick-me-up, or winding down with something sweet, there is no shortage of standout options nearby. Here are four Cremorne cafés worth stepping out for:
1. Baker Bleu
65 Dover Street, Cremorne
Baker Bleu’s Cremorne flagship is their largest and most ambitious space, offering a full dine-in experience alongside their famous sourdough breads and pastries. It is just a short walk from collective_100 and ideal for breakfast meetings or a midday treat.
2. Café Decjuba x St. Ali
134 Cubitt Street, Cremorne
Right on the corner of Cubitt and Cremorne Street, this café is known for its excellent $4.50 coffee. It is quick, convenient, and serves what many claim is the best ham and cheese croissant in Melbourne. There are also salads and sandwiches ready to grab and go.
3. Sloane Ranger
13 Cremorne Street, Cremorne
This refined café brings together industrial style and elegant touches. The menu features everything from chilli scrambled eggs with feta and manchego to miso-roast salmon bowls and toffee-apple crumpets with mascarpone and vanilla fairy floss.
4. Hunted & Gathered
68 Gwynne Street, Cremorne
Hunted & Gathered is a specialty chocolate café and factory offering a minimalist menu focused on cacao. Try their cocoa nib cold brew or a malted chocolate milk while watching the chocolate-making process unfold behind the scenes.
Experience the vibrant energy of Cremorne’s café culture while enjoying the premium workspace solutions at collective_100—your perfect blend of productivity and community. Enquire Today.
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