The Glen Eira cafe scene doesn’t get talked about enough. While everyone’s lining up in Fitzroy and the CBD, the strip along Centre Road in Bentleigh, the pockets around Ormond station, and the quiet corners of Caulfield South have built a seriously good collection of cafes that most of Melbourne doesn’t know about.
This guide covers the ones that are actually worth your time across all three suburbs. Real places, real reviews, honest opinions.
Contents
Bentleigh
Little Tommy Tucker
Address: 432 Centre Road, Bentleigh
Phone: (03) 9576 5174
Hours: 7 days, 7:30am-3pm
Google Reviews: 4.4 stars (758 reviews)
Facebook: @littletommytucker
Coffee: Duke’s Coffee Roasters
Little Tommy Tucker is one of Bentleigh’s originals. Converted from an old tobacco shop into a warm, tree house-like space with wooden benches, bright colours and hanging plants, it’s been a Centre Road staple for years. The eggs Benedict with slow-cooked pork neck has a genuine cult following, and the barramundi fish cakes with black garlic aioli are excellent.
They use Duke’s Coffee Roasters for their house blend, and also offer single-origin options and batch brew. It’s a smart brunch cafe with an artisan coffee focus that caters particularly well to families. There’s space for prams, a kids’ menu, and the staff are genuinely patient with little ones.
What to order: Eggs Benedict (the one people say they’d “fly back to Melbourne” for), the grilled halloumi with smashed pumpkin, or the barramundi fish cakes. The green tea is also properly brewed with a timer, not a teabag.
What people are saying on Google: “Delicious food and coffee and great atmosphere plus service!” Another reviewer: “It was the best Eggs Benedict I had in the last 12 months. I would fly back to Melbourne just to have their Eggs Benny again!”
The honest take: The food is consistently above average and the eggs Benedict deserves its reputation. The coffee divides opinion slightly, with some regulars saying it’s great and others calling it average. Gets packed on weekends, so arrive early or be prepared to wait. Ranked #3 in all of Bentleigh on Tripadvisor.
Fifth Chapter
Address: Centre Road, Bentleigh
Website: View on AGFG
Google Reviews: Read reviews on Google
Fifth Chapter is a linger-worthy comfort spot on Centre Road. A full-length wall of hanging plants creates an oasis of greenery inside, and the menu focuses on good food and quality coffee without overcomplicating things. It’s the kind of cafe where you settle in with a book and don’t leave for two hours.
The coffee is consistently good, the portions are generous, and the staff are friendly without being over the top. It’s a home away from home for Bentleigh locals.
What to order: The Merchants Avo (avo smash with charred corn and goat cheese mousse) is the popular pick. The turmeric latte also gets mentioned a lot.
The honest take: Not trying to be flashy or trendy. Just doing the basics really well in a space that feels comfortable. That’s exactly what a neighbourhood cafe should be.
Ormond
Velo Espresso at Velo Rapport
Address: 530 North Road, Ormond (entrance on Glen Orme Avenue)
Website: velorapport.com.au
Coffee: Duke’s Coffee Roasters
Google Reviews: Read reviews on Google
This is one of the most unique cafes in the southeastern suburbs. Velo Rapport is a cycling workshop and cafe in one, run by Chris Savage (a cycling coach) and Lisa Rush. The cafe sits inside the bike workshop, with a communal table in the centre where cyclists mix with locals over scones, brunch, and excellent Duke’s coffee.
The walls and website are covered in photos of their loyal “Rapport Rover” customers (local dogs), and the owners’ own pups Doris and Wendell even feature in a bike basket in their artwork. It’s the kind of place where the community genuinely rallied around the build, with neighbours watching the renovation progress for two years.
Chris also co-founded The White Bike Foundation, a road safety charity in honour of cyclist Joel Hawkins, and you can buy cycling kits from the cafe that support the cause.
What to order: Duke’s flat white, scones with jam, or whatever’s on the brunch menu that day. The food is simple and honest.
What people are saying: Broadsheet featured them as a new opening, noting the community has “really rallied around them” and describing the cafe as having “community and cycling at its heart.”
The honest take: This isn’t a polished brunch cafe. It’s a community space that happens to serve great coffee. If you’re into cycling, it’s a must-visit. If you’re not, come anyway for the Duke’s coffee, the dog photos on the walls, and one of the warmest vibes in Ormond. The entrance is on Glen Orme Avenue, not directly off North Road.
Caulfield
Mr Brightside
Address: 189A Booran Road, Caulfield South
Phone: (03) 9576 9588
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-3:30pm, Sat-Sun 7:30am-4pm
Website: misterbrightside.com
Google Reviews: 4.3 stars (97+ reviews on Tripadvisor) — Read reviews on Google
Facebook: @MrBrightsideCafe
Mr Brightside is ranked #1 in Caulfield on Tripadvisor, and for good reason. It’s a contemporary cafe that takes its brunch menu seriously. All-day breakfast includes smashed avo, brekky sliders, and eggs Benedict. There’s a kids’ menu with everything under $10, which is a thoughtful touch for families.
The cafe also sponsors local youth sports teams and provides school catering for Caulfield South Primary, which tells you something about how embedded they are in the community. This isn’t a fly-by-night operation. They’ve been doing this for years and they know their regulars.
Dog-friendly outdoor seating with heating for cooler months. Open seven days, breakfast through lunch, with daily specials that rotate.
What to order: Eggs Benedict, smashed avo with cherry tomatoes and feta, or the brekky sliders. The daily specials are worth checking.
What people are saying on Google: “Easily my favourite cafe. The food is always delicious, quick and well priced. The staff are friendly and nothing is ever too much to ask.” Another reviewer: “This is my Saturday standard. Great food. Amazing coffee. Sincerely nice staff.”
The honest take: The most polished cafe experience in this guide. It’s doing everything right: quality food, genuine service, community involvement, and a space that’s comfortable without being pretentious. If you live in Caulfield South and haven’t been, fix that.
Xpose Cafe
Address: Glenhuntly Road, Caulfield
Google Reviews: Read reviews on Google
Xpose looks tiny from the front but opens up into a surprisingly large back dining room and a big outdoor area. It’s a solid breakfast stop on Glenhuntly Road with reliable food and decent coffee. Nothing fancy, just good honest cafe fare in a space that’s bigger than it looks.
What to order: Classic breakfast dishes. The shakshuka gets a mention from regulars.
The honest take: A good backup option if Mr Brightside is packed. Less polished but still reliable.
Granger
Address: Caulfield
Google Reviews: Read reviews on Google
Granger is a great local cafe that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. The English Breakfast tea served with proper loose leaves is a nice touch that tells you someone here cares about the details. Solid food, friendly service, and a relaxed vibe.
What to order: Whatever you’re in the mood for. The menu covers breakfast basics well.
The honest take: A quiet, reliable neighbourhood cafe. Not a destination, but a very good local.
Best for Pastries & Baked Goods
Noisette
Address: 412 Centre Road, Bentleigh
Phone: (03) 9557 7110
Website: noisette.com.au
Also at: Port Melbourne, Kew, Preston Market
Instagram: @noisettebakery
Google Reviews: Read reviews on Google
If you want pastries in this part of Melbourne, Noisette is the answer. Run by two French chefs who swapped Michelin-starred Parisian restaurants for Bentleigh’s main drag, this is a genuine French bakery with a family baking legacy dating back to 1825. The croissants are the real thing. Not “French-inspired.” Actually French.
The garlic butter croissant sells out early. The almond croissant has people driving from across the city. The passionfruit cake is sensational. The baguettes are crisp and authentic. And they wholesale their croissants to cafes across the southeastern suburbs, so there’s a good chance you’ve already had a Noisette pastry without knowing it.
They’re not cheap. But the quality is genuine. If you want to treat yourself to the kind of pastry you’d get in a Parisian boulangerie without the airfare, this is it.
What to order: The garlic butter croissant (if not sold out), the almond croissant, the croque monsieur, and the passionfruit cake. Get there early for the best selection.
What people are saying on Google: “Their croissants are exactly like in France. I personally won’t buy a croissant anywhere unless it’s from Noisette.” Another reviewer: “A touch of Paris right in the heart of Bentleigh! The baguettes are pure French.” One coffee reviewer calls it “the best croissant in Melbourne, the closest to the best I’ve tried in Paris.”
The honest take: The pastries are world-class. The coffee is good. The prices are on the higher side. It can get noisy and crowded. But for baked goods, there is genuinely nothing better in the southeastern suburbs. Go early, go hungry, and buy more than you think you need.
Molly Dene Bakehouse
Address: Centre Road, Bentleigh
Google Reviews: Read reviews on Google
Molly Dene is a charming bakehouse with rustic decor and a solid range of pastries and cakes. It’s popular with locals for cakes and sweet treats, and the display cabinet is always well-stocked.
What to order: Pastries, cakes, and the orange and almond cake gets a specific mention.
The honest take: Good for takeaway cakes and pastries. Less of a sit-down brunch spot, more of a grab-and-go bakery with coffee.
Family-Friendly Picks
District Brewer
Address: Brewer Road, Bentleigh
Google Reviews: Read reviews on Google
District Brewer was built with families in mind. There’s a dedicated children’s play area, baby seating, and a menu that caters to both adults and kids without compromise. The coffee is good, the food is reliable, and the fact that your toddler can be entertained while you finish a hot coffee in peace is genuinely priceless.
What to order: Standard cafe breakfast menu. The value is in the family-friendly setup, not necessarily the food innovation.
The honest take: If you have young kids and live in Glen Eira, this is probably already your Saturday morning spot. If it’s not, it should be.
Practical Tips
Getting around: Bentleigh, Ormond, and Caulfield are all on the Frankston train line, each with their own station. Centre Road in Bentleigh is a 2-minute walk from Bentleigh station. Most cafes have street parking nearby, but Centre Road can fill up on Saturday mornings.
The Centre Road strip: Bentleigh’s Centre Road has become one of the best suburban food strips in Melbourne. Beyond cafes, you’ll find excellent restaurants, a great Thai place, solid pizza, and more. It’s worth spending a morning exploring.
When to go: Weekday mornings for the quietest experience. Saturday 8-10am is peak time at every cafe listed here. Noisette’s pastries sell out by mid-morning on weekends, so get there early if that’s your priority.
The Glen Eira cafe crawl: Start at Noisette for a croissant and coffee, walk down Centre Road to Chatham Street or Fifth Chapter for a proper brunch, then finish at Mr Brightside in Caulfield South for an afternoon coffee. Three suburbs, three vibes, one morning.
Dog-friendly: Mr Brightside and Black Salt both have outdoor areas that welcome dogs. Check with others before arriving with your pup.
This guide is updated regularly. Last updated: March 2026.
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