Best Brunch Restaurants in Essendon

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianFrenchMexicanJapaneseChinese

Regions

City CentreEastern SuburbsInner City EastInner City NorthInner City SouthInner City West

Neighborhoods

AbbotsfordAlbert ParkAlphingtonAscot ValeBalaclavaBrunswick

Top Rated

CharmingDog-friendlyFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasions

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

62 restaurants available nearby

1. Old Man Drew

4.6

Exceptional(245)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Café • Ascot Vale

Booked 27 times today

At Old Man Drew, we know that memories are to be cherished. Are you coming to visit us to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, retirement, or any special occasion with a small group for breakfast of lunch? Think about booking one of our exclusively set celebration tables in the café, atrium or garden. Enjoy a special spot set with white linen, fine china, fresh flowers and glass ware, a truly beautiful setting. Please request in one of our celebration tables when you make your table booking. The charge starts from $40 per table, which is payable at the time of booking.

2. Isme Restaurant

4.6

Exceptional(19)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Lebanese • Thornbury

Booked 10 times today

ISME 2.0 IS HERE 🍸After many months of curating and perfecting, the time has officially come to open Isme back to our beloved customers.We are elated to welcome you to our dining table this October. 🍽️Our online booking system will be live mid September, and we cannot wait to share the culinary masterpiece we’ve been working on. 👨🏼‍🍳Keep an eye on our Instagram for official launch dates, updates and sneak peaks.The message at Isme Restaurant is simple:Welcome home. See you in October.

3. Bar Brillo

4.5

Awesome(2)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Wine Bar • Niddrie

Booked 6 times today

Our mission with Bar Brillo is to create a place to enjoy awesome local and imported wines as well as small plates designed to share and made with great ingredients.Why Brillo? Brillo means “tipsy” in Italian and also “I shine”. So we hope the food will shine and the drinks won’t get you too Brillo.We can’t wait to have you all back into our venue, and to start cooking some great food.

A photo of Rice Queen Oriental Diner and Bar restaurant

4. Rice Queen Oriental Diner and Bar

4.6

Exceptional(174)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Asian • Fitzroy

Booked 23 times today

A fun packed kitsch Pan-Asian diner with DJ's and a private Karaoke room. Serving delicious food that encompasses the dynamic flavours of the region and the vibrant culture of Fitzroy.

A photo of Feekah Moonee Ponds restaurant

5. Feekah Moonee Ponds

4.7

Exceptional(88)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Café • Moonee Ponds

Booked 3 times today

Coming Soon!

6. Humble Rays

4.7

Exceptional(49)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Café • Carlton

Booked 5 times today

A crowd favourite brunch location in the heart of Melbourne, offering innovative, fun, photogenic and delicious food in an inviting and relaxing space. Chef and co-owner, Sutinee works her magic on an array of Asian-inspired comfort dishes, balancing spice, sweetness, sourness, and saltiness to perfection. Be sure to try the signature Crab Meat Scramble! Sit back, immerse yourself in the calm and relaxing tones of eggshelll blue, mint green and colourful vibrant patterns to enjoy your oat matcha latte. Open daily 8:00am - 4:00pm (kitchen closes at 3:00pm). Awarded 2017 Melbourne Top 20 Brunch Cafes by The Age Good Food Guide and recognised as 2018 Most Popular Cafe by Zomato with the highest number of bookmarks by users.

7. Primrose & Vine

4.8

Exceptional(15)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Wine Bar • Essendon

Primrose & Vine is an inclusive, cosy neighbourhood wine bar with changing wines by the glass, and over 250 sensational wines and craft beers to choose from.We offer a variety of snacks, share pates, gourmet cheeses, salumi and local pizza from Il Caminetto around the corner.Our Dining in the Drive-Thru is great for those weekend afternoon drinks and is dog friendly.

8. Friction

4.9

Exceptional(20)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Australian • Niddrie

Booked 1 time today

Friction Cafe is an exceptional gourmet eatery located in the heart of Essendon Fields, Melbourne. We take pride in offering locally sourced ingredients in our dishes, which results in amazing food that is both delicious and fresh.

9. Benzina Cantina

4.4

Awesome(147)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Mexican • Preston

Booked 7 times today

Benzina Cantina is a go-to brunch spot with a vibrant atmosphere and mouth-watering Mexican food. Reviews rave about their 'bottomless brunch with Heather' and how it's a 'good time - just be prepared to sleep the rest of the day away'. The food and drinks, especially the margaritas, are highly praised. It's not just about the food; the service is also consistently friendly and efficient.

A photo of Code Black Coffee - Brunswick restaurant

10. Code Black Coffee - Brunswick

4.4

Awesome(4)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Café • Brunswick

Booked 7 times today

Our flagship store, roasting HQ and training facility. This is the heart of it all.Not only is this our Brunswick mecca for coffee roasting, we serve up brunch 7 days a week. Our full service cafe offers all things coffee related, from coffee beans for home to pour overs, single origins, cold brew, and takeaways. Our outdoor tables are partially shaded; however, we cannot guarantee full protection from the weather. As our indoor space is limited, it is unlikely that we will be able to move you so please dress appropriately for Melbourne weather! We will do our absolute best to accomodate your preferences. We are open 363 days (closed Good Friday & Christmas Day). Please be advised that we do not take same day bookings.Kitchen hours : 7.00am-3.00pm weekdays / 7.00am-4.00pm weekendsFor any bookings over 10 people, please get in contact with us via phone 03 9381 2330 or email brunswick@codeblackcoffee.com.au

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

T
Tom
Melbourne •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Delicious 'chef's tasting menu". Varied and beautiful presentation.
More info
Rice Queen Oriental Diner and BarPrice: Expensive• Asian• Fitzroy
•
4.6
V
Voula
Melbourne •1 review
5.0
Dined on Mar 5, 2025
Delicious imaginative food curated with care. Friendly atmosphere and nice cosy vibe. The wines are always good, my favourite is one of the orange ones. Our server was friendly and attentive.
More info
Bar BrilloPrice: Expensive• Wine Bar• Niddrie
•
4.5
G
Gulsah
Melbourne •1 review
5.0
Dined on Feb 21, 2025
Our experience was amazing! The food and the service was amazing was incredible. Will definitely be back.
More info
Isme RestaurantPrice: Very Expensive• Lebanese• Thornbury
•
4.6
OT
OpenTable Diner
Melbourne •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jan 11, 2025
Beautiful staff, meals, coffee and atmosphere in this well run cafe.
More info
Old Man DrewPrice: Moderate• Café• Ascot Vale
•
4.6
RJ
ReemaJ
Melbourne •1 review
5.0
Dined on Jan 2, 2022
Very presentable food. Staff was very nice and soft spoken. Full of energy too. Coffees and Cocktails are a must try.
More info
Feekah Moonee PondsPrice: Moderate• Café• Moonee Ponds
•
4.7

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