The 5 Best Brunch Restaurants in Melbourne For Vegetarians
Discover the best brunch restaurants in Melbourne for vegetarians, including my absolute personal favourites!
If there’s one thing Melbourne’s known for, it’s the city’s epic brunch scene! On multiple visits to the Victorian capital, I spent lazy mornings yapping over a plate of deliciousness, injecting the day into my veins with a sharp and sweet iced coffee at my side.
Named one of Happy Cow’s top vegan cities in the world, Melbourne is also a dream for non-meat-eaters like me. Although most cafes do offer meat on the menu, everywhere we went had great choices of creative and delicious vegetarian and vegan brunch dishes. For the sake of research… I tried as many as possible to compile this list!
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Hot Poppy
The very first brunch I had in Melbourne, and it set the bar high!
We initially chose Hot Poppy as we found it on the EatClub app, which offers discounts on walk-in tables at restaurants across Australia (and the UK!). It also happened to be right around the corner from our hotel.
I chose the Heirloom Tomatoes dish, with gloriously juicy fresh tomatoes, rich goats cheese and creamy avocado. Hands down one of the best brunch dishes I had during my time living in Australia, I still think about this one on a weekly basis!
Hot Poppy | 9 Errol St, North Melbourne
Smith & Deli
Looking for somewhere 100% plant-based? Smith & Deli is the more casual companion to iconic high-end vegan eatery Smith & Daughters.
If you’re feeling breakfast-y, the tofu scramble roll comes with ‘bacon’ and a hash brown. Sandwiches are served from 10am with a range of vibrant flavour combinations. The Wiggum 2.0 combines crumbed tofu with salsa and chipotle for a touch of Mexican magic, and the Peri-normal Activity is a Portugese peri-peri delight.
Smith & Deli | 07 Cambridge St, Collingwood
Brick Lane
Tucked away down a cobbled laneway lined with lush green foliage, Brick Lane offers the quintessential Melbourne brunch experience. We were lucky when we arrived without a reservation, as there were only a handful of tables available in this bustling spot.
The menu delivers a Middle Eastern spin on brunch, with plenty of vegetarian dishes including a Sweet Potato Smash, Smashed Avo and Corn and Chilli Waffles. However, it was the Baba Ganoush that caught my eye – with halloumi, poached eggs and tomatoes on top of sourdough, served on a bed of house-made baba ganoush. The halloumi was perfectly cooked, and the eggs oozed yolk all over the plate for a delicious blend of flavours.
Brick Lane | 33 Guildford Ln, Melbourne CBD
Higher Ground
High ceilings, exposed brickwork and the sun’s rays filtering through the full-length windows makes Higher Ground a light, airy and stylish spot for all-day brunch dishes. This former industrial power station is the perfect spot for fuelling your day, with a curated menu of brunch staples and bigger plates including vegetarian and vegan options.
Prices start at around $14 for poached or scrambled eggs on sourdough, but it’s the Avocado Pretzel ($25) that’s a must try for veggies here. An innovative twist on the traditional avo toast, sharp lime dressing cuts through the rich whipped ricotta.
Higher Ground | 650 Little Bourke St, Melbourne CBD
Palette.
A sandwich and coffee spot by day and restaurant by night, this simple and cosy spot brings together Aussie brunch culture with Korean flavours. Their toasted K-sandwiches are a standout, with a number of vegetarian and vegan friendly options on the menu.
While I enjoyed the more traditional Avo Smash, my boyfriend tried the Hashbrown K-sandwich, featuring crispy hash browns and soft scrambled eggs topped off with palette.’s very own apple sauce. The veggie side of the menu also features brioche rolls, with mushroom and halloumi offerings. For a lighter bite, check out their halloumi and or chilli scrambled egg croissaints.
Palette. | 610 Queensberry St, North Melbourne
Food Tours & Experiences in Melbourne
Looking for more vegetarian-friendly foodie experiences in Melbourne? Try these:
- Explore the city’s most famous market on a Queen Victoria Market Food Tour, with food tastings – including vegetarian tasters!
- Enjoy Melbourne’s diverse culinary scene with an Asian Cooking Masterclass, with cuisines from all over Asia featuring on a rotating basis, hosted by native chefs with a passion for their country’s cuisine.
- Take a day trip to the Yarra Valley to try local wine, cheese, chocolate and gin.
Hey, where was that top photo with the poached eggs and halloumi from?? Thank you!!
Hey! It’s from Brick Lane!