Elwood is one of the most beloved beachside neighbourhoods in Melbourne, with a vibrant cafe culture. It’s a leafy, laidback neighbourhood where the best cafes and coffee shops have a strong sense of community, and are refreshingly unpretentious. 

In this guide, I’ve rounded up the best cafes in Elwood, as well as the best coffee shops and bakeries, of which there are quite a few! At the end, you’ll also find the best gelato in Elwood – and all of Melbourne.

Whether you’re spending a morning at the beach, or walking the Bay Trail, these are the best spots in Elwood to stop for a coffee or brunch while you’re in the neighbourhood.

Best Cafes in Elwood

Jerry’s Milk Bar

Jerry’s Milk Bar is a locally beloved cafe, housed in a former neighbourhood milk bar. The all day menu has breakfast & lunch options, alongside one of the best cafe cabinets in the area, with excellent croissants, cakes and sandwiches. This is my favourite cafe in Elwood, and one we return to again and again.

Jerry’s is nearly always full, with indoor seating and a sunny, dog-friendly courtyard out the back.

Address: 345 Barkly St, Elwood

Mokosz

Mokosz is a beautiful Mediterranean cafe in Elwood, on the roundabout at the intersection of Glen Huntly Road and Ormond Road. Whitewashed interiors and bright fuchsia bougainvillea give the cafe a Greek atmosphere. The menu is extensive and very healthful, with produce-driven dishes that maximise wellness and flavour.

Address: 34 Glen Huntly Rd, Elwood

Who Is Bunker Spreckels

Who Is Bunker Spreckels is a lovely, laidback Elwood cafe that is refreshingly un-trendy, and is a firm local favourite. The all day menu has a range of fresh juices, smoothies, a soup of the day, and classic breakfast and lunch dishes which are always super fresh and delicious. Their fish burrito is my favourite!

In case you’re wondering: Bunker Spreckels was a Californian surfer and an early pioneer of surfboard design.

Address: 4/122 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Plain Sailing

Plain Sailing is the trendiest cafe in Elwood, with stylish interiors and a permanent queue waiting by the door. It’s a beautiful cafe, and the menu is the most creative, and trendy, in Elwood. It’s recognised as one of the best cafes on the southside, and is great for groups, with a couple of large booths and banquette tables.

Address: 144 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Combi

Combi is one of Elwood longstanding healthy cafe hotspot that has expanded into a small parklet for outdoor seating – which is lucky, because there’s barely any room to sit inside. Combi offers a healthful & vegan-friendly menu of toasties, acai bowls and breakfast dishes, a cabinet of raw cakes & slices, and smoothies. 

Address: 138-140 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Lark Coffee

Lark Coffee is a laidback neighbourhood cafe in Elwood, with indoor and outdoor seating. They have a great breakfast menu, but I really struggle to pass up their pistachio croissant whenever it’s in the cabinet!

Address: 114 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Maison Guillaume 

Maison Guillaume is a new, French cafe in Elwood, specialising in authentic French crepes and galettes, made using buckwheat imported from France. They have a full breakfast menu alongside, and a range of French pastries that are made fresh, in-house, without any additives or preservatives. Their delicious cannele have become my go-to!

Address: 69 Glen Huntly Rd, Elwood

Arlo

Arlo is one of the best cafes in Elwood for restaurant-worthy brunch and lunch dishes. The extensive menu has global influences and elevates humble brunch dishes to another level. They also have great coffee.

Address: 133 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Miss Alex & Co

Miss Alex & Co is a friendly neighbourhood cafe on Brighton Road, and one of the few places to get coffee in the vicinity. They have great coffee, a full breakfast menu and excellent toasties. Sit in the back dining room if it’s open. Miss Alex & Co is open Tuesday-Friday.

Address: 85 Brighton Rd, Elwood

The Hub Elwood

The Hub, formerly Wild Gypsea, is a cafe & wellness centre, tucked away behind Elwood Beach. The cafe offers a wellness spin on coffee, hot chocolate, teas, smoothies and light meals, the best of which is the spicy Mexican hot chocolate. The cafe is part of a wellness centre that offers yoga, sound baths, infrared sauna & tarot.

Address: 63A Ormond Esplanade, Elwood

Best Coffee Shops in Elwood

Johnny’s

Johnny’s is a popular coffee roastery & cafe in Ormond Village in Elwood, with their own coffee beans roasted in house & available for sale. You can sit in, at particularly gorgeous, cloud-shaped tables, and there’s a small pastry cabinet. The courtyard opens as a bar, Rosie’s, on the weekends.

Address: 159 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Dickens Street Grocer

Dickens Street Grocer is a beautiful coffee shop & gourmet food store in the backstreets of Elwood, on leafy Dickens Street. It’s been an instant hit in the neighbourhood, in no small part due to its beautiful pastry cabinet. There are a few tables on the footpath but it’s often busy on weekends, so you might need to take your coffee & pastry to go.

Address: 48 Dickens St, Elwood

Beach Shack Elwood

Enjoy a coffee right on the beach at Beach Shack Elwood, a quaint beach kiosk with umbrellas & seating on the Esplanade. Stop for a coffee and some of the best banana bread in town, and enjoy the water view.

Address: 29A Ormond Esplanade, Elwood

Best Bakeries in Elwood

Elwood Patisserie & Bakery

Elwood Patisserie & Bakery is a classic Australian bakery, and a local institution. It has the best pastry & cake cabinet in Melbourne, heaving with mouthwatering biscuits, cakes and cheesecakes, pastries and slices, including classics like vanilla slice and florentines, and one of my favourite Greek desserts, galaktoboureko.

Address: 75 Glen Huntly Rd, Elwood

Woodfrog Bakery

Woodfrog Bakery makes the best bread & croissants in Elwood. This is the best spot to pick up a loaf of sourdough or delicious dark rye, and their small pastry cabinet always has a range of croissants, scones and danishes.

Address: 165 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Elwood Sourdough

For such a long time, Elwood Sourdough operated out of a home bakery, alongside the Elwood Canal. Every Saturday morning, a queue would snake down the driveway, until sold out, which could be as early as 11am. Elwood Sourdough is currently between premises, but you can find their baked goods, including their famous Sourdough, around the neighbourhood, including at Leaf, and often at Beach Shack Elwood, the kiosk on the bay trail.

Best Ice Cream in Elwood

Bianco Latte

Bianco Latte has the best gelato in Elwood, and as far as I’m concerned, the best gelato in Melbourne! 

Italian-born Andrea di Fiore had a dream to make gelato with exceptional flavour, and developed recipes that used less sugar than traditional gelato, to really let the flavours sing. Bianco Latte offers 18 flavours of small batch gelato, made from scratch, alongside handmade cannoli and decadent Italian hot chocolate. In summer, you’ll spot the queue before you spot the store! It is always worth the wait. In summer, my favourites are the mandarin sorbet and the lemon sorbet.

They’ve also got locations in Yarraville and Northcote.

Address: 104 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Further Reading

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