Melbourne coffee culture
Melbourne café culture · Melbourne, Victoria (Degraves Street)
Australia's coffee capital: independent cafés in the laneways, baristas happy to talk beans, and a proper flat white.
Know before you go
- Don't block the laneway outside cafés for long photo sessions
- many independent cafés close in the early afternoon, so don't count on a coffee in the evening
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Melbourne's coffee boom began after the Second World War, when Italian and Greek immigrants brought espresso and café culture. Today the city's laneways are full of independent cafés, where professional baristas are happy to talk to customers about beans and equipment, and 'third-wave' methods such as pour-over, siphon and cold drip are common.
Local customs
- A flat white is a shot of espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam — less foam than a latte, with a stronger coffee taste
- when ordering, specify the size and type of milk
- many people go to the same café every day
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Australian beaches: swim between the red and yellow flags
- Swim only between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards are on duty
- If you don't know the conditions, ask a lifeguard
- Swimming at unpatrolled beaches or outside the flags
Outside the flags there may be rip currents, and lifeguards cannot reach you in time.
Not yet verifiedSource: Surf Life Saving Australia: beach safety signs
Uluru: climbing is not allowed
- Walk the base track around Uluru and learn about Anangu culture
- Climbing Uluru
The climb closed permanently on 26 October 2019; climbing breaks the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and is punished.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: climb closure
Entering Australia: food, plant and animal products must be declared
- Truthfully declare all food (even small, packaged snacks), plants and animal products on your arrival card
- If in doubt, declare it
- Bringing fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, seeds or wooden souvenirs without declaring them
You can be issued an infringement notice; your visa may be cancelled, you may be refused entry and barred from returning for up to 3 years.
Not yet verifiedSource: Australian Department of Agriculture: travelling to Australia
Don’t DON'T
- Don't block the laneway outside cafés for long photo sessions
- many independent cafés close in the early afternoon, so don't count on a coffee in the evening
Locals appreciate DO
Locals are happy to recommend their regular café and appreciate customers willing to try pour-over and single-origin beans.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Cafés mostly open early in the morning and close one by one in the afternoon
- popular spots have queues for weekend brunch
- the CBD laneways can be linked on foot
Photos
Photos
Philip Mallis · CC BY-SA 2.0
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Finbar Concaig · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources & verification notes
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