The 11 Best Cafes for Working or Studying in Melbourne

The State Library may be beautiful, and seem imposing and cold, but don’t be put off — there’s warmth, comfort and productivity waiting for you in spades, especially inside Guild Cafe. Situated in a part of the library that’s was closed for 15 years, the cafe sprung up as part of the huge refurbishments the precinct went through a few years ago.

Big windows make for plenty of light, while large communal tables lend themselves perfectly to remote working with just you, your laptop, and a bunch of other focused people. Plus, the folks at Guild know what they’re doing when it comes to coffee, serving up expertly brewed St Ali beans to tired students and workers. It’s one of the very best cafes to work from in Melbourne.

Image: Tofu!.

All-day dining in the bayside area may be hard to come by — but Fitzrovia should be your first port of call if you’re looking for somewhere to hang out all day with your laptop. Housed in a converted Federation mansion and with a brekkie menu not to be sneezed at — sweet potato fritters and carrot cake spiced toast included — Fitzrovia is open for breakfast and lunch all week long.

In the cold months there’s an open fire, so you can pretend you’re a writer from the 19th century and hack away at your unfinished novel while living the warm and cosy dream. Quill optional.

If your weekday mornings are spent somewhere a little more corporate, Liminal might be the perfect multi-functional space for you to fuel up at before popping off to work. Located in the foyer of Collins Street’s T&G Building, this daytime diner has become a favourite for those working on their laptops — or having meetings — in the city.

Admire stretches of marble and lounge on comfy contemporary couches while you enjoy a wide range of brekkie staples. Menu highlights include the avocado on toast with fennel, grapefruit, endives and chilli oil; the moreish sausage and egg muffin; its breakfast roll with bacon, a fried egg, hash brown and secret sauce; and the breakfast platter with soft-boiled eggs, labneh, smoked trout, pickles and spiced carrots. The venue also serves as a wine store, event space and marketplace. Tick, tick, tick.

Flemington is lesser known for its cafe culture than its neighbouring suburbs, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t full of options perfect for a working day with coffee — and Wolf & Hound cafe is a prime example.

Just near Newmarket Station, Wolf & Hound is a sweet little space with food that packs a serious punch (think chilli scramble and some hectic crumpets). There are vegan options, free wifi, nice vibes and artworks of doggos on the walls. If you’re looking for a North Melbourne cafe to work in, consider this local haunt.

The southside provides for those seeking an out-of-home office in Melbourne, with Hobba on Malvern Road the place to go for a warehouse space that’s still comfortable enough to feel at home in.

Hobba serves up big hearty meals (think fried chicken and waffles or the grain bowl full of seasonal veg) and either house blend or single origin coffee options. Plus, the wifi is fast and free — so the reasons for going are many. Be aware, Hobba is a popular weekend brunch spot so, to nab a booth, you’re better off stopping by midweek.

The nicest thing about A Minor Place is that it’s off the main drag — sitting innocuously on Albion Street in what just seems like another cute Brunswick weatherboard house, the Melbourne cafe is quiet in its surroundings but busy in its coffee and brunch seekers.

As well as the best fried haloumi you’re likely to find northside, A Minor Place is responsible for a pretty bumper smashed avo, a sunny outside deck, and a comfy indoors that’s just like being in your own house. Free wifi, plenty of power points and good coffee (by Industry Beans) round things off at this fab Melbourne cafe where you can work or study during the week.

Image: Visit Victoria.

A down-to-earth offering on Victoria Street as it reaches into Brunswick West, Factory Cafe Bar is a quiet, unpretentious eatery that’ll welcome you in with the lure of very comfortable couches, and keep you with the promise of home-cooked lasagne.

A family affair, the owner and his mother can often be found serving together, and the quirky vintage decor will have you feeling even more at home. Enjoy the free internet, the home-baked treats, and see if you can nab the squishiest couch in the window.

Image: Will Afonczenko

If you feel like you need to get out of your natural environment to really get your work hat firmly on, why not head out of town a little? Earthly Pleasures is well worth the one-hour drive to Belgrave in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges — and pleasures it offers indeed.

Ethically focused and in dreamy lush surroundings, the cafe is set in a beautiful old stone building among green gardens. Take your laptop outside, make full use of the free wifi, and feel utterly refreshed (yet somehow also very productive). Homemade sweets, beer and wine are available, and the 8.30am–4pm opening hours step things up a notch to “I’ll stay here all day” levels.