We are spoilt for choice in Melbourne with brilliant cafes that take pride in serving the best in sustainable, local and organic ingredients.

Here is a wrap up of our TOM team’s favourite spots to try out over the weekend.

THE BEATT CAFE

The new neighbourhood favourite nestled in Beatty Avenue Armadale operates on a food ethos that is simple, creating seasonal organic and biodynamic produce.

Our picks from their Spring menu include the ‘Buildme’ Avo with a generous half serve of avocado, creamy Meredith goats feta, mint, chilli and a squeeze of lemon. The Green Omelet infused with basil and spinach oil and biodynamic eggs from Bullfrog Gully is also at the top of the list. For those who are gluten intolerant, they have the option of a delicious house made gluten free bread.

If you are feeling thirsty, you can sip on a healthy organic smoothie or an infused power shot of honey, ginger and lemon for an extra healthy kick.

On warmer days, the courtyard out the back is the perfect spot to relax amongst the citrus trees and soak up the sunshine. Chocolatier Georgie Castles from Citizen Cacao is also lovingly creating her raw truffles on-site and you can snap up these delicious morsels at the front counter. We wake up hungry thinking of this place!

JOURNEYMAN

Located at the Windsor end of Chapel Street, this bustling gem offers local sweet treats from Doughboy Doughnuts, baked breads from Dench Bakers and local Almond Milk & Co on their all day menu.

Journeyman have a selection of cold pressed juices or if you have jumped on Melbourne’s deepened love affair with specialist coffee, you can enjoy one of the best brews with beans from Dukes Coffee Roasters.

For brekky, we can’t go past the charred greens with a poached egg or the slow cooked beans with Yarra Valley Feta. You won’t leave hungry, the servings are generous.

COWDEROY’S DAIRY

What was once an old converted milk bar tucked in a quiet pocket and away from the hustle and bustle of St Kilda, is now a thriving café with plenty of character and charm.

With a menu full of old fashioned favourites like organic porridge, eggs and soldiers, homemade hearty salads and quiches, locals can sit outside in the terrace to catch the morning sun or cosy up inside on cooler days.

The light opened space inside, extends to an outdoor terrace that is a great spot for young families and pets, with blankets and sunscreen to take to the playground next door. A good choice if you have kids.

FEAST OF MERIT

Feast of Merit is a communal dining house offering a delicious Middle Eastern inspired farm-to table menu from produce that has been ethically sourced. Their chefs work closely with growers, producers and suppliers to bring seasonal and sustainable food to the table.

For an immune boost, try their Ginger digestive tonic to keep colds at bay. It’s hard to go past their Matcha Maiden almond milk latte and their avocado, roasted cauliflower, smoked yoghurt, spiced eggplant and vintage carrots.

Owned and run by YGAP, Feast of Merit is a social enterprise donating all of their profits to youth education and leadership programs.

KINFOLK CAFÉ

A non-for-profit organisation serving up coffee and a seasonal menu, Kinfolk is a business driven by a dedicated team of volunteers and chefs. Kinfolk has an honest curiosity for understanding our role in our supply chain. By buying directly from the farmer using produce that is singing, they use organic, biodynamic and fair-trade products where possible to create fresh and lovingly-crafted meals.

From their Spring menu, we love sitting down to their simple Dench Bakery raisin toast with a thick spread of Pepe Saya butter and lemon ricotta or a bowl of the infamous Kinfolk Granola, organic yoghurt, Cunliffe and Waters Berry jam and poached pears.

BAWA

This new-comer from Melbourne’s inner east suburb of Hawthorn is ‘tropical modernism’ at it’s finest, blending buildings with a natural landscape. Boasting a light-filled interior and plenty of lush greenery, guests can enjoy eating indoors our relax outside in the fresh air.

We dig their chia pudding, coconut, passionfruit, rosewater, mango, berries and pistachios or the super healthy Californian superfood salad at lunch time with tri-coloured quinoa, shredded kale, organic wild rice, charred corn, heirloom tomatoes and a spicy lime vinaigrette.

For drinks, Bawa offer delish Soy Lattes by Chai Boy, Mojo Organic Kombucha and our pick of their blended drinks is hands down the banana, peanut butter, cacao nibs, honey and almond milk.

COMBI

Husband and wife duo Penny Loughnan and Anthony Baker, are the passionate couple behind the colourful and thriving Combi Coffee in Elwood. Their vision was to bring raw, vegan organic and Fairtrade produce to Melbourne’s doorstep. Everything is made on the premises including their goodness-packed smoothies, made with scoops of fresh coconut flesh, fresh fruits, probiotics and house made nut mylks.

Our favourite way to start the day is with a Greenie Plus smoothie which is packed with so much goodness, it will fill you up for breakfast or the Organic Acai Bowl, loaded with antioxidants and topped with crunchy buckinis. If smoothies aren’t your thing, you can opt for a cold pressed organic juice or an elixir shot to boost your immune system.

For the sweet tooth, Combi serve mouthwatering desserts, including their infamous melt-in-your-mouth caramel slice, all made refine sugar, dairy and gluten free.

THE FARM CAFE – COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM

Surrounded by rich and vibrant vegetation, The Farm Café serves kid friendly meals located right on the Collingwood Children’s Farm, the ideal destination for a glorious day out with the children.

We love the Swiss Brown Mushrooms, roasted in thyme and served up on creamy soft polenta, goat’s curd and poached eggs. The Overnight Muesli with soaked chia seeds and grains from The Wild, oats with vanilla yoghurt, apple and stewed rhubarb is also another favourite.

After brekky, families can enjoy walking through the farm grounds for animal spotting, cuddling guinea pigs and even milking cows. Additionally, every second Saturday of the month the Collingwood Children’s Farm host a Farmer’s Market.

THE GRAIN STORE

At the Grain Store, food is more than something they serve up on a plate. It’s a way of life. Serving up locally harvested, chemical-free fresh fruits and vegetables,  The Grain Store is based in the CBD and hopes to do its part for the environment in reducing the food miles of their ingredients by teaming up with CERES Fair Food Organic Food Delivery Service.

We like to start here with the Banana Bread, peanut butter ricotta and sour cherry marmalade or their Ricotta Pancakes made with buckwheat and topped with Nutella and a pistachio crunch. To wash breakfast down, we recommend the house made spirulina, pineapple, pear and mint juice.