Top 5 Cafes in Elsternwick Locals Can’t Stop Talking About

Glen Huntly Road doesn’t do things by halves when it comes to coffee. Walk the strip between Elster Avenue and Kooyong Road on any given Saturday morning and you’ll see prams parked three-deep outside cafe doors, regulars chatting to baristas by first name, and a queue or two forming before 9am. Elsternwick has quietly become one of Melbourne’s most café-dense pockets, and locals are fiercely loyal about where they land.

We’re biased, obviously — but here are the five Elsternwick cafes locals genuinely rate, what each one does best, and the specific services that set them apart.

1. The Elstern Social — 572 Glen Huntly Road

Best known for: specialty ST. ALi coffee and an all-day brunch menu running from the signature chilli scramble to burgers, pizzas and bao buns.

Best services:

• Work-and-study friendly — free high-speed WiFi and power outlets at most tables, built for a “come for an hour, stay for the day” visit
• Dietary-inclusive as standard — vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options run throughout the menu
• Fully licensed and pet-friendly, with wheelchair-accessible, ground-floor entry
• Function-ready — zero venue hire fee for private events up to 250 guests, DJ-ready sound system

572 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick VIC 3185, a 10-minute walk from Elsternwick Station. Open Monday to Friday 7am–3pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am–3pm. Rated 4.7 out of 5 by locals.

2. Green Tree Cafe — 322 Glen Eira Road

Best known for: a health-focused, all-day menu and a cult-favourite dish of two eggs on sourdough with crispy shallots, furikake, chilli sambal, goat cheese and parmesan.

Best services:

• Extensive dietary tagging — gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and nut-free options clearly marked on every menu section, plus a dedicated kids’ menu
• Alternative milks and specialty add-ins — soy, almond, oat and lactose-free milk, Matcha Maiden matcha, Golden Grind turmeric, and Prana Chai
• Dog-friendly outdoor benches with a water bowl on the footpath
• Also pours ST. ALi coffee, alongside cold-pressed juices

Just off Glen Huntly Road at 322 Glen Eira Road, Elsternwick VIC 3185. Open Monday to Friday 7am–3pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am–3pm. Rated 4.8 out of 5 across 110+ Google reviews — one of the highest-rated cafes in the suburb.

3. Rustica Cafe Deli — 362 Glen Huntly Road

Best known for: European and Middle Eastern deli fare — cured meats, imported cheeses, olives and antipasto — alongside breakfast bagels and signature dishes like Moroccan meatballs and salmon and salad.

Best services:

• A genuine deli counter, not just a cafe menu — gourmet grocery items you can take home, not only eat in
• Vegetarian options accommodated on request, with staff noted by regulars for going out of their way on dietary needs
• Hosts local art displays and community events, giving it more of a neighbourhood-gathering-space feel than a quick-turnover cafe
• Reliable quiet, relaxed atmosphere if you want to sit with a coffee rather than rush off

362 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick VIC 3185. Generally open early morning through mid-afternoon daily — worth a quick check of current hours before visiting. Rated 4.5 out of 5 on Google.

4. Damm Good Cafe — 478 Glen Huntly Road

Best known for: fine-dining-calibre sandwiches and brunch from head chef Thomas Damm, who spent four and a half years in a Michelin-starred kitchen before opening here. Signature dishes include the cornflake-crusted French toast, the brekkie burrito, and the smoked lambwich.

Best services:

• Padre Coffee — a different specialty roaster to most of the strip, worth trying if you want to compare Elsternwick’s coffee scene side by side
• House-made sodas, made in-house with fresh fruit and reduced sugar
• Backed by Damm Good Catering — the same team handles private dining and event catering, so it’s a solid lead if you’re planning a catered function elsewhere in Elsternwick
• Praised specifically for attentive, unmatched service — a recurring theme across reviews

478 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick VIC 3185. Open weekday mornings through early afternoon.

5. Next of Kin Cafe — 546 Glen Huntly Road

Best known for: a seasonal-produce brunch menu in a courtyard setting, with the smashed avocado and hot smoked salmon with poached eggs as standout orders.

Best services:

• Courtyard dining — one of the more relaxed outdoor seating setups on the strip
• Genuinely set up for families — kids’ menu, high chairs, and wheelchair-accessible seating
• Good for groups — regularly booked for casual birthday catch-ups, not just solo coffee runs
• Locals highlight the cake selection (the coconut and raspberry cake gets specific mentions) alongside a reliable iced coffee

546 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick VIC 3185. Open Monday to Friday 7:30am–2pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am–2pm. Rated 4.5 out of 5 across 490+ reviews.

The takeaway

Part of what makes Elsternwick special is that there’s genuinely no bad option on this strip — it’s a suburb where cafe culture is taken seriously by owners and locals alike, and each of these five has carved out its own reason to be a local favourite. But if you want the full Elsternwick brunch experience — specialty coffee, a menu that goes well beyond toast, room to bring the dog, and a table that’s actually reserved and waiting for you — that’s what we’ve built The Elstern Social to be.

Ready to make it your local? Book a table online or just walk in — we’re at 572 Glen Huntly Road, seven days a week.