You want to eat your way through Highett without wasting a stop on filler. Start on Murray Place, save room for Queen Grove, and treat this as a walkable food crawl with coffee, snacks, dinner, dessert, and one smart final drink.
The Verdict
Pick Lena first, then build the crawl around Murray Place before cutting across to Queen Grove. If you only make one decision from this guide, make Lena at 293 Murray Place your anchor: it is one of Highett’s genuine highlights, the staff have been perfecting it for years, and the window seats give you the best read on the suburb while you wake up properly. Coffee sits in the normal local range at about $4.50-5.50, and the broader stop runs around $12-18, so it works as a proper first stop without blowing the day before lunch.
From there, Ash Post at 374 Murray Place makes the cleanest snack move because it keeps the crawl tight, consistent, and unpretentious. The Half Cellar at 289 Murray Place is the main meal pick if you want the day to feel like Highett rather than a generic bayside lunch: local sourcing, regulars in the back area, and a weekday rhythm that suits lingering. Rosa is the useful alternative if you want the newer 2025 energy and owner-on-site feel, while Mabel’s is better when you want a more regulars-first neighbourhood stop. Do not try to do every venue as a full sit-down meal. You will hit the dessert stretch tired, overfed, and annoyed with yourself.
Local Reality
Highett’s food crawl works because the suburb is compact enough to reward walking, but not so dense that every stop feels obvious from the footpath. Murray Place is the strongest spine: Lena, Rosa, Ash Post, and The Half Cellar are all close enough that you can make decisions on appetite rather than logistics. The best version starts on a weekday, when Lena’s window seats are easier to claim and The Half Cellar has more of that regulars-in-the-back feel instead of a weekend shuffle.
Queen Grove gives the crawl its second act. Mabel’s at 257 Queen Grove is the one to check before you commit because it closes earlier than you might expect, while Theo at 96 Queen Grove has the community feel that makes more sense as a slower dessert stop than a grab-and-run. Lucky Depot at 75 Queen Grove is listed as the nightcap, though its hours are daytime friendly, so treat it as a final coffee, late snack, or soft landing rather than assuming it is a late bar. Black Corner at 258 Lygon Grove is the outside option if you want fair prices and a minimal fit-out, but it pulls you away from the clean Murray Place and Queen Grove line.
Parking is the annoying bit. Street parking on Lygon Grove exists, but it gets competitive on weekends, and side streets usually mean two-hour limits. Public transport is the better option if you want to crawl properly. Skip this if you are trying to impress someone with big-city polish; Highett is better when you want local, walkable, lightly improvised eating. If you are starting west of Lygon Grove, it may be smarter to fold this into a Sandringham plan instead.
Who This Suits
If you’re a coffee-first local, pick Lena, sit by the window, and keep the rest flexible. If you’re chasing new openings, pick Rosa for the 2025 fit-out and owner-on-site feel, then Ash Post for the 2024 consistency. If you’re doing a low-pressure lunch crawl, pick Ash Post into The Half Cellar and stop pretending you need five heavy orders. If you’re with someone who wants cosy neighbourhood energy, pick Mabel’s and Theo on Queen Grove. If you’re trying to end somewhere polished, Lucky Depot is the best final stop, but go in knowing the listed hours are not late-night hours.
Cost-wise, budget around $95 per person for the full Highett day: coffee, snack, main meal, dessert, and drinks. Individual casual stops sit around $12-18, coffee is about $4.50-5.50, and dinner prices in the area land closer to $28-45 per person. You can do a lighter version for much less by sharing at Ash Post, choosing one main at The Half Cellar, and treating Theo or Rosa Mill as dessert rather than another full meal.
Time of day matters. Early evening is the best mood for the transition from cafe crawl to dinner, but some of the named venues operate like daytime locals, not late-night destinations. Rosa Mill runs roughly 7:30am-3pm weekdays and 8:30am-3pm weekends; Lucky Depot is listed around 8am-3:30pm; Black Corner closes around 3pm. If you want the full five-stop version, start earlier than your appetite tells you.
What to Do Next
Start at Lena on a weekday, walk Murray Place first, then decide whether Queen Grove still has your appetite. For a narrower caffeine-first version, use Highett Cafes before you commit to the full crawl.
Practical Info
Getting there: Public transport options in Highett.
Best time to visit: Early evening for the transition from day to night scene.
Budget: A full day exploring Highett — coffee, lunch, activity, and drinks — runs approximately $95 per person.
Parking: Street parking on Lygon Grove is available but competitive on weekends. Side streets usually have 2-hour unrestricted zones. Public transport is the better option.
Highett at a Glance
| Category | Quick Answer |
|---|---|
| Vibe | Creative, walkable, authentic |
| Coffee price | $4.50-5.50 |
| Dinner price | $28-45 pp |
| Getting there | Public transport options in Highett |
| Best for | Highett local shops, community feel, suburban lifestyle |
Nearby
- Sandringham — also worth exploring
- Highett Cafes
- Highett Restaurants
- All Highett Guides
Last updated: March 2026
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