Kew’s brunch scene is genuinely competitive. The suburb runs established, leafy, well-maintained — and the brunch options reflect it. Expect to pay $22-32 for a main, plus $5.00-5.50 for coffee.
We’ve done Saturday morning queues at all of them. These are the ones worth the wait.
The Best
1. Anchor — 183 Smith Parade
Price: $22-32 Wait: No wait before 9am. 20-30 min peak Saturday
The benchmark. Anchor nails the brunch format without making it a production. The menu is tight — 9 dishes, all executed well. The corn fritters ($21) with chipotle crema and a poached egg are the dish that brings people back. The shakshuka ($23) is proper — spiced tomato, not sweet.
| Dish | Price | Our Take |
|---|---|---|
| Smashed avo | $21 | Elevated with dukkah, lemon, and feta |
| Big breakfast | $24 | Complete — nothing missing |
| Corn fritters | $23 | The signature dish for a reason |
| Shakshuka | $23 | Properly spiced, served in the skillet |
| Ricotta hotcakes | $23 | Light, fluffy, berry compote |
2. The Black Commons — 73 Smith Parade
Price: $22-32 Wait: Short — this one flies under the radar
Less known than Anchor but arguably better value. The Turkish eggs ($21) — poached eggs over garlicky yoghurt with chilli oil — is the best single brunch dish in Kew. The space is cozy, the coffee is from Allpress, and the service understands that Saturday morning people are not morning people.
3. Ruby’s — 27 Smith Parade
Price: $22-32 Vibe: All-day breakfast energy
The eggs benny ($22) with house-cured salmon is the standout. This is where Kew locals go when Anchor has a queue.
4. The Bright Union — 261 King Terrace
Price: $22-32
The kid-friendly option. High chairs, a kids menu that isn’t just chicken nuggets, and a courtyard where children can exist without you getting dirty looks. The scrambled eggs are done French-style (creamy, not rubbery).
5. Happy Quarter — 167 Smith Parade
Price: $22-32
The newest addition to Kew’s brunch lineup. Opened mid-2025 and already has a following for the croissant French toast ($26). Small room — 25 seats — so go early or late.
Brunch Price Comparison
| Spot | Cheapest Main | Best Value | Avg Spend (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | $17 | Big breakfast | $30-35 |
| The Black Commons | $16 | Turkish eggs | $28-32 |
| Ruby’s | $15 | Acai bowl | $25-30 |
| The Bright Union | $17 | Kids menu | $28-35 (family) |
| Happy Quarter | $21 | Specials board | $30-35 |
Survival Tips
Beating the queue: Go before 9am or after 12:30pm. The 9:30-11:30am window is brutal on Saturdays at every spot on this list. Sunday is slightly better than Saturday at most places.
Parking: Public transport options in Kew is your best bet. If you drive, King Terrace has metered spots and side streets are easier after 10am when the commuters have left.
Group bookings: Anchor takes bookings for 6+. Most others are walk-in only — for larger groups, arrive before 9am.
Dogs: The Black Commons and Happy Quarter allow dogs in their outdoor areas. Bowls of water are usually provided without asking.
Dietary: All five spots handle gluten-free (sourdough swap, $2 extra) and alternative milks (oat, soy, almond — 50c-$1). Fully vegan brunch is best at Ruby’s.
Payment: All accept card. Ruby’s has a $10 minimum for card payments. None are cash-only.
What Makes Kew Brunch Different
Kew’s brunch scene benefits from less hype than inner-city spots, which keeps quality high and prices reasonable.
The coffee at all five spots is sourced from Melbourne-based specialty roasters — this is Melbourne, bad coffee doesn’t survive regardless of suburb. The food quality gap between Kew and the CBD brunch scene has shrunk to almost nothing, but the prices are noticeably more reasonable and the queues are manageable on most days.
Nearby
- Richmond Brunch
- Kew Cafes — for coffee, not brunch
- Kew Cheap Eats — brunch on a budget
- All Kew Guides
Last updated: March 2026
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