Princes Hill has 15 verified spots worth your time for cafes. Every venue below is a real, operating business with a Google listing — no placeholder names, no made-up addresses.
| Venue | Rating | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bertoncello Cafe And Bar | 4.9/5 | 245 | $ |
| Crafted Culture - Cafe | 4.9/5 | 80 | — |
| **Bellboy Cafe | Brunswick Cafe** | 4.8/5 | 1600 |
| **Veloce Pizza Bar | Italian Restaurant** | 4.8/5 | 398 |
| Mokum | 4.8/5 | 353 | $$ |
| THE NICHOLSON COFFEE & EATERY | 4.8/5 | 310 | — |
| Carolina Queer Cafe & Bar | 4.7/5 | 576 | $$ |
| EL Mirage | 4.7/5 | 503 | $$ |
1. Bertoncello Cafe And Bar
Address: Shop/14 Sparta Place, Brunswick
Rating: 4.9/5 (245 reviews)
Price: Affordable
Bertoncello Cafe And Bar is a verified local spot in Princes Hill. Check their latest hours and menu before visiting.
2. Crafted Culture - Cafe
Address: 611 Nicholson St, Carlton North
Rating: 4.9/5 (80 reviews)
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 80 Google reviews. Rated 4.9/5 by locals.
3. Bellboy Cafe | Brunswick Cafe
Address: 131 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East
Rating: 4.8/5 (1,600 reviews)
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 1,600 Google reviews. Rated 4.8/5 by locals.
4. Veloce Pizza Bar | Italian Restaurant
Address: 749 Nicholson Street, Carlton North
Rating: 4.8/5 (398 reviews)
Veloce Pizza Bar | Italian Restaurant is a verified local spot in Princes Hill. Check their latest hours and menu before visiting.
5. Mokum
Address: 359 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Rating: 4.8/5 (353 reviews)
Price: Mid-range
Mokum is a verified local spot in Princes Hill. Check their latest hours and menu before visiting.
6. THE NICHOLSON COFFEE & EATERY
Address: Unit 1/34 Union St, Brunswick
Rating: 4.8/5 (310 reviews)
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 310 Google reviews. Rated 4.8/5 by locals.
7. Carolina Queer Cafe & Bar
Address: 11 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East
Rating: 4.7/5 (576 reviews)
Price: Mid-range
Carolina Queer Cafe & Bar is a verified local spot in Princes Hill. Check their latest hours and menu before visiting.
8. EL Mirage
Address: 349 Lygon St, Brunswick East
Rating: 4.7/5 (503 reviews)
Price: Mid-range
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 503 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
9. Blonde Food and Drink
Address: 443 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Rating: 4.7/5 (419 reviews)
Price: Mid-range
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 419 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
10. Rathdowne & Reeves Cafe
Address: 497 Rathdowne Street, Carlton
Rating: 4.7/5 (398 reviews)
Price: Mid-range
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 398 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
11. Cafe Piccante
Address: 216 Saint Georges Road, Fitzroy North
Rating: 4.7/5 (368 reviews)
Price: Affordable
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 368 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
12. Loafer Bread
Address: 146 Scotchmer Street, Fitzroy North
Rating: 4.7/5 (236 reviews)
Price: Mid-range
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 236 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
13. Cafe Jabelle
Address: 645 Rathdowne St, Carlton North
Rating: 4.7/5 (211 reviews)
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 211 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
14. Castro’s Kiosk
Address: The University Of Melbourne, David Caro Building, Tin Alley, Parkville
Rating: 4.7/5 (167 reviews)
Price: Affordable
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 167 Google reviews. Rated 4.7/5 by locals.
15. Calle Bakery
Address: 649 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
Rating: 4.6/5 (935 reviews)
A local cafe in Princes Hill with 935 Google reviews. Rated 4.6/5 by locals.
About This Guide
Every venue in this guide is a verified, currently operating business sourced from Google Places API. Data last refreshed: 2026-03-31. If a venue has closed or moved, let us know.
More Princes Hill: Princes Hill Suburb Guide · Cost of Living · All Princes Hill Guides
Recommended Cafes
Naughty Boy Cafe
Naughty Boy Cafe is the Princes Hill headline act for brunch, with a big, industrial-feel room and a menu that suits both classic egg orders and sweeter, more playful choices. Its own site notes the cafe serves Allpress coffee and is known for its InstaShakes, making it a good pick when you want more than a quick takeaway coffee. Source: Naughty Boy Cafe
Rathdowne & Reeves Cafe
Rathdowne & Reeves Cafe works well for a slower local breakfast or lunch around the Rathdowne Street side of Princes Hill. It is the kind of neighbourhood cafe to keep in mind when you want table service, a sit-down meal and a quieter alternative to the Lygon Street rush.
Cafe Jabelle
Cafe Jabelle is a handy Rathdowne Street option for coffee, casual brunch and easy catch-ups close to Carlton North and Princes Hill. Put it on your list for a low-fuss stop before a walk through Princes Park or after errands along the village strip.
Calle Bakery
Calle Bakery is best treated as a pastry-and-coffee stop rather than a long brunch destination. Go early if you care about the best bakery selection, because this style of cafe is strongest when the counter is full and the morning crowd has not cleared the favourites.
Filou’s Patisserie
Filou’s Patisserie is the choice when your cafe run is really about croissants, cakes, tarts and strong coffee. It suits a takeaway breakfast, a weekend treat, or a small sweet stop before heading toward Princes Park, Lygon Street or Carlton North.
Local Tips
Princes Hill is small, so the best cafe strategy is to think in walking zones rather than suburb borders. Lygon Street gives you the livelier brunch feel, while Rathdowne Street is better for a calmer local-cafe rhythm.
Weekend mornings can be busy, especially anywhere close to Princes Park, local schools, tram stops and the Carlton North shopping strips. If you want a relaxed table, aim for early breakfast or the late-morning gap after the first brunch wave.
For takeaway coffee, check both sides of the suburb. Some of the most useful stops sit just over the Carlton North edge, but they still function as everyday Princes Hill cafes for residents, students and park walkers.
Princes Park changes the way people use cafes here. A coffee before a lap, a pastry after junior sport, or brunch after a Saturday walk are all classic local moves, so venues near the park can feel busier even when the suburb itself seems quiet.
If you are comparing venues, decide whether you want a full brunch menu or a bakery-style visit. Naughty Boy and Rathdowne & Reeves suit a sit-down meal, while Calle Bakery and Filou’s are better when the pastry cabinet is the main event.
FAQ
What is the best cafe in Princes Hill for brunch?
Naughty Boy Cafe is the strongest all-round brunch pick because it has a larger dining room, proper breakfast-and-lunch menu and a recognisable local profile. It is a better choice for groups than smaller pastry-led stops.
Where should I go for coffee near Princes Park?
Cafe Jabelle, Calle Bakery and Rathdowne & Reeves are all practical options depending on which side of the park or Rathdowne Street you are closest to. For a sweeter coffee run, choose Calle Bakery or Filou’s Patisserie.
Are Princes Hill cafes good for takeaway?
Yes, especially if you are looking for coffee, pastries or a quick breakfast before walking through Princes Park. For takeaway, bakery-style venues are usually the easiest option, while larger brunch cafes are better when you have time to sit down.
