Whether you sit under the cool, sheltered archways of the GPO building, or out on Bourke Street watching Melbourne whiz by, Federal Coffee Palace offers a haven in the centre of town for a coffee break or meal. In a city filled with cafes stashed into nooks, crannies and laneways, it’s a relief to know there is a venue as spacious, relaxed and accessible as this.

The menu offers generously sized baguettes, pastas and toasties for lunch, or eggs, porridge and muesli for breakfast. As if this all weren’t comforting enough, they offer lunch boxes for busy officer workers on their lunch break. A selection of wines and beers allows for a lazy lunch in the sun or a quiet drink in the shade of the most elegant buildings Melbourne has to offer.