The Best New Cafes, Restaurants and Shops To Explore Near the New Metro Tunnel

The Metro Tunnel may be a transport project first and foremost, but it’s helping the hospitality industry, too – by allowing access to the clusters of cafes and eateries around its new stations. When you’re spending less time in transit and interchanges across the city are simpler, it’s now much easier to slot a visit to one of these favourite city haunts into your day.

Whether you’re grabbing a morning coffee, having dinner after work, catching up with friends or just using the stations as a starting point to explore what’s nearby, keep these spots on your radar – they’re all within easy distance of the new Metro Tunnel stations.

Anzac Station

A short walk from the station, Dingo Ate My Taco puts an Australian spin on Tex-Mex, serving tacos filled with slow-cooked meats such as beef brisket, smoked chicken or kangaroo. Seating is limited, but nearby Fawkner Park, the Shrine of Remembrance and the Royal Botanic Gardens are easy spots for turning your takeaway into an impromptu picnic. For a caffeine hit, Foremost Coffee – a sibling of Warung in South Yarra – focuses on Indonesian beans alongside specialty drinks like the Coconut Island (cold brew and pandan-infused coconut cream). It’s an easy stop that fits neatly into a commute or a stroll through the Arts Precinct.

Parkville Station

Sitting just moments from North Melbourne, the new station is within easy reach of one of the inner city’s most reliable food-and-drink pockets. Baguette Studios is a local favourite fusing Korean, American and Australian cafe culture, with coffee and well-made sandwiches like the Monte Cristo – a ham and cheese sandwich dredged, fried and served with blueberry jam. Nearby, Cafe Tomi specialises in coffee, tea and delicate Japanese-style panna cotta served in pared-back surrounds. Both are convenient options for hospital visitors, university students or just anyone passing through.

State Library Station

Since development began on State Library Station, the surrounding streets have filled out with some of the CBD’s most dependable comfort food. Tokyo cult favourite Kikanbo is a go-to for hearty ramen, known for its rich broth, adjustable heat and generous toppings such as Angus beef and fall-apart chashu pork. A few doors down, R Harn – from the team behind Soi 38 – focuses on less common southern Thai dishes, while K5 Kona, tucked inside RMIT, is a favourite for matcha.

Town Hall Station

A block down Little Collins Street, Time After Time – a new cafe inside the recently opened Howey Hotel – offers a polished stop for coffee and charcoal-hued croissants. While you’re nearby, Torori Warabimochi in Centreway Arcade is also worth seeking out. The Osaka export specialises in warabi mochi, a softer, more delicate style of mochi made with bracken starch rather than rice flour, providing a sweet finish to a city errand or commute.

Arden Station

Bobby’s Bakery is home to arguably Melbourne’s most iconic pastie – a Cornish-style parcel filled with beef, potato, onion and swede. It’s a commuter-friendly snack, made all the more convenient given Bobby’s is just 500 metres from Arden Station. For a more formal meal, Rosso Coffee Experience, a warehouse cafe that hosts coffee tastings and barista sessions, is also close by.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Transport Victoria. As part of the Metro Tunnel, the new Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury Line now runs every 10 minutes most of the day and late into the evening. Plan your journey on the PTV app or at transport.vic.gov.au.