Best Cafes in Hawthorn

by Dan Cunningham and Holly Bodeker-Smith

Updated 4 months ago

It's been a decade since Hawthorn got its first serious cafe, Liar Liar. Owners Nathan Toleman and Nolan Hirte may have sold up and gone on to found Higher Ground and Proud Mary in Portland, USA respectively, but the seed they planted has well and truly bloomed.

There are now two specialty coffee roasters here – Axil (established in 2011) and Methodist (September 2017). Then there's a cafe run by a former Michelin-starred chef; another that specialises in Japanese breakfasts; and Rustica Canteen, with its bounty of fresh bread, croissants and doughnuts. It's a diverse bunch, which is exactly what you'd expect given Hawthorn's mix of affluent families and resident Swinburne students.

Looking for something specific?

Bawa
Cafe
A cafe collaboration by a bunch of the best, doing more than your average flat white.
Liar Liar
Cafe
The first serious coffee destination in Hawthorn.
Axil Coffee Roasters Hawthorn
Cafe
A cafe and roastery by a couple with serious coffee credentials, including an Australian barista championship.
Hello Sailor
Cafe
A beautiful spot inspired by a family navy tradition.
Book a Table
Short Straw
Cafe
Where the menu appeals to everyone, even kids.
Porgie & Mr Jones
Cafe
Don't be fooled by the diminutive shopfront. It opens up into a bustling, multi-roomed cafe.
Finders Keepers Cafe
Cafe
Small in size but big in heart.
Sardi
Cafe
Something for everyone, from superfoods to southern fried chicken.
Our Kitchenette
Cafe
Feels like breakfast at a mate’s place.
Ray’s Sandwich Deli
Cafe
This sleek sandwich deli brings the bustle of Manhattan to a sleepy suburban street (without annoying the locals). Stop by for Italian-inspired sangas, handmade bagels and coffee.
Mile End Bagels Hawthorn
Cafe
This bagel-slinging food truck makes great use of an old car park. Come for Montreal-style bagels filled with all the fan favourites – like smoked salmon, dill and caper cream cheese, chicken salad and brisket pastrami.