Reviews

"Quiet, creative, local."

"Melbourne’s best kept secret! This place has incredible food and is a place I can’t recommend highly enough to friends and family."

"Great staff and food"

"Great food and services"

"Nice 2 hangout, tasty food good coffee Do yourself a favour if your in the area"

"Can get very busy here at times food is good"

"Super awesome! Staff were pleasant and polite. The food I got was presented extremely well and tasted even better. The coffee was lovely. One of the best cafes I've been to."

"Darling Street Espresso in Moonee Ponds is a hidden gem that is not to be missed! From the moment you walk in, you are greeted by friendly and attentive staff who are passionate about coffee and delivering exceptional service. The coffee is truly outstanding - rich, bold and full of flavor. The food menu is creative, and everything is made fresh to order, with high-quality ingredients. I highly recommend the salmon benedict - it's a true delight! The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making it the perfect spot for catching up with friends or enjoying a quiet moment alone. What makes them even more amazing is that they’re dog friendly - they have puppy treats on offer to spoil your fur baby. What sets Darling Street Espresso apart is the attention to detail and genuine care for their customers - it's evident in everything they do. If you're in the area, make sure to stop by and experience the magic for yourself!"

"One of the best cafes in Melbourne! The staff are all amazing and the food is to die for. They also have the best gluten free options which is amazing. 100% recommend Darling Street Espresso to everyone!"

"Great options from their menu here, it’s obvious why this place is so solid in their customers. It’s a vibrant bustling cafe with great staff and food to go with it!!"

"Cosy brunch spot with outdoor pet friendly seating. Food was delicious and pleasantly presented. There were so many options on the menu to choose from. Warm and friendly staff. It was busy but there was no wait time for a table and food. Highly recommended."

"Great team and coffee"

"Lovely place in a hidden location with awesome breakfast"

"Well ."

"Food is really yummy here. Great location with good parking and great atmosphere."

"Fantastic food. very cosy admostpher. Great service. Fresh food. Good staff too. Keep it up guys."

"Excellent service, girl who served us was attentive and friendly. Tables were clean and atmosphere pleasant. Very affordable. 3 mains, 4 drinks, no Sunday surcharge - <$80 Left a tip"

"Great cafe, food is up there with the best in the area and the staff are friendly."

"Great neighbourhood Cafe. Staff were lovely. Great coffee and cakes"

"Service, food, pram-friendly, ambience, location, cost is perfect."

"Great place. Awesome vibe. I had a great date here and the atmosphere really helped with my nerves! The coffee was excellent eggs were done well. Will come again!"

"An unassuming place located in residential Ascot Vale but arrival after 1pm with a healthy crowd indicated it is a popular place. Seating in and out is compact, but not to bad to feel like you are jammed in. Bike parking racks down the side to the rear but a few blocked by tables and plants. The service was good, friendly. Good menu variety. Wait times was quite reasonable. Finally, the food: cheese burger was a great burger and I'd even think about putting it in my upcoming top ten burgers of Melbourne news article. A great well cooked blend. The serve of chips though are the thin cut McDonald's style. Change these out to some healthier steak cut and you have a winning combo. Added a choc milkshake and it was a good priced lunch. My two friends reported they enjoyed their lunch. This place is located just off the Maribrynong River Bike trail if your looking for a place to refuel yourself. Otherwise, worth the visit."

"Awesome nice Cafe with really good food!"

"Great coffee, food and exceptional service :-)"

"Delicious food, great coffee, friendly staff, and a pet friendly outdoors area. What a gem!"

"Nice atmosphere and good food and coffee."

"Beautiful local cafe. Delicious food and coffee."

"Lovely staff, really tasty food"

"A little cafe tucked away in the suburbia. Good food and coffee with friendly staffs."

"Cozy little cafe next door to a school, easy to miss. Enjoyed the laid back vibe, staff were friendly, service was prompt and on point. Great menu items, there is a good balance between savoury and sweet. I enjoyed the breakfast board, has it has a little something of everything, without feeling too heavy. The coffee hit the spot, wasn’t strong, with sweet after notes. Heaps of parking, well worth the visit."

"Great corner cafe serving good food, great coffee. Falafel was not good, very floury and strangely textured - was only charged half price for it as I couldn’t eat it... Husbands breakfast was delicious. Really wanted to like this place, staff friendly and service was great, disappointing about the falafel perhaps a bad batch."

"Great service, awesome coffee and tasty menu. Nice little place for weekend breakfast. The staff are always friendly."

"New favorite cafe, a hidden gem"

"Fantastic service - seems to be a hands on owner/manager who went out of his way to look after our large table. Food was excellent - tasty and we'll presented - and the general consensus around the table was that the drinks were good too, from milkshakes to cold drip coffees. Would definitely go there again. Busy with a nice atmosphere."

"Nice ambiance, good variety of food in the menu, friendly staff. Good cappuccino, very good blueberry muffin and good refreshing smoothie. We like this one, well done guys."

"Lamb rack was great. Family friendly and a great space out back. Great place. We'll be back."

"A pleasant surprise at the corner of Darling Street Moonee Ponds. We enjoyed our breakfast at the courtyard, outdoor sitting. Staffs were friendly, good coffee and breaky. Happy to recommend."

"Good coffee and food, friendly service, great little venue."

"Great cafe, no indoor seating for prams. Food and coffee great. Staff friendly and helpful!"

"Amazing food with a difference and friendly service. Highly recommended."

"Coffee & Food is magnificent at Darling Street. Highly recommend."

"Food was tasty, fresh and meticulously presented but most of all staff are soo warm and welcoming. We had a booking of 6 fairly loud friends and they did all they could to accomodate us and we ended up staying there for 3 hours. Highly recommend this spot for long brunches."

"I absolutely love the food here! One of my all time favourite cafes in the area. Staff are super friendly too. Definitely recommend."

"So good. Food, coffee, staff. Just the best."

"Yummy"

"such a lovely neighbourhood-like café, great quality food and the spiced hot chocolate is definitely delicious ."

"Great food and service."

"Fantastic food (taste & presentation) and great service. The ambience is lovely, very cozy and welcoming. I would definitely recommend this place and I will definitely be back!"

"We were hangry and tired and needed nourishment and this place soothed the soul and hit the spot on every level. Absolutely loved the food and ethos. Great staff too"

"Drink and food options are great! No split bills on weekends and family friendly."

"The coffee is great! Had the bacon stuffed mushrooms. The white bean puree is fantastic!"

"Great food and atmosphere in this suburban corner cafe. Staff excellent especially Paige."

"Great place and is walking distance from marbi river."

"Very friendly nice food. The area could have been warmer"

"What a gorgeous little place. Their menu looks amazing so will definitely be back to try various dishes. I started off with the chilli scramble as my first dish. Delightful"

"Interesting and delicious Coffee served in the European style"

"Great little spot for coffee and breakfast"

"Great menu and lovely staff"

"Incredible menu, moreish and delicious!! Sticky pork belly salad was phenomenal! Also has a very cute courtyard out the back. Will be back next time I'm in the area."

"What a hidden gem great food & great service will definitely go back!!"

"Fantastic food, amazing coffee, and even better service. Chris and her staff always make you feel welcome and serve you with a smile. It feels right to start the mornings here."

"What a great place in a quiet suburb All ways full so get in early"

"Good service , good food and decent coffee"

"Good brunch spot to meet with friends."

"Good place to have breakfast ,food was good and service was not good as expected ."

"Amazing local cafe, always a smiling face and wonderful personable staff. The coffee is consistently delicious, even when they are busy coffee is worth the wait."

"Pre gud."

"I was introduced to this lovely cafe by a friend and I’ve been raving on about it since. The court-yard at the back is my pick for a quiet and relaxed breaky... the staff, food and ambience are so homely, it almost feels like you’re being looked after by family! The food and coffee speak for itself at this humble cafe, it needs no bells and whistles, it’s just simply for what it is! Pet and kid friendly, great for all ages."

"Hidden gem"

"Scrumptious morning tea! Highly recommend the cheesecake and coffee."

"Delicious food!!!!"

"Breakfast burger with chorizo for the win."

"Breakfast board is amazing!!!"

"had the best cappuccino made by the sweetest barista/waitress, chloe fast and super friendly service. will be back!!!"

"This is a beautifully positioned store in the heart of the community. Coffee is excellent and food very good. Staff are extremely friendly. What more could you want."

"So good I literally am moving into a house on darling street just to accommodate my addiction to the breakfast bun (with a side of avocado)"

"Great service and food, coffee good also. Will be back."

"Great food"

"First time there and it was a wonderful time the food, coffee and service were impeccable. I do recommend booking ahead as it very popular and busy busy."

"Nice little place for breakfast and a coffee"

"If you love coffee, you'll must go here for an exceptional coffee. Good service and friendly staff."

"Hands down the best cafe in Melbourne. Each dish is made with such fresh ingredients and looks like an actual work of art. Their menu has a wide variety of options, all of which will leave you satisfied and full. anytime I have visitors I take them here and have never been disappointed. Amazing flavours, great atmosphere and lovely staff Special shout out to the lovely server from Chicago who was a real joy"

"Good variety. friendly place"

"Cute little cafe. Tacos were to die for."

"Good coffee and chicken burgers"

"Amazing little cafe, found it by accident. Super friendly staff and the slow drip coffee was amazing! Definitely going to recommend my friends to go here!"

"Great coffee"

"Can't comment on dine-in experience as Melbourne lockdown hit, but visited here a couple of times for coffee fix. Coffee was really really nice and balanced and the same quality each time I ordered. Very moreish. Strawberry and Chocolate muffin was oh so good and full of both strawberry and choc..no skimping on ingredients. Such a great little local spot and will definitely return and try the food."

"Lovely food and a nice courtyard"

"Perfect seat next to the window. Nice coffees and cozy cafe"

"Absolutely excellent coffee, food is quite good as well. Always friendly staff, delivering orders efficiently. Popular, get in early on the weekends!"

"Nice local brunch, love the back seating"

"Great breakfast and coffee!"

"The food is great and the staff always have a smile on their faces"

"Great outdoor garden"

"Nice food. Attentive staff! Vegan friendly."

"Cool place"

"Brisket Eggs Benedict Chilli Scrambled Darling St Espresso is a humble family run cafe where they use nothing but locally sourced ingredients. It almost feels like you’re having a meal in someone’s home. They have a small outdoor courtyard which I personally think could be only improved with some music for a little bit of vibe. Their Eggs Benedict looked and tasted incredible I loved the use of brisket. The chilli scramble was also a hit, it had a slight sweetness to it, totally delicious. The green juice was, dare I say, abit tooo green, needed something to sweeten it and make it less gritty. A solid choice in the area, we will be back!"

"Amazing food, lovely people, nice space. And did I mention the food is amazing?!"

"Great little cafe in side street of Moonee Ponds. Def worth a visit. I had the salmon which was fresh and cooked to perfection. See you again soon"

"Great little cafe , nice ambiance with great coffee."

"Nice food"

"I had an amazing experience. Staff were awesome. My 2 girlfriend and I sat and chatted and they would come and check in, never once hurrying us to order more than coffee or always offering more coffees. Thank you so much"

"So good! Had so many brunches arround Mel, it is definitely the best. Mushrooms and burger were very impressive. Can’t wait to get back!"

"Best coffee"

"Must try the special prawn roll! ❤️❤️"

"Great food and great coffee"

"Always great ambiance, coffee, food and service."

"Amazing coffee, I would recommend highly."

"Fave cafe in Melb basically!"

"Fantastic cafe"

"A little corner cafe with quality coffee and a tasty variety of all day breakfast and lunch. My new go-to in the area."

"Quality coffee!!! Great service."

"Awesome everything!"

"Fritters and iced was delicious and refreshing."

"So lucky having such a great cafe to have close to home. Such a friendly team, great atmosphere and excellent food/coffee!"

"Delicious menu with new weekly additions and daily specials. Coffee is always spot on."

"Best cinnamon scroll!"

"The environment are very friendly. There are different type sitting area which either you want to sit comfortably inside, on the alley or playing with little kids at the backyard. Food is good with various type either veggies, fish, or meat. I have latte which good in my type with not too strong."

"A very pleasant place for a coffee and babychino with my daughter and grandson. The staff were friendly and attentive."

"Best staff. Best food. End of story!"

"Nice coffee and pastries. Will be back to try the yummy sounding lunch menu."

"Really cute little place with good food"

"I often visit Darling Street Espresso and always have a fantastic experience. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the food is fabulous, and the service is exceptionally friendly. A definite 5-star gem in our community!"

"Relaxed neighbourhood cafe with comfort food and cakes"

"Fantastic food and drink, wonderful staff and great atmosphere!"

"Good coffee. Nice staff."

"The friendly service, the top-notch coffee, the delicious food, the awesome atmosphere - everything about this cafe is beyond exceptional."

"Hidden gem in Ascot Vale, friendly service and good (strong) coffee ☕"

"Second time coming here, great food and friendly service. I loved that i was served the long black with the shot in a cup and the hot water on the side! First time in years anywhere has done that and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Food was tasty! Very unique and take on some classics. Thank you!"

"The goodness bowl is delicious! Can’t recommend it enough"

"Great local. Great food, coffee and service"

"Good food and coffee"

"Great corner cafe tucked in the residential streets. We had their prana chai, sweet potato fritters and barramundi for brunch. Everything was perfect! Lots of elements on each dish to balance out flavours and content. Will be back for sure :)"

"Arguably the best Café in Ascot Vale. Beautiful dog-friendly yard, really great chefs, and awesome staff. The food and coffee is absolutely fantastic."

"Our favorite cafe in Melbourne. The coffee is made using Industry beans on a La Marzocco to perfection. Service is always lovely and food is spot on. Always have specials on that are actually 'special'. Small area out the back is great and allows for dogs. Breaky burger is sloppy, but totally worth it."

"Just moved to the area and have found my new local coffee and brunch place. Food and coffee was delicious and reasonably priced. Will be back :)"

"Wonderful brunch, unfortunately there wasn’t much seating available so we had to sit in the little alleyway which wasn’t the best, but regardless the food was great. My friend ordered avo toast and I had the zucchini fritters, fresh, full of flavour, I would have loved some bread to pick up all that amazing sauce. I will be back again this week with family, for sure!"

"HIDDEN GEM. Food is great and terrific coffee. And such a friendly staff."

"Fantastic little cafe tucked away off bustling Maribyrnong road. AMAZING coffee, great service and awesome atmosphere"

"Great place to eat. Food was awesome. Full of flavour. Fantastic service."

"We were in the neighborhood and was looking for a cafe for brunch. Stumbled upon this cafe and it did not disappoint. Coffee was amazing! What’s even better was the food - Chilli Scram was so delicious; and even the prawn roll (I had the last one for the day which means it’s so popular that it’s sold out by noon) was such good portion and well-balanced. There was a courtyard at the back, really nice during the summery weather we had today and oh, they were dog friendly too. Chloe who served us was so friendly and pleasant. She made sure that we enjoyed our meal and even had a bowl of water for our fur babies. Well, that’s enough to tell you that we will certainly be back! Thanks team!"

"A smile with a service that can’t be beat!"

"Lovely staff, superb coffee, delicious food. My favourite spot in Melbourne."

"A nice little cafe whixh serves great food!"

"Consistently delicious food and drinks. The wait staff are polite and knowledgeable about the menu. My favourite thing is to have the breaky board with a side of mac cheese croquet so satisfying!"

"Incredible. The staff were attentive, patient, and lovely. The food was INCREDIBLE! Exactly as on their website. So delicious, perfectly cooked! Can't wait to go back and try more from the menu"

"Nice suburban cafe. Can’t comment on the food. Just had a nice spiced hot chocolate with a shot of espresso."

"Food outstanding, staff very nice, coffee very good, dog friendly..lovely place.. Unfortunately we had to wait nearly an hour fir coffee and food, admittedly they were very busy, as they are so good. I had a spinach waffle with poached salmon etc..was scrumptious.. Also my partner asked gf meal, and does get ill if eats gluten , she was served gluten...which is unfortunate, for her and the cafe.. CAUSE WITHOUT A DOUBT THIS CAFE IS FIVE STARS, ITS OUTSTANDING.. But these attentions to detail are really important especially for people that aren't gf, by choice but because it destroys there enjoyment of food..as it makes them ill... Get this right and this is 6 stars nothing around it competes..., keep improving. We will be back.."

"Love darling st and always my go to for a great brunch. Service is great and menu is delicious. Consistently delivering tasty meals and coffee."

"The best cafe in the area. Been here many times and everything I've tried has been excellent. The food quality and care of preparation gives me the confidence to keep coming back. Great service and friendly staff. Plenty of street parking. Beautiful and inviting atmosphere inside. I would say this cafe is the best hidden gem in the area. If you value quality, creativity, a warm atmosphere, and amazing service, then this is your place and your people."

"The Breaky Burger on the new Spring/Summer menu is one of the best I have had, the coffee was nice to."

"Only had takeaway coffee... It was top notch. The meals being served looked really good too... I'll have to head back to try those."

"Discovered this coffee shop, today on my bike ride. I just had a coffee & seems alright. Will come back to try some food soon."

"Great friendly service and food"

"Such a lovely place to sit and have coffee and food. Coffee is delicious with all the fruity notes."

"Good coffee"

"Delicious brekkie and coffee!! Aussie style"

"The best breakfast and coffee in Moonee Ponds. Our local fav"

"Wonderful coffee"

"Lovely hidden away cafe in a converted corner store. Great little courtyard and catering for kids and pets. A true neighbourhood gem."

"Tom is the bomb. Best coffees in Melbourne. Awesome food. Chilled vibes. Perfect spot."

"I like this place the service is good, coffee good and the sandwich really good."

"An absolutely delightful coffee shop. Quiet, friendly, great service, and a smashing cup of coffee as well. Captain Atom Man definitely recommends."

"Fantastic wee cafe with a superb breakfast roll. A hidden gem."

"Fantastic change in food. Staff are incredibly helpful."

"Excellent food, atmosphere and coffee. This place is a little bit out of our way, but every visit is worth it."

"The food and coffee was fab.. what more do you want.. thanks guys.. keep it up"

"Delishhhh!! Thats all i have to say."

"Just delishioso, the food was amazing, the staff even better, couldn't do enough for you."

"The food is always amazing and the staff really friendly. The portion sizes are very generous."

"YUM!!! I had the potato rosti breakfast and a smoothie, both utterly delicious and I left with a full and happy belly."

"Beautiful atmosphere, lovely staff and great food. A very friendly community feel to it."

"What a lovely little cafe, with a creative and delicious menu. I had the grain salad with added chicken, the chicken was so succulent and perfectly cooked and the salad was made with care (little slices of radish and bits of pomegranate). They also do a great bonsoy matcha, and their courtyard is cute."

"Amazing food and service. Great dog friendly area out the back."

"Great location and great coffee"

"Chicken burg is the best"

"Yummy food and friendly staff"

"Great food, great coffee, good space and friendly service, very easy parking"

"I came in here with my partner last month for a coffee and fell in love. It oozes character and just feels light to be in. It actually made me realise how much I want to live down this way and am now making my move. So this is a Thankyou. I haven’t tried any of the food just yet, but will be back. And will also be popping in my resume so I can hopefully be a part of this groovy place."

"Good cafe"

"Always a great vibe and beautiful experience. Chris and the team always make us feel welcome! The food is exceptional in quality, taste and we love trying the seasonal menu. It’s consistently delicious! Darling St Espresso is our go to cafe, it ticks all the boxes, great food/coffee, service and plenty of parking! Our little guy is also well catered for and entertained with colouring pencils! We’ve been coming for years and find it a true gem in Moonee Ponds! ❤️"

"Great brunch place with delicious food and friendly service."

"Wow! Amazing look and feel. Service is speedy and second to none! The coffee is so good it is life changing! Definitely found a new favourite breakfast and lunch spot"

"Pretty impressive small cafe at the roundabout, food was presented in very beautiful way that's very instagrammable. Taste was pretty good as well! Although there was a slight wait for the food , but no complaints for the overall experience in this quiet cafe."

"Great service ,food and pet friendly"

"Very nice they have delicious yummy foods and drinks the staff are all quite nice but some things take a while but it's usually very fast to get food"

"Really good coffee at a reasonable price. The food menu looks amazing"

"Came in at the end of the lunch service and they didn't disappoint. The meals, coffee and staff were brilliant and loved the community vibe. We will be back. If you haven't gone off the main strip and discovered this local gem - you need too."

"Nice small cafe, out of city."

"Great service and fan cappuccino"

"Great food. Super friendly staff."

"Very nice coffee. Good selection of food for such a small place"

"Consistently good food and great service. Can get a little squeezy at busy times"

"Lunch was Excellent. delicious veggie bowl salad. Could feel my Body rejoice, it was so well presented and healthy. Added in a few delicious expert made coffees to celebrate with my new healthy insides. Lmao"

"Amazing place, food was superb and friendly staff. Dog friendly as well. Definitely recommend!"

"Great breakfast menu. The food is fantastic."

"Innovative and great tasting menu with friendly service."

"Great coffee and friendly staff!"

"Delicious coffee, (I had the Kenyan as a long black) , and a warm vibe. The food was amazing, clearly the chefs out lots of thought into the menu. If your lucky you might even run into bill shorten!"