Reviews

"Coffee was great and so was the service....thank you!"

"Best cinnamon scroll!"

"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."

"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!"

"I've been coming here every weekday morning to get a coffee to get me started for each day! Highly recommend to anyone who favours quality taste without having to pay an arm and a leg! ~ Liam"

"We visit a lot of cafes as part of our bike rides. This cafe is easily one of the nicest in Melbourne and I think a lot has to do with the amazing people who run it. It shows when people love what they do. They put love into the food and the service and it makes for a great experience."

"Terrific local venue with good food, excellent consistent coffee and very accomodating staff. Our kids also enjoy going there which makes it an easy choice for us. The place looks fresh and rejuvenated after it’s mini-renovation over Christmas."

"Well designed cafe with great coffee, staff are attentive and professional."

"Great place. Try the frozen chai"

"Had a nice brunch with the family and found service was fantastic. All were very friendly and everything we ordered was delicious. If your in the area give it a go."

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

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

"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! ❤️"

"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."

"We came back for breakfast and coffee. But the place has been changes, the atmosphere so nice and pleasant, coffee and foods (Bake Beans) so delicious . Thankyou"

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

"Great menu and lovely staff"

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

"Hidden gem"

"Must try the special prawn roll! ❤️❤️"

"Delicious food!!!!"

"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!"

"Food good, love going to cafes in residential areas! Good service"

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

"Very nice food and fantastic smoothie!"

"Yummy"

"Best food, coffee and service"

"Great Place with Delicious Food. I would definitely recommend it."

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

"Great local. Great food, coffee and service"

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

"Good brunch spot to meet with friends."

"Excellent food and service. Highly recommended!"

"Definitely made improvements (renovations) since we visited several years ago. Place looks very neat and tidy... Staff were very pleasant and prompt. Food excellent and reasonable choice and variety. I had the baked beans"

"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"

"Amazing coffee, I would recommend highly."

"Lovely atmosphere and relaxed, casual setting. Ingredients are fresh and well prepared. The chilli scramble were well cooked and tasty (could use a little more chilli, but then I do like a bit of spice) and the waffles were beautifully light, not too sweet and not at all stodgy. Will definitely be coming back."

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

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

"Egg Benedict with pork belly OMG!❤️‍"

"Good coffee"

"A beautiful space with delicious food and lovely service - we travel to make this our go-to cafe."

"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!"

"Nice small cafe, out of city."

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

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

"Lovely and cosy place"

"Great staff and food"

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

"Great café. Delicious food and coffee. Friendly staff."

"Great service ,food and pet friendly"

"Breakfast board is amazing!!!"

"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!!"

"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"

"New favorite cafe, a hidden gem"

"Nice place, good coffee and lovely staff."

"A fantastic cafe with friendly efficient service, delicious meals and tasty beverages. There's lots of seating both indoors and outdoors."

"The food and the customer service are always fantastic here."

"Nice place frequented by local on the west side"

"Nice local brunch, love the back seating"

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

"What an incredible cafe! Totally stumbled across this today and will definitely be making regular trips back here. Food on point, coffee just divine, atmosphere perfect and location private and secluded. Get down and support this local business - you will be glad you did!"

"Well ."

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

"Great local cafe. Awesome food and great coffee."

"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."

"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!"

"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."

"Always yum and staff are friendly"

"Good service and food. Nice ambiance"

"I'd been meaning to visit for a couple of years now after hearing about your effort to reduce food waste. We had a great time. Your staff are super friendly and were great with my preschooler who was creating a small amount of chaos. The food was tasty and in large portions."

"Coffee spot on. ..staff helpful. Meals delicious. Jezza"

"Really great local cafe. Coffee is nice, foid is great and the staff are all lovely."

"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."

"Pre gud."

"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."

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

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

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

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

"Delicious brunch meals with kid-friendly menu selections as well as the availability of high-chairs. The staff are friendly and attentive. The indoor dining area can be pretty warm during warmer days, however."

"Great flat white!"

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

"Great location and great coffee"

"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."

"Great spot for coffees and a meal with colleagues."

"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."

"Great coffee and excellent menu, all the usuals with a bit of a twist. Photo of the mushroom with chilli scramble and the fritters. Loved also all the gf options and a great kids menu. The service was excellent. I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu."

"Cute little coffee place ❤️"

"Great food"

"The food and service here is outstanding. The menu is full of surprises and is always great. The coffee is awesome and so are the sweets"

"This place has got to have one of the most creative and delicious brunch menus out there. Dog friendly which is great, and great coffee and service"

"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."

"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!"

"Cool place"

"Always good coffee and great food. The menu changes regularly and keeps me coming back."

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

"Good ambience and creative food. The overall experience was fantastic."

"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 nice little cafe whixh serves great food!"

"Delicious food! I’ll be back again!"

"Great cafe with excellent coffee, fresh squeezed juices and sensational food. Just tried their house made Rueben Sandwich and it was exceptional - absolutely delicious. This is all topped off by friendly efficient service and lots of street parking nearby. Highly recommend this cafe!"

"Guys keep up the great work, me and my husband will be back very soon."

"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."

"A quaint and inviting cafe tucked away in a residential area. It offers creative and delicious interpretations of traditional breakfast options and the staff are friendly and attentive. It's also reasonably priced. Check it out!"

"The staff, the coffee, the food"

"Great neighborhood Cafe with food that is not your standard and great coffee"

"Great coffee... Nice environment... Great people We tried the Mexican bowl and chicken burger and we loved it..."

"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."

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

"Yummy food and friendly staff"

"This has always been a great spot but it has been elevated to a new level with recent ownership. The food is absolutely exceptional, don't miss the Turkish Eggs or Wild Mushrooms and their homemade cakes are a little too tempting...... This is everything you want in a cafe; relaxing, excellent service, food that may appear later in your dreams (just me?!) a daily paper to flick through and some inspirational books to help you identify your next hiking/driving adventure. Thanks DSE team for doing such amazing things with our gem of a neighbourhood cafe."

"Great hidden gem in Moonee Ponds. Going to be a regular."

"Chicken burg is the best"

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

"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."

"Great food. Super friendly staff."

"Fantastic service, very welcoming & kind, great environment to be in. The coffee and muffins are perfect The management is exceptional Would definitely recommend others"

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

"Very busy. Menu looks great but the chicken pie special was not fantastic. Coffee was good though."

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

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

"Lovely staff, really tasty food"

"Great breakfast and coffee!"

"Great coffee"

"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."

"Wonderful atmosphere a perfect cafe to have some brunch. Made me and my friend feel very welcome."

"Very nice food and coffee with attentive and friendly staff who were down for a chat but also quick with the order. Will be back."

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

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

"Really cute little place with good food"

"Great food and service."

"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."

"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"

"Friendly service and delicious food which was tasty, generous portion size and was dished up so beautifully. Little bit of a wait on a Sunday and a tad expensive but otherwise great! I highly recommend the avo toast with smoked salmon"

"Best eggs benedict I've had anywhere"

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

"Had a great brunch here yesterday, delish fritters and strong espresso but, Guys, move the juicer out of the main room!!"

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

"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."

"Delicious crab omelette with laksa sauce."

"Nice food"

"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 :)"

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

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

"Great place, great food!"

"My favourite brunch spot."

"Great imaginative food. Friendly staff. Attractive décor. Hot water served with espresso for long black."

"This place is awesome.. never had a bad meal (breaky roll and the burgers)and the coffee is some of the best in the west side."

"Delicious food and staffs is friendly"

"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.."

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

"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"

"Great service and fan cappuccino"

"Great coffee and friendly staff!"

"We were staying at a friend's house around the corner and decided to have breakfast here. The coffee was great and the food exceptional! Highly recommended!"

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

"Great food, friendly service and awesome cold drip coffee. 5 stars"

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

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

"Good coffee and chicken burgers"

"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!"

"Do yourself a favour, get the breakfast board!"

"Awesome nice Cafe with really good food!"

"Always great service, friendly staff and terrific food/coffee. So blessed to have this little gem just around the corner."

"Paige and the other staff are great and the food and decor is special"

"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"

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

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

"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!"

"Love this Cafe with very good menu, very good coffee and gorgeous outdoor seating in the backyard. Coffee is not for the faint hearted - strong and lots of creama. And I love there Reuben sandwich! Moist, lots of pastrami and sauerkraut. So nice to get decent coffee in this neighbourhood."

"Great outdoor garden"

"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."

"A fantastic setting to get some admin work done accompanied by great coffee, scrumptious food and lovely staff!"

"Great little spot for coffee and breakfast"

"Good food and coffee"

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

"Great coffee, great food, lovely friendly staff and cafe owner. Probably the best potato rosti you will find!"

"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"

"Wonderful coffee"

"Wish this was my local"

"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"

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

"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!"

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

"Presentation FTW! We're regulars here. :)"

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

"Fave cafe in Melb basically!"

"Lovely food and a nice courtyard"

"Good cafe"

"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)"

"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."

"Great cafe, amazing food and fantastic vibe."

"Amazing coffee and food and superb service Very inviting atmosphere aa+"

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

"Delicious brekkie roll and super juice, dog friendly if you sit in the back alley"

"Fantastic cafe"

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