Café
Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar
Italian espresso bar on Bourke Street since 1954, with its original 1950s fit-out, a long marble counter and simple pasta dishes served without bookings.
Patricia Coffee Brewers
Tiny standing-room-only espresso bar off Little Bourke Street, open weekdays only and offering a simple choice of black, white or filter coffee.
At a glance
- Type
- Standing-room espresso bar
- Area
- Melbourne CBD, Melbourne, Australia
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Opening
- Open 5 days a week (closed Saturday, Sunday) · 07:00–16:00
- Official site
- patriciacoffee.com.au
Why we recommend it
Patricia Coffee Brewers is a small, weekday-only coffee bar at the rear of 493-495 Little Bourke Street in the Melbourne CBD. It is Melbourne coffee culture at its most stripped back: there are no tables and no long menu, just a counter, standing room for customers and a rotating selection of specialty beans.
The ordering system is deliberately simple. Rather than choosing from a list of drinks, you ask for black, white or filter, and the coffee comes from whichever specialty beans are on rotation. That makes it easy for visitors who want a well-made coffee without having to study a menu, and because the selection rotates, a second visit later in the week may bring a different coffee. The online shop sells filter coffee for brewing at home.
The bar has a European feel, and because it is very small and standing room only, it is a place to drink your coffee at the counter or take it with you rather than somewhere to settle in with a laptop or a long breakfast. Visitors looking for brunch should head instead to one of the larger cafes in this guide, such as Seven Seeds in Carlton or Proud Mary in Collingwood, and treat Patricia as a quick stop between sights.
Patricia now has a second site, Patricia 2, at 15/50 Lonsdale Street in the city, with the same hours. Both are open from 7am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and both close at weekends and on public holidays, so plan a weekend coffee elsewhere. If you are in Melbourne over a long weekend, check the website before setting out. There is no phone number on the website; general and wholesale enquiries go to [email protected].
This is a budget-friendly stop for solo travellers and couples exploring the city centre, and a ten-minute visit is enough. The bar is at the rear of the building rather than on the street front, so allow a moment to find the entrance. Combine it with a walk through the city grid: Little Bourke Street is also home to Tipo 00, and the Block Arcade and the lanes around Collins Street and Flinders Lane are within walking distance for the rest of the morning.
Patricia Coffee Brewers FAQs
Where is Patricia Coffee Brewers?
At the rear of 493-495 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. A second bar, Patricia 2, is at 15/50 Lonsdale Street.
What are the opening hours?
7am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Both sites are closed at weekends and on public holidays.
Is there seating?
No. It is very small and standing room only.
How do I order?
Choose black, white or filter coffee; the beans rotate regularly.
Is Patricia open at weekends?
No. It opens on weekdays only.
Can I buy beans?
Yes, through the online shop on the website.
How do I contact Patricia?
Email [email protected]; no phone number is published.
How long should I allow?
Ten to fifteen minutes for a coffee at the counter.