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.
Seven Seeds Carlton
Flagship cafe of Melbourne roaster Seven Seeds, in its former Carlton roastery near the university, serving specialty coffee and an all-day menu.
At a glance
- Type
- Specialty coffee cafe
- Area
- Carlton, Melbourne, Australia
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- sevenseeds.com.au
Why we recommend it
Seven Seeds has been part of Melbourne's specialty coffee scene since 2007, and its Carlton cafe at 114 Berkeley Street is the company's flagship. The building is the former roastery site, a warehouse in the university district a little north of Queen Victoria Market, and today it offers dine-in and takeaway service along with retail shelves of packaged beans. The group was founded by Mark Dundon and its roasting now happens at its headquarters in Fairfield.
Coffee is the focus. Seven Seeds is known for single-origin, seasonal and ethically sourced coffee. The retail shelves stock packaged beans, which staff will grind in the shop, and you can bring your own container to be filled with the House Blend or the F.Bomb Filter Blend, a useful option for travellers staying in an apartment with a coffee maker. Cupping sessions have been held here in the past and are not running at present, though the cafe has said they may return.
The kitchen serves an all-day dine-in menu, with vegetarian and vegan options and clear labelling of dishes that contain gluten, nuts, fructose or dairy, and a PDF of the menu is published on the official website. Last food orders are taken an hour before closing. The room seats close to 100 people, does not take bookings and is wheelchair accessible, so it suits groups as well as solo visitors.
Opening hours are 7am to 5pm on weekdays and 8am to 5pm at weekends, with variations on public holidays posted on the venue news page.
The group also runs Suburbia Bakery in Fairfield, near its roastery, as well as Brother Baba Budan, a small cafe at 359 Little Bourke Street in the city centre named after the Sufi said to have brought coffee to India in the sixteenth century, and a cafe called Traveller, which are handy if you cannot get to Carlton. Seven Seeds Carlton is within walking distance of Queen Victoria Market and the University of Melbourne, so it fits well into a morning at the market or a walk through Carlton towards Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building. For enquiries, call (03) 9347 8664.
Seven Seeds Carlton FAQs
Where is Seven Seeds Carlton?
At 114 Berkeley Street, Carlton, a little north of Queen Victoria Market.
What are the opening hours?
7am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Public holiday hours vary.
Can I book a table?
No. The cafe does not take bookings.
Is there food?
Yes. An all-day menu is served, with vegetarian and vegan options; last orders are an hour before closing.
Can I buy coffee beans?
Yes. Packaged beans can be ground in store, and you can bring your own container for a refill of selected blends.
Is the cafe wheelchair accessible?
Yes.
Are cupping sessions available?
Not at present, though the cafe may bring them back.
Does Seven Seeds have a city cafe?
Yes. Brother Baba Budan at 359 Little Bourke Street is part of the same group.