The Kettle Black

South Melbourne’s undisputed temple to brunch. Right by Anzac station—and a mandatory pitstop for the Grand Prix crowd—The Kettle Black pairs a gorgeous exterior with aggressively chic modern design. The aesthetic is stunning. But the real draw? The plate. The kitchen flexes serious culinary muscle with hyper-creative fare. Discerning early-risers pack the terrace for the beef brisket pastrami benedict stacked on a crispy potato rosti. Sweet tooths? The cheesecake croffle layered with earthy matcha custard and hibiscus-soaked strawberries is absolute madness. Melbourne’s notoriously picky caffeine devotees validate the espresso program here daily. A light-roast iced long black delivers a distinctly nutty profile—pure clarity—while the flat whites boast perfectly textured micro-foam. Expect a buzzing, high-energy dining room. It gets loud. But score a table with a salted maple cold brew in hand, and you'll understand exactly why this spot dominates the morning scene.