CIEL Cafe

CIEL Cafe sits on Cecil Street in Southbank, the busy riverside precinct just across the Yarra from the Melbourne CBD. A well-loved cafe, it's become a genuine local favourite — the kind of welcoming, quality spot that draws a steady stream of workers, residents and visitors for good coffee and casual fare in a relaxed setting.

The appeal is that combination of quality cafe food, good coffee and a friendly, relaxed feel in a convenient Southbank location, ideal for a morning coffee, a casual brunch or a catch-up near the river and the arts precinct. In a busy part of the city, a consistently well-rated cafe stands out, and the loyal following speaks to a place getting the fundamentals right.

With a 4.7 rating from more than 700 reviews, it's clearly delighting its customers. Menus, opening hours and offerings change with the seasons, and a popular Southbank cafe gets busy at peak times, so it's worth checking current details before a special trip — though for a coffee and a casual bite, it's often just a matter of dropping in and seeing why it's so well rated.