The Bond Store

The Bond Store brings a European-leaning cafe experience to Southbank, occupying one of Melbourne’s original warehouse spaces opposite Eureka Tower. Its setting is a clear part of the appeal: instead of a standard high-rise dining room, you’ll find a cafe in an older, characterful building, making it a distinctive stop for breakfast, lunch or a coffee break in the city.

The kitchen serves breakfast throughout the day, with a menu that ranges from simple toast and free-range eggs to more substantial cafe classics. Standout options include croque monsieur with bechamel, farmhouse ham and a fried egg; a smoked salmon bagel with avocado, cucumber, capers and cream cheese; and miso smashed avocado with poached eggs, fetta, cherry tomatoes, roasted hazelnuts and beetroot hummus. There are also sweet choices such as house-made granola with seasonal fruit and Greek yoghurt, while the lunch menu covers sandwiches, rolls, panini and a roast sweet potato and couscous salad.

Drinks are given plenty of attention, with house-blend espresso, filter coffee, matcha and turmeric lattes, tea, thickshakes and a selection of juices, including cold-pressed options. The venue also offers locally produced and imported wine and bottled beer, with its European wine and beer selection changing regularly. That makes it suitable for a quick morning coffee, a relaxed daytime meal or a later catch-up with a drink.

The Bond Store says it has been serving food in Southbank for more than 20 years, sourcing produce with an emphasis on quality. It caters to different styles of visit: solo diners can settle in for coffee and breakfast, while the broad menu gives groups a range of choices for a daytime meal. After-hours private events are also available, adding another use for the warehouse space beyond its regular cafe service.