The Espressonist

The Espressonist sits on River Esplanade at Docklands, on the waterfront on the western edge of Melbourne's CBD. A much-loved cafe, it makes the most of its lovely waterside position — combining quality food and good coffee with a relaxed, characterful setting and lovely views over the water, the kind of welcoming spot perfect for a bite or a coffee by the harbour.

The appeal is that combination of quality cafe fare, good coffee and a great waterfront Docklands location, ideal for a morning coffee, a leisurely brunch or a casual catch-up with lovely water views. The waterside setting and a quality cafe offering make it a real draw, and the Espressonist has clearly won over a loyal following.

With a 4.5 rating from more than 650 reviews, it's clearly hitting the mark. Menus, opening hours and offerings change with the seasons, and a popular waterfront cafe gets busy on weekend mornings, so it's worth checking current details before a special trip — though for a great coffee and a quality bite by the water, it's often just a matter of dropping in at the Espressonist at Docklands.