Best Cafes for Readers

If you’re anything like the Festival team, you love a good cup of coffee. During this high-caffeine-intake phase, known as the “campaign launch”, we thought we should share some of our favourite coffee spots with our equally caffeine addicted fans.

Thousand £ Bend
361 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000

1000 £ Bend (Photo via Time Out Melbourne)

Based in an old motorcycle repair garage, Thousand £ Bend is part cafe, part gallery and part cinema. While we loath to use this cliché – this café has a decidedly vintage charm with its mismatched chairs and op-shop artefacts.

The League of Honest Coffee
8 Exploration Lane, Melbourne, VIC, 3000 (entrance on Little Lonsdale Street)

The League of Honest Coffee (Photo credit Shaun Lee via Meld Magazine)

The large square tables at The League make this spot great for groups wishing to partake in some intense discussions (read: festival program meetings). On the other hand, if you’re after a bit of privacy to finish the last few pages of your book, the cosy corner tables are an equally good option. Their coffee, which was included in The Age’s Coffee Army Top 25 Melbourne Cafes, is served in handleless mugs (or more accurately, mini bowls) .

The Moat
176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000 (The Wheeler Centre basement)

The Moat (Photo via Time Out Melbourne)

Our next-door neighbours, The Moat offers festival staff a little patch of green grass to rest on after a hard day in the office. The Moat also plays host to the odd Wheeler Centre event and literary do. Bookish types are definitely welcome.

The Journal
253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, VIC , 3000

The Journal (Photo via Time Out Melbourne)

Located in the same building as CAE and the Melbourne City Library, The Journal is a good option for students and Flinders Lane lovers. Their hole-in-the-wall canteen makes getting a mid-library session snack easy. As an added bonus, if you have a Melbourne City Library account you can access their free Wi-Fi over lunch.

Manchester Press
8 Rankins Lane, Melbourne, VIC, 3000 (off Little Bourke Street)

Manchester Press (Photo via Time Out Melbourne)

There’s normally a little wait at Manchester Press, the busy café tucked into a laneway off Little Bourke Street. After you’ve had your name written with chalk on the entrance wall’s bricks you’re free to enjoy your book until you’re directed to a free seat – normally at one of the large communal tables. Truth be told, we’re just amused by their latte art which can be anything from pirates to bunnies.