Dundas & Faussett — Restaurant in Melbourne

Dundas & Faussett is one of Melbourne’s standout cafés for breakfast and brunch — the kind of place that combines consistently excellent food with a warm, buzzing atmosphere. It’s stylish without being pretentious, and it has that perfect balance of being a local favourite while still feeling like a bit of a treat.

The breakfast and brunch menu is exceptional. Everything is fresh, generous, and beautifully presented, with plenty of classics alongside creative twists. The eggs are always cooked perfectly, the sourdough is spot on, and the seasonal specials show real care and imagination. Dishes like smashed avocado, pancakes, and hearty grain bowls sit comfortably next to more refined options, so there’s something for every taste and appetite.

The coffee is consistently excellent — smooth, strong, and crafted with care by skilled baristas. It’s exactly what you’d want to start the day, and it pairs perfectly with both a quick takeaway pastry or a long sit-down brunch. Juices and smoothies are also great, adding to the health-conscious side of the menu.

The space itself is light-filled, modern, and welcoming, with a relaxed energy that makes it equally good for catching up with friends, enjoying a solo breakfast, or even getting a bit of work done over coffee. Despite being busy (and it often is), the service is friendly, professional, and efficient, so everything flows smoothly.

What really sets Dundas & Faussett apart is the consistency. Every visit delivers the same high standard — fresh produce, excellent cooking, great coffee, and attentive service. It’s the kind of café that quickly becomes a favourite and one you’ll keep coming back to again and again.

For anyone looking for a top-tier breakfast or brunch spot in Melbourne, Dundas & Faussett delivers on all fronts: quality food, excellent coffee, and a lively but...

Absolutely and continuously the very worst service I (and my friends) have ever experienced.

Seriously, it's as if the owner hires his staff on the basis of how good they look in short shorts or skin tight jeans. He certainly doesn't hire them for their competence.

For example: you may be utterly ignored for literally 30 minutes or more. When you finally are served you'll find the staff desultory, rude, surly, resentful and providing the absolute minimum in terms of customer service - actually, strike that, they don't even pretend to give service; it's beyond even just going through the motions. Dirty crockery and cutlery is the norm, and don't dare even attempt to ask for something that has a semblance of cleanliness lest you suffer their baleful wrath. It seems to be the norm that these staff spend more time chatting amongst themselves than serving their customers.

The staff don't care at all, and the fact that the owner continues to employ these types of people, sees the service they provide and accepts it as good enough just goes to clearly demonstrate that he doesn't care either; he doesn't care about your experience, he just wants your money.

How this place is still in business is beyond me. Horrible, horrible service, mediocre coffee, average food - and they even have the audacity to charge a surcharge on public holidays (even though penalty rates no longer apply).

Who the hell are these people kidding???

Avoid like the plague.

If you want high quality service and a shining example of how it should be done - every single time - head a little further out and go to Batch on Carlisle street in Balaclava. They know how it's done and do...

We stopped visiting this overhyped place for awhile now. Food is average (strange fusion stuff) and overpriced. Not to mention service standards depends on the mood of their staff or the weather or the moon cycles, goodness knows what.

Just this afternoon, a staff (brunette male) showed us just how low they could go and further affirms why we stopped patronizing.

We are Albert Park locals and my children scoot and bike to school daily. They're explicitly taught to dismount when they go past cafes and to be aware of foot traffic especially of elderly and young children walking in and out of these shops.

Just awhile ago, my son passed your cafe while pushing his bike, navigating the crowd. A woman stepped into his path and onto his bike. A staff member of your cafe took it upon himself to humiliate my son by yelling loudly at him. His crazy rant went on even after my son had walked off. My son would not stay to be shamed when he hadn't done anything wrong. Patrons stared but he continued yelling even after my son had crossed the road to Laurent.

I would like to hear from management, what gives this man the right to yell at and shame my child in a public place?? There was no injury, the woman was absolutely fine. Does this staff member represent the ethos of your cafe, if you had one?

A kind man from across the street heard this nonsensical rave and came over to ask if my son was ok. Yes, people could hear this shouty staff from across the street!

I'm glad we never patronized this cafe again and never will. I will not recommend this place to anyone unless you enjoy being snubbed by their wait staff. It's...