Hap Cafe — Restaurant in Melbourne

We had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Filipino night at Hap Cafe, and it was truly an exceptional experience. The venue exuded a warm, welcoming atmosphere that immediately made you feel at home, perfectly setting the stage for an authentic Filipino dining experience.

The staff, along with the owner, were incredibly friendly and attentive. A special highlight was chatting with the owner herself, learning about her passion for the business—her enthusiasm and dedication were truly inspiring and added an extra layer of charm to the evening.

Now, let’s talk about the food and drinks—absolutely fantastic. Here’s a breakdown of everything we tried:

Ube Colada $18 Coconut Rum, Ube, coconut water, pineapple juice (obsessed)! Hap Signature Spritz $15 Blue curacao, Prosecco and sparkling water

Lumpia (6 pieces) - $15 Crispy spring rolls filled with pork, carrot, celery, onion, garlic, and egg (vegan option available). Rating: 10/10 These were a standout for us—full of flavor and surprisingly one of our favorite dishes. Crispy, savory, and delicious!

Pork Sisig Tacos (3) - $18 Crispy pork shoulder with onion, avocado, chili, corn & lime salsa, and feta cheese (vegan option available). Rating: 10/10 As a taco lover, these were my personal favorite! The combination of textures and flavors was spot on, and each bite was a burst of savory goodness.

BBQ Skewers with Java Rice (2) - $18 Pork: banana ketchup, soy garlic, lime. Chicken: lemongrass, banana ketchup. Jasmine rice with turmeric, skato, garlic, and onion. Rating: 10/10 This dish was outstanding. The pork and chicken were perfectly cooked, tender, and flavorful, and the rice was a wonderful complement with its rich, aromatic flavors.

Palabok Noodles - $25 Egg noodles with pork, prawns, and calamari in shrimp sauce. Rating: 7/10 While we enjoyed the prawns and calamari, this dish was our least favorite of the night. It felt like it was missing the bold, vibrant flavors that the other dishes had.

Halo Halo (Translates to “Mix Mix”) - $16 Crushed ice, condensed milk, ube ice cream, macapuno (coconut sport), dulce de leche, mung bean, rice crisps, pandan jelly. Rating: 8/10 This was our first time trying a traditional Halo Halo, and it was a fun, refreshing treat! While I personally love each of the ingredients, I think I’d prefer them more individually—especially with my recent obsession with ube. But mixing everything together is the traditional way to enjoy it!

Mango Float - $14 Mango, graham crackers, thickened cream, and condensed milk. Rating: 10/10 Our favorite dessert of the evening! Light, refreshing, and not overly sweet—this was the perfect end to our meal. The fresh mango paired with the graham crackers was absolutely delightful.

Overall, Hap Cafe provides a fantastic dining experience with traditional Filipino dishes that are both delicious and affordable. The atmosphere is vibrant, the staff are warm and welcoming, and the food is fresh and flavorful. It’s a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy authentic...

One of those rare gems where it’s so good, you can’t help but want to leave a review. The coffee (lactose free latte in my case) was pretty much perfect, the mushroom Benedict with miso hollandaise tasted delicious and unique - good portion size too and the poached eggs cooked well.

Really importantly, the service is amazing here. The staff are all very warm-natured and friendly. This is actually my second time here, reason being the first time I visited, I had a croissant bought from down the road. I asked if I could have it with the coffee I’d just bought from Hap, and rather than being uppity about it, they were instead chill, friendly and all too happy to let me (not everywhere is like that). The fact that they were so nice and friendly made me want to visit again and eat their food the next time, and I’m glad I did just that because it’s bloody delicious.

Shout out to the owner, Reneé, who clearly sets the tone for the warm, friendly nature of the cafe and its staff, and obviously takes great pride in the cafe and its unique menu. This is an easy recommendation for anyone in/visiting Carlton, looking for a top tier cafe. Will be...

My family and I had the most delightful experience at Hap Cafe, during Mother's Day brunch. From the moment we stepped in, we were warmly greeted and made to feel special. The atmosphere was inviting and cozy, perfect for a family outing.

The food was exceptional—each dish was crafted with fresh ingredients and was not only delicious but also served in generous portions. I was particularly impressed by the kids' chicken bites; they were made from actual chicken, not frozen nuggets, which earned big smiles from my little ones.

To top it all off, as it was Mother's Day, we were each presented with a lovely specialised gift upon being seated. After our meal, we were surprised with a complimentary heart-shaped cake, which was a sweet and thoughtful gesture.

The service was top-notch—friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. Our server made sure we had everything we needed and took great care of us throughout our visit.

Overall, our experience at Hap Cafe was exceptional, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for delicious food, great atmosphere, and wonderful service. We'll...