The best pancakes in Melbourne

There’s a reason Top Paddock’s iconic blueberry and ricotta hotcake sells like, well, hotcakes. The oversized dessert comes dolloped with double cream, jewelled with seasonal berries, doused in maple syrup, and sprinkled with toasted seeds for an added crunch. If you’re not Richmond-based, sister restaurants Higher Ground and Kettle Black also sling the signature dish.

An institution since 1977, Stokers Fine Pancakes has dedicated ‘night sessions’ to satisfy all your late-night cravings. For the resident sweet tooth, there’s everything from matcha tiramisu to banana flambé, while on the savoury end of the spectrum you can expect pastrami and sauerkraut, and spinach, ricotta and caramelised onions. If you’re in the mood to share, the crisp pancake chips are a must.

Adozen Adozen takes “light and fluffy” pancakes to a whole other level with its cloud-like creations. The Japanese-inspired menu rotates seasonally and features standouts like honey with Weet-Bix-flecked butter, Japanese hojicha (roasted green tea) and even bonito-flaked okonomiyaki.

Conveniently located beside Glenferrie station, this simple eatery is a local favourite, adored for its friendly service, reasonable prices and moreish selection of sweet crêpes and savoury galettes. For the ultimate flavour fusion, pair your crêpe with one of the café’s twenty flavours of bubble tea.

What kind of round-up would this be if we didn’t include Australia’s famous Pancake Parlour? Boasting 11 stores Melbourne-wide, the Parlour has built a loyal following for its eclectic menu starring pretty much every combination you can imagine: bacon and eggs; raspberry and rhubarb; vegan “chocnana crunch”; and even a pancake lasagne.

Whether you’re in the CBD waiting for a show to start, needing a post-shop snack, or just in the mood for a taste of France’s best, La Petite Crêperie is the city’s iconic street kiosk ready to scratch your crêpe itch. Operating out of a re-fitted newsstand, La Petite Crêperie makes to order, so you can catch all the action of fruit, nuts and homemade sauces being flipped into a crêpey embrace in real-time.

Featuring lush greenery, exposed brick walls and industrial warehouse vibes, Hobba has a laid-back feel that’s perfect for casual brunches and first dates. Sweet treat seekers should choose the ricotta-filled hotcakes, drizzled with maple syrup and topped with whipped citrus and vanilla mascarpone, seasonal berries, and chunks of golden honeycomb. 

Owned by a Parisian crêpier, it doesn’t get much more authentic than Roule Galette. Stick to the crêpe basics, like cinnamon sugar and maple syrup, or get experimental with the likes of garlicky Burgundy escargot and the flamingly good Famous Suzette.

Serving great coffee and an Insta-worthy menu that tastes just as good as it looks, Legacy is a regular haunt for brunch aficionados. For your pancake fix, grab the Big Stack: a pile of thick orange and ricotta hotcakes, topped with vanilla bean mascarpone, mixed berry compote and your own jug of maple syrup.

An Insta-haven, Feekah is the Elle Woods of cafés – decked out head to toe in pink. After you've snapped your selfie in the rose-covered telephone box, order the rainbow pancakes: a chubby multi-coloured stack accompanied by a scoop of psychedelic ice cream and a giant cotton candy cloud. In honour of all things pink, there’s an option to add bacon, too.