Cafeography
Melbourne · Hawthorn & Kew

Cafés in Hawthorn & Kew

Liar Liar on Kinkora Road, Bawa on Burwood Road, Hello Sailor on Auburn Road and Kew's own roaster.

Photo: Paul Macallan, Pexels License

Hawthorn sits about 6 km east of the CBD, with trains at Hawthorn and Glenferrie stations and tram routes 16, 48, 70, 72, 75 and 109 crossing it.1 Swinburne University of Technology is based here, and Glenferrie Road is the main shopping strip, with Hawthorn Town Hall, opened in 1889, near its corner with Burwood Road; it reopened in late 2013 as the Hawthorn Arts Centre.1

Kew lies to the north, its shops gathered along High Street and around Kew Junction, where the first store opened in 1853.2 Broadsheet's suburb guides place the cafés of both on those same roads.37 One Auburn Road café is run by a navy veteran, and a Denmark Street shop in Kew roasts its own blend.

Local tip: Plenty of Hawthorn and Kew cafés close by 16:00, so plan on a morning coffee; Ora Specialty Coffee on Pakington Street opens at 07:00 on weekdays.7

At a glance

79Cafés listed
4With opening hours
07:00Earliest opening
16:00Latest closing
  • Opens earliest: Adeney Milkbar Cafe, from 07:00 (Mon–Fri 07:00–16:00 · Sat–Sun 08:00–16:00).
  • Most listed streets: Glenferrie Rd (11), Burwood Rd (9), Auburn Rd (7).
  • Most common features: outdoor seating (6%), specialty (4%), bakery café (3%).

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Coffee chains in Hawthorn & Kew

Liar Liar and Hawthorn's first specialty cup

Liar Liar, on Kinkora Road, is what Broadsheet calls "the first serious coffee destination in Hawthorn".3 Nolan Hirte of Proud Mary and Nathan Toleman of Top Paddock opened it, and The Coffee Culture Communication Group took over in 2015.4 As of 2018 it still made espresso with Proud Mary beans on a Synesso Hydra, the link to its founders having outlasted the sale.4 The same group also owns Prospect Espresso, Einstein's 251 and Loco Coffee.4

Bawa on Burwood Road

Bawa, at 248 Burwood Road, takes its name and its look from Geoffrey Bawa, the Sri Lankan architect who popularized "tropical modernism", a style that blends buildings with the landscape.5 Plants burst from the light fittings, jungle prints hang on the walls and the street-side windows open completely.5 As of 2019 it served Dukes coffee with a potato rösti, braised pork and a herb hollandaise, and chia pudding with rosewater.5

Auburn Road, Church Street and Riversdale Road

Hello Sailor, at 89 Auburn Road, is named for a family story. Owner Wade Nicholson-Doyle's grandfather, William "Paddy" Doyle, was an Irish sailor in the Royal Navy who jumped ship to start again in Australia in 1942, and Nicholson-Doyle served about ten years in the navy himself.6 As of 2017 the coffee came from Seven Seeds.6

Sardi, at 111 Church Street, covers wider ground, with a menu Broadsheet says runs from superfoods to southern fried chicken.3 Finders Keepers Cafe, on Riversdale Road, is described there as small in size but big in heart.3

Kew: Denmark Street, Pakington Street and the old asylum

Percy's Aeroplane Cafe, at 96 Denmark Street, is Wesley Lim and Michael Smith's, and as of 2023 it roasted its own blend on site and offered single origins as well.8 Broadsheet sums it up as two café-loving guys and a yellow espresso machine.7

Ora Specialty Coffee, on Pakington Street, is run by what Broadsheet calls seasoned inner-city baristas, and it opens at 07:00 on weekdays and 08:00 at weekends.7 Willsmere Station, at 158, and Willo Cafe, on Willsmere Road, share a name with the Willsmere Estate, the former Kew Lunatic Asylum, completed by 1871.2

Sources

  1. Hawthorn, Victoria, Wikipedia, accessed November 2026
  2. Kew, Victoria, Wikipedia, accessed November 2026
  3. Best Cafes in Hawthorn, Broadsheet Melbourne (updated May 10, 2024), accessed November 2026
  4. Liar Liar, Broadsheet Melbourne (updated March 13, 2018), accessed November 2026
  5. Bawa, Broadsheet Melbourne (updated May 6, 2019), accessed November 2026
  6. Hello Sailor, Broadsheet Melbourne (updated September 21, 2017), accessed November 2026
  7. Best Cafes in Kew, Broadsheet Melbourne (updated May 10, 2024), accessed November 2026
  8. Percy's Aeroplane, Broadsheet Melbourne (updated April 11, 2023), accessed November 2026
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In Hawthorn & Kew, also browse: Specialty coffee Brunch Outdoor seating Bakery cafés

FAQ

Hawthorn & Kew cafés: questions

What was the first specialty coffee café in Hawthorn, Melbourne?

Broadsheet calls Liar Liar, on Kinkora Road, the first serious coffee destination in Hawthorn. Nolan Hirte of Proud Mary and Nathan Toleman of Top Paddock opened it, and The Coffee Culture Communication Group took over in 2015. As of 2018 its espresso used Proud Mary beans on a Synesso Hydra machine.

Why is Hello Sailor in Hawthorn, Melbourne called that?

Hello Sailor, at 89 Auburn Road in Hawthorn, is named for owner Wade Nicholson-Doyle's family navy tradition. His grandfather, William "Paddy" Doyle, was an Irish Royal Navy sailor who jumped ship to start again in Australia in 1942. Nicholson-Doyle himself served about ten years in the navy.

Which cafés in Kew, Melbourne roast or specialize in coffee?

In Kew, Melbourne, Percy's Aeroplane Cafe on Denmark Street, owned by Wesley Lim and Michael Smith, roasted its own blend on site as of 2023 and offers single origins. Ora Specialty Coffee on Pakington Street is run by seasoned inner-city baristas and opens at 07:00 on weekdays and 08:00 at weekends.

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