Ballooning + Brunch: Best Spots in Melbourne CBD
After your exhilarating sunrise hot-air-balloon flight over Melbourne, there’s one more ritual to complete the morning: brunch. The city’s café scene is among the world’s most vibrant — and when paired with your balloon adventure, the day becomes truly memorable. Here are some of the best café brunch spots in the Melbourne CBD that perfectly complement your sky-high experience.
Higher Ground
Located at 650 Little Bourke Street in the CBD, Higher Ground is set inside a stunning heritage-listed building offering high ceilings, lush plants and a spacious vibe. Their menu features standout dishes such as chilli scrambled eggs with smoked yoghurt, and the famous ricotta hotcakes. The Urban List+2Concrete Playground+2
Why it’s ideal after a balloon flight: It opens early, is close to the city centre (making it easy to reach after landing), and the elevated brunch setting matches the peaceful, elevated feeling of floating above the city.
Hardware Société
At 10 Katherine Place, just off Little Collins Street, this café blends French-inspired elegance with Melbourne’s café culture. Dishes like buttermilk pancakes, baked eggs and lemon-curd yoghurt feature among their delights. Concrete Playground+2Experiencegift+2
Why it works: If your balloon flight lands early and you return to the city, Hardware Société offers a polished yet relaxed brunch spot where you can savour the moment and enjoy great coffee.
Pocket Espresso
Located in Southbank (part of the broader CBD riverside precinct), Pocket Espresso is a relaxed caféspot offering quality coffee and simple brunch fare. Experiencegift
Why choose it after ballooning: If your landing is close to the Yarra River or Southbank, this café gives you the perfect riverside brunch setting — calm, scenic and in step with the morning’s adventure.
Tips for a Seamless Flight-to-Brunch Transition
Book your brunch table ahead, especially on weekends—Melbourne’s top cafés fill up quickly.
Check landing proximity—when booking your balloon flight, know the approximate landing zone so you can choose a brunch spot that’s easy to get to.
Time your brunch reservation around 11 am to 12 pm — after a typical sunrise flight, this timing works well for a relaxed post-flight meal.
Dress smart-casual—you’ll be coming straight from a serene balloon experience into a trendy café, so comfortable yet neat attire works best.
Extend the morning—the brunch after your flight lets you reflect, share photos, and relive the moments you floated above the city.
Why This Pairing Works So Well
Your balloon flight gives you a rare, quiet moment in the sky. Floating above the city as dawn breaks, the world unfolds beneath you, and you’re suspended in time.
Then brunch… it’s the perfect grounding act. It brings you back to the city, coffee in hand, with stories to tell and a view to savour. The contrast between the sky and the café, the soaring view and the table laden with food, makes the whole experience richer.
✨ Ready to float above Melbourne and brunch in style?
Book your sunrise hot air balloon flight over Melbourne, then choose one of these standout CBD cafés for a perfect post-flight celebration.