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Alimentari Deli
Sipping coffee while gazing out at lively Brunswick Street is a quintessential Fitzroy experience. Alimentari is a perfect spot for lunch in Fitzroy, offering a seasonal menu that regularly features fresh, new recipes. For 25 years, ever since its founding by locals Dolores and Linda, Alimentari has been a neighbourhood landmark.
In the early days, Alimentari was known as a spot for panini and coffee. While these old favourites are still available, the deli has expanded its menu to include salads, cocktails, and wines. Whether you want to eat in its rustic dining area or grab a take-home meal while on the go, Alimentari has your cravings covered.
251 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy | alimentari.com.au
Babka
When you think of Russian food, sandwiches probably aren’t the first options that come to mind. But the European-inspired cafe and bakery Babka has never been a conventional place. A staple of the Melbourne food scene, Babka was founded over 30 years ago by Sasha Lewis and Frieda Ezard.
The tarts, pastries, and pies have been what built Babka’s loyal following over the years. Even after Lewis sold the shop to its new owner, Chris Messinis, in August last year, Babka’s charm and identity remain intact. Their selection of sandwiches tastes best when followed up with one of their mouth-watering desserts, with the lemon tart being a popular classic.
358 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy | Instagram
Egglab
A well-made breakfast sandwich is an easy way to start the day, and you’ll want to visit Egglab for some of the best egg-heavy breakfast buns in the city. There’s a short and snappy menu featuring breakfast staples like avocado, halloumi, and bacon and more indulgent items like cheeseburger patties and deep-fried chicken schnitzels.
Since opening as a takeaway-only window in 2017, Egglab has quickly built its reputation among Melbourne foodies. Today, founders Greg Papas and Jana Andrianopoulos are happy to be known as the spot for breakfast sandwiches in Fitzroy.
122 Johnston Street, Fitzroy | egglab.com.au
Frankie’s Tortas and Tacos
Tortas are Mexican cuisine’s finest contribution to the global sandwich pantheon. Stuffed full of juicy meat, delicious refried beans, and tangy chili sauce, it’s the type of sandwich you’ll keep returning to after a night of drinking with friends. Luckily, Frankie’s Tortas and Tacos serves both sandwiches and drinks at the same restaurant, so you won’t have to go far to fill your belly!
The restaurant started its life as a food truck in 2019 run by founders Stuart Morton and Todd Vanneste. However, by 2022, Frankie’s had such a loyal following that they were able to shift to a larger brick-and-mortar venue in Fitzroy. The newer location seats about 40 people and still fills up! You can also order online and pick up your tortas from the restaurant to eat at home. All of this puts Frankie’s on one of the top slots in our ‘best Fitzroy sandwiches’ list.
30 Johnston Street, Fitzroy | tortasandtacos.com.au
Hector’s Deli
They say “the third time’s the charm,” and Hector’s Deli’s third location might just be its most popular. For starters, it’s right here in Fitzroy, arguably one of Melbourne’s buzziest food districts. Also, the popular favourites from Richmond and South Melbourne locations are back on the menu, along with some exciting new sandwich offerings.
Run by chef Dom Wilton, who has a fine-dining background, Hector’s Deli elevates the simple sandwich to an art form. There are toasted sandwiches, fried sandwiches and fresh sandwiches to choose from, along with a selection of salads.
Or why not have the best of both worlds and go for the always-popular Chicken Salad sandwich instead?
111 Moor Street, Fitzroy | hectorsdeli.com.au
JollyGood Junior
While the pandemic was a tough time for us Melbournites, it did lead to the birth of JollyGood sandwiches—definitely a silver lining. When Gimlet, the restaurant where sous chef Raphael Exton Perry was forced to close operations due to restrictions, he launched his passion project.
JollyGood has grown from a junior chef’s side hustle to a Melbourne must-try in just a few short years. There are two locations, but JollyGood Junior on Brunswick Street is the perfect spot for a Fitzroy sandwich break. Working with local bakers to source soft ciabatta, JollyGood Junior is at the forefront of Melbourne’s food culture and serves up some of the best sandwiches Fitzroy can offer.
375 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy | jollygoodmelbourne.com
Just Falafs
A perfectly crunchy falafel tucked into a warm, soft pita is a shortcut to Middle Eastern flavours packed into a Fitzroy sandwich. Run by mother and son duo Teresa and Troy Christou, Just Falafs is a small sandwich store serving delicious pita pockets ideal for eating in or takeaway.
The store is located right opposite Edinburgh Gardens, so you can take your sandwich with you for a scenic stroll or to enjoy while you lounge on the lawns. Classic Middle Eastern ingredients like roasted eggplant, harissa spice mix, and of course hummus and tahini are on the menu, just waiting for you to dive in. The pickles are delicious too, order an extra side if they are your thing.
207 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North | justfalafs.com.au
Mile End Bagels
Bringing Montreal’s love for bagels to Melbourne is Mile End Bagels, one of the only bagel joints in the city that offers a different take compared to the usual New York style offerings. At Mile End Bagels, co-owners Michael Fee and Benjamin Vaughan prepare their own bagel dough in the Montreal style, boiling the bagels in honey water before finishing them in their custom-built wood-fired bagel oven.
Mile End Bagels opened its doors in 2016 in its Fitzroy location. With bagels this good, they had to grow, and today, you can pick up these handmade bagels from four different locations across Melbourne.
14 Johnston Street, Fitzroy | mile-end.com.au
Morning Market
Located on the corner of Gertrude Street and Brunswick Street, Morning Market is a grocery store, cafe and delicatessen all rolled into one. It’s open seven days a week, and the items on its shelves are reminiscent of the wares found in European food markets. If you’re looking to elevate your home cooking with some fancy ingredients hand-picked by Melbourne chef Andrew McConnell, you should add Morning Market to your shopping trips.
The store also has an outdoor dining area where you can bite into a classic Fitzroy sandwich while watching the city on the move. If you’d like to recreate the flavours of these sandwiches at home, be sure to pick up a loaf of their Baker Bleu bread while you’re at the store.
59 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy | morning.market
New World Sandwiches
Fitzroy’s newest hangout is serving up more than just killer toasties. New World Sandwiches is all about hot, melty sandwiches that pack a flavour punch. Locals in the know rave about the Punjabi Tandoori chicken and Avocado sandwich creations. Pair your toastie with a cold-pressed juice or some of the best coffee going in Fitzroy, and you’ve got yourself a perfect start to the day.
The cozy reading corner, complete with a book swap, makes this spot more than just a sandwich shop—it’s a great little slice of community. Fresh on the scene but already a local hit, this place is a must-visit.
385 Brunswick St, Fitzroy | Instagram
Nico’s Sandwich Deli
There are times in the food industry when a product is just so good that the owners have to consider making a pop-up stall a permanent venue. That’s the story of Nico’s Sandwich Deli, which has been serving the people of Fitzroy sandwiches since 2020.
Food industry veterans and store owners Marcus DeSantis, Leo Thompson and Tom Peasnell had to deal with just this situation when getting their sandwich shop in Fitzroy up and running.
When the original location had to close in 2020 due to Covid restrictions, the owners shifted to a spot in Fitzroy. Now, even with the original location in Melbourne CBD serving customers, the Fitzroy branch is going strong, with a loyal following of customers waiting to take a bite out of their made-to-order sandwiches.
While everything is mouth-watering, locals in the know order the Cubano: a delicious combination of pork belly, grandma ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, cos lettuce and American mustard.
100 Kerr Street, Fitzroy | nicos.melbourne
Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks
The Philly cheesesteak is a classic American sandwich and a bar food staple across the world. It’s fitting then that one of Fitzroy’s best sandwich spots is hidden away inside a bar on Gertrude Street. Step into The Catfish Bar in Fitzroy, and you’ll discover a menu of lovingly crafted cheesesteak variations to pair with your favourite craft beer.
Owners Sammy Lynch and Geno Sparrow take pride in recreating authentic American-style cheesesteaks. They painstakingly source their cheese from America to give Fitzroy’s sandwich lovers a cheesy experience in the best possible sense of the word!
30 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy | sparrowsphillysteaks.com.au
Standing Room Coffee
Most Melbournites have fond memories of their caffeine-fuelled university days. And if their time in university occurred after 2013, then that caffeine kick was likely brought to them by Standing Room Coffee. After operating takeaway stores on campuses for nearly a decade, the brand’s founders, Thomas Kelly and Jordan Taylor, finally opened a location off-campus in 2022.
And what a location it is! Placed opposite the scenic Edinburgh Gardens, the new Standing Room Fitzroy North is perfect for those who want more than just coffee. From delicious, crunchy chicken sandwiches to freshly roasted coffee, this cafe will give you a whole new batch of memories to cherish.
187 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North | standingroomcoffee.com.au
Viet Rose Cafe
Asian food has captured Australia’s culinary imagination with its blend of exotic spices and strong, fresh flavours. Vietnamese dishes are some of the best representations of these qualities that have Australian foodies drooling—and Viet Rose in Fitzroy is your chance to tuck into a range of delicious Vietnamese recipes.
If you’re rushing through the neighbourhood but still want to taste Viet Rose’s cooking, grab a crackling pork bánh mì Fitzroy sandwich. Many food bloggers and reviewers online share the opinion that Viet Rose’s bánh mì might hold the title of best in Melbourne!
363 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy | Viet Rose Cafe
