If you’ve been to Melbourne’s Federation Square sometime in the last 12 years, chances are you’ve either dined, drank, sat at, or walked past Time Out Café. Perched at the front of Fed Square, overlooking Flinders Station and the city, Time Out Café rescues patrons with breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, cakes and drinks, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It’s popular amongst tourists and locals alike and is an ideal spot to wait for a train, meet with friends, or simply watch the world go by under its signature orange umbrellas.
In line with the sweeping renovation trend in Melbourne CBD, Time Out Café has undergone its own refresh with a new look interior, just reopening this week (the umbrellas and leafy, breezy exterior remain). Together with the new vibrant fit out is a new menu, plus the addition of live DJ’s every Friday from 3pm.
An obvious feature of the new menu is Victorian produce. An already extensive drinks list has been further developed to include more Victorian wines and local craft beer along the likes of Holgate Mt Macedon Pale Ale, Thunder Road Larger and Mountain Goat Steam Ale.
Breakfast is conveniently available til 3pm every day; music to every night owl’s ears when a midweek all day breakfast in the CBD can be hard to find. Lunch and dinner presents a selection of crowd pleasers to start like arancini, spring rolls and pulled pork sliders (highly recommended) to burgers, sandwiches and pizza for something light and fun. For the main affair there's reliable modern Australian classics like chicken parmigiana, fish and chips, or porterhouse steak. Alternatively opt for a hearty, healthy salad or one of the seasonal dishes. We loved the Atlantic salmon salad and warm roast pumpkin salad, made complete with a side of hot chips.
Lovers of coffee and cake will enjoy Brunswick roasted Code Black Coffee and an entire section of the menu dedicated to cake – inclusive of two gluten free options (flourless chocolate and carrot cake).
For tasty eats with weekly beats and a healthy serve of people watching, try the new look Time Out Café this summer. Join DJ Ben Jammin’ and DJ Lotus on Fridays as they play Funk, Soul, and Hip-hop beats to help you kick off the weekend.
Who: Time Out Cafe
What: Bar, Café, Restaurant
Where: Federation Square, Melbourne
Why: Breakfast daily til 3pm, 365 days of reliable eats, and Friday tunes from 3