St Ali North

With a light, airy space, a crew assembled from among Melbourne's best and a bike path on the doorstep, St Ali North could be 2013's perfect cafe storm. The one-page brunch menu ranges from eggs all ways (including 63 degrees) to new wave tempters such as poached stone fruit with bacon ice-cream on brioche, and a moist, medium-cooked wagyu patty on a brioche bun with Russian dressing. There's retro chic in choc lamingtons with blackberry jam and whisky-spiked garibaldi. A batch-brewer offers consistent and quick filter coffee, and should set the cat among the pour-over pigeons.