David S.

This is one of those cafes that you would basically expect to find in the inner city. Actually, it was quite cool that the tram to the exam venue passed through North Melbourne, since I hadn't had the opportunity to check out many of the cafes here. Well, as the name implies, this place used to be auction rooms, but is now a cafe. The breakfast was nice, but honestly, the tea was really strong, and I didn't particularly like the sugar.

Hannah S.

It has been a while since I have been here, but Dang I love this bustling little spot. Headed here for brunch with a girlfriend and we fell in love with the hipster vibe meets bustling city dweller feeling of the place. The space was cute, we sat up front by the window watching the passbys. Enjoyed some yummy coffees (delish) and ordered our egg dishes. I enjoyed the chilaquiles- yum! It felt like nachos, with a few eggs stuffed between. Heavy on the sauce but still had a really nice crunch. Really enjoyed the flavors. One of the better chilaquiles of the world. Returning soon and I cannot wait!

Danny T.

Bit out of the way for the gang but in all fairness to our token ranga mate who lives up nth.. this location was set... Had high expectations of the quality of the place and am happy to report that we left very satisfied. Coffee was great!! Service was great!! and the menu?? hmm... took awhile to digest but after eyeing what was being ordered and devoured around me... settled for the poached egg and maple glazed bacon.. basic in idea but full of the hearty goodness!! Made the mistake of trying to bite into it prior to cutting it itI pieces first. The bacon was an inch thick!! I had 3/4 of the bacon hanging out my mouth when the waitress came along asking me how things were... I could only manage an "uh huh" as an acknowledgement looking up at her through the corner of me eyes ... yeah I know.. can't take me no where!! happy eating folks!!

Paul A.

Today was my second visit to the much hyped favourite in the Melbourne brunch scene. My slight tendency of being swept up in places meant I decided to wait a week and visit again. Firstly WOW what a space! Ex-industrial and modern with a Nordic feel. My coffee was smooth and went down a treat. Could have been a touch hotter (this is definitely a theme .. Does one need to request it hot?) The menu is inspired .. With some Latin American inspired dishes on there. I ordered the Arepa e'huevo (Colombian corn pancakes), which was dispatched swiftly by the friendly staff. Beautifully presented I enjoyed the different flavours and textures of the crisp poblano peppers, soft goats curd, gooey egg and puffy pancakes. Even with a side of avocado I could easily have eaten the pancake dish again. Music - good volume, ambient tunes added to the atmosphere but very easy to talk. Papers - yep. Nb. Extra marks for a pepper grinder that delivered proper cracked pepper!

Sheenal S.

This place is definitely five stars worthy if it wasn't for the horrid coffee. The ambience, the spacious seating area, the cylindrical lighting, the outdoor area suitable for summer days and Sunday sesh (if the Melbourne weather allows it), the upbeat music, friendly staff, interesting menu, glorious food presentation, quick and friendly service, free WiFi and split billing are only some of the positives of this place. I ordered the roasted eggplant dish with stuffed paratha poached egg and brown rice freekeh salad. The roasted eggplant with delicious spiced dukkah and Indian flavours (almost tasted pickled) was one of the best things I've ever had. I then moved onto the brown rice freekeh salad with pomegranate seeds and omg again such beautiful flavours of spices and nuttiness. The paratha stuffed with peas and potato was deliciously flavoured. My mouth was just immersed in so many flavours. The lonesome poached egg was not even needed. My lunch companions loved their meals which included the beautiful brioche toast, the salmon dish, and another dish with mussels. We stayed until closing time not wanting to leave. Can't wait to go back and try other dishes.

Mathan M.

Going once.. Going twice.. SOLD, were the words that rung in my mind as I entered Auction Rooms. It had such character, such beauty that I immediately fell in love with the place. Oddly enough, though, I had been here before - I visited this place with a friend - but we didn't get to sit down as there was such a large wait for a table. This time, I made sure I sat down. This review's scope will be a limited one as, no, I didn't order food. I would've loved to, I surely did, but when I visited this place I had one goal - one sincere goal and desire - and that was to have a nice cup of coffee while reading a book. I definitely got that. The Auction Rooms' coffee is special. It wasn't the 'best' coffee I've ever tasted - where the beans had a distinct character and taste to them, no - but it was special because of the amalgamation of both ambiance and the coffee itself. The ambiance of the Auction Rooms' is wonderful, it is something that I'd consciously come back for. It was rustic, well laid out, spacious and charming. The staff was equally wonderful, greeting you with many smiles and pleasantries. It was definitely a wonderful experience. Though limited in scope, I'd definitely come back to the Auction Rooms when I get the chance. I'd love to read another book whilst sipping on another cup of coffee. If you're around and have the time to check this place out, then do yourself a favour and go! You won't regret it.

Whitney N.

After getting off an early flight, grabbing breakfast close to the apartment was logically the next step. In true Melbourne style, I began my morning with a beautiful ristretto via Small Batch Roasting Co. It touched my lips and 7:30AM began to beat itself into my sleepy system - this is definitely one of the best coffees I've had all year. The french toast ($14.00) caught our eye immediately - how exactly does the humble eggy bread get brûlée-ified? Better yet, the components of blue cheese, dates, bacon and rhubarb posed as an eclectic mix of flavours that were too good to resist. Another great dish was the Schadenfreude ($19.00) - what actually stood out the most for me on the plate was the parsley salad with the fried capers. The capers were sweet and tangy, which not only went well with the beautiful pork belly, but also added an extra crunchy texture to the fresh parsley salad. The staff were quite pleasant and efficient throughout our meal - since my friends and I got there early on in the day, it was still relatively quiet. I definitely recommend that you do the same if you're hoping for a good seat and a well timed feed. By the time we left at just past 9, Auction Rooms was filled to the brim!

Louisa W.

Arrived during the busy Saturday lunchtime period & after a 20 minute wait we were seated. Two of us tucked in to eggs poached to perfection on sourdough with spiced tomato chutney...very tasty. My dad had the pan seared rockling & exclaimed it was the first time he'd eaten flowers!!! With an iced coffee & old auctioneer's lemonade to drink we left with nicely full stomachs. The service was friendly & efficient, I'm sure I'll be back again.

Jen S.

When I was looking for a good brunch spot in North Melbourne, a foodie friend recommended Auction Rooms and I'm so glad he did! The food was delish and the bright, airy establishment was perfect on a sunny morning. Everything on the menu looked tasty and luckily my brunch companion was up for sharing. We went for a sweet and savoury combination with the Brûlée French Toast and the Frittata with cauliflower, kale, and mint. Both dishes received happy thumbs up. The venue has a neighbourhood vibe, with mums pushing prams strolling by the big glass windows. This place is clearly no hidden secret to locals either. Even on a casual mid-morning Wednesday there was a line for tables. The busy environment also meant there was a wait between times when we needed a server and one actually appearing. With the yummy food on offer and good vegetarian options, I'll happy return to Auction Rooms and brave the wait.

Tresna L.

With beans from their own roasting brand (Small Batch), Auction Rooms do an excellent job at getting your heart started in the morning. Syphon, pour over and cold drip are prepared in a beautiful area dedicated to unusual extractions (like an art installation set amongst the warehouse space) and there are bags of retail beans to take home. The menu is tight and interesting - breakfasts range from rice pudding with mango, to chickpea stew with shanklish and sourdough crumbs. Even plain old toast comes with the option of pink grapefruit marmalade or rhubarb jam. A huge industrial space, there are a number of different "regions" to sit in (so you won't always be aware of the other 80 people at breakfast). There are spots in the sun out front, high seats at the "bar", quiet tables in the middle, or a table out the back in the courtyard if fresh air is more your thing. The service is capable and friendly. On my most recent visit for brunch, I also took a squizz at the dinner menu, which made me pull out my diary to see when I'd be able to make it back over this side of town. Can't wait to try out their Spanish-influenced share plates.

Sus W.

What a place! And a great find to make as your 'local' for brunch. After sitting in the courtyard for around 10 minutes we decided to move inside. The courtyard was stuffy and with no air circulation on a beautiful day - it wasn't a great place to sit. Appealing, but not practical. So we moved inside. And our lovely waitress didn't bat an eyelid. She smiled and assisted. We ordered some cocktails, which were perfectly balanced with sweetness and sour. Needless to say they were sipped quickly while waiting for our meals. What a surprise I received when my meal arrived at the table with an explanation of what the corn cakes were made from and the recipe to encourage you to give it a try at home. The egg was cooked to perfection as were the corn cakes. The peppers and Philly dip were beautifully seasoned - the meal was the best I've had in a long time. I could have eaten the same dish again. And not because it wasn't filling, but because it was that good. The fish bun was beautifully cooked and melted in your mouth. And if you get a chance you must order the croquettes from the specials menu. We devoured these delightful crunchy balls. I can't rate this establishment highly enough. Try it, you certainly want be disappointed. Enjoy.

Rachel R.

This is a really fantastic spot for brekkie and coffee. There is free wifi, and despite being very popular, the staff is happy if you want to linger. The one drawback is that there isn't any A/C, and the atrium area was particularly hot (and had no fans). I could see the people adjacent to us were sweating as much as I was - perhaps not a good spot on a hot day. Breakfast was great - the usual egg dishes were on offer, but I went for the corn pancakes with veggies, crema, and a fried egg. It was flavorful and creative. Coffee was very smooth, and the iced coffee came with nice, large cubes so they didn't melt too quickly and water down the coffee.