I've been a regular here for many years and I'm glad to see it still here amongst the trendy generic cafes that invaded Fitzroy. The place is as funky as its always been with its mismatched old furniture and good music, often spun by a DJ later in the evening. There have some simple but nice things too eat. The coffee is good too. Add to that they have beer and other alcoholic drinks. Last but not least there's a nice outdoor space. read more

The Black Cat - Mmm coffee - Cafes Near Me - Fitzroy, VIC

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Ah Melbourne your weather is crappy today - cold and windy! Walking along Brunswick St looking for a cafe and spotted this place on the corner, walked and realised it was a bar with the most loungiest (don't think that is even a word) old skool sofas but people were also drinking coffee... Sold! Bar tender/ barista chick is very nice and makes deliciouso latte and a cappachino :) Cool place to come load up on caffeine or alcohol (whatever takes your fancy) in order to tackle the long walk that is I think similar to King St, Newtown in Sydney! Ok I'm going to enjoy this coffee and sweet tunes now. Cherrio! read more

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Now this is one awesome bar, and certainly fits quite well into the Brunswick Street bar scene. It is a shame that I don't find myself down here as often as I like, but then again there are so many cool bars here that I would probably end up spending more money that I really should. Anyway, this is basically a hole in the wall bar with one of those incredibly laid back atmospheres. While there is an outdoor area it is basically seating out on the footpath, though this area has been done up to give it quite a bit of character. The staff are pretty awesome, and the place is really laid back, and certainly a bar that I really should visit more often. read more

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I absolutely love Black Cat! It is one of my favourite spots on the whole of Brunswick Street and is probably the closest bar I have to a local. If you are trying to give guests a feel of what a typical bar in Fitzroy is like then Black Cat is your spot. During the day it is really relaxing and more of a café with a cool interior complete with comfy couches, a leafy beer garden exterior, good coffee, friendly staff and chilled music. At night, it really starts to buzz with revelers most nights of the week. Thursday through to Sunday there are live DJs and open decks for people who want to spin some tunes. DJ Umut is a personal favourite playing a mixture of funk, blues and general happy tunage. Drinks are priced reasonably and they have Monteiths Cider and Golden Lager on tap, which is pretty neat. The size of Black Cat - being very small inside - is both a positive and a negative. It's a great spot to meet new people and hang out with friends. But then at the same time it is so popular that it can be too rammed. If hitting Fitzroy, Black Cat is a must! NB: they also do some light meals but I haven't tried these yet.... read more

The Black Cat - Cafes Near Me - Fitzroy, VIC

Not to be confused with the Night Cat, which is further up the road and to the right (on Johnston), the Black Cat IS Fitzroy. It has been here for ages, a bit like me, someone who has been coming here for over 15 years. Oh dear. It's the kind of bar I feel compelled to bring overseas visitors to with the goal of giving them a proper insight into Melbourne drinking culture, and also to show them a really good, relaxed night out. I've never had a bad time here. Nights at the Black Cat always ends in inebriation, lots of racuous laughter and the bouncer telling us it's time to come inside (they seem to close the lovely trellised outside seating area pretty early - around 11pm maybe?). There's only one thing about this bar that weirds me out, and that's the strange and large mutant insect, neatly mummified in a picture frame. Look for it the next time you're standing at the bar waiting for a drink - it's on the wall of curiosities behind the bar, halfway up and a bit to the right. Terrifying. read more

The Black Cat - Cafes Near Me - Fitzroy, VIC

Great vibe and wonderful staff! Also, really well-priced menu. Perfect afternoon drink spot. read more

One of my favourite bars in Melbourne, the Black Cat is where I take friends when they visit my 'hood of Fitzroy. It has everything: decently-priced drinks (shoutout to New Zealand's Monteiths!), lovely couches to snuggle on, gorgeous dark decor punctured by an enormous mirror, an outside area covered in greenery that filters out some of the smokers' breath. And above all, it has a working 1980s arcade game you can play for a few dollars. This is THE bar to go to for a chillaxed evening mid-week...or to send two of your friends to when you're pretty sure they're going to end up hooking up. Those loveseats help move romance along. read more

For years I walked past this place thinking how cool the kids looked, all clad in all black, smoking and drinking coffee in the street garden that surrounds this cafe. I always wanted to go in but to be honest was a little intimidated! Then my mother was visiting me one day and we were window shopping when she pointed this place out and asked if we could go in. I'm so glad we did, we had juices and coffees and delicious salads. The chairs were super comfy and the ambience was cozy and relaxed, rather than staged and pretentious. The staff were really cool and the food was delicious. Now I am a regular and frequently bring my friends here, though I always tell them to dress in black. ;) read more

It's my favourite place on Brunny St when I'm not sure if I want a wine, coffee or cocktail. Especially when I'm likely to hang out for an hour or more, and enjoy all three! Their espresso martini is excellent! Good selection of wine, beers and tasty treats (they have GF bread for the chicken / coleslaw sandwich. YUMMM!) Best of all, they have the same couches as when my Mum was a Melbourne Uni kid hanging out there in 80s. Many lazy conversations are absorbed into their velvety exterior, and the overall effect is a fancy lounge room you can't find any reason to leave. TIPS - It's not all that big, so if you have several people, don't expect to get a couchy area to fit you all straight away. There are only 5 distinct social spaces inside which seat around 4-8 people each (of course they can all be used for smaller groups, couples etc). - Outside area is great for smokers / beer-drinkers. - Music can get a bit loud when the DJ starts which is difficult if you're in a group. read more

Definitely enjoyed the vib here. Showed up here around 10:30pm on Melbourne Cup Eve and it was pretty relaxed which I found surprising. The space is pretty small inside but if it's nice weather, they have a decent amount of seating outside. The beer selection was decent, nothing like the states but one of the better spots I went to in Melbourne. They have DJs playing in the evening but they weren't so loud that you couldn't hear anyone in your party. Overall a pretty awesome cafe/bar to hit up for a drink or two and enjoy a conversation. read more

I was taken here on a date by a young woman. Unfortunately, the lights were too bright and the chiptunes on the speakers too loud. Perhaps she didn't really like me. I also found the place to be really exposed and small - no sense of privacy. OK place for a quick pit-stop drink before moving onto somewhere more interesting. read more

So, a café is a café is a café, right? I mean, there's tons in Fitzroy. Some even roast their own beans. But how many have comfy, ooooold couches? How many have a beautiful garden trellis outside? How many are on the sunny-afternoon side of Gertrude street? Now take that number that you counted, and subtract a number equal to one less than it. Okay, got your new number? I know, I'm confused too, but the new number is one. There is only ONE place in Fitzroy where you can coffee it up all morning, kick yourself back in gear, and then start on some butt-kicking MARGARITAS and watch the people pass by. On a side note, they've actually got some yummy food. Just don't forget a margarita with it. read more

Dive Bar? Isn't that some sort of double entrembre for some sort of rapaciously sleazy, lecherous, underground pick up bar? Turns out it is a "substandard bar of low or questionable quality in which the owners aren't fussed on updating 30 year old decor and 70 year old interior". "An inferior, rather crappy, shabby and poor quality bar, used for the purposes of solicitation." Or so my sources tell me. The first time i went here i was half way through ordering the world's biggest ever food order when I realised i had forgotten my wallet! Embarrassment. Well it is a bit dingy, but I wouldn't call it a pick up joint, per se. Not more than any other that is. It happened to be quite friendly; a place where people you don't know actually talk to you. This a good thing. Arbitrary stranger friends, whom you may end up drinking a little too much with. Yet another good thing. It's not the place for loners though; they get absconded and scolded very fast. I've seen it. It's cool hanging out in the benches/covered graden-esque type area, and there's an inside too, but i was too busy remembering the cool outdoor seating to remember it. Good drinks, and things available, and most times it has been a fun chilled, happy night out. One of those places where you don't really care, and don't have to be serious. I use it as a pit stop before heading to Kodiak club, which I'm slightly or madly smitten with. Black cat is pretty cool for an under the radar hang-out hideaway from the more commercial aspects of our world. read more

I don't know if the name of this grungy Fitzroy bar is a reference to the 19th century cabaret of the same name; an allusion to the cult Japanese manga series; or simply a snappy little almost alliteration but I like it all the same. A decidedly dive barish bar about midway down Brunswick Street, Black Cat attracts a mixture of girls who like girls, patrons that look like they listen to The Cure, and the occasional cashed up hipster replete with matching pet whippet. With holy grail of cider Monteiths on tap and its own cool, disheveled ambience that practically encourages daytime drinking, Black Cat is as good a spot for an afternoon tipple as a night out with its sweet - sheltered - outdoor seating. Fitzroy at its laid back best. read more

Amaze-ballz! Great lil atmosphere. Like a kids ball pit... You just want to jump in.

Abundant ambience. Black Cat is squishy couches and lamps galore - it feels like hanging out at a friend's house, but the friend is infinitely cooler than I will ever be. On a Wednesday night, there was plenty of space and a great soundtrack thanks to some DJ guy. I hear it gets pretty packed in peak times but for a mid-week wine it was perfect. read more

Really love this little place. Whilst so much of Brunswick Street is slowly getting a modern refurbishment, Black Cat is keeping it real with old-school sofas and chairs providing a great vibe. I've discovered some great music courtesy of the DJ's here, but it's not a dance venue. This is a laid-back chill fest, a funky getaway, overflowing with great vibes. It doesn't try to do everything, but if a drink in a relaxed but funky setting is what you're after, this is one of the best spots on the strip. read more

Gorgeous coffee shop in super hip Fitzroy with beautiful hanging plants, huge windows for much light, and yes, drought beer too. Charming staff too. read more

Nice chilled out bohemian style cafe with super friendly staff and a good mix of drinks and food. Comfy couches and a great spot for people watching. read more

Great selection of booze, absolute cotch on the sofas and the Selectors are always on point with the tunage

Fantastic vibe, nice outdoor area as well as fantastic couches for lounging. Mulled cider and wine are perfect for winter and the DJ's are always on point. No computers after 9 pm- genius! read more