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Friends of the Earth Melbourne Food Coop & Cafe

312 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

Recommended by 21 people

Updated

Find Friends of the Earth Melbourne Food Coop & Cafe

312 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9417 4382
HoursMonday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Friends of the Earth Melbourne Food Coop & Cafe

Part bulk-bin grocer, part vegan canteen—Smith Street regulars treat this community co-op as an everyday dining room. The main draw is the rotating lunch bowl: seasonal grains, warm curries, and crisp salads that skip the post-meal slump. Collingwood workers drop by for jackfruit pies and walnut-packed carrot cake between shifts, scooping loose-leaf sleepy tea and spices straight into their own containers on the way out.

  • Seasonal Daily Bowls: Rotating vegan plates, curries, and pies made fresh daily from seasonal organic produce.
  • Zero-Waste Bulk Grocer: Scoop-your-own pantry dry goods, ethical spices, loose-leaf teas, and biodynamic produce by weight.
  • Grassroots Community Space: A fifty-year activist hub running on volunteer energy, local campaign boards, and communal warmth.
RestaurantCafe

What's On at Friends of the Earth Melbourne Food Coop & Cafe

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why People Choose Friends of the Earth Food Coop & Cafe

From daily organic bowls to bulk wholefood refills and community activism, discover what makes this Collingwood staple an enduring hub of sustainable living. Book your table or visit today.

  • Rotating Seasonal Lunch Plates

    The kitchen crafts daily-changing plant-based bowls utilizing seasonal organic produce, providing fresh, inventive variety rather than a static cafe menu.

    the lunch plates are my favourite because they're always different, creative and full of flavour

    Amy Cassidy

  • Affordable, Wholesome Vegan Specials

    Nutrient-dense organic vegan meals and daily specials offer accessible, affordable dining without the heavy aftermath of conventional cafe fare.

    Delicious healthy vegan lunches, daily specials for $15 and $17.

    Brendan Milton

  • Seamless Dining and Grocer Integration

    Diners can sit down for a fresh plant-forward meal and pick up pantry staples under one roof in a relaxed, self-serve atmosphere.

    This is a grocer and brunch place in one

    Jay Cao

  • Zero-Waste Bulk Container Restocking

    Patrons can combine lunch with package-free pantry restocking, scooping wholefoods, cleaning liquids, and bulk teas straight into their own brought containers.

    They also sell some grocery items and bulk food and cleaning, so bring containers in case.

    Ms Boyd

  • Hub for Civic Action and Collectives

    The cafe functions as an open organizing space, connecting diners to local activist collectives, environmental campaigns, and community event boards.

    This venue also functions as host to lots of community action and activist organisations.

    maegan boundey

  • Grassroots Solidarity and Community Purpose

    Visiting directly backs an enduring cooperative devoted to feeding and uplifting the community through grassroots ethical principles rather than commercial profit.

    This co-op is worth supporting as they are really doing the work of feeding the community in a non-pretentious grass-roots way.

    Seth Rothery

Wholesome organic specials, house-baked vegan treats, and package-free bulk staples praised by the community.

  • Daily Lunch Bowl

    the organic lunch bowl was full of flavours and delicious texture.

    Tatoumei Mei

  • Carrot Cake

    the Carrot Cake is truly astonishing.

    Red Ember

  • Pizza

    My friends got the pizza, $6, and they raved about how great it was.

    Ray

  • Bulk Loose Leaf Tea

    Their bulk loose leaf tea selection is well worth a visit.

    Seth Rothery

Other favorites

Plant-based baked treats, hearty savoury pies, and specialty handcrafted chais to complement your visit.

  • Lentil and Mushroom Pie

    The lentil and mushroom pie was a great afternoon meal, and was reasonably priced (to memory).

    Ray

  • Iced Dandelion Maple Chai

    Enjoyed the lunch bowl of the day and iced dandelion maple chai 💛

    Sunj K

  • Rainbow Chai Tea

    2 pots of rainbow chai tea, and a slice of carrot cake shared between us - we couldn’t have been happier!

    Robert Hardy

  • Iced Strawberry Donut

    If you're up for a dessert, my top pick is the Crumbs chocolate cake or iced strawberry donut.

    Quincy Malesovas

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of food does the cafe serve?

Yes. The cafe serves a completely vegan and organic menu, featuring rotating daily lunch bowls, curries, slices of pizza, jackfruit pies, sandwiches, and treats like carrot cake and donuts. Daily lunch bowls are also frequently gluten-free, and staff are knowledgeable about dietary restrictions.

Can I bring my own containers for grocery shopping?

Alongside the dining counter, the co-op operates a bulk wholefoods and package-free grocery store. Visitors can buy organic spices, loose-leaf teas, grains, fresh produce, and eco-friendly home goods, and are encouraged to bring their own reusable containers and bags.

How does ordering and seating work during busy lunch hours?

The cafe operates with a self-serve counter format. Lunch gets very busy, so arriving early is recommended to secure a table, though eco-friendly containers are available if you prefer takeout. Note that table reservations are not accepted.

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