Mate's Table
Subscribe
Create
Share with the community

What would you like to make?

Add a recommendationShare a place worth gathering around.Create a guideBuild a useful list for your city.
For business

Restaurant

mug.

Unit 4/75 Chapel St, Cowes VIC 3922, Australia

Recommended by 33 people

Updated

Find mug.

Unit 4/75 Chapel St, Cowes VIC 3922, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 5952 1567
HoursMonday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About mug.

Tucked just off the main strip in Cowes, mug. serves double-shot specialty coffee and plant-forward plates with genuine family warmth. Parents run the kitchen while their kids work the floor, running crisp toasties and hearty brunch plates to sunlit tables indoors and out. The kitchen flips conventional cafe dining on its head—dishes skew naturally plant-based and allergy-friendly by default, letting guests add optional proteins as they please. Regulars lean into the spiced tofu scramble paired with house salads, fluffy buckwheat pancakes smothered in raspberry compote, or a hot chilli choc chai.

  • Plant-forward whole foods: A predominantly plant-based, whole-food lineup featuring gluten-free buckwheat pancakes and customizable tofu scrambles, with dairy and meat offered as optional extras.
  • Family-run warmth: Owners cook in the kitchen while their children handle table runs and billing in a relaxed, sun-drenched space.
  • Specialty coffee focus: Standard cup sizes pulled with double shots, alongside spiced chai, matcha, and seasonal drinks.
RestaurantCoffeeCafe

What's On at mug.

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose mug.

Why locals and Phillip Island travelers choose mug. for nourishing meals, warm family hospitality, and relaxed coastal mornings.

  • Energizing Whole-Food Breakfasts and Coffee

    Mug starts guests off with carefully brewed double-shot coffee and generous, vibrant morning fare like buckwheat pancakes and tofu scramble.

    The coffee is perfectly brewed, the food is incredibly delicious, and the staff are just wonderful. What a fantastic way to kick off a day exploring Phillip Island!

    Jaime H

  • Plant-Forward Architecture with Flexible Add-Ons

    The menu is intentionally anchored in nourishing whole-food and vegan creations, making it effortless to add conventional proteins or customize ingredients.

    The idea of a mainly vegan menu with non-vegan extras is genius.

    Swati Iyer

  • Stress-Free Allergy and Dietary Accommodations

    Guests with strict allergies, intolerances, and coeliac requirements can order dishes like gluten-free pancakes and tailored toasties without fuss.

    As someone who has a ton of food allergies and intolerances, it was so refreshing to have multiple options for me to eat.

    Kate Cretella

  • Peaceful Retreat off the Main Commercial Strip

    Tucked into Chapel Street away from the noisy main tourist promenade, the cafe offers quiet indoor and outdoor dining bathed in natural sunlight.

    A nice cosy cafe away from the crowds of the main street and the choice of indoor or outdoor seating.

    Holly S

  • Charming Family-Run Hospitality and Care

    Operated by Tom, his wife Nog, and their children, the family creates an intimate, heartwarming environment where guests feel personally looked after.

    The kids serving at your table add a charming touch ❤️. It's a family-run café where the father and mother cook while the kids handle billing and serving.

    Ridhima Bahl

  • Calming Space for Slow Mornings and Conversation

    A calm, quiet ambiance and mindful staff make the dining room an easy setting to slow down, converse, and decompress after island travels.

    Highly recommend anyone looking to spend a chill afternoon with a great conversation

    Joei Tan

Customer favorites and plant-forward staples

  • tofu scramble

    I get the tofu scramble every time I’m on the island

    Tawhnee Monea

  • buckwheat pancake

    The kids buckwheat pancake is a generous serve, drizzled with their homemade raspberry compote which I am convinced will sell like mad if they start selling them.

    Mark Yee

  • double shot coffee

    The standard cup size with double shot coffee hits the all the right notes.

    Mark Yee

  • smashed avo

    Home made vegan Feta, smashed avo and beetroot relish.

    Renee Gee

Beyond the menu

Distinctive service gestures and kitchen details that shape your visit to mug.

  • Family-run service by parents and kids

    Tom, his partner Nog, and their sons run the front-of-house and kitchen as a collaborative unit, personally welcoming guests, cooking meals, and bringing plates and bills to tables with engaging conversation.

  • House-made vegan feta and fruit compotes

    The kitchen crafts homemade vegan alternatives from scratch, including house-prepared vegan feta, beetroot relish, and raspberry compote to dress whole-food breakfast staples.

  • Double-shot brews and specialty chilli choc chai

    Drinks are poured standard with double shots from their compact setup, alongside specialty house warmers like chilli choc chai and matcha lattes served with dietary-conscious milk selections.

  • Attentive dietary and allergy adjustments

    Dishes can be adapted on request for strict allergies, coeliac diners, or custom ingredient omissions, spanning gluten-free buckwheat and banana pancakes to tailored toastie modifications.

Before you head over

Practical guidance for planning your breakfast and coffee stop in Cowes

  • Dietary Customization

    The menu is built around whole-food, plant-based dishes with non-vegan proteins available to add. Staff readily accommodate custom ingredient changes and allergies, including coeliac requirements.

  • Seating & Location

    Step away from the crowded main shopping strip to find this cozy side-street venue, offering quiet indoor and outdoor seating with generous sunlight.

  • Coffee & Service Style

    Expect handcrafted double-shot coffees and cooked-to-order breakfasts delivered with personal table service by the owners and their family.

Explore more places in Melbourne

Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.

Browse all Melbourne venues