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

Levanter Cafe

296 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183, Australia

Recommended by 53 people

Updated

Find Levanter Cafe

296 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183, Australia

Directions ↗
HoursMonday: 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday: 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday: 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday: 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About Levanter Cafe

Past the narrow counter on Carlisle Street lies an unexpected retreat of segmented nooks and a lush courtyard garden. Neighborhood regulars settle in for ceremonial Syrian coffee brewed strong and dark, accompanied by spiced sujuk plates or flaky filo pastries. Iced drinks arrive disassembled so you can pour your own milk and syrup to taste, while pots of whole-spice chai brew slowly beside heated brick corners out back.

  • Ceremonial Brews & Chai: Ceremonial Syrian coffee and caffeine-free Menengic brew alongside house-spiced chai garnished with star anise and cinnamon.
  • Hidden Courtyard & Micro-Rooms: Tucked beyond the kitchen sits a quiet heated back room and leafy open-air garden courtyard.
  • Deconstructed Pours: Iced lattes and hot chocolates arrive with milk, syrups, and espresso separated for custom assembly at the table.
RestaurantBrunchCoffeeLebaneseSyrianCafeDessertRestaurant

What's On at Levanter Cafe

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Levanter Cafe

Discover authentic Syrian hospitality, tranquil garden micro-atmospheres, and tailored coffee rituals in Balaclava.

  • Ceremonial Syrian Coffee Traditions

    Traditional Syrian coffee is served with intentional presentation alongside house-made home-style recipes.

    The coffee is like a ceremony, love it.

    Matt Hilton

  • Traditional Regional Specialties

    Guests can experience authentic Syrian recipes and specialty preparations like Menengic coffee.

    the drink is a Menengic (a traditional Middle Eastern coffee) you can see how pretty it is!

    Olivia R

  • Cozy Heated Study Room

    A dedicated quiet room in the rear provides a warm and comfortable spot to focus, read, or study.

    There’s a beautiful cozy heated room out back, perfect for reading or studying!

    Salia Gibbons

  • Hidden Garden Courtyard Oasis

    Multiple segmented spaces and a lush outdoor garden create a secluded escape from the street.

    feeling like a hidden oasis that contrasts with its unassuming exterior. Once inside, it’s like stepping into a different world.

    shakir siddeek

  • Custom-Assembled Beverages

    Iced lattes and specialty drinks are served with ingredients separate so guests can customize their beverage.

    served with the milk, coffee, and syrup separately so you can adjust the proportions to your liking.

    Alexandros Karvounis

  • All-Day Neighborhood Coffee Hours

    Reliable coffee service runs with early morning hours and consistent preparation suited to daily routines.

    Another huge plus is that they serve coffee from 7am right through to 7pm, which is almost unheard of in any city, and so appreciated.

    Lilly Hawkins

Signature ceremonial drinks and authentic Syrian breakfast favorites

  • Chai Latte

    Highly recommend the Chai, by far the best I’ve ever tried!!

    Salia Gibbons

  • Syrian Coffee

    Such a beautiful brekky with Syrian coffee, what an experience. The coffee is like a ceremony, love it.

    Matt Hilton

  • Sujuk

    Sujuk is quiet special too n portion is big.

    Dody Kurniawan

  • Iced Latte

    The coffee presentation is excellent, especially the iced latte, which is served with the milk, coffee, and syrup separately so you can adjust the proportions to your liking.

    Alexandros Karvounis

Other favorites

Pastries, savory sides, and customizable drink options to complement your visit

  • Pistachio Croissant

    I tried the pistachio one instead and it was absolutely amazing!

    Ali Karimi

  • Hot Chocolate

    I ordered a hot chocolate and it was made even more fun by having to construct it myself.

    Yvette Hopper

  • Shakshouka

    On the picture below is Shakshouka and the drink is a Menengic (a traditional Middle Eastern coffee) you can see how pretty it is!

    Olivia R

  • Lamb Pastry

    The lamb pastry was great, as well as the iced vanilla lattes.

    Hope Sands

Beyond the menu

Distinctive hospitable rituals and beverage presentations that elevate your visit

  • DIY Deconstructed Drink Assembly

    Iced drinks like lattes arrive with espresso, milk, and syrups or honey separated, allowing guests to construct and tailor the exact balance themselves.

  • Spiced Tea Presentation Rituals

    Specialty teas arrive with dedicated garnishes like cinnamon sticks, star anise, and agave syrup to turn table drinks into an intentional ritual.

  • Ceremonial Syrian & Menengic Coffee

    Serving authentic Middle Eastern coffee varieties, such as ceremonial Syrian coffee and Menengic, prepared and served in traditional style.

  • Tailored Temperature & Recipe Tuning

    Staff intentionally consult guests on specific temperature and drink preferences, accommodating requests like extra-hot coffee without judgment.

Before you head over

Practical guidance on hidden seating pockets, drink customization, and extended hours.

  • Head Past the Kitchen for Hidden Seating

    Walk straight through the front interior and past the kitchen to discover the peaceful heated back room and lush garden courtyard, ideal for quiet reading, studying with Wi-Fi, or unwinding away from Carlisle Street.

  • Assemble Your Own Deconstructed Drinks

    If you enjoy customizing your sweetness and strength, order iced lattes or specialty hot chocolates, which arrive with espresso, milk, and syrups served separately so you can assemble your own drink.

  • Take Advantage of Extended 7am–7pm Coffee Hours

    Unlike most suburban Melbourne cafes that shut in the early afternoon, coffee service runs reliably from 7:00 AM straight through to 7:00 PM, making it an easy option for evening catch-ups.

Explore more places in Melbourne

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

Browse all Melbourne venues