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Restaurant

Operator25

25 Wills St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Recommended by 19 people

Updated

Find Operator25

25 Wills St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9670 3278
HoursMonday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Friday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Operator25

Tucked into a former telephone exchange on Wills Street, Operator25 breaks the standard Melbourne cafe mould with bold, Asian-inflected daytime dining. Regulars bypass standard eggs for Singapore chilli soft shell crab omelette, rich duck confit congee, or a spiced Balinese pork burger with sambal matah. The space hums with shared tables and brisk city momentum, yet the kitchen runs like clockwork, sending out steaming plates alongside cold pandan coffee and elderflower-capped Melbourne Fog tea without missing a beat.

  • Inventive Asian-Fusion: Anchors the morning with savory, punchy plates like Singapore chilli soft shell crab omelette and duck confit congee instead of standard eggs.
  • Specialty Drinks: Pours inventive cafe drinks alongside espresso, including pandan coffee, iced matcha, and Melbourne Fog tea with elderflower foam.
  • Fast, Well-Oiled Service: Brisk, well-coordinated staff keep plates and coffees moving fast, maintaining composure through peak weekend rushes.
  • Historic Exchange Setting: Operates out of a heritage telephone exchange building with lively communal tables and a steady city hum.
RestaurantBrunchCoffeeCafeRestaurant

What's On at Operator25

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Six Reasons to Dine at Operator25

Why diners choose Operator25 for daytime dining in Melbourne

  • Inventive Asian Fusion Brunch

    Operator25 steps away from standard Melbourne cafe staples with punchy, creative savory dishes like Singapore chilli soft shell crab omelette, duck confit congee, and Balinese pork burgers.

    Operator 25 is a nice change from the usual Melbourne brunch circuit.

    CB

  • Distinctive Specialty Beverage Program

    The menu pairs savory mains with signature regional beverages, including pandan coffee, ube matcha, and Melbourne Fog finished with elderflower foam.

    Loved the ube matcha and coconut matcha, both were refreshing and flavourful.

    Ricky Singh

  • Rapid Turnaround During Busy Hours

    Even during peak weekend rushes with packed dining rooms, the floor and kitchen teams coordinate swift table turns and meal delivery.

    Even though the place was really full, the service was surprisingly fast and the food came out really quickly.

    dima putri

  • Flawless Kitchen and Barista Efficiency

    The kitchen operates with remarkable precision, delivering barista-made coffee and hot cooked meals within minutes of ordering.

    Totally packed, sat immediately , perfect cap in 1 min, ordered Thai pork omelette, landed 🛬 5 mins later. Immaculate. Well oiled machine

    Dale T

  • Generous Shareable Plates for Groups

    The cafe offers generous plate sizes and diverse savory options, making it ideal for groups wanting to sample and share dishes together.

    the food is tasty with portions large enough to share.

    Piyathida Thammaruksa

  • Vibrant Space for Catching Up

    Situated near Queen Victoria Market in a former telephone exchange, the bustling, welcoming cafe serves as a vibrant meeting hub for friends and family.

    The atmosphere of the cafe was lively and bustling, creating a welcoming ambiance that instantly drew me in.

    Jia Chean Lim

Signature Asian fusion brunch plates that define the Operator25 experience

  • Soft Shell Crab Omelette

    The Singapore chilli crab omelette was incredibly delicious, rich, and tasty.

    Ricky Singh

  • Duck Confit Congee

    the Duck Congee was comforting with a rich savoury flavour

    Yuki _

  • Balinese Pork Burger

    For food I had the pork burger which was absolutely sensational.

    Paul Harrison

  • Beef Bulgogi Taco

    It’s an unusual combination of dishes, but every one of them was delicious.

    2lo

Other favorites

Specialty Asian-inspired drinks, waffles, and sweet brunch dishes

  • Pandan Coffee

    the pandan coffee was easy to drink and not overly sweet

    Kittiphat Tha

  • Melbourne Fog

    the Melbourne Fog - hot tea with elderflower foam

    mike peek

  • Ube Waffle

    Our favourite was the ube waffle which had the perfect balance of sweetness and fruitiness- purple sweet potato waffle with jackfruit, coconut, ube chocolate sauce, black sesame ice cream, and poached pears.

    K

  • Dutch Pancake

    The Dutch Pancake was soft and fluffy with matcha cream and berries — not overly sweet and really well balanced.

    Yuki _

Before you head over

Essential timing and ordering tips to get the most out of your visit to Operator25.

  • Plan Ahead for Peak Weekend Brunch

    The cafe fills quickly during peak weekend and lunchtime rush with wait times around 20 minutes, so consider booking ahead if visiting during weekend brunch.

  • Expect Rapid Kitchen Turnaround

    Even when tables are full and lines form, the kitchen operates like a well-oiled machine, often turning around coffee and hot dishes in mere minutes.

  • Branch Out Beyond Traditional Brunch Staples

    Step beyond standard eggs on toast and explore inventive Asian fusion signatures like the Singapore chilli soft shell crab omelette, duck congee, and ube matcha.

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