Duchess of Spotswood

My friend I catch up & eat out every week for 2 years. I also eat out with my lady at least 3 times a week. We try many new places. Honest review- tasty meals ( Breakfast of champignons & Duchess of pork) but well under size & mug of coffee also undersized. Price- About the average despite smaller meals. We were about the only people there on a Wednesday morning.

I ordered the seafood omelette expecting, well… seafood. What I got was basically just eggs with a single tiny, dry shrimp buried inside like it wandered in by mistake. I feel completely misled. If this is what they call "seafood," they should rename the dish to "omelette with traces of crustacean." Not coming back. Bitter coffee too.

The Duchess of Spotswood is a delightful gem, offering a dining experience that transcends the typical cafe visit. From the moment you step inside, you're enveloped in a warm and inviting atmosphere, a testament to the thoughtful decor and the genuinely friendly staff. The elegant chandeliers and carefully curated interior design create a sophisticated yet comfortable ambiance, perfect for a casual brunch or a leisurely afternoon tea. What truly sets the Duchess apart is the exceptional service. The staff are attentive and knowledgeable, always ready with helpful recommendations and a genuine smile. They effortlessly balance efficiency with a personal touch, ensuring that every guest feels valued and well-cared for. This dedication to customer service elevates the dining experience from merely satisfactory to truly memorable. The menu is a testament to quality and variety, offering a range of delectable options that cater to diverse tastes. Whether you're craving a hearty breakfast, a light lunch, or a sweet treat, you're sure to find something to tantalize your taste buds. The coffee, a frequent point of praise, is rich and flavorful, complementing the delicious food perfectly. Families are particularly well catered for, with a spacious back courtyard and a dedicated play area, making it an ideal destination for those with children. In summary, the Duchess of Spotswood offers a harmonious blend of excellent service, a welcoming atmosphere, and delicious food. It’s a place where you can relax, connect with friends and family, and savor a truly enjoyable dining experience. If you're looking for a cafe that goes above and beyond, the Duchess of Spotswood is a must-visit.

Perfect coffee, really pleasant workers. I loved my breakfast from here. The building is an architectural delight 1920's. It has a courtyard which in summer would be awesome 👌

Duchess of Spotswood has redefined my dining expectations. The service was a masterclass in hospitality – attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely kind. The food was a revelation, each dish a symphony of flavors and textures, clearly prepared with the finest ingredients. I was particularly impressed by the balance of familiar comfort food with exciting, innovative twists. The atmosphere was simply enchanting; a refined elegance that still managed to feel warm and inviting. It's a place where you can truly relax and savor every moment, whether you're enjoying a leisurely brunch or a quiet afternoon tea. Duchess of Spotswood is a gem, and I can't wait to return.

It’s not just the food, it’s the ambience, the service, the music and much more. #duchessofspotswood rose up amongst the many cafes nearby and reconfirmed that I so love quirky little places that may not be shiny, new and modern but have the essence of good food. We came for a late lunch on a mid June day. Overcast. A little chilly. But ready for a good meal. As soon as you walk in you can feel the difference. @duchessofspotswood is not pretentious or precious. It’s wholesome, everyday and ideal for families. See started out with a lot of earl grey tea and a hot chocolate and tapped our toe to the cool playlist running in the background. I ordered the ‘simple pleasures’ with halloumi and my partner ordered ‘pork royale Benny’ with a Kimchi salad. Visually, they were both stunning. Remember - we eat with our eyes and our plates took our breath away. Food was fresh and tasty either layers of flavour in my food. Eggs cooked to perfection either oozy runny yolks and firm whites. Bonus is that there is dining indoors for around 35, on the street outside for about 12 and at the rear garden for about 20. The ‘cubby garden’ is perfect for families, mothers groups or those with little ones. The enclosed area has plenty to keep@kids busy and playful, so the adults can enjoy their time as well. Owner Sam and chef Chris have been here since 2014 and clearly know their customers well. Food is all prepared from scratch - impressive in this day and age of fast food. We will return. Notes: close to Spotswood railway station. Parking has time limits so be careful. Kid friendly. Disabled friendly. Dietaries catered for. Open until 2.30pm. Takeaway available. #thewanderingreviewer #spotswood #spotswoodcafes #spotswoodcafe #spotswoodrestaurant #duchessofspotswood

Duchess of Spotswood offers an exceptional dining experience that truly shines in every aspect. From the moment you step through the door, you’re greeted by a warm, welcoming atmosphere and attentive service that sets the tone for a memorable meal. The restaurant’s charming interior combines modern elegance with a cozy, intimate feel, making it the perfect spot for a casual meal or special occasion. The menu at Duchess of Spotswood is a testament to fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the culinary expertise of the chefs. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. Standout options include the perfectly cooked meats, fresh seafood, and inventive vegetarian dishes that cater to a wide range of tastes. The wine list is extensive, featuring local and international selections that pair beautifully with the dishes. What truly elevates the experience is the consistency and attention to detail in both food and service. The staff is knowledgeable, passionate, and always ready to offer recommendations or answer questions, ensuring guests feel well taken care of. Whether you’re a regular or a first-time visitor, Duchess of Spotswood consistently delivers a top-notch dining experience that’s worth revisiting. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a memorable meal in a relaxed yet refined setting.

We were looking for a kid friendly place and found this, but I wouldn't recommend it. The food was ok but it was pretty basic, not great, and the place was dirty - the table and chairs were cleaned, but the floor definitely wasn't, my toddler's chicken nugget fell on the floor and upon picking it up within seconds, it also picked up what looked like dog hair, dust and dirt all over it. Sure there's a cubby house at the back that can help keep the kids attention but it's quite run down - no love or care put into its maintenance. Service was ok, but they did clear our food away without asking us, I was going to pack away the remaining nugget and chips but I was too busy with my toddler to stop them. The toilets are pitch black once you went in and closed the door. You walk past the kitchen area before you reach the toilets and it was quite dirty. Heard another kid saying 'I'm not going in there' when they initially thought that was leading to the public toilet. You also get much better quality food for that price closeby. From reading the reviews now, I assume the high ratings are for the previous owners instead.

Sure, this place was nice, but the thing that really put me off was the exceeding strong tea that they served here. Actually, that tea was honestly pretty bad, and not only that, it was quite pricey as well. Though while this place did look nice, and had a nice, quiet, atmosphere about it, the tea really makes me not want to return.

I had the pleasure of brunching at the duchess on a fine saturday afternoon. The service was friendly and attentive. The menu was enticing, and posed a difficult decision! There were a number of specials as well, of which I chose a ham hock croquette accompanied by fried eggs. It was truly delicious. The Duchess is light filled and relaxed. All in all a very enjoyable brunch.

The Duchess! I have often heard raving reviews of this place but when I went last time, 2 or 3 years ago I didn't really see the attraction. Perhaps it's the fact that you have to drive to whoop whoop... Perhaps it's the fact that after driving to whoop whoop you still have to wait ages, but the Duchess did not impress me then. Fast forward to today, I had to go to the Scienceworks and it's in Spotswood, so I decided to give The Duchess another go. Now it's obviously a weekday plus it's probably just after lunch hr so it's less busy. They were able to accommodate two prams and was super friendly and efficient about it which is a big tick for me at this point in my life! Food ordering is a bit slow to be honest. We ordered our drinks and waited and waited and no one came to take our order! We finally had to flag someone down and THEN they told us there are specials! Not sure if they just didn't want to overwhelm us and let us settle down but I felt the service need to be a bit more efficient. Anyway so I ordered the special which is the soft shell crab w pork belly on a brioche. It was amazing!! They managed to cut the fattiness of this whole combo with fresh coriander and zesty mayo. I am not a fan of Scienceworks but I will come back for The Duchess!

Duchess is a whole bunch of delicious cafe bests all rolled into one venue. I'll admit, it took them a little while to iron out the kinks (they actually used customers as guinea pigs in the first weeks whilst deciding on a bread supplier) but now they've got the process sorted, it rather rocks. Good luck getting a table on a weekend, but if you're the kind of person that gets up early or prefers linner to brunch you might be in luck. Alternatively, have a "work from home" day and get your butt in here. The coffee is great. The food is great. The service is... well, a bit trendy but mostly great. And they have gluten free options too. Yumtown.

Great coffee!! Duchess of pork was an absolute treat for a pork lover like me . Loved the parsnip puree. Was beautifully plated My partner had prince of wales . The salmon was grilled to perfection . Will certainly go back. Highly recommended

No one gets off at Spotswood station unless it's a school excursion headed for Scienceworks or you know that one of Melbourne's best kept secrets lives here - Duchess of Spotswood. I finally dined here for a wonderful brunch after I heard about how awesome it is from friends. And it's awesome. The coffee is wonderful and the food is delectable. I had the 'Simple Pleasures' meal for brunch - a delicious asparagus, broadbean and radish salad with goats curd, toast and two perfectly poached eggs. Heaven in my mouth! My two sisters shared the Prince of Wales - a cured salmon, poached egg and toast with caviar and a spinach puree which was equally as impressive. They have a decently sized menu with options catering for both the meat eaters and the vegetarian inclined. Their soy chai was also one of the best I've tasted, nice and subtle and not overbearingly sweet - it's also properly brewed and served in a quaint red teapot rather than one of those atrocious powder mixes in a glass (they make me so mad.) We also dug into the jaffa cake - absolutely scrumptious! It was so moist it was almost fudge like. The cake is made with top quality dark chocolate and has that bitter edge that we all love dark chocolate for. Oh and I can't forget the waitstaff - impeccably dressed, friendly and helpful!

I've been meaning to come here for ages and after some friendly prodding from one of my favourite baristas, decided it was time to cross the bridge and check this place out. Whether you're a local or spending some time on the other side of town, a trip to Duchess is well worth it. The coffee is fantastic, service is quick and cheerful and the menu options are definitely a cut above your standard cafe fare. I came for lunch but ended up at the end of breakfast service. This was in no way disappointing as even my humble dish of scrambled eggs, beans and mushrooms was worth writing home (or on Yelp) about. So. Good. I will definitely be back - next time to try that lunch menu with a glass of wine. Though with how close it is to the Spotwoods train station I'll have to add this on my list of regular brunch and coffee haunts.

Never have I been so anxious neither have it taken me so long to visit a place that have been on my bookmarks list just because it looks to be on the other side of a bridge. Nonetheless, on Saturday morning I had a plan to cross my destination from this part of the town for wholly reason to visit this place. One thing led to another and before I knew it was already one o'clock in the afternoon so I gave up the hopes of a breakfast and settled for lunch. What an amazing place, I had a perfectly done coffee, and for lunch, beans with chicken, bacon, poached egg with a slice of bread. Everything was so in order, off with a touch of the fork bacon, perfectly cooked beans, delicious sauce, amazingly poached egg and chicken. Although this place have come out of my bookmarks list because I leave my bookmarks list just for the places I am yet to try, this place have found a bookmark in my heart and I will always pay a pilgrimage to this place was I to ever be in the area. At the end take away a slice of cake, pancake or donut on your way out. :)

Duchess. How I love thee! I'm often at Cornershop or Le Chien, however Duchess is a special treat me. If I'm taking my 'north of the yarra' friends out for brunch I bring them here. It always impresses them. The food is amazing and the coffee also super! Reason why it's a treat for me - it's a lil' bit pricey and the food is rich (but delicious). Service is always great too. The only bad thing is its popularity (yes have you noticed a theme amongst my westie cafe reviews? I hate my local cafe getting all popular on me). It's hard getting a table on a weekend... but trust me it's worth it. The new outside, out the back area is a lovely spot to enjoy breakie (or brunch) with your friends in the sun!

Duchess of Spotswood is a bold piece of English style sophistication that stands out like a beacon in Spotswood (semi industrial pocket in the shadow of the West Gate Bridge). It's a top notch café that could convert Republicans into Monarchists. Forget what's politically correct when it comes to culinary enjoyment. Duchess of Spotswood goes into overdrive on flair, class and sheer indulgence . Duchess of Spotswood is a charming and cheeky establishment that occupies an old butcher's shop. It advertises itself as an "unashamedly British café" where the cooking is influenced by passion, nostalgia, seasonal produce and fun. Yes fun! The fun begins with breakfast option Poetry (in motion) consisting of warm prunes, walnut, apricot, yoghurt and home made oat biscuit. Order some of the classics here and throw away the calorie chart. The celebrated Duchess of Pork is another popular breakfast selection. The hearty portion of pork is delectable, and with two free range eggs is amazing! But then throw in some truffle sauce, black pudding and sourdough with a tub of butter and you are fuelled for the day! The English love a good "fry up" as my family heritage can testify, but this is "fry up" with class. I felt slightly guilty eating such fare but enjoyed the defiance of turning the food pyramid on its head. The Earl of Sandwich is another great breakfast option and consists of Fresh sourdough with pork sausage, caramelised onions, and homemade brown sauce. Another winner is the Breakfast of Champignons consisting of potato and barley hash with field mushrooms, English Stilton and poached eggs. A lunch favourite is the Butcher's Hook - rabbit terrine, duck ham, house made pork pie, pickles and sourdough. There's enough calories to make your personal trainer weep. But who cares. The Slow Roasted Lamb Sandwich consists of slow roasted shoulder of lamb with mint sauce and salad on sourdough. Unashamedly British! The coffee here is also excellent and Duchess of Spotswood takes it's coffee seriously. A wonderful creamy velvety latte satisfied my Saturday morning craving. There's plenty of action behind the counter and the baristas are skilful on the La Marzacco. Some of Melbourne's outstanding blends are here including Proud Mary and Seven Seeds. I enjoyed the Candyman blend from Auction Rooms. An attractive selection of cakes lures you to the counter. Duchess of Spotswood brings an air of sophistication with crystal chandelier and smart timber floors. A smallish restaurant it boasts hip modern art (on canvas) on the walls. Tasteful flower arrangements also add to the ambience. Slick table service with engaging staff is impressive. One also appreciates the newspapers set out on the chunky timber table, which was the old butcher's table.

A lot has been said about the Duchess of Spotswood. But my God, even of you live in the other side of town, make the effort and you will be rewarded well. I had lunch here and perhaps I was lucky as it wasn't packed. Service was attentive and it's always nice to be greeted the moment you come through the door. Started of with a latte whilst my calamari on a winter slaw and side of chips were on their way. It's the small things that make any place their own. The sugar bowl on each table is filled with coconut sugar which made the coffee even more luscious, rich and creamy. Fresh flowers dot the tables and counter, came directly from across the road, as I saw the florist dash in and do the changeover. My calamari was seasoned well, and it was the real thing, no tubes or rings nonsense. The slaw which had shaved apple, fennel and rocket was dressed with just the right amount and came garnished with micro herbs. The chips deserve a paragraph on their own. At 9$ a serve, it's on the high side. But what you get are chunky wedges of thrice- cooked potatoes with their skin on. The end result is crispy golden skin on the outside, soft fluffy creamy on the inside. Served with aioli, the portion is about a handful but it's enough trust me. I finished it without any space to spare. They came well seasoned with salt flakes and rosemary. Getting eggs, chips and coffee done right are the basics any great cafe and restaurant should have. Would I return? Definitely, and I'll be trying their breakfast and dinner menu at some stage. Who would have thought, on a short strip in industrial heartland, a royal would reside.

Easily one of my favourite cafes around. The coffee is quite unique. The menu is interesting to say the least. I'm poor as shit, so I usually base a cafe on their poached eggs with [insert side here], and the cafes ability to make it unique. Duchess do exactly that with all their meals. The staff are too cool for school which is fine. The layout is how i envision my future kitchen looking when I have my millions. The only thing I don't like about it is now they have this really ugly monitor for a register that sticks out of the bar. Something like an iPad would look more awesome, professional and overall suit the place.

Service wasn't very good. My hubby got the eggs and toast with 2 sides for $18. A bit overpriced for what it was. It didn't taste like anything special either. They were really busy and that usually never bothers me, but the servers were obviously bothered and frazzled. My coffee was really weak, my husband's too strong (for me). I think the coffee would've been beautiful if it wasn't weak. It had a really nice flavor. We ordered a baby chino when they brought the food out, for our little boy, but It took forever. The plates had been cleared and I sat at the table STILL waiting for another 10 minutes. A waiter finally came out and brought the chino, then a waitress came back a second later with the bill and said, "Sorry for bringing the bill out but we have a long list of people waiting." I understand you're very busy. But don't forget a drink order and then try to rush a customer out the door with the bill. Far from impressed, but still willing to stop in again and pick up a coffee. Hopefully it is a better experience next time.

The restaurant is not far from the station and the area is rather industrial. This is what makes the restaurant so intriguing as you would never think such a quaint and homely place would be located in this area. When I arrived the place was filled to capacity. A few people were waiting for takeaway coffee and it wasn't long until I secured a table. This place is renowned for its coffee, at least according to the word on the street, so despite not having enjoyed caffeine for two weeks (no, it isn't a resolution for the new year, it was simply because I was too wired from drinking too much of it) I couldn't say no to one of the iced variety. I was informed that one of the specials was a potato and fennel soup and with my interest piqued, I ordered that along with a slow roasted pork shoulder sandwich with apple and cabbage ($14.50) to follow. The soup arrived with a large chunk of bread. I could smell the fennel and it also had a small island of the aromatic plant in the centre of the bowl. Combined with the potato, it was a perfect consistency and by the time I was done ripping apart the bread and cleaning every bit out of the bowl, one would never know there was soup in it. I really enjoyed this. The atmosphere is not loud at all despite being at capacity and I attribute this to the old terrace architecture. An old chandelier acted as a focal point which gave the restaurant some charm and made the friendly staff all somewhat familiar even though our paths had not previously crossed. The slow roasted pork shoulder sandwich followed and you can tell that the kitchen had put some consideration into its preparation. It wasn't thrown together, some thought was put into not only the combination of pork, apple of cabbage which worked very well but also the presentation was attractive. The Duchess is only open for breakfast and lunch and it has a very intriguing menu that is certainly value for money. I may be presenting myself again in the short term before one of the ODI cricket matches that are coming up so that I can prepare myself for a day of revelry as their breakfast selection looks pretty awesome, for the lack of a better word. I didn't even know Spotswood existed until I looked up where the restaurant was and I can assure you I will remember it as a happening destination thanks to the Duchess.

This is the bruncher against which all inner-west eateries will be judged. And rightly so. Since my first coffee and all-in brekky two-years ago, it has consistently held its head above everything in the area. The coffee blend is from Small Batch and ask the wait staff about the "guest" coffee ... this morning it was a fruity bean from Tanzania ... if you want something extra. Its preparation is solid (I can only think of one lukewarm take-away that disappointed) but may struggle against the coffee specialist cafes that have started to make their way across the bridge. But the hero here is the food. It's British (yep, that classical quisine?!) but it's exquisite! So much so, it prompted me to return many times in a quest to try everything on the menu. I'm happy to say I achieved it and was impressed with every single one! There's always specials (three of them on this morning's visit) using whatever's fresh and the menu's continually being adjusted. For example, I had the Simple Pleasures (again) this morning, where the heirloom tomatoes had been replaced by baby beetroot and the avocado by tiny spuds, to go with candied walnuts, goats cheese, poached eggs and Zeally Bay sourdough toast. It's a consistent winner ... as is the mushrooms with stilton, and the fantastic scrambled eggs, and the salmon, and the pork jowls ... you see my point. Apparently it's tough to get a seat on the weekend. And they're now doing dinners. But as a breakfast spot, it's still the best of the west.

What a difference a year (and a weekday visit) makes. I was severely jet lagged and in need of some fresh, seasonally appropriate Melbourne cafe food when I ventured hesitantly into the Duchess yesterday. Our last few visits had been a real disappointment so I kept my expectations low. Then I was impressed with the very best cafe meal I've had in town in years. The Prince of Wales was a revelatory dish: Salmon confit surrounded by a brilliant red pool of sweet and sour beetroot relish, served with a creamy white scoop of creme fresh and slices of pickled fennel and ruby pink grapefruit. Inventive, flavourful, and delicious. It was pretty much superb. We shared this along with the coronation chicken sandwich. It was also spot on, if less exciting. Excellent coffee and waaay better service added to the experience. In the past service has been confused and hectic on weekends. I don't know if that's still the case, and I do know that it's ALWAYS better to visit a popular Melbourne cafe on a Tuesday if possible. I'll be back the next time me and the mister have a day off.

Pretty average food and too expensive for what it offers. Bacon was grey! Last time I checked it was supposed to be crispy! Mushrooms were cold. Not going back, I am not sure what the fuss is about. The service was ok but when we said that the food was ok, they did not inquire farther, I guess they did not want to find out.

After 6 months finally made it here for breakfast. Well... Coffee was delicious and friendly welcoming staff that's about it. If you're not a huge fan of pork its best you don't eat here. It seems like a great place for English style breakfasts and traditional British fare but was not a fan, neither was my chef girlfriend who had a brown sauce already on her toast, would have been better on the side. Note: my rating is based mostly on the fact is mostly a pork menu and not that its bad or undercooked food, which it isn't.

I'll admit I haven't been here in 12 months but today dropped in for lunch and bought a Daddy Burger. I actually think this was the best burger I've ever had. Big call i know but I couldn't fault anything. Service excellent and staff great.

It used to be wonder-filled. An interesting menu of dishes you couldn't get elsewhere - eel, jowl, homemade black pudding. Now it is very mediocre. New owners have made it set in its ways and dull. It's so very sad. It used to be a place to show off to visitors from the other side of the bridge....now it's just another diner.

Took my work crew for a yummy brekkie at this not-so-traditional English breakfast gem a few weeks ago. Just listen to a selection of the wonderful list of items on the menu: "Breakfast of Champignons", the "Earl of Sandwich" and my personal favourite, the "King's Woodcock" (try ordering that with a straight face!). The have a great little outdoor eating area out the back, which we enjoyed until rain forced us inside. We had a fairly big group for a smallish venue, the waitress did a good job of taking care of us. The food and coffee were good - I had two cups which is unusual for me. I'll be back.

Cannot fault this place at all, except that popular items do seem to run out during peak times so don't arrive too late. Food and coffee is fantastic and is by far my favourite spot in Melbourne for breakfast Service is ever so friendly and have always been accommodating which for me makes this place stand out over competitors

Great coffee. Perfect service. If you don't mind sitting in close quarters try this place.

Visiting nearby and saw all the great reviews for this place. Completely closed at 3:15 with not a soul in sight on a Tuesday.

The Prince of Wales at Duchess used to be the best breakfast dish I could dream of, but apparently the genius-chef responsible has gone, along with the waffles that used to come with the meal when it was great. Saturday brunch will never bring the same joy. Sad. But it will be easier to get a table.

One of Melbourne's best cafes serving nose to tail British inspired food. Excellent coffee and friendly, efficient service.