SONIDO

Beautiful venue. Love this place. I breezed in today 28 May 2025 and ordered Colombian Hot Chocolate and Portuguese tart. Both were divine. With the Colombian Hot Chocolate, I cannot explain this but the Earthy flavour was like a portal to Colombia, you can sense the beauty of that place via this drink!! Service was friendly, staff are down to Earth, and reasonably prompt given how many people were here. Thumbs up all around. They told me they also have one in Northcote, am gonna check it out at some stage. 👍🏼

Felt like I was in Colombia again, was great to come here. Delicious Colombian hot chocolate with cheese, did it with almond milk. Also got a few of the lollipops with bubble gum that I would get all the time when in Medellin Colombia too 😌 will definitely be back and totally recommend

We’ve been meaning to visit for ages and were so glad we finally got the chance to dine in today! We opted for the bowls as the more robust option, and they didn’t disappoint. The vibe was a bit hectic but still pleasant, and we loved the Colombian atmosphere. My pulled pork was incredible, and the chorizo was spot on. Absolutely loved it here and will definitely be back 🤙🏻

Had a fabulous meal here as well as great coffee. The place was unbelievably busy considering it was a Sunday. Service was quick and friendly. Really enjoyed the coffee and the chicken and rice and the pulled beef and rice dishes.

Amazing!!!! Thank you to the Sonido team for sharing their culture with us through food. I got their arepa pollo and my friend got ropa vieja. The arepa pollo was so delicious. The chicken was so tender, flavorfully umami, and smoky. It went so well with the arepa. The arepa was crispy and amazing (definitely way better than my homemade arepas 😂). I tried my friend’s guac and it was amazing it went so well with the arepa and chicken. I highly recommend getting the extra guac to make the dish more complete. The coffee was strong and rounded! Just as how I expect it to. The hot chocolate was also good. However, the drinks were on the lukewarm side rather than hot. So if you prefer your drinks hot you might want to let them know. The decor was so cute and we were a big fan of it. My friend and I kept on raving about the decor and how good it was 😂 it really shaped the atmosphere. There’s no table service, so once you’re ready to order, come up to the counter and let the friendly ladies know what you want to order! We also came quite early around 10 am on a weekend, so the place wasn’t too crowded yet. Amazing food!! Will definitely come back for the arepa pollo.

I visited the place briefly for a coffee, but I must highlight the atmosphere! The decor is beautiful, with every detail thoughtfully placed. It brings a touch of Latin America, with warm yellow tones and vibrant plants! I really enjoyed the ambiance and how it captures the essence of South America. I’ll definitely be back to try the food!

DELICIOUS!!! A great atmosphere, awesome drinks/beverages selection, good range of options on the menu, and everything tasted amazing. Really happy to have tried a place that commits to as much authenticity as it can!

The food is the bomb. I went there for the first time and I’m in love with the choclo arepas. Grilled chicken was so tender and good too. Love the Chimichurri too. The place was sooo busy and they don’t have a limit on dining time (as told by the staff member) so I had to wait until I can find a table.

Food is good honestly coffee is good. Woman on the counter is really unpleasant and seems like she's had a shit day every day Hope you feel better

It is very hard to express just how much I love this place. I've lost count of how many times I've written it up and I will continue to, because in my books, it's one of Melbourne's best casual dining establishments. Constructed with love by its owners some years ago now I have adored it from the moment I met it and it's my go-to cave when I'm feeling worn down. The music is jaunty, the staff are excellent, the fit out alone could amuse you for hours. But you're probably more interested in the food. Flaky buttery empanadas are good for a light snack, and arepas are comforting, flavoursome, fresh and happiness-inducing. DO order the salad. I apologise for yelling but it's an important point. The small pots of salsa and guacamole bring the dishes to another level. I swear by the Frijoles Con Feta (Black beens and feta arepa - $11.50) but you can't go wrong on this menu. The chorizo is excellent, the beef a hearty filler and the empanadas clouds of awesome. Many recommend the hot chocolate but for my sweets I'm addicted to the raspberry chocolate brownie. Deeelicious.

It's been 19 days since my last arepa and I must confess I do think about the delish generous serving of pulled tender beef on a hard but soft textured arepa. I've thought about them quite a few times. Being only just around the corner from the hospital makes it a quick delicious lunch if you're in the area.. And the coffee is good..very good. My partner got the chorizo arepa and whilst the whole chorizo itself was delicious.. My pulled beef was a must have. I want one. Now. Ok I'll wait until it opens.

If you want a little South American flavor for breakfast or brunch then Sonido! - yes exclamation mark - on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy is a little piece of heaven. They serve up delicious open arepas (corn made into small round pieces of dough) generously topped with shredded beef, cheese, chorizo and scrambled eggs to choose from. I chose the shredded beef and it was melt in your mouth delicious. I've had arepas before and find they can be a bit stodgy and filling. However Sonido's are light and there is a great topping to arepa ratio which they can be proud of. Their other speciality is empanadas filled with spinach and cheese, beef and olive, or chorizo. The spinach and cheese one was pretty tasty and seemed to be a South American version of an English pasty. They do sweet things extremely well too. The hot chocolate pot for two was bubbly and spicy at the same time; and the chocolate brownie with raspberries was out of control. At $11 the arepas are great value. They aren't massive if you're looking for a huge meal but you can always try the other goodies on the menu. As for the place itself... the staff are really chilled and the vibe is great. I'm keen to go again. EXCLAMATION MARK

Sonido serves authentic Colombian breakfast You get freshly made arepas with your choice of scrambled eggs, chorizo or beans. Served with a side of salsa and guacamole. Our can try their hot chocolate which comes with con quesow of a piece of mozzarella cheese. Try some empanadas too I had the sweet corn arepa which is dessert like sweet. The scrambled eggs were fluffy and fresh herb flavoured. The fat black chorizo was scrumptious and went well with the empanad. The beef empanada had large pieces of well flavoured minced beef. The hot chocolate was way too sweet but was served with a nice wooden spoon. The cheese didn't melt at all. :( No split bills

Sondino has quickly made its way into high rotation on my morning coffee circuit. The colourful South American style interior and music are great pick-me-ups, even before you've ingested any caffeine, and the staff are full of smiles. It's decidedly un-rushed, and I feel comfortable sitting at the big communal table for several hours, both alone and with friends. The gorgeous coffee table books are great distractions, or you can sit outside on the tiny garden furniture and just people watch. Personally I like to watch the waiter and marvel at how he's matched his outfit to the colours in the furniture - it doesn't look like a uniform, so I assume he's just passionate about co-ordination! I've eaten Sondino twice now, but I'm guessing it will take several more visits until I've tried the whole menu. Although the menu's small (and seriously cheap), the chorizo is so tasty I want to eat it again and again... Even writing about it is giving me a major craving!

Yeh! Sonido! is great! As are exclamation marks! And once you get past the aloof Latin American attitude (which becomes more and more friendly as you spend more time there), this is something very special. As well as breakfast, brunch and lunch, make sure you get along on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, when the lights are dimmed, and the spectacular pollo arepa is available. Be sure to finish the night with the cheese and caramel experience (not sure what the Colombian name is, but just ask for the cheese and caramel thingy) and a short black. Twang!

Arepas, where have you been all my life? You are simple, tasty and served with a side salad I'd dare say you are healthy! Sonido! deserve that exclamation mark at the end. The interior is fun and quirky, the staff are super cheerful and the music may have you wiggling in your seat. Couple all of that with those delicious Arepas and you've got yourself one very worthy "!".

Great little coffee spot on Gertrude! There's plenty of choice on this strip, but Sonido does well to set itself apart. Bright and colorful decor, up beat Latino records spinning makes a good setting for a caffeine pit stop. Excellent coffees, the hot chocolates are amazing - comes in a little jug with a wooden stirrer - very fun! Nice little sweets to go with your coffee - chocolate brownie is heavenly, but if you ever are lucky enough when the dulche de leche biscuits are available don't hesitate! Good selection of eats, the spicy chorizo with salsa and grilled flat bread is super fun. Lots of local workers getting take away coffees is a good sign. Follow your nose, you can't miss it!

My life was irrevocably changed by an arepa con frijoles y me gustaría más. Ahora. Ponerse en la boca por favor. You see upon walking in, I immediately reverted to Laura of 2002 - living in Los Angeles and stuffing my face with whatever incredible Mexican, Central and South American food I could get my face over. And 10 years later, on the other side of the world, I've finally felt it again - that urgent face-stuffing feeling. This isn't just another themed venue with a few imitation "local dishes". Oh no. These empanadas and arepas would convince a Columbian they're home. (I knew it would be good upon hearing the staff say things like "hal-a-PAIN-yo" and "tore-TEA-ya" not, well, jalapeño and tortilla. Intriguing...) Sure there are some interesting South American + Caribbean crossovers, but nothing that isn't delicioso. And sure it's seemingly packed all the time, but let's not get pissy about a sure sign of success. End of the day, el sonido vibrante en mi boca de las campanas de la iglesia se oía por todo. And I'll bet it'll do the same for you. I'll listen for them.

I absolutely adore this place. Step inside and you feel like you're in a cafe somewhere in South America. The staff are all super friendly and the place is decorated with all things latina. I love all their mismatched, eclectic furniture too! Now I know this is a big call and many people will be willing to vouch otherwise but I swear they have the best hot chocolate in all of Melbourne! Whenever someone comes to Melbourne to visit I make sure to take them here to try it! Mmm.. chocolate creaminess! The arepas are pretty tasty too, although I always go for the same ones - arepas con queso. The place gets pretty jam packed, but not such that is uncomfortable. I absolutely loved travelling through South America and whenever I feel that hint of nostalgia coming back I go here for my fix.

Today I experienced my first Arepa at Sonido. What is an arepa? I think Minh L probably summed it up best with 'pancake made of cornmeal'. It's not solid or hard like flatbread, but not too doughy either. This is then topped with delicious flavours like beef or chorizo. I tried the snack-sized corn (served with fried cheese atop) and the beef, served with guacamole and tomato salsa. There's habanero hot sauce on hand too. SO. GOOD. Thankfully the place was cheerfully jibing away with it's latin music and upbeat atmosphere, because there was very little conversation going on as diners silently enjoyed these tasty morsels. Washed down with a South American fruit juice, it was damn good and excellent value. I'd have tried one of the empanadas had I not been bursting at this point from all the yummy pulled beef. I would highly recommend satisfying your curiosity and see exactly what the fuss is all about.

I took my bestie here for date night on Friday and although we had to hang outside for a table to free up, it was absolutely worth the small cold wait. As others have written, it is indeed a great little taste of Central America and it definitely took me back to memories of my great trip. Food was was lovely - we had the little cheesy snack and large mushroom arepa with a side salad and finished it all off with the raspberry brownie and hot chocolate - and OMG, that hot chocolate was a little chocogasm - would recommend! Overall, it was a lovely evening - I wish they were open a bit later on the evenings they do serve dinner and I'd def come if they were open nights during the week too. Notes: They do accept credit cards and they do serve alcohol too.

Best: Heuvos Pericos Arepa (add a side of Morcilla black pudding for a real good time) Very cool deck out, enough Spanish household items from the 90s to keep me distracted while friendly enough staff prepare me Latin American fruit smoothies, arepas and empanadas. Really reasonably priced considering what Melbourne does to most other Latin food in the hipster burrows.

Latin American food that's not Mexican? That's right, kids. Come here to mix up the endless round of tacos and burritos in your life. Sonido is all about South American food, specifically Venezuela and Columbia. Everyone talks up the arepas, and I concur: they sure know how to cook with corn/maize! The cornbread with toppings is something you can't get just anywhere in town, so pick one with plenty of black beans -- another rarity in Melbourne (just try finding it in a supermarket). Sonido is fun, it's funky, and dag nab it if the outside seating isn't a great place to watch Gertrude Street go by.

Sonido is pretty neat-o. A small little place delivering qaulity coffee and breakfasts. There are a few choices of arepa's here, and most are very tasty with good portioning sizes. The chorizo, beef and scrambled eggs all come highly recommended. There's also a bunch of hot sauces on the table you can add to your meal to increase the deliciousness. A well designed little spot, food comes out of a tiny kitchen right by the counter. It's still a really good place to visit for coffee and eating, and it's one that does need to be the shiniest or have the latest and greatest. Infact it's simplicity makes it what it is and adds to the charm value. Sonido is a must-go for breakfast, provided of course you can snare a free seat and table.

So, if you read too much of my rambling, you'll realize that I'm here to educate on Latin foods. Sonido should be stop number 1 (and 3, and 5, and 8, and maybe 10) on that journey. Cafés are nice. And I like my mochas. I'm such a kid at heart. But have you ever had mocha made with Colombian drinking chocolate? It's like a rich, smooth, milk chocolate bar was melted down, and poured into a nice, single origin cup of coffee. A café with some saboroso Colombian food? Now you're talking. Sonido has arepas (little corn-meal pita shaped pockets filled with slow cooked beef, chorizo, black beans, cheese, etc) and empanadas (same but fully closed up corn-meal, handheld pies). Ask for some grilled cheese (similar to haloumi) and extra salsa on the side. Perfecto! Stuff this all in a cute little hole-in-the-wall, filled with mismatched furniture; couches, benches, spare tires, and fun latin-inspired (and imported) artwork and background music. Que chévere!

Used to be my fav coffee shop as it was one of the only coffee shops that had a coffee that tasted strong and earthy enough to punch through the milk. I came back the other day and to my dismays they've switched from "Coffee Supreme" beans to weak as beans. Won't be back.

Great coffee. Service can be a bit off but the coffee makes up for it. Interior is like a Mexican taqueria and a hipster cafe had a baby...

Average food. Coffee ok. Hot chocolate is better than the norm. Sometimes chaotic service. Not sure why this place is so popular.

This cheery South American cafe was just what the doctor ordered on a dreary winter's day. After a big shlep from the other side of town I was happy to find myself in the this bright and colourful little bolt hole on Gertrude Street. They were out of empanadas on the day I visited but I happily tucked into a light and flaky arepa topped with black beans, feta, salsa, and guacamole. My soy mocha was perfect and the South American tunes and sorbet colour scheme kept me humming along nicely for the duration of my lunch. Service is a bit at odds with upbeat atmosphere, (i.e, not particularly upbeat) but it's not enough to keep me from returning to such a charming little place.

I cannot help but stop in here for coffee everyday. These guys do some of the best coffee in Melbourne. The atmosphere is fantastic, it truly sends you to south America. I haven't tried the food yet but it looks amazing. One of Fitzroy's gems.

Awesome little place. Good coffee. Various dishes served on Arepas. Have hade Pollo and frijoles con feta and both have been delicious. Playing cool Latin records as well. Cosy place and look forward to visiting again soon.

Quaint little restaurant serving very fresh South American food. Love the shredded beef arenas with guacamole and salsa. The only problem is this restaurant is always packed and sometimes you can't get a table. Would be great if they were open for dinner!

Really enjoyed this cafe for breakfast! I ordered the feta/frijoles with guacamole and salsa on arepa. The frijoles (beans!) were tasty! As was the hot chocolate. If I lived in Melbourne would be here all the time.