About Us
Arrow Café at 488 Swanston Street, Carlton, is a relaxed local spot near RMIT and Queen Vic Market. Serving quality coffee, all-day brunch, burgers, and sweets, it’s ideal for students, professionals, and locals seeking a quiet break, study session, or casual meal in a convenient CBD-edge location.
Arrow Café sits tucked into the ground floor of the Arrow on Swanston complex at 488 Swanston Street, Carlton, offering a friendly and unpretentious atmosphere amid the energy of Melbourne’s north-end CBD. Just steps from the busy Queensberry tram stop (a ‘Super Stop’), it’s a welcoming sanctuary for students, professionals, locals—and anyone craving a well‑crafted coffee and a satisfying bite
With a relaxed lounge-style interior and a mix of dining tables and cushioned seating, Arrow Café steps beyond typical café fare. One recent visitor described enjoying a vegie burger alongside a quality brew, all within a “quiet cafe” setting—a keeper during busy weekdays Tripadvisor. Its central location places it just minutes from Lygon Street’s Italian precinct, the vibrant Queen Victoria Market, RMIT University, and Melbourne University, making it perfect for study sessions, catch‑ups, or a break between errands
The menu brings together hearty breakfast options, all-day brunch, fresh salads, gourmet sandwiches and burgers, plus a selection of pastries and sweets. Of course, a standout aspect is its coffee and tea offerings—espressos, flat whites, strong filter brews, and herbal teas—served hot or iced, to satisfy every preference.
If you’re after a low-key, local café with a comforting vibe, accessible location and reliable food-and-drink pairings, Arrow Café is a solid choice in Carlton.
We Serve One of the Best Coffee!
The café menu reflects what Melburnians love most: hearty breakfasts, light brunch plates, fresh seasonal salads, toasted paninis, gourmet burgers, and daily-baked pastries. Whether you’re grabbing a takeaway flat white on your way to class or lingering over a meal with friends, Arrow Café offers an authentic slice of Melbourne’s café identity.
Melbourne is globally renowned for its café culture, with deep roots tracing back to post-war European migration, when Italian and Greek communities introduced espresso machines and communal café life to the city. Suburbs like Carlton, Fitzroy, and Brunswick quickly became epicentres of this movement—Carlton in particular emerging as the original heartbeat of Melbourne’s coffee obsession.
Arrow Café proudly sits within this legacy at 488 Swanston Street, just moments from the iconic Lygon Street. This location places it at a cultural crossroads—steps from university campuses, minutes from the Queen Victoria Market, and surrounded by a thriving mix of international students, artists, academics, and city workers. It’s a natural meeting point where old-world coffee traditions meet modern Melbourne tastes.
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