Top Paddock Cafe

Top Paddock is the perfect spot for a memorable brunch! I went with friends to celebrate a special occasion, and it exceeded all expectations. The coffee is exceptional—smooth, aromatic, and among the best in Melbourne. The food is a feast for both the eyes and taste buds, with standout dishes like the blueberry hotcake, chili scrambled eggs, and pork belly roll. The atmosphere is vibrant yet welcoming, with stylish decor and plenty of natural light. Despite the weekend rush, the staff were attentive and friendly, adding to the overall experience. Whether you're marking a milestone or just craving a great meal, Top Paddock is a must-visit. We'll definitely be back for more!

Such a delicious foods & drinks for my Breakfast and Lunch here. It's also a beautiful and busy place on the way I go from home to work everyday, too. Definitely I will come back and try other style of foods & coffee. Highly recommend

Lovely atmosphere, attentive service and delicious service. Amazing coffee and a lovely avo toast. Only complaint would be that the goat curd (I think it was goat curd) spread onto the base of the toast was way too salty for the rest of the very fresh green elements but it wasn’t too much of an issue :)

I think I’ve found my favourite coffee spot in Melbourne! I discovered this spot online somewhere. Thought I’d give it a go, staff very friendly and welcoming from the moment you walk in, coffee was some of the best I’ve had in Melbourne! Definitely gonna try this place again before I leave

Saturday 11/012025. Bar fly stuck in the cream topping of the cake was not a good way to end our brunch however this was not the real problem. When shown to the waitress she replied nonchalantly “oh sorry,” in a way that suggested don’t worry, this happens all the time. When paying at the end and asked by the cashier how our meal was we brought to her attention the matter of the fly and she didn’t seem to really care either. Aside from that, food was good, male person seating is and other staff were friendly, acoustics in the venue made it hard to hear the person next to you. There was a good selection of seating inside and out and a good selection of food.

This is a toughy to review as I’ve had two mixed experiences. The first time I went, loved it!! The second time was a bit of a mess as we didn’t get drinks until 40mins after ordering due to a technical error. Granted, the staff were lovely and gave them to us for free. But also, one of my friend’s coffees was disgusting; obviously a personal taste thing but hey, reviews are personal opinions so… Whilst the food is delicious (pictured is a chocolate French toast brekkie) I would avoid at peak times. This experience hasn’t put me off Top Paddock forever, I just will be avoiding the busy periods now.

Had a lovely family lunch. Food was very nice and yummy but there are a few things missing with the food to hit the mark. Service and atmosphere are great. Feedback on food: there was not enough hollandaise sauce with the eggs benedict to my liking (as it is served with two potato rosti). Confit duck Hash was yummy. The egg on toast (for my daughter - kid’s version) was very affordable but a bit dry (no butter). Coffee was not warm enough. Taste was good. Cold fresh apple juice: perfect.

Nice cozy place for great brunch! Their food was scrumptious and yummy! Wide selections of choices from mains to drinks.. portion is huge and good to share. Might be a little pricey but justifiable with the portion. Try it when you’re near.

A great ambience especially when it just opens, great coffee and selection of pastries, tram at door and it is a good vibe on Sundays. It like me and cant handle crowds, go early to enjoy the serenity.

Fantastic food, great choices, lovely location. Went there for brunch with friends and had a wonderful table. Service was a little spotty but it also seemed understaffed. Absolutely delicious brunch though and I would definitely return!

I walked a really long way to come here and try. I really like their vibes here and it's really kickback cafe where it would be a nice place to chill/study/work. I got their Blueberry and Riccota Hotcake and their ice cream coffee. I thought the ice cream coffee(it's a melbourne thing) was pretty good. I still thought one of the places I've had in Melbourne had the best ice cream coffee but it was still good in its own way. Their specialty blueberry and ricotta hotcake was a beast to take on. I didn't finish it and yes(I came by myself). I thought it was a pretty good dish. Definitely something to share and eat something else. I wish I had people to come with to try their other dishes because they all sounded really good. I thought maybe the ricotta hotcake could use maybe an ice cream to really top it off OR the hotcake be more like a souffle pancake because it does get a bit dry as you keep eating it. It's definitely a photogenic looking hotcakes which I'll try to upload later. I hope this place survive the pandemic.

Ok service, hip location. Bit overpriced, food is good, atmosphere is maker of it, breakfast and brunch vibes. Noisy.

This cafe was actually really good, though of course that had a lot to do with the service that I received, and I guess that is one of the main things about this place. Well, not quite because there is also the tea that I had, and the atmosphere as well (especially the seat covers that I could see here). Yeah, the tea was pretty good, and the place wasn't too crowded, or noisy, which meant that I could simply just spend some time here relaxing. As I mentioned, the service was also pretty good, which certainly adds a lot to that.

Our cappuccinos were great. We ordered the macro bowl with avocado, kale, sweet potato, broccoli, beet root, snow pea tendrils, quinoa, and almonds. They forgot the mustard vinaigrette, so the dish was bland. Minus one star. We ate it like that because our second dish was so rich. The second dish was the blueberry ricotta hot cakes. It came decorated in raspberries, strawberries, and colorful flowers. Almost, but not quite, too beautiful to eat. It had macadamias, and seeds. The bottom was moistened with lemon myrtle sugar, and strawberry eucalyptus syrup. On top was a scoop of cream whipped to one stage short of butter. Soft, smooth, silky, and decadent. It must have been in cast iron because the edges got this firm, dark brown character that provided a little resistance to the bite. In short, a gustatory masterpiece. Stop reading, go out and get it. "Bon appetit."

Really great food, Exceptional coffee like you would expect from a Melbourne cafe, great for breakfast or brunch

I came to Top Paddock after being impressed by their popular Instagram account. Classic indoor-outdoor Melbournian coffe-and-brunch in style, Top Paddock's menu doesn't stray far from the norm, but is dressed up with enough flavour and fancy to make it worth the trip. The food and coffee were both lovely, and the service was polite and accommodating. Not the right place if value-for-money is a deciding factor in your hunt for brunch - $20+ for egg (singular), $6 for a piece of bacon etc - but delicious nonetheless!

My days in Melbourne revolve around many cafe-hopping adventures! And to have shared a split moment of my life at Top Paddock was an absolute bliss. From the same talented group who created The Kettle Black, you can expect some magical looking brunch at Top Paddock! But first getting here was quite tricky. It involves some navigating unfamiliar streets, as the venue is kinda off the grid. The experience, however, was certainly worth the effort to get here. Upon walking in, I was instantly in love with the Interior - it was a spacious dining area with sunlit windows and green surroundings - the kind of cafe that offers you a little piece of solitude. Top Paddock most iconic menu is their Blueberry and Ricotta Hotcake. It is a beautifully plated thick hotcake infused generously in maple syrup, topped with fresh fruits, seeds, cream and garnished with eye-popping edible flowers - It was nothing less than scrumptious! Portion wise it was ginormous and easily last me through my next meal. For my coffee, I ordered their flat white; it was gentle tasting and smooth. I could drink this all day! Short to say, Top Paddock does not disappoint in any way. From the gorgeous food to inspiring atmosphere. The price is as what you'd expect to pay at a fine cafe in Melbourne... heavy on the pocket! But if you're looking for a gratifying cafe experience with Instagram worthy food, Top Paddock surely delivers.

This brunch spot in Melbourne is so freaking cute! And the food is soooo good. I loved the coffee as well. It was the perfect place to start our day in Melbourne. The matcha was good and grassy. The eggs were cooked perfectly as well. The inside is very nice too. There was a bit of a wait but I think it was well worth it.

Standard Coffee . Amazing hotcake but it's too sweet for personal preference. I suggest share it with someone or order as desert to share. But it's amazing!! If you are a tourist , this is a Real Melbourne experience . Theres probably a long wait tho be prepared !

Possibly the most Instagram-worthy café ever. The food is not just delicious but looks beautiful. I had the hot cake which was highly recommended by everyone. And it delivered! Despite super high expectations. It's also huge and I could only eat only 1/2. Also had chorizo, poached egg and toast. Again, beautiful and delicious plate. Everything on the menu looks amazing and would be back if I get a chance.

After our youngest son returned from Europe, previously living in Elwood, we knew the apple cart would be upturned when it came to visiting and coffee, cafes and restaurants. We loved Elwood Village, so quaint and quiet, the Combi Elwood, the Turtle Cafe, others, and we knew nothing of his new Richmond stomping ground. So, after a quick ask-around Top Paddock was recommended as a comparable venue. And it was, although a bit more commercially located. It wasn't Elwood Village, but then few locations ever will be. We opened our order with Lattes and Espressos, adding a sparkling water, then headed straight for the Top Paddock Big Breakfast ($25), the Chilli Scrambled Eggs with Bacon ($29) and the Eggs Benedict ($23) and a Cold Press drink ($9). We exited with a morning tab of $102.70 for three people which included GST. Was it good? "Yes." Was it memorable? "No." There are plenty of places around Richmond and into South Yarra plating similar food that's just as good. However, convenience trumped looking for any other venue in this instance. And the name...that's where brand value makes up for a lot.

Top Paddock is a bit of a Melbourne institution. I remember many years ago on a visit back to Australia friends took me here, it was popular then and it's still popular now. Your first impression (especially on the weekends), will probably be waiting on the grass after a young staff member with a clipboard has taken your name. Once inside however it's a beautiful mix of greenery and timber, with large communal tables. My short macchiato was more of a short black as it was missing a healthy dose of foam, it also tasted a bit burnt and grainy. Food-wise I ordered the "Pan fried and cured Tasmanian salmon, potato & chive rosti, poached egg, beetroot & asparagus salad". The salmon was well cooked and the egg beautifully poached. Salad was fresh if a bit messy aesthetically, while the white sauce was light and citrusy, mixing perfectly with the fish. The rosti was delightfully crispy, but too salty for my palate (mind you I saw someone ask for more salt so it could be me ... they also may have been one of those people who add salt before tasting a dish). Service was friendly and casual, giving me options as to where I could sit and not hurrying me to order, or trying to rush me out. I love the vibe and the atmosphere, but with disappointing coffee and over-seasoned food there may be a few sheep loose in the top paddock. Papers - yes Music - just some bass bubbling along, you wouldn't want to add much as it's popularity coupled with all the hard surfaces creates a lot of noise. Wifi - no

Bit of a mixed review for this place as I was asking for a long black with steamed milk on the side and the waiter did not know what I meant so I described it as an americano. The waiter proceeded to tell me, "here in Australia we don't do an americano, you are not in America but I can ask for a long black with extra boiled water and steamed milk" It was easier to just agree than say anything. I was totally offended by this and asked my friend if that actually happened, I couldn't believe it. I had the eggs benedict, not the best I've ever had as there was mainly fat on the pork but the eggs were poached perfectly. There was a little queue this morning and we waited but I would be hesitant to do that again. Such a pity.

Staff at Top Paddock deserves a five star and good tipping for keeping their cool on a busy and sweltering Melbourne NYE. Service we received was nothing but friendly, professional and courteous. Food never disappoint here and furry friends are welcomed. In fact Top Paddock gets a big Pet Friendly tick, with 3 staff checking that my dog has something to drink on the super hot day.

Top paddock reminds me of a green house with its one storey layout, large glass windows and lots of plants. It is an extremely large venue with both outdoor and indoor seating. Despite it being so busy where you have to struggle to hear your mates, there is not much of a wait. I arrived on Sunday morning, requested a table for two and was seated within ten minutes. Our drink orders were taken promptly and though my friends bloody Mary arrived quite quickly my skim cappuccino took a fair while. The coffee was not to my liking with a strong acidic taste and the milk flavour overpowered the coffee taste despite the coffees strength. We ordered the chilli scrambled eggs and baked beans to share. We waited quite a while for our food. The chilli scrambled eggs were slightly spicy but not buttery or creamy enough. The sourdough toast was ok. There were not enough mushrooms. Average dish. The baked beans wirh poached eggs were quite disappointing. The bread had been deep fried so didn't sit well in my stomach. The baked beans had been spiced heavily with some moroccan tasting spice. So despite not being a hot chilli dish, the over addition of spice made me thirsty and burnt my throat. The tomato base was almost non existent. Below average dish. The venue is nice. Staff are friendly. They do split bills. But i wasn't impressed by my meal.

Top paddock is a top joint! I don't normally enjoy going out for breakfast if it's something I can cook myself! But Top Paddock offerings were too good to pass up! I love the decor and the atmosphere of this foodie find! Located in South Yarra it's has a light airy feel and is modern and fresh! The food not only looked amazing but tasted just as good! I had the Eggs Benedict with Pork Jowl and Compressed Apple! The pork jowl was a nice twist on the old classic of either smoked salmon or ham. The pork was crunchy and juicy and was a beautiful accompliment to to the oozing poached eggs! Yumm! I ordered a side avocado which came with lime and black salt! It added a bright lift to the rich dish! So simple but so delicious on its own as well! I absolutely love this find and will definitely be back for more! My new favourite breakfast/brunch place in Melbourne.

it's been awhile... tried the Blueberry Hot Cakes ... enough for 4.. way too rich to enjoy after 5 bites!! Too sweet. Also it's actually a large vanilla sponge cake sitting in a layer syrup. The Kale and Cauliflower with salmon was pretty good. WIR maybe... might leave it for another 8 months

All I can say is wow! We honestly received the best service from the moment we placed our names on the waiting list, to the minute we left. A few smiles and thank you's go along way! The team at Top Paddock were so friendly and despite the place being jammed pack, our food came out so quickly. Super impressed and can't wait to go back! Highly recommend the blueberry and ricotta hotcake with berries, organic maple and double cream, as well as the cured trout! Thanks again Top Paddock! #NailedIt

I gotta diverge from popular opinion here for my underwhelming experience. 3.5 stars - Average overpriced food for an unreasonable wait in a cacophony of a dining room. Valuable only for the insta, and the validation from being in the company of trendy people and trendier food. We drove here from downtown (parking available across the street) with high hopes and without a reservation. Thus we had to crowd around the tables near the front for decidedly more than the 20 mins we were quoted. Lines are apparently much worse in the weekend and customers wait at the grassy patch across the road. The staff were unfailingly polite and friendly though, and can't fault them for that. They made the experience much better!! The food is always most important for me - I'm willing to wait much longer and endure much worse elements and overlook a lot for good solid food. But I can't call the food here that. /Hotcakes - this seemed to be the most popular thing to order. It was a visual spectacle with scattered pumpkin seeds and strategically placed dusty yellow flowers. The berries were fresh. But it was basically a syrupy cake, interspersed with some jam and cream, which overall tasted like something from cake mix or the Hotcakes from McDonald's. It was incredibly filling in that gluttonous way. Not quite worth the $22. /Soft-Shelled crab brioche bun - Placing soft shelled crab between bread doesn't really count as innovative to me. It was good, because soft shelled crab and brioche are both individually tasty, but nothing groundbreaking. /Hanger steak sandwich - This was not bad as well, served with a side of tempera vegetables (I.e. 2 stringy things) and dusted with something that was either cheese or powdered sugar, we couldn't agree. Very small, and the bun was plain white bread and didn't have much taste to it. The coffees were tiny, and noise level was also very loud, such that it was a chore to make yourself heard (bringing even more attention to the lackluster food). The interior is artfully decorated and may make you wish to linger and chat over your dishes, but it's too busy and frantic for that. I wouldn't initiate a return visit.

For the past few weeks, Saturday mornings have been dedicated to trying somewhere new for brunch. On the car drive home, all points of brunch are discussed and debated. What was the verdict on the coffee? - the meal? - the setup of the cafe? So on until we excitedly pick where next weekend's will be. Whilst Saturday brunches are still going to continue, a clear favourite has emerged. Top Paddock is the winner thus far. Where do I start? Most impressive would be the service and the way the cafe is run. It's large (bigger than you're imagining) and often filled with people, yet the waitstaff flow effortlessly and efficiently. You may have to wait a little but the staff do their best to get you to your table as fast as they can.You're served by a number of staff members yet no one repeats the same question. There is an impressive level of detail, offered by the Top Paddock waitstaff - for example, they're quick to notice your coffee is almost finished and would you care for another. The interior is gorgeous, with a mixture of different sized tables from booths to large communal eating areas. Light bulbs scatter one wall, whilst there's also a fireplace. Natural light floods the cafe with a wall of glass window. Outside are the cutest planter boxes where some vegetables and herbs grow. The coffee is excellent coffee, the food is more than satisfying and at a pleasing price for the quality offered. The Top Paddock breakfast is perfect for those days when nothing but a "big breakfast" will cut it - the sausage is even house made. I love the avo with lime, sea salt and Movida sourdough. Whilst you pay, browse the sweets by the register because chances are there will be something delicious! If you like Top Paddock, it's also worth visiting Two Birds One Stone (South Yarra) and Three Bags Full (Richmond). I'm already keen for my next Saturday brunch at Top Paddock!

Oh gosh. I mean, I'd heard this was the place to go, but that didn't stop me from being insanely impressed. The problem with most of Melbourne's hip places these days is that popular = queues, slow service and far too much effort. Top Paddock absolutely kills it with incredibly seamless service! Finding a table on a Sunday morning can be a brunch war zone, but this place is so insanely massive, and the service is so outrageously prompt that we were seated and fed and on our merry way in no time. The food literally arrived within 5 minutes of ordering. The avo with lime, sea salt & sourdough with a poached egg on the side was beautiful! Nothing smashed here, but rather a beautiful half avocado still in its skin. Unfortunately I ordered/got charged for two eggs when I only got one on the side, but I'm just a sook when it comes to complaining. Only needed one anyway! Friends had the Top Paddock breakfast and thoroughly enjoyed. I'm keen to come back here, and also try the INCREDIBLE array of cakes/doughnuts etc they have to offer over at the counter. Glad to have finally made it, I'll definitely be back.

Top paddock had been on my brunch hit list for some time. Have read some reviews and studied the menu I was hanging out to try this place. After missing out on brunch on a public holiday ... Admittedly it was quite late I was super excited to finally head down here one Sunday morning. The cafe itself is beautiful. It's a large open space with lots of light, great decor and a warm ambiance. There are plenty of larger tables for groups both indoors and outside. I am going to preface this this with maybe we chose the wrong thing but after the anticipation out food was lacklustre and disappointing to say the least. We ordered the smoked trout and steak sandwich. The diner next to me also ordered the trout and her piece of fish was considerably larger than mine. Whilst the fish itself was tasty and the dish well presented it lacked any kind of wow factor. The flavours were quite bland and lacklustre. The steak sand which was super disappointing from the meat being tough and over cooked to the very sad looking presentation of a Turkish roll slapped on a plate with not even a garnish. We sent it back for being too tough and had 3 people come to tell us that it was just the way the steak was. A friend of mine who was dining there the same day and is one of my trusted foodie sources had the snapper and said it was good. To the cashier's credit she did try to make up for the experience by offering us some sweets to take home but we didn't take her up on the offer. Overall I was disappointed and with so many good options around I doubt I'll be back any time soon.

Love this place, it is our go to for brunch! It gets super busy though so get in early, ask for a coffee and wait outside. During summer it is great as you can just lay outside on the grass. They have cool smoothies. And amazing food!

Another Lunchalots booking, this one a delayed birthday celebration for moi! Great vibe in this place - although our group of ladies raised the average age somewhat!! But we love our food and were not disappointed here. Good service with a efficient edge. We had the special trip of salads with a piece of trout. Delicious, despite my fish being a little underdone for my liking. Amazing coffee (so I'm told, I don't drink coffee!) and great tea. Interesting (in a good way) fit out - keeps you looking around at ceilings, walls etc. Although people watching was fun too!! Recommended for its coffee and atmosphere.

Ventured down here one Friday afternoon , expecting it to be big & busy from reviews I had read. Well they were not wrong, the place is huge!!! I started getting a bit concerned when there were about 8 people waiting at the door & no host in site & what seemed to be no real order when it came to assigning tables but eventually we flagged someone down and were seated. We ordered coffee & a fresh juice & hands down the best coffee I have had in quite some time & a beautiful grapefruit juice . I was having major issues picking what I wanted, did I feel like breakfast & there smoked ocean trout dish or lunch & the soft shell crab burger, arg decisions decisions! The waiter was super helpful & in his opinion the soft shell crab was the best thing on the menu & just gonna say he was oh so right! It also helped that Jake King from the tigers was sitting in front of me in his singlet #justsaying All in all well worth the visit & I will be back for more.

This place is HUGE and still jam packed full of happy customers. From the second we stepped in, the staff were so kind, happy and genuinely helped us find the most comfortable seats for us in the house. It was a sunny day on an almost deserted street and I could see why. It seemed like the entire neighborhood was at this one cafe. And in spite of all this, the service was super friendly and super quick. We ended up changing our order twice without any fuss as well. Now on to the food.. We order the Bircher and the Hot cakes (which were a customer favourite) and omg - both were killed. The hot cakes, however were outstanding. Both beautifully presented. Couldn't recommend this place for brunch more. Coffee was superb as well. At the til there is an arrange of sweet treats, takeaways and the most delicious looking doughnuts as well. A definite must for any foodies visiting Melbourne!

Came here on a sunny Sunday morning at about 10am and was pleased I only had to wait 10 minutes for a decent table for two. Top Paddock is very large and very busy. I found service excellent and didn't have to wait too long at all. I guess it really depends on what you're after in a brunch. I personally didn't find the menu too enticing and so opted for my usual hotcakes, which were amazingly presented and also delicious. My friend ordered eggs, mushrooms feta and avocado.. I may be weird but why the heck does the avocado come in halves? She was thinking she would get something more along the smashed avo style. All in all prices were reasonable and I did enjoy Top Paddock but I can't see myself hurrying back.

Top Paddock Cafe. Richmond Melbourne Vic, was well worth the effort to drive across the city traffic. If a cow or a horse could talk, your question to them "where are the best places on the farm for you"?. There answer would probably be the "Top Paddock" For a coffee cafe connoisseur the "Top Paddock" could well be there answer. They roast there own coffee, which is smooth with a lingering pleasant after taste. After reading the free news paper we ordered and enjoyed a second coffee. We found the table service was the best. The lunch we ate was fresh, filling and tasty. The cafe was very busy, but the staff found for us a quite comfortable table. No free Wifi, but the word is it is on the way.

Excellent coffee. So rich and creamy. I can't think of any faults with their offerings for coffee. I had the cappuccino and the foam was perfection. For food, I ordered the eggs Benedict. It was brilliant and fluffy, the yolk was runny although the ham hock accompaniment was a little dry and baron flavour-wise but no problem, it complimented the dish well. I'd more than certainly eat again in fact I'm looking forward to my next visit.

Always top notch food and service, great as either a stop-in for takeaway coffee or a long breakfast. Love the architecture of the venue!

We arrived around 9:45am on a Saturday and Top Paddock was already packed with a waiting list. To my surprise though, despite being 6th or 7th on the list we waited only 10 mins or so for a table. The design of the space is great - something interesting to see everywhere you look, and the tables are full of 20-30 something's. Now for the three fold coffee/food/bub review: Coffee: My coffee (long black) was amazing, they have a variety of types on offer including a Clover machine, but unfortunately they weren't using the Clover the day we were there. Food: food was delicious. Mr T had the hot cakes which were divine and I had the chilli scrambled eggs with mushrooms on toast... Really nice flavour and both dishes were very well presented. I've uploaded pictures as proof! Bub: Mini T (6 weeks) was with us, the staff member who greeted us at the door acknowledged him as a number in our party, and the space inside allowed for relatively easy pram manoeuvring and storage next to our table. Perfect!

There is a very good reason that people line up here for a long time on the weekend!!! This is how a breakfast place should be... The coffees are amazing and the menu is inventive but makes sense all at the same time. I had one of their signature dishes which was the grilled broccolini, sugar snaps and almonds, poached eggs with heidi raclette cheese and they were able to do it on gluten free toast. It's not just meal, it's an experience. 5 out of 5 and then some! Ps. The fruit oat porridge is pretty incredible too!

Love these guys. Love the space. Ticks all of my boxes. I've only ever seen this place busy. So advisable to come early or you'll probably find yourself waiting in line. From the guys who brought us Three Bags Full and now Two Birds One Stone... So offering all your delicious breakfast choices and lovely lunches. Love the house-baked goodies too. Love their communal table & super-sized white Synesso. Teas are brewed correctly (thank you) and delicious coffee including filter. Check it out, kids! X

Upon arrival the ominous line out the front could only mean one thing - This place was the real deal. It has all the trimmings and brimmings of a successful Melbourne establishment. Good looking hipster servers, minimalist decor with an acute attention to detail, an adventurous menu that still maintains the right staples and fantastic service and quality ingredients all listed on the menu to reinforce the sensational food to come. We had to wait around 10 minutes before being seated at the communal table. Everyone seated around us was just as astounded as we were which seemed to fill this place with high energy and positive vibes. Our food was served promptly and was to die for! Every part of the meal was top class and I couldn't fault the place if I tried. 5/5 for this place which I would think would certainly have to be in Melbourne's top 5. Well done guys!

Modern design cafe/restaurant with a good atmosphere. The coffee here is great and staff seem plentyful which is rare in most cafes. The only disappointment was I asked for no avocado on my meal and was told that alerations were not alloud, even for dietary requirements. I get it, it's frustrating when people ask for something off the menu then alter it to the point where it's no longer even relatable to the original recipe. However, all I asked was to hold the the avocado... Really?! Too hard??

Staff are friendly fast service I have tried most of the menu. Best coffee in the area. Was a grate place to meet friends at just hang out . I go 2 times a week and love it Thanks

Brunch is popular here. We arrived on a "quiet" yet hot Saturday. I ordered the egg and bacon focaccia roll, my wife the pancakes. Both very delicious fresh and tasty. The real treat for mew was having a couple of beers with it too. Settle down it was after 12 alright! Great attentive staff who flat out and groovy atmosphere make this worth a return visit.

I know that the places run by these people are considered to be fantastic breakfast/brunch spots, but I usually find myself underwhelmed. There's always an awkward wait with a bunch of people standing around for up to 45min around the entrance waiting for their name to be called. And the menu, whilst daring in words, doesn't exact work that well. (The menu here is pretty much the same as Kettle Black with some variations in look and style). ie: The pork jaw with the eggs sounds edgy, but isn't that great in reality. It's quite pricey considering what you really get, objectively, and people also rave about the decor etc, but I find it kind of ordinary haha. Sorry if this review sounds jaded, but I just find myself underwhelmed and $100 short for a basic experience. Can't say I'm a huge fan of these places (KB and TP) and would only return if someone insisted.

Good food. Interesting options and nice area. Like the choices but a bit pricey for breakfast. Can get quite busy in the peak breakfast time (especially 9am on Mother's Day) but the service was quite quick

Visiting Melbourne on holidays and was recommended this place by a few friends- I can now see why. As expected for a popular South Yarra cafe there was a small wait for a table (20 mins). Once inside, service was spectacular. Coffee (long macchiato) is good, (Not as good as Perth coffee :p ) strong with little bitter follow through. I opted for the Ginger Loaf, chocolate gânache and berry dish which was lovely. Bread was soft and full of flavour, chocolate was rich, sweet and delicious, and the fresh berries and coulis was a lovely tart addition to the meal. Presentation was immaculate, the flowers tasted as good as they looked. My partner enjoyed her Top Paddock dish - filled with delicious Bacon, Chorizo, grilled Peppers and Onion with a sweet relish. The poached egg was perfect. I may have also enjoyed a portion of her breakfast as the serving was very generous. Prices as expected for a South Yarra breakfast barn and decor was very on trend. Nothing to fault - will return.

Great food nice staff decent service. Will be back!

I've heard a lot about Top Paddock as pretty much anyone in Melbourne has, but had never been.. until today. I was well impressed. Here for a work lunch, we had to wait about 5 minutes for a seat, and was kindly explained the menu. I decided to go with the recommended pork special with my regular soy flat. Wow, it was delicious. The pork was incredible and the coffee on par with the best in Melbourne. Later that afternoon I came back for another coffee and a cheesecake brownie. You know a place is good when you come back twice in one day.. So happy my new work base is just nearby. Will certainly be back!!

Not nearly as good as last time, 1 year ago. I remember the veggie dishes -- in particular a carrot salad -- as being fresh, inventive, and filling. This time the dishes all seemed like more standard brunch fare, well done but nothing to write home about. In addition, the service left much to be desired. We waited at the table for far too long for orders to be taken, food to be brought, and payment to be processed. I hope TP finds its fun veggie and good service groove again.

We were lucky the queue was small as this place gets crowded for good reason. Amazing space with indoor and outdoor seating, and a fabulous menu. There were a lot of unique ingredients nestled amongst the well known which made for a splendid, culinary experience. The pork belly daily special with asparagus and kohlrabi was just divine. Sampled the trout, potatoes and veg, which was equally delightful. Topped it off with a spicy bloody mary. I guarantee I will be back!

This place looks great and the food is ready for a 'direct to instagram' pic. Staff are friendly and helpful, but it stops there... Four from four meals were bland and uninspiring, despite looking amazing. Given the price, location, hype and how the food reads on a menu, you'd expect a lot more. If you're here to tag yourself on facebook and snap a photo for instagram, go ahead. But if you're here for delicious food, try again.

As I walked towards Top Paddock at 12.45pm on a sunny Wednesday, it looked a bit like Noah's Ark - business folk gravitating towards it in twos (2 x publishing executives, 2 x fashion label head-office workers, etc). A newbie, but obviously already found a following. There was a line-up for tables when we arrived, but within 2 minutes we were seated, water had been poured and menus distributed. Staff at Top Paddock are obviously keen to keep things efficient, which works for me. The hero dish is clearly the soft-shell mud crab in brioche bun; as I perused the menu, several of them whizzed by me in the hands of spunky staff members, and they looked almost too good to be real. The crab was salty, beautifully cooked and balanced really nicely with a splotching of fennel, dill and lime mayo. Definitely something different and very tasty there. My friend had the kingfish with avocado, fried egg and purple soft tortilla; kind of a deconstructed soft-taco situation. That was pretty good too; perfectly cooked fish, and a big serving. The dude next to me had the pulled pork on rye; definitely want for next time. We both had fresh juices, delicious not least for the barber-striped paper straws. Cute. One thing to mention; it's not really traditional lunch fare. You wouldn't go there hankering standard lunch players, as they have the one menu from breakfast onwards, and it's a bit weighted towards (innovative) breakfast dishes. Still, the girl opposite me on the communal table was tucking into what looked like some kind of artistic take on porridge, for lunch, and she seemed happy. Service is quick and attentive, and prices are reasonable for the quality. And they also have these pre-packed lunchboxes that look to be a great deal with a few small dishes plus a gourmet-looking juice and slice for dessert, for $15. Verdict: Am around the corner so will be back. If I wasn't close by, would probably still be back. Top Paddock is allllrriiiiight.

The hot cake is unreal! Well worth the wait, tables are turned over fairly quickly and the staff are honest about how long you will be waiting. Very organised service, delicious coffees and a buzzing atmosphere!