Always set aside time to properly wander Carlton’s Lygon Street strip. Lived in Melbourne three years now, still have a soft spot for this area. Full of old-school Italian atmosphere, the old buildings have genuine character, and ducking into any random side laneway around here usually turns up a surprise.
This time I wandered onto Faraday Street and found Luna Bakery, a place that had actually been sitting on my list for ages. Melbourne’s bakery and specialty coffee scene moves fast, new spots popping up every few weeks like it’s nothing, so it took a while to finally make it here. Sat outside in the sun, bread and coffee, probably as close to that relaxed Melbourne pace of life as it gets.
What We Ordered
Scanned the counter and picked a few of their more unusual options alongside the classics.
Almond Croissant
A popular breakfast pick in Australia. Layers of flaky pastry, crumbles the second you touch it. The toasted almond flakes really come through, rich buttery flavour, not overly sweet.
Maritozzi
I’m not usually a cream-pastry person, ordered this one just to try it, turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Soft, puffed-up milk bun, light vanilla custard cream inside. Sweetness is well judged, soft and bouncy, never sickly.
Pumpkin Spice Roll
Good fit for Melbourne’s chilly weather, full autumn vibes. Flaky base topped with a thick pumpkin paste, spice powder and pumpkin seeds scattered on top. Spice flavour is gentle, warm going down.
Croque Monsieur
The pick for anyone who prefers savoury. Crispy croissant stuffed with ham and gruyère, wrapped in silky béchamel. Works perfectly as a brunch.
Sweet Potato Bread
Soft, lightly salted dough, filled generously with a sweet-and-savoury cream filling, and the cutest part is its realistic sweet-potato shape. Genuinely worth trying.
Rose Lychee Basque Cheesecake
Vivid, eye-catching pink exterior, a rich cheese aroma, and an overall savoury lean, one of the few Basque cheesecakes I’ve had where the cheese flavour comes through this strongly, a genuine surprise. The lychee flesh adds clean sweetness, and the rose doesn’t overpower it. First bite that truly impressed me.
Matcha Croissant
Black-and-green combo that photographs beautifully. Croissant’s baked properly puffed, crisp shell, soft base and interior, rich texture. The cream on the outside is a bitter matcha, while the filling inside is a sweeter matcha paired with raspberry jam, sour and sweet, adding more refreshing layers. Genuinely love that level of thought put into it. Luna never skimps on filling either.
The Coffee
Had an iced chocolate with coconut, tasted like dark chocolate, not too sweet, with crunchy coconut shavings mixed through, genuinely hard not to love. Their regular espresso also has big orange notes, genuinely layered flavour, cuts through the richness of the pastries nicely.
The Space
Bright and clean inside, genuinely spacious, which matters a lot and makes it comfortable to sit in. Decor leans slightly Japanese, raw timber and pale green tones, the owner clearly has good taste. The kitchen out back is clean and tidy, and you can actually watch the bakers working, same with the front of house, always spotless.
Table sizes, numbers and heights are all well suited, and there are charging ports too. Genuinely good spot to study or just spend a lazy afternoon doing nothing.
Nothing about the bread looks all that different from other pretty bakery displays from the outside, but one bite and you understand what makes it different. This is genuinely my favourite cafe in the city.
The only letdown, it closes at 3:30pm on weekdays. Way too early. Next time I want to try their focaccia, see how it compares to Bread Club’s.
Luna Bakery
232-234 Faraday St, Carlton VIC 3053, just off Lygon Street
If you’re exploring Melbourne, our OMO Cafe and SMWRE Coffee reviews are good next stops for more Melbourne cafes worth the detour, or check our VIC school holidays and term dates for 2026 page.