The Hot Poppy

Updated after its change of owner: Sadly now too expensive like all places seem to be now, and the food quality is not as good, though well displayed. The coffee still good. Staff were lovely. This used to be a place we'd travel to, but since it's update it's not as good sadly, but I hope newcomers enjoy it, but we'll likely find a closer to home place due to the increase in prices (about 3 to 4 dollars per meal, with shrinkflation in effect). There seemed to be less people than usual so perhaps others feel the same. Review from 2019: Good food, good coffee, Jodie the boss-lady is awesome and runs a tight ship. My favourite new cafe in North Melbourne. Thank you.

If this place has a flaw, it's the 80s music (my wife disagrees). However, the coffee was excellent, the "eades" toastie was yummy, and the service was charming.

The place is very cozy and the hot chocolate was very good too. I love this place

I used to love this place. Then it got sold and went drastically downhill. Such a shame. You watched me sit down outside. You did nothing. I waited ten minutes. How dare you do nothing. I’m done with this cafe now. We have other choices you know. All your tables and chairs outside on this beautiful morning were empty. So it looks like you needed the business. Now I’m off to a great cafe round the corner. Buck up or shut up Hotpoppy.

I bought two coffees for $14.50. Okay, let’s put the money aside for a moment. I waited there for 20 minutes while the barista made coffee, took orders, and acted as the cashier whenever customers wanted to pay. One person was handling everything alone.although there were 3 ,4people in kitchen ,and 1 or 2 people hang aroung walked-in customers. My order was takeaway, but if I had enough time to wait 20 minutes, I would have preferred to sit there and enjoy my coffee instead. When my order was finally ready, the flat white was nothing but foamy white bubbles. He told me, “Sorry, I thought it was a cappuccino!” Even as a cappuccino, it was unacceptable — it was more like a “bubbleccino.” He made anothe my husband’s order (a cappuccino), was completely burnt. Unfortunately, this is another café that sees takeaway orders as an opportunity to make money, rather than serving customers to the standard their prices should reflect. $14.50 for two small, poor-quality coffees is an absolute rip-off.

Hot Poppy Cafe was a great find! The Poppy Benedict was flavourful and filling, and the haloumi toasty was refreshingly simple yet tasty. Perfect place for an easy, enjoyable brunch.

Great spot for breakfast/brunch. Loved the fresh juice. Great portions. Good spot opposite Grueber and Associates (Fisk reference)