Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a little skeptical of the whole ‘clean eating’ thing. Don’t get me wrong, I know there is a place for it, and that it does make you feel better and all that jazz. I also tend to eat really healthy during the week, and indulge on the weekend. But if you are going to offer me a blue green algae latte and ask me to pay money for it, I will look at you blankly. I don’t really care enough about the health benefits of eating some obscure super food to spend my hard earned cash on it. It seems like every day there is some new healthy eating craze and weird ingredient to add into your diet to get twenty million benefits, how do people keep up? It makes me tired just reading about some of the latest crazes, and isn’t the point meant to be that you get more energy from these things? You know what gives me more energy? Sugar and Coffee, that’s what.

Normally I wouldn’t really be one for going to ‘health food’ cafes, because of the above reasons. I find them to be really expensive usually, and I would rather spend my money on a big ass coffee and a pastry than a pancake made out of only coconuts that have been on the tree for 14 days exactly, with bee pollen from bees who only fly north (okay, I am exaggerating I am sorry). But since moving to Melbourne, I have started to be swayed.

As much as I complain about ‘clean eating’ and the people who live a #activelifestyle, there are some killer cafes that I’ve been to in Melbourne that redeem this whole health food ridiculousness. And if I think that they are worth going back to, you know they must be good! I don’t normally like to be seen at these places, so the fact that I want to go back and try them again is a miracle in itself.

I decided that it was about time I write about this because of my sister. At the risk of making her mad at me, she is in love with healthy food. This is because she has a number of intolerances, and imbalances that I don’t fully understand, but basically means that she can’t enjoy my favourite food groups: pasta and wine. However, when she came down, she had a list as long as my arm of places she wanted to try out that were health food places, and so off we went on a little adventure around Melbourne, trying out places I would never normally try.

I am so glad that she expanded my horizons, because the cafes that we went to were absolutely amazing! Although I don’t think I’ll ever be able to give up my pasta and wine for a life of clean eating, nor do I think I’ll ever be able to walk past Zumbo without desperately wanting a pastry. But it’s been good to try out some new places, and new things. And hell, if you can eat more food and feel less guilty, there’s something to be said about this craze. That’s how it works, right?

So here is my top 5 favourite healthy food places in Melbourne so far. Due to the sheer size of my sisters list, I know that I haven’t even scratched the surface. But these places were pretty damn good, so I figured it would be worth sharing them with you!

Pana Chocolate

Where you’ll find it: 491 Church Street, Richmond

Without giving away where I work, I have a real issue with how close Pana Chocolate is to where I spend most of my week. When you have a store that makes chocolate and only chocolate literally 100 metres down the street, it is very dangerous. I mean, not only is it chocolate, my favourite thing other than wine, it is also healthy chocolate, so you don’t need to feel guilty about eating it, right? See my problem?

This café is a great little spot where all the staff are super happy, probably because they sell delicious chocolate all day. You can get all things chocolate here, whether it is one of their amazing hot chocolates made on brazil nuts, little chocolate treats, Pana chocolate bars or amazing desserts. The best part about anything that you buy here is that you can eat it all without the slightest amount of guilt. They also sometimes do tastings if you’re lucky, because they are so happy about life.

Don’t go there expecting the hot chocolate to taste like its normal hot chocolate counterpart, but I can assure you that even though it is different, it is still amazing! My favourite is definitely the raw berry cheesecake bar, it is so amazing! I have definitely spent too much money here, but the temptation is too great! What’s a girl to do with amazing, healthy chocolate so close?

About Life

Where you’ll find it: 120 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

I hadn’t even heard of this magical place until my sister came to visit, much like most healthy eating places in Melbourne. But it truly is the most amazing find, and for my sake I really hope the people of Melbourne don’t find out about it before I go at least 20 more times (I now realise that by posting a blog post about this, I am not helping my situation. As long as Broadsheet doesn’t catch wind though I should be fine).

This amazing oasis of healthy food is more than just a café. I think it actually might be heaven, except that it doesn’t sell wine. Everything can be improved, right? It is a café where you can get all your clean eating needs, it is also the most amazing take away food joint you ever did see, and a grocery store mecca, all in one! I can’t even explain how amazing this place is, it is beyond words. You will just have to see it for yourself.

The café itself has a great menu. You can get all your super healthy green smoothies full of x, y, z superfood, but you can also get a delicious beef burger with sweet potato fries if you’re feeling hungover. Granted, the burger bun was black, but it was still delicious (charcoal apparently…it removes toxins…even better for that hangover). The café is spacious and has plenty of options for every taste.

Once you’ve eaten, or if you just need groceries, there is a glorious store awaiting you behind the café. They have amazing take home options from paleo pizza to clean treats. It’s all there ready for you to take home, which is perfect if you can’t be bothered to cook. Turns out you can eat healthy and have take out, just go here! The grocery store is amazing too, so many things I didn’t even know existed, and they all looked amazing. About Life really has it all, so go check it out (or don’t, I want it to myself for a bit longer)

SOS

Where you’ll find it: 5/177 Toorak Road, South Yarra

I know I spoke about this place last week, but I couldn’t not mention it again in a clean eating blog post. This café has the most amazing selection of healthy breakfast options. I mean any place that has pancakes with ‘maple ristretto’ is great in my books. Those tiramisu pancakes are to die for, seriously you have to try them.

Nestled in a beautiful spot on Toorak road, you almost feel like you are in a European city. It is a perfect spot, even if you are outside because they have great industrial heaters!

The menu here is absolutely amazing, and every single item was something that I wanted to try. I guess I will have to go back. Again, and again, and again. What a shame! I think this café changed me.

Serotonin Eatery

Where you’ll find it: 52 Madden Grove, Burnley

One of the most ‘Instagramable’ cafes, Serotonin had to make my list. It was one of the first clean eating cafes that I visited in Melbourne when I first found out that I was moving down, and I can pretty much guarantee that you will leave happy. Ok, for starters, this café legitimately has tables that have swings for seats. Swings! If that doesn’t bring out your inner child, I don’t know what will. All the staff I think are hired for their abnormal levels of happiness, or maybe they just love their jobs, I would too, so you get great service as a result! And best of all, did I mention that if you order any of their specialty lattes, you get your drink smiling back at you?

This is an oasis just outside of Richmond. Everything about this place is designed to uplift you, and it really does. Don’t even get me started on the menu too. You will have trouble deciding, each meal sounds absolutely amazing, and is all gluten free. You don’t have to feel the least bit guilty about ordering pancakes here, they are made out of banana flour (legit, they dry up bananas and grind them into flour, and then make glorious pancakes out of them). Although the prices are a bit high, it is totally worth it for the experience. And the food is absolutely delicious, so you won’t be disappointed.

Seriously, if there is one place you check out, I would recommend this one. It will melt even the coldest of hearts with its happy vibes.

Happy Place

Where you’ll find it: South Melbourne Markets, South Melbourne

This place has recently opened, and is a café owned by Lola Berry, so you know it is going to be good and totally clean eating. I love this chick, she is so 100% her, and this café speaks to that. It is a small space on the corner of the market, but it is drinks galore. Seriously, I think you can buy salads and some solid food, but it is 95% drinks, which I am totally ok, and you will be too when you see the options! The smoothies all sound absolutely delicious and full of tasty flavours, you will have trouble deciding.

If you, like me, aren’t a fan of bone broth, but still want a hot drink, never fear! The hot chocolates here are absolutely amazing! They have a bit of chilli in them, and so have this beautiful heat which is perfect for the cold winter weather. Guarantee it will make you feel happy, it has to be my favourite healthy hot chocolate.

So there you have it, even I, the person who doesn’t really like clean eating, can be turned around by amazing cafes in Melbourne. I don’t know if it is the best way to approach clean eating, going into it thinking ‘this means I can eat more’ but it’s a good start, right? With this selection of cafes, you’ll barely miss the alternative. Except for wine, there is no replacement for that. But red wine is paleo right? So really I am being healthy after all!

Do you have any suggestions for amazing healthy food places around Melbourne? I would love to hear your ideas! That way when my sister comes again I can show her around rather than her showing me.

Until next time, happy eating!

Ella xx