Where’s the best place to get coffee in Warrnambool? We asked locals on the street
Sure you could take our word for it. Or better yet, the word of five others!
Ilana Bean
March 04, 2025
Walking through Warrnambool’s CBD, you’ll quickly realise two things: there’s no shortage of coffee spots, and there’s only so much caffeine the human body is designed to handle. Faced with an overwhelming number of options — and a very real risk of decision paralysis — I needed help.
Deciding on the supreme coffee shop of Warrnambool doesn’t have to be hard. I could've just checked the vibe on Google, but instead, I hit the streets and ambushed real people mid-sip to ask: "Where do you actually get your coffee?"
Here's what they said:
Albie, 38: Piccolo Coffee Roasters
“Piccolo Coffee Roasters! I get the long black. Piccolo is great because of their beans - they roast them themselves. It's also a small family business. I actually used to work there so people are probably going to think I’m biased. But I’m not just saying it. Piccolo is really that good.”
Tric, 80: Fishtales Cafe
“I usually don't get coffee. My husband and I take a long walk every day and make coffee afterwards. But a good place to get coffee is at Fishtales — it's just a hole in the wall around the corner. Dave Hughes went there one day and they just said, “Hey mate,” and didn't even recognise him. I think it annoyed him. But they’re just a little cafe; they treat everyone the same.”
Lucy, 23: Rough Diamond Coffee
“I actually just arrived today, but I already have a recommendation! We went to Rough Diamond and had the Smashed Avo and a really great coffee.”
Francisco, 60+: Monkey Business Coffee
“I just got back to Warrnambool and I went to the same place I always go — Monkey Business. I always just black coffee. Milk and sugar is just a disguise — I like coffee-coffee, where I can really taste the flavour.”
Amanda, 41: Jude
“I don't drink coffee but I enjoy getting a chai latte at Jude.”
After speaking with basically anyone who dared to make eye contact with me on the street, it's clear: Warrnambool doesn’t have a single, superior coffee shop.
From Piccolo's house-roasted beans (actually the oldest coffee roasters in the region) to the unassuming charm of Fishtales, each spot has its loyal following.
Interestingly, not a single person we talked to mentioned The Bohemia or The Pavilion, the top two cafés when you look up places online. And, to be fair, both cafes are great in their own right — the Pav absolutely has unbeatable views and I’d never turn down a cosy flat white in The Bohemia. But Warrnambool coffee culture just isn’t simple enough for an algorithm to capture.
So where's the best place for coffee in Warrnambool? The only way to find out is to start exploring.