Review Martha Ray's - Fitzroy

Great sandwiches and friendly place. Good milkshake too (but I would like a bit bigger!). The sandwiches are pretty damn good - I had the Reuben ($10 on a Tuesday) and my wife had a meatball sandwich which looked (and tasted) awesome. I would say the Reuben was more of an interpretation-of-a-Reuben than an authentic New York reuben, but either way was tasty.

Yumbo! One of the best coffee I've had. If you're after something healthy, try the detox drink. This green detox was an absolute drink you're after. Healthy and yummy! Croissant! 😋 Crispy and tasty.

Super friendly staff, tasty smothies and Asian fusion pork belly sandwiches. Tip: for spicy lovers, ask them for fresh chilli

Nice people, tasty treats and cosy location.

Good food, good coffee, decent priced, only went once but can say I would go back again.

Great chicken sandwich and size

By far one of the best porridge I’ve ever had With fresh blueberries figs melonstrawberries raspberries crumbed pistachios So Delicious!!!!!

Delicious breakfast burger & Campos batch brew. Great vibe.....

Let’s ray on that sunshine ☀️ <br/><br/>I have been through Brunswick street quite a few times, but honestly, it’s always when I’m heading to or from somewhere and usually I don’t have the opportunity to stop by the cafes and venues (busy lives 👋). But I had not only heard but actually noticed Martha Ray’s a few times by now. Why?<br/><br/>I think that when you walk by or enter a venue, the whole set up and decoration tells a lot about the ethos and personality of the owners. And here the beautiful blue chilled happy vibes always made me smile when I would pass by. It seemed like a little boutique hidden and made me so curious, that I decided to pay them a visit last week for some much needed coffee.<br/><br/>And I was so impressed by the simplicity, authenticity and beauty of this place that I decided to properly visit this ray of sunshine and just ray in there for a while trying their one single page menu. Yes, I am one to go bold and try new and different things, but also love how bare and simple, meals can be. What is good should be repeated 🥰<br/><br/>We arrived at the place and there weren’t many people inside (actually just one!) and it was lunch time so I actually found it quite strange but very grateful so we could have a better private experience 😂 one of the staff miners received us and told us to sit whoever we wanted and we soon picked a place close to the window as it was a beautiful and warm sunny day. The funny thing about having a single page menu is that it’s obviously easier to choose so shortly after we had made our choices and this is what we had:<br/><br/>- Porridge - it is their only sweet meal of the menu and in my opinion it is wonderfully conceived. Like I said, sometimes simplicity wins and although I have to be honest and say that I wished there were more sweet options (as I am a sweet tooth person), the single item is beautifully achieved! Made with organic rolled oats blended in almond milk, the consistency is not runny, but actually quite thick and dense (not in a bad way). It comes with sultanas in the middle that are perfectly there to give that extra natural sweetness to the meal and comes topped with seasonal fruits and earl grey figs that were amazing! Amazing! What’s even better is that is comes with pistachios and a drizzle of organic maple syrup. Now, if you have ever read my reviews, I actually suggested to a place I visited to add pistachios to the porridge they had as I felt that could be that extra thing that would make the meal amazing. And here this had it all: that perfect balance of sweet taste, great consistency and the right toppings to enhance the flavours. It was so good that one of the people that came with me already went there again to have a bowl just for her!<br/> <br/>- Sweet & Spicy - it is a vegan meal with a homemade sweet potato fritter, green ball peppers and ginger and a very interesting combo as it seems like spaghetti but all packed together and with a slight taste of spiciness to it. It’s not dense but at the same time I think it can be quite filling for some. It’s different than most fritters for sure and I think I have tried a mix that was so simple as this one. Personally I like it better when there is corn or peas inside as well but it was an interesting option too. It comes with some smashed avocado of top as well as some roasted veggies that were incredible in quality. Maybe a slight more dressing than what I would have wished but still acceptable. The sesame seeds in a circular shape around the meal were very well thought in terms of decoration and I really loved that special touch. Even more the mushrooms were one two but truly admirable and well cooked 👌 it was a good meal and I think many people would certainly like it!<br/><br/>- Martha Ray’s Reuben - due to the dairy content I didn’t have this meal, but my friends did as obviously we had to try their signature dish. Size wise it is impressive and I would definitely recommend it as it has nothing to do with your average sandwich at a cafe! It seems like a 4 stack! It comes with house corned beef, multiple layers of Swiss cheese, sautéed cabbage and a house Russian dressing. All in an amazing rye bread and with a very mouth drooling look. At the top there’s a classic pickle too 👌<br/><br/>- Thai Pork Rice Bowl - it is quite of a funny bowl with Thai black rice and pulled pork belly little pieces, as well as cucumber, coriander, chilly slices and dried onion pieces. Actually I wasn’t excepting it to be spicy as I must have skipped reading the chilly part, so I wasn’t that much of a fan of the final spicy taste just because my tolerance is minimal 😂 but from an objective point I have to say it was not that spicy and the rice was just at that ideal cooked point and very flavoursome. I wish it was slightly bigger as I fell like the portion is quite small but I would specifically like to have maybe a bit more protein to the meal as the pork stripes are quite minimal. There is also a fried egg on top of the whole meal that as quite good too, not oily or greasy and balancing very well on top of the little pile 👌😂<br/><br/>- Acai Mixed Berry Smoothie - I was quite surprised with this one for a more negative side. As a massive acai lover and consumer I have to say I found this blend not that enjoyable and not sweet at all. They use a blend of acai with berries, banana and almond milk but I think that this may require a bit more work ad I didn’t find the blend quite enjoyable. Maybe more ripe bananas and definitely less almond milk. I had found that it had way too many chia seeds and the consistency turned out quite gelatinous and I would have personally have it with less or none. A special touch with some flowers or extra toppings on top would have been good too 😊<br/><br/>- Chai Almond Latte - my friend had this drink and found it quite enjoyable and wholesome. It came wi a beautiful S shape and with a good amount of foam and nicely blended 👌 one things these guys can definitely do is coffee and this was obviously not behind! 👏<br/><br/>It is a simple yet packed with surprises place and it was lovely to meet Mari, the person behind this place. <br/>All that I can say as a final note is: let’s be smart and leave those rays of direct sunlight and get that food shine over you 🤩

The porridge dish itself that I had was quite nice, with a good oat to fruit ratio and some crunch but the service here really let down the experience unfortunately!<br/><br/>The first thing we noticed was that the Nutella panna cotta was no longer on the menu (devastated)! That’s fine though, the famous PANcake was still listed and that’s what we wanted! We went to order it but we’re just told it wasn’t available, so we needed more time to order. My colleague doesn’t eat eggs and prefers no hot milk (so porridge is out) and literally every other dish on the menu had eggs! When we were served again I asked if anything other than the porridge was available without eggs, the response was no, I asked what a vegan person would have and the response was a ham and cheese toastie (??)! My colleague ended up ordering the other other option available, a line croissant sitting on the cabinet while I had the porridge. I then asked why the PANcake wasn’t available anymore and was told it is available but just takes 30 minutes to prepare (well that information would have been helpful initially when we asked as we would’ve been happy to wait)!<br/><br/>A really disappointing experience after we were really looking forward to our business breakfast here (and particularly trying the PANcake 😰).<br/><br/>I ended up having the Porridge (organic rolled oats with sultanas, strawberries, earl grey figs, pistachios & organic maple syrup)

Lovely atmosphere, a gorgeous cafe to sit in to enjoy your coffee or meal. Coffee was great, I had a flat white and an espresso. And the chicken sandwich was delicious. Friendly staff and good service.

Simple, gorgeous sandwiches. At 2pm they’d run out of half their sandwich options so I ordered the Classic and the Eggplant. The food is decidedly Mum's cooking-esque, imitated perfectly. The Classic was a consolation prize for me but I would happily order the Eggplant again. The guy in the hat who served me was amazing, so laid-back and friendly and nothing but genuine.

Terrible coffee. We didn’t eat, so can’t comment on food, but coffee was so burnt it was undrinkable. Wouldn’t come here again based on that.

I enjoyed the delicious Pork belly baguette, and my friend looooved his Reuben!!! Yum yum yum!!! Great coffee too! We could see the Reuben's walking out the door for mass lunch deliveries; good sign!

I've been here about three times. I've ordered the chicken sandwich twice and the Reuben once. I didn't have the best experience the first time. The sandwich was made in a different bread than what the menu said, and the waitress took forever to take my order (despite the place being almost empty) and wasn't at all friendly. After that, I came back and the two following times were great. Good service and the food was delicious! Also, the coffee is really good (I've tried the long black only) as well as their hot chocolate. Another plus it's that it doesn't get too busy, which is unusual for the area.

Had a good result in relation to the below. Letting you know the price of toastie is 6 dollars!!! Thank you. <br/><br/>Has really nice sandwiches. Big plus. However- sometimes a gal just wants a cheese and tomato toastie... do not go here for this simple request unless you want to take a mortgage out to pay for a snack. 10 dollars for a cheese and tomato toastie is absurd. For some reason i have done this twice and it is no mistake. Youre better off buying a toaster from kmart for 7 dollars and doing it yourself.<br/><br/>

I dont live anywhere nearby, but i always make the effort to come here for the amazing coffee and pork belly sandwich when im this side of town.

Great coffee. Interesting & well made food. Friendly and efficient service. Unpretentious decor. Great value. Did I mention the great coffee?

awesome food, awesome service, a great place to meet friends, or grab a coffee.  Recommend 'The Classic' for a breakfast/brunch snack, has a small menu, but the food is really nice.

Only tried the coffee here. Nice spot on Fitzroy's busy Brunswick Street. A must try.<br/><br/>Find me on Instagram @Melbourne_Explorer or MelbourneExplorer.com

Really disappointing. As there wasn't much in the way for vegetarians having lunch, I had opted for the Beetroot sandwich. We have a bit of a lunch club at work and try many diff sandwich / burger joints once a fortnight  in and around the CBD. I was told how amazing the Reuben and other sandwiches were from others who have been there before, and don't get me wrong, they looked amazing. Big bread/roll, loads of filling etc.. My tiny and I mean tiny beetroot sandwich had one slice of beetroot, no mint and sherry dressing or none that I could taste, the smallest schmear of goats chevre . For $12.50 I think you can do a LOT better.

Absolutely delicious yet simple sandwiches, especially the Rueben. The fit-out is warm and cosy and looks particularly inviting on rainy days when you just want to sit and relax with a cup of coffee. The skinny lattes are consistently great; bold and smooth on the palate, with a slight nutty aftertaste. The only minor issue I have is that I yearn for a smile from the staffs, in particularly when you're getting takeaway. Don't get me wrong, they aren't rude or anything like that, just somewhat aloof.

Been a few times now and I've never been disappointed. Good coffee and amazing food. The Reuben sandwich is an absolute favourite! Would definitely recommend!

Love their pork belly sandwich is a must try for pork lover, serve in a yummy baguette. On a warm day order the milkshake too, coffee are good too.

Best sardines on toast! The beautiful fresh tomato & chilli salsa made this so scrumptious. You gotta go for breakfast. What else can I say!

Cute and quiet cafe. Great service and the food was prepared in short time. Had the granola and it was so gorgeous and tasted super sweet! Will come back again. ($11)

Been going to this place on and off for a couple of years and it's been consistently excellent coffee and sandwiches. Really friendly staff with good decor. Best of all they have fantastic taste in music. Always good to start the day with coffee and good tunes!

Really lovely little place - enjoyed a tasty breakfast with a friend a few weeks ago and the food was great and the coffee excellent! Efficient and friendly staff, nice quiet atmosphere with gorgeous decor. Will definitely return!

The BEST sandwiches in Melbourne hands down and great coffee! As a regular visitor of this small paradise in the slower end of brunswick street I have made it my mission to try every sandwich they have to offer - I can tell you there are AMAZING! - The best Ruben I have ever had hands down - the chicken sandwich Fab! This place will continue to to be favourite hang out!

The best Reuben I've had in Melbourne so far! Granola was super delicious too, fruit was super fresh and the puffed grains were light but oh so filling!

We went for breakfast on the weekend. Very small menu but the food we ordered was delicious. Staff were friendly too & great to have newspapers to read too.

Simply one of the best Rueben Sandwiches in Melbourne. I find it hard to choose anything else on the menu. The coffee is rich and smooth and begs a second helping.

The Reuben is so good!! Freshly made to order and filling. Oh Yeah!

...Martha Ray’s is one such place. A simple, narrow, white painted bricked space at the top of Brunswick Street that has been churning out sandwiches and breakfast for the past couple of years. Ideally located for our Christmas shopping excursion, we decided it was the place to load up before the task ahead. Our waitress is full of sparkle and takes our coffee orders pronto. A flat white for TBS and a piccolo for me. They’re strong, smooth and are downed quickly. The breakfast menu offers eggs done a number of ways, granola, porridge and sardines- a surefire way to lure TBS in. ...

Great homely vibe - like Grandma's sunroom! I stopped by Martha Rays on impulse for a quick breakfast and a coffee and felt compelled to write this review. I ordered the golden delight muesli which was delicious and beautifully presented! The coffee was excellent and I couldn't resist the pistachio and salted chocolate cookie, which was to die for! This place is an inconspicuous little gem. I'll definitely be back.

Loved it. I ordered the meatball sub and hubby ordered the 3 egg omlette. we were both so impressed. fit out was lovely and service was impeccable. Would definitely come back next time we're in Melbourne :)

Fantastic atmosphere, great coffee and breakfast with a twist!. I stumbled across this delightful oasis on a dreary Melbourne day and the excellent coffee, service and atmosphere was the highlight of my day. The atmosphere is just delightful - look out for the fairies in the fire place - and the simple but stylish table settings made me feel comfortable and right at home. The combination of soft boiled eggs, streaky bacon and zuni zucchini pickle on sour dough was inspired! - my favourites with the added zest of zucchini!<br/><br/>The were even very obliging when asked to have flat stanley (a project from my daughters school) assist with the coffee. I'll be seeking this place out again on my next visit to Melbourne

Doesn't Deserve the 92% Rating...... Coffee was pretty good, but given the location this was to be expected. <br/>I had to order 3 times, our waiter had no knowledge of the menu and what was and was not available despite the menu advising me to ask the wait staff as to what the salad of the day was.....<br/>Porridge was very ordinary but the baked eggs were quite good. <br/>We won't be back we're sad to say, there are much better places a 5 minute walk/tram away. <br/>8/10 for coffee<br/>3/10 porridge <br/>7/10 baked eggs

Delicious pork roll, some of the best I've had. A bit steep at $14 but they do pastrami special for $10 on Tuesdays!

We went here for breakfast this morning and sat at the window which is the best spot in the house. We were served promptly and the waitress was friendly. We had the vegetarian omelette and the granola with custard and fruit. Both were absolutely beautifully preset and so delicious. Highly recommend this hideaway cafe.

Everything: PERFECT. Atmosphere is a big plus. Open plan, inviting, bright, clean and comfy. Staff were incredibly friendly, happy and approachable. The mandarin juice was DELICIOUS. I had the 3 egg omelette special and it was honestly one of the best omelettes I have ever eaten. My partner had the Reuben sandwich which was fresh, tasty and had a bit of a kick. Will be here far more regularly!

Perfectly cooked poached eggs, quality toasted bread and yummy bacon. The perfect brunch. Delighted to have tea made in a teapot (hate those posh silk tea bags and a tepid cup of water). Thanks for the attention to detail. Service was polite and friendly. Will be back.

Terrible Music. Amazing food..Chicken sandwich is my favourite. But seriously martha rays, get with the times! No young brunswick streeter wants to listen to your incredibly repetitive jazz music - it totally sucks and is on every time im there. Please play some young, fresh music - music with no cobwebs. - i recommend sourcing it from the triple j hitlist....... its what the people want

Another cafe that needs to walk the talk!. I wanted to love it! As a small business owner myself I like to share my money love with folks who I think have put a lot of effort into their business and this place looked inviting and cosy, the fit out is divine and location I would cut off my right arm to be able to move my business to this strip - but that is where is stopped! We popped in for two strong coffee's, average by far and we wanted two heated cross buns that were on display. We were given two badly heated, dry and old orange and poppy seed muffins served in a bowl with a fork?? Maybe owners are burnt out - it certainly came across like it. Simple little things like coffee and a muffin should be easy peasy! Fire your disinterested waitress who has no idea what a hot cross bun is or actually had any idea what you had on display. To the owners I hope you find your heart again :) You have done a great job on the fit out. Time to walk the talk!

Love Martha Ray's. I've work occasionally in Brunswick Street and since finding Martha Ray's I never go anywhere else. The Chai is divine. The service is extra great. The atmosphere is gorgeous.

What a little gem. Great service, great atmosphere - very simple but with character. Very impressed with the coffee. My husband and I ordered long blacks and they were served at the perfect temperature. We each ordered the classic sandwich, but one had avocado and lemon added to it. We shared half of each sandwich, and they tasted amazing. The avo was thin, and I barely noticed it on the second sandwich, so if I had the classic again I would probably not order the extra avo. These sandwiches are amazing though. Pure delight to eat. I could easily see myself ordering this comfort food after a big night.

Very cute place, sandwiches were yummy and the service was lovely!

Delish but not cheap. Had the pork roll. Super yummy, but for $14 I just cant go there regularly for lunch.<br/>When you can get a delicious Vietnamese pork roll (not much smaller), down he road for $4.50, I'm sorry, there's not much choice.<br/>Waiter was nice, but a tad vague... took us ages to get served and we were the only ones there. definitely a return visit, but sadly not regularly.

Food was great, and I mean great. Best meatball sub in Melb. Service attentive but coffees below average. Would return for food

Still Got It!. The exceptional coffee alone was enough to turn me into a regular, but the food too is next level. I am still constantly amazed by the love that goes into each meal, and the diversity of flavors and beautiful presentation is testament to this. That pork belly sandwich is the tits. Treat yourself!

Amazing vegan gf granola with coconut custard. We had the eggplant roll, and the granola with coconut custard; both were delicious. the presentation on the granola was spectacular, so beautiful, although by the end very sweet (for me at least). The chipotle sauce on the roll was super delicious, eggplant perfectly grilled. And still tasted like a whole flavour combination without the cheese. Much care seems to be taken with sourcing premium ingredients, and fabulous presentation. There was also a beetroot roll which could be veganized. Everything about this place is well considered and thought out. The coffee was great, I would definitely recommend Martha Ray's, thanks!

Excellent food and coffee for breakfast

Solid. Excellent food- great baguette and sandwich selection. Pork belly baguette a standout. <br/>Coffee is very average.

Strange and good. The beetroot sandwich combination is a little strange - there is a lot of beetroot - but it's good, and apparently it is good for you. The peppermint tea comes in heavy metal pots - not much water. The wait staff often say ' we don't have peppermint tea we have mint tea'??? It's made using fresh leaves - and I am pretty sure they are peppermint leaves. It's hip, it's close and the beetroot sandwich is worth it.

The eggplant. At its awesomeness. So I guess next visit I try the...

Well worth it!. I was a little apprehensive about ordering the meatball sandwich after reading a review saying it was bland, but I WAS SO WRONG. It absolutely packed a punch! So many flavours jam packed into that sandwich.<br/><br/>Coffee was great too. I ordered a soy latte. Usually I order a strong soy, but I'm glad I didn't because the barista was obviously very heavy handed on the espresso. But just as well because I needed the pick-me-up! So if you like your coffee weaker than usual, possibly just order a little cautiously.<br/><br/>The decor is also very beautiful and has a nice hip and trendy feel like Fitzroy should. I'll definitely be visiting again :)

That's one BIG-arse like from me....beautifully sourced ingredients, you can always taste the difference.

Great unobtrusive service, fantastic coffee and beautiful food. Cute little find!

We had coffee. J (latte): Coffee was sweet at the start, like it had sugar in it, but I didn't ask for sugar. Then it turned into a bitter aftertaste. It was alright for a monday morning. I guess since we didn't get a card we'll have to go back. I got called "Buddy", I'm not sure how I feel about that.<br/>A (skinny latte +1): The coffee was smooth and easily drinkable. The atmosphere was surprisingly comfy and the staff were friendly but I've always had a beef with this place because of their difficult chairs. Reservations aside, the coffee was actually quite nice and I've had the chai before which was good too.

Next Level. The coffee at Martha Ray's is consistently prompt and excellent. The crispy pork crackling sandwich is what dreams are made of, but the black pudding dish is next level. Every bite better than the last, with balanced flavors and a generous serve. Martha Ray's is a diamond in the rough end of Brunswick St.

Great sandwiches and friendly service, pork belly was a definite winner

Worth a try. Was a bit skeptic as a vegetarian with regards to the sandwich options. After being convinced by the chef that I shouldn't alter the menu I tried the beetroot, mint, raddichio on rye bread number despite my dislike for mint outside of tea. Glad I did, sandwich was delicious, mint complimented the beets really well. Coffee superb also, atmosphere was chilled and would recommend to anyone wanting to try a cafe unlike others.

Martha Ray's. Excellent coffee, great food, reasonable price and great staff. A find! Their Ruben is delicious.

Nice space and creative menu. Meatballs were lacking in flavour though.

Great coffee, great food, friendly staff, always has a newspaper to read, and far enough up Brunswick st to get away from the crowds. What more could you want!?

Great coffee, delicious food, some of the best service in the hipsterville that Fitzroy has become. Love it

Tasty coffee, bloody good Reuben !

Crazy Good.... I've been here a couple of times now and found it consistently excellent! I went there for lunch on my birthday and had their absolutely amazing eggplant roll. I can't begin to describe how good that roll is, I find myself daydreaming about it occasionally! It is the perfectly roasted eggplant, smokey napoli, crispy, naughty white roll that gets me every time. You can have meatballs instead of eggplant if you're meaty. My coffee was delicious, the service was lovely and the sweet treats du jour, absolute bliss. It's a great cafe to get the window seats in, the people watching is particularly colourful at this end of Brunswick st!

Yummo!. I have been to Martha Rays several times now and it never disappoints. The sandwiches are the the best ever, not some crummy toasted focaccia at Martha Rays, oh no! The chicken one is my personal favorite at the moment (artichoke for you vego's) and so is the black pudding. The black pudding may sound a bit rich for some but its not at all, the fresh little salad served with it is the perfect match for the black pudding. I love the porridge at breakfast time too. Oh and if there are cakes or pastry on the counter when you're then count yourself lucky because they are always delicious.

Love.... I have been in to Martha Ray's on a few occasions and have loved it every time. The food is delicious and the coffee equally as good. I have tried the black pudding, omelette, toasted cheese & chutney and porridge... all just as great as you would hope them to be. Service was just the right amount of friendly and informative, and staff really go out of their way to greet you on the way in (which I love!) I visited with a group and everyone was just as pleased with this place as I have been. Definitely recommended.

One of the best things about working in Fitzroy is that there is always a new restaurant or cafe to discover around every corner. Martha Ray’s on Brunswick Street is a tiny chic cafe which offers exceptional gourmet produce. The sandwiches are delicious – especially the meatball baguette which uses learn, organic mean. It’s a serene spot to sit by the window with a coffee and watch the world go by.

On a sunny Tuesday one of my regular lunch buddies and I decided to jump on a tram to Fitzroy in search of sandwiches instead of our usual lurking around the CBD.

The pork is dried for two days and then slow cooked until the meat is sweet and tender with crispy crackling. The pork is teamed with a cabbage and apple slaw.