A very nice place to sit and relax on a sunny day. Good food, beautiful views, and a worthwhile walk around the nearby lake to help you digest after.
Love stopping in for a coffee and a sweet bite. The view is brilliant overlooking Albert Park Lake. It’s such a calming and serene area. The sweet selection is delicious. On this occasion I tried the carrot cake which was divine.
Fantastic location!!! Had coffee and tea a few times there, service is great! Will always come back to this one..especially during a jog around Albert park lake..
You would be forgiven for thinking that at a place like Carousel Cafe, the food wouldn't be all that great. I mean, as a cafe why would you even need to try when you are situated in such an incredible location overlooking Albert Park Lake. But Carousel Cafe's food and service came as a complete surprise - quick, delicious and all at a very reasonable price.
Top notch service; both speedy and polite. Excellent setting and so refreshing on a day of decent weather. Food was spectacular. I would highly recommend the Ash Crumbed Prawns for lunch. Delectable. And great coffee too.
Great brunch place after Saturday park run along Albert park. The Middle East platter is delicious, lamb is average. The smoke salmon platter is the best fish I have ever tasted over there, unfortunately it is no longer on the menu and the new salmon salad is big but not my style of taste. Hope they can bring back the salmon platter one day.
Came here for a business meeting and it was a crisp lovely day. The reflection of the sun off the lake was like being in tremezzo in Italy. The food was awesome the staff friendly and a nice hidden gem. I will come back to visit.
3.5 to be precise.
We liked this cafe for the setting and the view it offers. Situated on a quite side of a Park, this place offers one of the best views. We were quite dazzled by the presence of Black Swans in the lake.
Menu is short and crisp, and has something for everyone. Montenegro Chicken with Polenta Chips was easily the winning dish. Those Polenta chips were so beautifully crisp and soft. The other dish (which had a poached egg on toast) was good as well.
Slow cooked Lamb Souvlaki was decent enough but didn't have a wow factor.
Attendants are warm and friendly. Although it takes a while for the food to get ready (15 minutes), its worth the wait as you have some scenic beauty to gaze at. A bit costly but doesn't pinch because of good food and good view.
We came here for a wedding. My friend who had planned her wedding around Grand Prix was told she might have to change the date but it worked out in the end. Simple yet elegant location with a gorgeous view of the Melbourne city skyline. We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the food!
Beautiful view, great food. Friendly people. I'll be back. It is a little be small if to get around in a wheelchair but they do have plenty of ramps
Sitting right on Albert Park Lake, Carousel Cafe boasts fantastic views of Melbourne. There are vegetarian and gluten free options on the menu and room for prams (especially if you are sitting outside). The fantastic Middle Park playground, and also Albert Park playground, is nearby - so there is lots of fun to be had for your little ones. @plantbasedmum_
We came down for a wedding last week and the new couple held the reception at Carousel Cafe. I will admit most of the night is quite fuzzy, but I will account that to the excellent cocktails and drink selection on site. What I remember of appetisers, dinner and dessert were all excellent. The venue was perfect for the occasion and really made use of the waterfront visage and comfortably sat 150 people. For anyone considering them for the same reasons, I'll tell you we had a ball and would reccomend Carousel Cafe.
Thought I'll walk around Albert Park Lake today and made it a quarter of the way as I spotted the carousel cafe. We had a coffee, hot chocolate muffin and apple danish. The muffin and apple danish were served warm and they were good. I haven't had a the dark chocolate and blueberries muffin before and I can tell you now, the combination was good. Unfortunately, I didnt make it around the lake but, I'll be back to try their smashed avo soon and to try to walk the track.
Loved this place !! First becaus of the view !! Wooooow this is just the place to be maaan!! And then we had the vegan platter to share and it was just soooo good !! The hot chocolate was delicious too ! And the service was so nice !!
Despite living close by and regularly running past on a lap of the lake, it has taken me some years to make it to Carousel for a bite. It’s surprising to me that for a place with such a great location that there is no buzz around Carousel as a must visit brunch spot. Sitting on the deck on a sunny morning overlooking the lake has to be one of Melbourne’s most underappreciated dining experiences.
The breakfast menu is a little on the short side but diverse enough to keep most people happy. We had the breakfast salad and smashed avocado. Both were of a good standard but the dark rye bread was pretty average. The coffee was also good.
The service was prompt and friendly. Everything was reasonably priced also. I’ll be back - I’ll bring my Mum.
Carousel is an out of the way cafe by the lake. We went on a weekday for lunch and there was plent of room with ample seating indoors and some outdoor deck seating too. There's parking attached but it is ticketed.
The menu offered standard cafe far with a little twist here and there making it family and not overly inventive. We ordered variations of smashed avocado on toast and egg benedict with a shared bowl of fries which were hot, crispy and disappeared rapidly on a cold day.
Were it not for a private function, we would have stayed longer
Sensational. Brik Eggs - deep fried eggs in wonton was the best breakfast I have ever had. The view stunning and service amazing. Water with mint cucumber and lime was so refreshing
Popped in for lunch after the million paws walk. A lovely venue with a great view of the city.
The menu is great with a great selection on offer. Ordered the big breakfast, lamb and eggs in brix, certainly much needed after the walk and throughly enjoyable dishes. The staff were very busy but the service was prompt and friendly.
We have been wanting to check out Carousel for ages! For a place which is known for its great location, food and a place where they openly state on their website that they welcome dogs – we were super excited 🙂. The location… amazing!!! Food - FANTASTIC! Humans and doggies will all love it!!
Gorgeous views , very friendly staff and the food was delicious 😋. Heaps of parking on location. We will definitely be back this place is beautiful 😀
Enjoyable food and coffee. VERY friendly and efficient staff. Great 'fresh' location. They know what they are doing. Nothing more to be said really!
I'm almost tempted to rate this poorly so as to keep this a secret! Absolutely stunning views but that's not all - great food, great service. I highly recommend the breakfast salad. I'm not one to enjoy a big bowl of greens, but my three year old is obsessed with broccoli and who am I to introduce him to butter and sugar and oil? In any case, it was a hit. Very generous amount of pepita seeds, loads of avocado and fresh veg. Topped with perfectly poached eggs. Very happy indeed. Coffee is decent, as is the complementary table water - odd thing to comment on but strips of cucumber, mint and lemon make for tasty water. All in all, very satisfied. We've been every week for the last month!
The venue and atmosphere is absolutely beautiful, creating a sense of peace and serenity as you enjoy your meal overlooking the lake. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, with generous portions as well. The carrot cake at the end was rich but not overtly sweet, perfect to top off a very satisfying lunch.
Meatballs And Beef Cheeks
+4
Great food and a great view. The jam-filled donuts were warm and delicious - easily the best donut I've had in Australia in over 5 years! Best bacon I've had in months. The Parmesan Crusted Eggs and the Breakfast Salad both received rave reviews from my friends. Only things stopping this from being a higher rating were the fact that my friend was initially served the wrong meal (big breakfast) and the eggs on the salad not being cooked through for a pregnant diner. Both were rectified and the salad was removed from the bill. Would definitely return.
We took some family from overseas here for a weekend brunch - it's a great view of the city and lake. Luckily we managed to get a table inside if we need to sit outside we might have been little icicles! The good was the Parmesan crusted eggs (soft and gooey in the inside and cheesy crusty on the outside) and the shredded lamb grain salad with roast carrots and yoghurt (very nice balance). The bad - the coffee was okay not outstanding but decent. I wouldn't mind coming back in spring to try some other dishes. Ps - there was a wedding setup next door so it looked extra pretty on the day we went.
An unsuspecting cafe off Aughtie Drive, Carousel boasts a gorgeous view of the lake and of the city panorama. The food is nearly as impressive as the view, with the menu offering both classics and something a bit different.
I ordered the Mediterranean plate, which came with potato fritters, flat bread for days, some olive feta sourcream dip thing, bresaola, and a grain salad with yoghurt and raisins. It was delicious (sans the bresaola which tasted odd). Everyone else seemed pretty happy with their meals, and it was unanimous that everyone would return.
Given its location, Carousel is an obvious choice for a light meal after any kind of sporting activity at MSAC. It's a scenic walk from the aquatic centre and reasonably priced. After lunch, you can go for a stroll along the path around the lake to prevent that infamous post-lunch lethargy. Two thumbs up!
Such a good place by the lake before and after a 5km jog. Their menu changes seasonally featuring local produce. I ordered the Cured Salmon. It was delicious.
Amazing hidden gem on Albert Park Lake, pretty modern building, really friendly staff, generous portion, amazing view! Good coffee. Little details like providing sunscreen, lemon & mint in water 👌🏻
The scenery when sitting outside is amazing.i had the fruit and granola that was very refreshing and great portion. The lamb burger was missing a bit of seasoning but still very nice. Would love to come back here !
Firstly, I think this place gets points just for the view. Beautiful location, on Albert park, if you can find it, that is.
The food is quite good, and has a calming, relaxed environment that I like. The staff are friendly and I felt as if they took pride in the place. It wasn't very busy when I visited, but I'm sure it would get more foot traffic on a weekend. I like it :)
My daughter suggested Carousel Cafe and we were not disappointed. On a cold, windy, overcast morning we sat inside with an expansive view of Albert Lake through the enormous double hung windows. It was cosy and warm with the windows closed but on a warm summer day the windows could be opened to make the inside outside. With an innovative design like this it is no wonder that the menu is innovative. The food is all about imagination, presentation and taste. No "bacon & eggs" on this menu although you could design your own from the selection of sides if you wanted to. We each chose something different and no one was disappointed. The coffee is also good but you would not say that this is a speciality coffee shop. In this great location it is no surprise to find that the cafe is kid friendly providing high chairs and a good area to store prams. The baby chino seemed to be appreciated and they also made toast for our toddler grandson. A lovely morning out!
Love my brekkie every time i come here. Has never disappointed. On a gorgeous day there's nothing better than sitting outside looking out over the lake and melbourne city out in the distance.
The only negative i have is that you have to use the outdoor toilets. But foodwise, yummo!
Had a brilliant lunch here today! Was walking 'round the lake & thought we'd pop in for a bite to eat. What a find! Truly delicious food (lamb wrap + beef flat bread) & great coffee. Was really impressed! Will be back to try more things in the menu. Most impressive meal out I've had in ages! Yum!
Picturesque. Sitting on the outdoor deck and enjoying coffee with breakfast here is one of my favourite weekend events. Perfect location and great ambience
Absolute gem of a cafe!! The warm & welcoming service compensated for a gloomy city day; truly the kind of place you can sit and comfortably chat for hrs without feeling rushed out the door. Brekkie came out quickly and exceeded expectations (bubble & squeak w/ poached eggs, smoked salmon) - hands down the most divine eggs of my life, would love to learn the chefs secret.. Oh and the muffins are an absolute must (white choc & raspberry) - do your tastebuds a favor and don't leave without one (or 2). Staff were refreshingly cheerful which made for a relaxing atmosphere; attentive without being disruptive. Cannot compliment this cafe enough, an allround winner with the lakeside view being icing on the cake - perfection!!
The food was beautifully presented and coffee superb. My son had a braised lamb wrap and it was brilliant.
What an amazing spot. So " un Australian" very rear and far apart are the spots that offers brilliant food and are in a brilliant position.
Anything that came out was over the top. We just couldn't fault a thing up to the point that the waitress cut the muffin for our kid's.
Eggplant dish amazing. Lamb wrap brilliant.
Thanks
Jenna. Two of us had an excellent lunch at Carousel today. We had two dogs with us & the staff couldn't have been more accomodating. The pair of them were immediately given a drink of water which was very kind. We humans both had an iced coffee & a lamb wrap which were both delicious. We will definitely return.
Great views, consistently delicious food including fantastic quality coffee and very friendly and professional service. I'm going back again and again!
Yummy. Had a lovely lunch with a friend here today. The lamb wrap was delicious, and all the meals being brought out looked fantastic and fresh. The lamb was so tender and melt-in-your-mouth.
Will definitely come back to try other dishes.
Lovely outlook, even on a grey, rainy Melbourne day, with swans and cygnets wandering around.
Delicious food, friendly staff. Been to Carousel a couple of times now. Staff are warm and inviting, always with a smile. Weekends are very busy so food took a little longer but the staff informed us of this and invited us to have another coffee while we waited.
Brekky wrap and the braised lamb are to die for! Coffees are tasty and look professional... pretty latte art every time.
Will definitely be coming here again.
Great!. I am a regular at this cafe and love it! I am obsessed with the dumplings, quinoa salad and the muffins are best in Melbourne (white choc and raspberry are ridiculous!) It's sad to see such unhappy reviews but i will admit there was one waiter there that left friendly service to be desired but they have since left, and its great again. Highly recommended!
Breakfast every Wednesday. After our walk around the lake, we look forward to Eggs benny, scramble eggs or muesli. Coffee is great and the view of the lake as we relax outside. Service is very good and Pip keeps us in line.
There's currently a great pop up called Lakeside at Carousel which has excellent seating and a huge TV to soak up all the Tennis action.
It's a great place to detour during your walk around the lake.
Food is pretty average quality, drinks are a bit overpriced but the atmosphere and location are excellent. There are heaps of chairs, tables and recliners, or BYO picnic and set up on the grass (but beware the swans!!)
Loved it, excellent platters, tasty cocktails, friendly staff and fantastic views of the city. I highly recommend it.
Hint: carry a picnic blanket and enjoy the chillout session by park outside the restaurant. They have DJ playing, access to the bar and canopies set-up. It's the perfect summer vibe.
Stunning venue for a wedding. The food was excellent! Could not fault one dish. Staff were efficient and professional. A real pleasure for guests and couple.
Beautiful venue and good service.
You can't beat the view here. The food & coffee were decent but took a long time, however it was a Sunday afternoon. You're meant to wait to be seated but nobody acknowledged my groups presence so we waited patiently then eventually had to grab the servers attention who just told us to sit wherever? Be mindful of wait times.
Modern contemporary space set in parkland with the font of the building facing and opening directly onto the lake. Floor to ceiling windows running the length and sides of the building make good use of the panoramic views.the room can comfortably seat around 300 people with a dance floor. Plenty of staff who were conscientious and friendly. Only drawback is parking which is limited and EXPENSIVE!! Maximum of 3 hour stay which is $16.20 during a weekday lunch! Had to pay twice for a 5 hour long function. Might be cheaper to group together and get a taxi, Uber etc.
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