There was a time not so long ago when the word ‘Acai’ was regarded as little more than a great way of getting rid of some low scoring letters in Scrabble.
However in the last few years, thanks to a focus on healthy living, and of course to Instagram, the humble acai bowl has rocketed in popularity.
For those who’ve not paid too much attention to it, this deliciously dense, smoothie-based meal is now seen by many as the perfect way to kickstart their day.
Generally topped with fresh fruit and granola, it is normally so stunningly put together, you’ll be in two minds as to whether to eat it, or display it as modern art in your home!
Low in carbs and packed full of goodness and nutrients, this superfood is now a breakfast and brunch staple across Melbourne.
If you live in or around the city and have been indulging in the classic English fry-up for too long, now is the time to jump on board the healthier eating revolution!
With that in mind here are the 12 best Acai Bowls in Melbourne. Check any of these places out and you’ll soon become a convert.
1. Bowls Baby
Presenting real food for real people, Bowls Baby would be a terrific place to try your first acai bowl in Melbourne.
Situated in Essendon, all of their bowls and other meals are produced on-site using only the best of seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
Ethically focused, they buy locally to support producers and farmers who live and work in the area. This translates into acai bowls that are always quickly made, beautifully presented and nourishing for both your body and soul.
Try their ‘Original Baby’ which conveys a kaleidoscope of colours in the form of blueberries, almonds, bananas, natural peanut butter, date paste, milk and granola which is housemade.
Address: 35 Rose Street, Essendon VIC 3040
Phone: +61 3 8256 3360
Opening Hours: 8 am – 8 pm
2. Serotonin Eatery
For those who don’t faff about when it comes to eating healthily, Serotonin Eatery is the place to go.
Situated in Burnley, these guys specialise in gourmet and very health-conscious meals, which they serve up in a modern, elegant and inviting light-filled space.
Their fruity and fresh acai bowls are the perfect way to get you going in the morning.
If you’re game, try the Galaxy Acai Bowl. Which is a visual masterpiece that is loaded with antioxidants in the form of fresh fruit coconut ice cream, toasted granola, and pistachio dust.
Aside from providing you with a very healthy meal, they also run an education platform and exercise centre as part of their holistic approach to optimal health.
Address: 52 Madden Grove, Burnley VIC 3121
Phone: +61 3 9108 1507
Opening Hours: 8 am – 4 pm
3. The Nutrition Bar
Offering everything from salads and green smoothies to protein shakes and guilt-free desserts, The Nutrition Bar certainly lives up to its name.
A haven for health addicts, this vegan eatery in Windsor dishes up four different types of acai bowls.
This includes their ever popular ‘original’ which is a mix of coconut water and acai together with blueberries, bananas and caramelised buckinis.
If you’d rather try something different, their green bowl comes with kale and spinach which is the perfect protein bowl for gym lovers. While their peanut butter bowl with strawberries and cacao nibs should impress those with a sweet tooth.
Address: 166 Chapel Street, Windsor VIC 3181
Phone: +61 3 8528 5995
Opening Hours: 8 am – 3 pm
4. Smoothme Superfood Bar
Located right in the heart of the CBD on Spencer Street, Smoothme Superfood Bar prides itself on dishing up some of Melbourne’s best acai bowls.
Noted for being plant-based and free of refined sugar, they come in a wide selection of flavours. Most of these are so popular, there is usually a queue to get served at this place.
When you do, give their signature original acai bowl a go. It is made up of dates, almond milk, banana and maca powder and will blow your mind!
If you don’t have time to sit and eat at the venue, or need something to take to the office, you can always grab one of their boxes to go.
Address: Shop 6, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: +61 3 91910930
Opening Hours: 8 am – 4.30 pm
5. School of 7 Bells
Not to be confused with the former American indie rock band, School of 7 Bells is regarded by many to be one of the best proponents of the acai bowl in Melbourne.
Named after a notorious Colombian school that teaches kids how to pickpocket, this venue is a lot more wholesome than its moniker suggests.
Located on Chapel Street in Windsor, their staff are more passionate about healthy and clean eating and channel this focus to come up with a range of inventive dishes.
One of them is their awesome Brazilian acai bowl. A delightful mix of pomegranate, granola, banana, strawberries and honey with spelt agave. All of which will make the bells of your soul toll with its fabulous taste and abundance of antioxidants and nutrients.
Address: 33-35 Chapel Street, Windsor VIC 3181
Phone: +61 3 9521 5535
Opening Hours: 7 am – 4 pm
6. Acai Brothers Port Melbourne
An institution in Port Melbourne, Acai Brothers is one of the fastest-growing franchises of Superfood Bars in Australia.
Offering an excellent range of smoothies, juices, coffee and raw treats, this popular venue on Bay Street is the go to healthy breakfast and brunch option for many Melbournians.
As their name suggests their Acai dishes are the main drawcard here. Offering a huge variety, you can choose from a seemingly unlimited menu that includes the likes of a salted caramel bowl, lemon meringue bowl, berry nice bowl, choc treat yo’self bowl and mango passionfruit bowl.
If we had to pick one to recommend, we’d say the spiced porridge bowls. They burst with vibrancy and flavour and will leave your taste buds dancing with delight.
Address: 299 Bay Street, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
Phone: +61426696299
Opening Hours: 6.30 am – 4.30 pm
7. Monk Bodhi Dharma
Tucked away in a converted bakehouse, Monk Bodhi Dharma is a specialist tea and coffee house that dishes up healing and sustainable food which they make from scratch.
Set within a trendy and buzzy micro-roastery that features timber tables and distressed-brick walls, the ethos here is very much centred around healthy living and eating.
Boasting an extensive menu of vegan dishes, their acai bowl is one of the best in the city. It features organic acai, berries, maca, banana, mesquite, lucuma, granola and almond milk and has the added benefit of being gluten-free.
Address: 202 Carlisle Street, Balaclava VIC 3183
Phone: +61 3 9534 7250
Opening Hours: 7 am – 5 pm
8. Waratah Organics
Need a new spot for breakfast? Then why not give Waratah Organics a go?
Situated in Upper Ferntree Gully, they pride themselves on serving up one of the best acai bowls in the city.
Wonderfully created, they blend the acai berries into the sorbet before topping it with millet puffs, seasonal fruit, chia seeds and buckwheat kernels. As a finishing touch, they top it with flaked coconut too.
By the time you’ve polished all that off, you’ll instantly feel invigorated.
Address: 1224 Burwood Hwy, Upper Ferntree Gully VIC 3156
Phone: +61 3 87195982
Opening Hours: 8 am – 4 pm
9. Fourth chapter
Over in Prahran, Fourth Chapter is a light and spacious cafe that makes for a terrific venue to enjoy your breakfast acai bowl.
Many people come here for the original, which is packed with granola, coyo, coconut water, berries and peanut butter. However, the mango match bowl is well worth trying for something a little different.
Its ingredients include mango, coconut milk, macadamias and almond butter, among others, which produce a flavour combination that you will love.
Address: 31 High Street, Prahran VIC 3181
Phone: +61 3 95102277
Opening Hours: 7 am – 4 pm
10. Laneway Greens
For those who like their acai bowls to be sustainably made and bursting with freshness and quality, Laneway Greens is the place for you.
You’ll find it over at Richmond, tucked away, as its name suggests, in a laneway on Swan Street. But once you find it you will be able to enjoy a creation that includes acai sorbet, blueberries, banana, almond milk, and almond granola that is housemade.
All of which come from seasonal produce from local farmers and suppliers.
Address: 89a Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3143
Phone: +61 3 9428 3453
Opening Hours: 10 am – 8 pm
11. Tropicana Juice
One of the O.G.s of the acai game, Tropicana Juice have been dishing up these bad boys to health-conscious customers since the early 2000s.
Only using berries that have been organically certified, their amazing Amazon Bowl is a real favourite among locals.
It features organic acai whipped into a sorbet that is then topped with toasted muesli and bananas as standard. But if you really want to pimp it up, consider adding the likes of chia seeds, green tea powder, peanut butter and berries to take your taste buds to levels they’ve never visited before.
Address: 213 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Opening Hours: 7 am – 8.30 pm
12. Einsteins 251
Last but not least there is Einsteins 251.
Nestled on Hawthorn Road in Caulfield North, this funky place is very popular amongst healthy locals who want to grab their daily acai fix.
Boasting an impressive menu of breakfast and brunch delights, their acai bowl is right up there as one of the best in Melbourne.
Much loved by locals, their organic acai bowl features a delightful mix of banana, guarana and fresh fruit which is generously topped with house granola. You can choose to eat it onsite at their bustling venue or order it to go in one of their handy takeaway boxes.
Address: 251 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield North VIC 3161
Phone: +61 3 9939 5135
Opening Hours: 7 am – 4 pm