The Shire Cafe

8 Napier St, St Arnaud VIC 3478, Australia
+61 461 411 631
$$$ Cafe
(119 Reviews)
Price Range $20–40

The Shire Cafe sits comfortably in the heart of St Arnaud, occupying the old town hall with a charm that blends rustic character and relaxed hospitality. A favourite spot for both locals and travelers passing through on the highway, the cafe has carved out a reputation for serving solid coffee that meets the expectations of even the fussiest Melbourne coffee drinkers — a notable detail given its regional location.

The atmosphere is casual but thoughtful, with plenty of natural light and a cool interior that invites guests to linger through hot summer days. Locals often drop in for breakfast or a midday break, and the menu’s mix of hearty, approachable dishes caters to a variety of tastes, including gluten-free and vegan options, which make it a thoughtful choice for health-conscious visitors or those with dietary needs.

Breakfast is a strong time to visit, with plates like the big breakfast or house-made pancakes receiving particular appreciation. The mushrooms stand out on the larger brekkie plates for their texture and seasoning, while the pancakes appeal to those wanting something a bit indulgent yet homely. For lunch, the selection ranges from classic comfort fare like chicken schnitzel and hamburgers to lighter options like open lamb souvlaki and salads, fitting for a casual meal after a morning spent exploring the area.

Service here is friendly and attentive without feeling rushed, reinforcing the welcoming vibe. It's a spot where you can comfortably spend time with friends, catch up on some reading, or fuel up before continuing a road trip. Their dessert and coffee offerings also earn nods from visitors looking for a sweet finish or a reliable pick-me-up.

The Shire Cafe works well for people looking for a relaxed meal with a local touch, whether you're a resident grabbing breakfast, a traveler easing into the day, or someone wanting a solid coffee fix in a cozy, community-minded setting. Visiting mid-morning or early afternoon lets you avoid any potential rush and enjoy the calm yet lively ambiance that reflects St Arnaud’s easy pace of life.

Highlights
Great coffee
Great dessert
Great tea selection
Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Solo dining
Good for working on laptop
What they serve
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Healthy options
Prepared foods
Quick bite
Small plates
Spirits
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Wine
Best for
Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Catering
Dessert
Seating
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

06:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Tuesday

06:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Wednesday

06:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Thursday

06:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Friday

06:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Saturday

08:00 AM - 02:00 PM

Sunday

08:00 AM - 02:00 PM

119 Reviews
Soteavy Som

28 Dec 2025

Beautiful building and location. We only had dessert and coffee. The coffee was excellent (great to see that even outside Melbourne, you can still get good coffee), and the lemon tart was delicious. Friendly staff and great service.

Robert OCallaghan

11 Dec 2025

Even though we didn't stay in the main Motel, we stayed in the Unit's 300+ metres down the road. The rooms were great, as was the shower temperature and pressure. All facilities in the room were in very good condition. They even supplied biscuits, which is a great sign of a good motel.

Luca Weller

09 Dec 2025

Stopped for breakfast on our way to Adelaide and were greeted with a beautiful selection of gluten free/vegan options that suited us perfectly. Pancakes and eggs were great, service was kind a lovely. And of course had to stock pile on sweet treats for the long drive

Shane Ellis

02 Dec 2025

Nice Cafe in the old Hall love the styling and the set out, staff were very friendly and helpfull. Had the big breakfast and couldn’t fault anything on the plate the Mushrooms were the stand out for me, cooked perfectly. Partner had the pancakes also they were very nice, if we were to be fussy could have been cooked slightly longer only due to them be thick and fluffy so it would be hard to judge. Coffee and Hot chocolate was also fantastic. If you going through St Arnaud definitely drop in.

Ian Holden

19 Nov 2025

Absolute gem of a place to stop for lunch. The food is beautiful, service is top notch and it is nice and cool inside. Make sure to try the wagon wheel slice, it’s perfect.

Patrick Silveira

25 Oct 2025

Great service, especially early on a Sunday morning. Ask for the lady with the snake tattoo, she served us and she’s awesome with great great customer service skills. The homemade pancakes were delicious, as were the veggie and meat sausage rolls. The coffee was excellent too. Clean toilets, and plenty of on street parking available.

Luke

15 Oct 2025

Great cafe in St Arnaud. Lots of seating inside, nice to see an old historical building be put to a public use for everyone to enjoy the architecture. Meals were good, reasonably priced for a lunch. I would go back again :)

Jo-Anne Leigh

09 Oct 2025

Gorgeous old building, nice n warm for the middle of winter. Eggs benedict and scrambled eggs with 2 coffees. Both meals lovely, medium sized portion but the price reflected this, so all hood. Coffees need work. A little weak and a little bitter. Service lovely. Price appropriate

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