After dark dessert bars

These are Melbourne's best spots for a late-night sweet treat.

GLO Gelato

A new player has entered Melbourne's gelato scene. After years of research, the minds behind GLO Gelato have perfected handmade scoops. With a focus on natural ingredients, the flavours are bold and playful. A must-try is the pistachio mayhem with its signature salty crunch. Find the colourful gelateria on Lygon Street, open until 10pm or later every night.

Nijuusan

Visit Japan in Melbourne at this cosy new Carlton cafe – complete with a gacha machine and retro decor. Nijuusan is serving up kakigori with handcrafted fruit syrups. Enjoy fresh flavours like matcha or oolong and order a slice of creamy cheesecake. Open until 10:30pm or later, seven days a week.

Kariton Sorbetes

Chic hole-in-the-wall spot Kariton Sorbetes is Melbourne's first Filipino sorbet bar. Located in Chinatown, the menu is displayed as a futuristic projection map on the ceiling. Pop in to try coconut and pandan gelato, layered between chiffon cake and coated with toasted rice flakes. Looking for something with a bit of zest? Opt for the quadruple mix of pink guava, mango, blood orange and pineapple sorbet. The best part is it's open until 10pm Sunday to Wednesday and until 11pm Thursday to Saturday.

KOI Dessert Bar

Cake enthusiasts are in for a treat at KOI Dessert Bar. This fancy cake shop closes at 10pm Thursday to Saturday making it the perfect spot for a post-dinner sweet treat. Indulge in a classic Basque or wow your loved ones with an elevated celebration cake. Of little surprise, the strawberry lychee is the store's best-seller. Adorned with fresh fruit and flowers, this hot pink showstopper tastes just as good as it looks.

TamiSweet

Home to the famous salted egg yolk cake, TamiSweet is serving up an abundant dessert menu until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Think cheesy vanilla yoghurt cake. Or sponge cake topped to the brim with fresh strawberries. Pair your slice with a salted cream Vietnamese coffee for the perfect balance of sweet and savoury.

Sulbing

Sweet cravings? Try Sulbing, Busan’s dessert cafe celebrated for its bingsu. These icy creations are crafted from finely shaved flakes of frozen ice cream or yoghurt. But the real delight lies in the toppings. Like the monster-sized Oreo flavour loaded with cookies, ice cream and chocolate sauce. Or for something daintier, go for a slice of strawberry shortcake with whipped cream. Open until at least 10pm every night.

Snow Moon

We often describe things as hidden, but Snow Moon is seriously hidden. Like, walk down a never-ending tunnel off a laneway and stop dead in the centre levels of hidden. But for these delicious Thai-inpsired bingsu desserts, it's definitely worth the journey. Classic milk tea and Oreo flavours are on the menu. Along with pandan-soaked toastie sticks, Yakult jelly creations and Biscoff waffles. Find Snow Moon open until 10pm every night.

Kōri Ice Cream

This tiny-but-mighty dessert shop is scooping up some of Melbourne’s most creative ice cream flavours. Nestled beside a Bourke Street parking garage, Kōri’s sleek and futuristic interior will transport you to Japan. Try the Hokkaido cheesecake ice cream, Fuji apple sorbet or miso banana caramel treats. This late-night spot is open until 10:30pm from Sunday until Thursday and until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Homm Dessert at Heart

Treat yourself to Thai tea or mango sticky rice bingsu at Homm Dessert at Heart. Then try the Japanese milk bread with pandan kaya dip. Plus there are lots of refreshing fruit drinks to sip on. Find this late-night spot at La Trobe Street, Melbourne Central or the new QV location. Fun fact: all recipes were created by the winner of MasterChef Thailand, so you know it’s good.

Nimbo

With flawless interiors, laneway location and creative dessert options, Nimbo was bound to be an instant classic. Join the queue in Hardware Street. Order the fan-fave ube mochi toastie, topped with sticky sweet cornflake clusters. Or go dairy free with vegan options, including a tofu pudding bingsu. Open until late every night except Sundays and Mondays.

Miilk Cake Studio

Craving a sweet treat? Just look for this neon-lit cake shop on Swanston Street. Despite its futuristic vibes and sleek silver interiors, Miilk Cake Studio is charmingly old-school. The cakes are made from treasured family recipes, handed down over generations. Order a fluffy strawberry sponge with lychee cream and jelly. Or try inventive flavours like a chiffon cake with three layers of hojicha. Open until 10pm, Wednesday to Saturday.

Palette

By day it's a light and airy Korean cafe slinging aesthetic brunches. But by night, Palette becomes an intimate, dimly lit night cafe and dessert bar. Think fresh strawberry lattes and croffles. Palette at Night is open from 7pm to 11pm all week. Wander in for a late-night nibble and a cheeky coffee.