The best focaccia sandwiches in Melbourne

Say ‘arrivederci’ to boring lunches with these loaded focaccia sandwiches.  

No22 Cafe

The focaccia at No22 Cafe will transport you all the way to Southern Italy with just one bite.  The owners are from Puglia so sandwiches here are authentic as it gets. They bake the bread in-house every morning using the finest premium flour. As for fillings, we’re talking giant balls of burrata, perfectly tender octopus legs and huge chunks of Italian sausage. And if you’re lucky, there might be some of Nonna’s tiramisu on the menu. 

Tasty

This five-star joint has some seriously good sandwiches on offer. Head to the back of 518 Bourke Street and you’ll find Tasty. Regulars will argue it's the the best made-to-order focaccia in Melbourne. Choose the crispy crumbed chicken schnitzel with a generous smear of fior di latte, salsa verde and roasted peppers. For the vegetarians you can’t go past the eggplant parma.  

Lil Lane  

Down a hidden Melbourne laneway is Lil Lane – the newest kid on the focaccia block. Slinging the thickest sandwiches in town, this tiny cafe bakes its bread fresh every day. If you want our advice, go for the signature sandwich. It's packed with stracciatella, homemade pesto and mortadella. Focaccia is available from 10am.

Romanello

Find go-to focaccia pizza and sandwich spot Romanello at Melbourne’s foodie paradise – Queen Victoria Market. All ingredients come directly from the market itself, so you can’t get much fresher than that. The bread here is Tuscan style making it light, crispy and super crunchy. Portions are hefty, so come with a big appetite. Our fave features chicken schnitzel, provolone cheese, pickled onions, rocket and red pepper pistachio paste. Bellissimo!

FOC

The sandwich experts behind Sloppy Joe’s Deli have just opened FOC – a cafe dedicated to the mighty focaccia. Think classic fillings like mortadella with stracciatella and pickled green aioli. The vegetarians can get on board too with a version featuring whipped ricotta, roasted peppers and rocket. Add a frappe to your order and you’re good to go. 

Luci

For something a little bit fancy head straight to Luci's focaccia lunch. The range of delicious sandwich fillings is top tier. Wrap your chops around crispy pork cotoletta with burnt apple purée. Try the heirloom tomato with zucchini ribbons, plant-based feta and mayo version. Or go for the charred lemon-thyme chicken with rocket, truffle mayo and crispy shallots. The menu is available on Thursdays and Fridays making it the the perfect end to your week.

Otherside Coffee

A popular on-the-go lunch spot for locals and busy office workers is Otherside Coffee. Peek into the cabinet and you'll find a big focaccia sandwich with your name on it. The coffee price can't be beaten either so grab a cup of the good stuff while you're at it. Each cup of joe comes in at a cool $3.40 for a small or $3.80 for a big one. Can't go wrong there, can you?