Spacez insight · April 2026 · 6 min read

Cafe Fitout Guide Melbourne | Design, Costs & Compliance

This is almost always the first question. And it's impossible to give a single number — but here's a realistic framework:

How Much Does a Café Fitout Cost in Melbourne?

This is almost always the first question. And it's impossible to give a single number — but here's a realistic framework:

Note: These are Melbourne market estimates for 2024–25. They include fitout construction but exclude equipment, smallwares, POS, and ongoing operating costs.

What Drives Café Fitout Costs?

1. Kitchen scope

A café with a full commercial kitchen (exhaust canopy, gas cooktop, commercial dishwasher, cool room) costs significantly more than a simple espresso bar with minimal food prep. Kitchen construction is often 30–40% of total fitout cost.

2. Joinery specification

Custom-built counters, display cabinets, and barista stations cost more than semi-custom or off-the-shelf joinery. Custom joinery delivers a stronger brand expression — but the budget difference is real.

3. Services — existing vs. new

If you're taking a cold shell tenancy (bare concrete, no services), you'll need new plumbing, gas, electrical, and HVAC. A warm shell tenancy with existing services roughed in significantly reduces this cost.

4. Building permit and council approvals

Depending on your tenancy's location and the scope of works, you may need a building permit, a council planning permit, and/or a food premises registration. These have fees and timeframes.

5. Finish level

A high-spec café with terrazzo floors, exposed concrete walls, custom pendant lighting, and a bespoke timber counter will cost more than a clean, functional fitout with solid commercial finishes. Both can look excellent — it depends on your brand positioning.

What Approvals Do You Need for a Melbourne Café Fitout?

This is where many café owners get caught out. Melbourne café fitouts typically require multiple approvals:

Building Permit (almost always required)

If your fitout involves:

• Structural changes (removing walls, new openings)
• New or upgraded electrical work
• New plumbing or gas
• New kitchen ventilation (almost universal)
• Change of use from prior tenancy

You'll need a building permit from a Registered Building Surveyor. This is not optional — it's a legal requirement under the Building Act 1993 (Vic).

Timeline: Allow 2–4 weeks for permit issue, depending on documentation readiness.

Food Premises Registration (mandatory for all food businesses)

All Melbourne café operators must register their food premises with the relevant council under the Food Act 1984. The premises must be inspected by an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) before opening.

Key design requirements that affect fitout:

• Adequate handwashing facilities (separate from food prep sinks)
• Commercial grade food contact surfaces (stainless steel, approved materials)
• Adequate refrigeration and storage
• Pest-proof construction (sealed penetrations, screen doors where required)
• Grease trap (required if you're producing food waste above threshold)

Timeline: Council EHO inspections can be booked 1–2 weeks before your target opening. Build to code from the start to pass first time.

Council Planning Permit (situational)

In some Melbourne council areas, certain works require a planning permit:

• External alterations (new awning, signage changes, new shopfront)
• Outdoor dining on council land (footpath dining permit — separate application)
• Heritage overlays (many inner-Melbourne strips have heritage controls)
• Change of use in some zones

Timeline: Planning permit timeframes vary — allow 6–12 weeks for straightforward applications in busy councils.

Landlord Approval (mandatory)

Your fitout must be approved by your landlord before construction begins. Most commercial leases require:

• Stamped design drawings
• Builder licence details
• Public liability insurance certificates
• Fitout specification approval

Timeline: Allow 2–4 weeks for landlord review.

Café Fitout Timeline Melbourne: What to Expect

Here's a realistic timeline for a standard Melbourne café fitout:

Starting point: The biggest mistake Melbourne café operators make is underestimating the approval timeline. Design and approval stages alone can run 6–10 weeks. If you've signed a lease with a fixed rent-free period, start your fitout consultation on day one.

What Should a Melbourne Café Fitout Include?

Front-of-House (FOH)

• Espresso bar and barista station (with adequate bench space, under-bench fridges, grinder positions, waste drawer)
• Customer-facing service counter and display
• Seating: café chairs and tables, banquette seating, communal long table, bar stools
• POS counter and EFTPOS positions
• Lighting: ambient overhead, pendant accents, task lighting behind the bar
• Flooring: durable and easy to clean (tiles, polished concrete, hardwood)
• Acoustic treatment — Melbourne's hardfloor café trend has an acoustics cost

Back-of-House (BOH) / Kitchen

• Prep benches (stainless steel)
• Refrigeration (underbench fridges, upright units, cool room if required)
• Cooking equipment positions (if food service beyond pastries/sandwiches)
• Commercial dishwasher and glass-washing
• Adequate storage (dry goods, cleaning, waste management)
• Grease trap (check with your plumber for council requirements)
• Exhaust canopy and ventilation (AS 1668 compliant)

Amenities

• Customer toilet (required for seated venues above certain capacity)
• Staff toilet and change area
• Accessible (DDA) toilet if total seating exceeds threshold

Finding a Café Fitout Company in Melbourne

When comparing café fitout builders, look for:

1. Commercial-only builders

Residential builders who take on café fitouts often underestimate the compliance requirements — particularly around commercial kitchen construction and council health approvals. Commercial specialists build this knowledge in from day one.

2. Experience with Melbourne councils

Each Melbourne council has slightly different processes, forms, and officer personalities. Local knowledge reduces approval delays.

3. Fixed-price contracts

Avoid "cost plus" or "estimate only" quotes for the main works. A reputable fitout company will provide a fixed-price contract for the agreed scope.

4. Reference projects

Ask for Melbourne café fitout projects they've completed. Better still, visit them if you can.

5. End-to-end service

Design, approvals, construction, handover — ideally from a single company. Gaps between your designer and builder create accountability problems when something needs to change mid-build.

Café Fitout FAQ

Can I do a café fitout on a tight budget?

Yes — but understand where to spend and where to save. Spend on: commercial kitchen (it affects your council approval), joinery quality (daily wear and tear is severe), flooring durability. Save on: decorative items, furniture (can upgrade later), some lighting (buy good fittings, DIY installation isn't an option but spec selection is).

Do I need a grease trap for my Melbourne café?

Grease traps are required if your café produces grease-laden wastewater above a certain threshold — usually if you're cooking with oils or fats. Your plumber and the council EHO will advise on whether a trap is required and what capacity.

What's the difference between a warm shell and a cold shell tenancy?

A cold shell is bare — concrete floors, exposed structure, no services. You build everything from scratch. A warm shell includes basic services: electrical switchboard, plumbing rough-in, HVAC rough-in. Warm shell is faster and cheaper to fit out. Check your lease carefully — what "warm shell" includes varies.

Can I run my café while the fitout is being done?

If you're refurbishing an existing venue, we can stage construction to minimise downtime. For new builds, you'll be closed during construction — build this into your opening date planning.

Ready to Plan Your Melbourne Café Fitout?

Spacez builds café fitouts across Melbourne. We handle design, council approvals, construction, and handover — so you can focus on your menu, your team, and your opening day.

Get a Café Fitout Quote →

• Phone: 0447 064 489
• Email: dallas@spacez.com.au

Spacez — Melbourne's commercial fitout specialists.

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