Eat ยท Footscray 3011
CafeLalibela.
Cafe Lalibela is at 91 Irving Street, Footscray VIC 3011. Often cited as Australia's first Ethiopian restaurant. Injera, wot, weekend dulet, and Ethiopian coffee and beer. Little Africa search results often point to West Melbourne. This room is Irving Street, Footscray. Hours: Daily 12pm-10pm. Confirm before you go. Footscray station is the nearest train. Hours change. Last checked 2026-09-17. Trust the door or the official site on the day you go.
What people get wrong
Little Africa search results often point to West Melbourne. This room is Irving Street, Footscray. Last checked 2026-09-17. Hours change. Trust the official site or the door on the day you go.
What is Cafe Lalibela known for?
Cafe Lalibela is at 91 Irving Street, Footscray VIC 3011 in Footscray 3011. Often cited as Australia's first Ethiopian restaurant. Injera, wot, weekend dulet, and Ethiopian coffee and beer.
Cafe Lalibela is a welcome room for Ethiopian households in Footscray, and for anyone else who walks in. Staff here speak Amharic and English. You can walk in and be understood. Nearby on a walk: Konjo Cafe, Footscray Market, Addis Abeba. They are neighbours, not the same business.
91 Irving. Often cited as Australia first Ethiopian restaurant. Reviewers still flag cash only. Beyainetu plus doro wot is the usual two-person split. Little Africa search results that point to West Melbourne are the wrong suburb.
What should you order at Cafe Lalibela?
People come to Cafe Lalibela for this: Often cited as Australia's first Ethiopian restaurant. Injera, wot, weekend dulet, and Ethiopian coffee and beer. Little Africa search results often point to West Melbourne. This room is Irving Street, Footscray.
If you wanted a different dish, Konjo Cafe is a short walk. You do not have to make this kitchen cover the whole suburb.
On a good day you can stack Cafe Lalibela with Konjo Cafe, Footscray Market, Addis Abeba. Stay on lit streets and check who is closed.
Hours, payment and queues at Cafe Lalibela
Quoted hours for Cafe Lalibela: Daily 12pm-10pm. Confirm before you go. The number on this page is (03) 9687 0300. Call before you treat hours as live. Official site: https://www.lalibela.com.au/. Prefer that over a third-party hours widget. Public holidays override this pattern. Confirm before you travel.
At Cafe Lalibela, expect a walk-in unless the note below says otherwise. Cash is still common on Irving and in arcade kitchens. Cards are normal on Barkly wine rooms and most Hopkins counters, but do not assume. Little Africa search results often point to West Melbourne. This room is Irving Street, Footscray.
If you are pairing Cafe Lalibela with a market stall, remember the market is closed Sunday and Monday.
How do you get to Cafe Lalibela in Footscray?
Cafe Lalibela sits on Irving Street, market side, opposite or a short walk from Footscray station. Irving is the African, Bangladeshi and market-food street. Do not hunt for it on Hopkins.
If you are driving, match the car park to the building: Irving for the market, Albert Street for the plaza, Byron Lane for Little Saigon, Geelong or Ballarat Roads for the hospital.
Barkly and Hopkins stay the brighter walk from Footscray station. Paisley, Nicholson Mall and underpasses are the blocks people skip when they have a choice. If Cafe Lalibela sits on a quieter street, leave via the lit spine.
What do people mix up about Cafe Lalibela?
Little Africa search results often point to West Melbourne. This room is Irving Street, Footscray. Ask for the dish and the door. Cafe Lalibela is not a generic Footscray restaurant page.
Cafe Lalibela is 91 Irving Street, Footscray VIC 3011 only. Seddon, Yarraville and Highpoint stay out of this directory unless a sentence sends you there on purpose.
Hours change. Last checked 2026-09-17. Trust the door or the official site on the day you go.
Questions people ask next
- Where is Cafe Lalibela?
- Cafe Lalibela is at 91 Irving Street, Footscray VIC 3011, in Footscray 3011. Footscray station is the nearest train. Little Africa search results often point to West Melbourne. This room is Irving Street, Footscray.
- What are Cafe Lalibela hours?
- Daily 12pm-10pm. Confirm before you go. Confirm on the door or the official site. Last checked 2026-09-17. Hours change on holidays.
- How do I get to Cafe Lalibela from the station?
- Cafe Lalibela sits on Irving Street, market side, opposite or a short walk from Footscray station. Irving is the African, Bangladeshi and market-food street. Do not hunt for it on Hopkins. If you are driving, match the car park to the building: Irving for the market, Albert Street for the plaza, Byron Lane for Little Saigon, Geelong or Ballarat Roads for the hospital.
- What should I order at Cafe Lalibela?
- Often cited as Australia's first Ethiopian restaurant. Injera, wot, weekend dulet, and Ethiopian coffee and beer. Little Africa search results often point to West Melbourne. This room is Irving Street, Footscray. If you want a different dish, Konjo Cafe is the next kitchen to try.
More in Eat
Konjo Cafe
Irving Street African cafe next to the Lalibela cluster. Coffee, stews and a quieter sit-down than the market food court.
89 Irving Street, Footscray VIC 3011Footscray Market
Indoor produce, meat, seafood and a food court opposite the station. The weekly shop, closed Sunday and Monday.
18 Irving Street, Footscray VIC 3011Addis Abeba
Unfussy Nicholson Street Ethiopian. Generous platters, strong vegan plates, and a room built for groups.
220 Nicholson Street, Footscray VIC 3011