Celebrating 60 Lovely Years!

From first dates to family breakfasts, post-movie treats to late-night laughs - The Pancake Parlour has been part of Melbourne’s story since 1965.

Now we’re flipping into our 60th year, and it’s all thanks to you.

This milestone is more than just a number - it’s a celebration of every stack shared, every booth filled, and every memory made across generations.

Let’s take a look down memory lane…

1959

Pancakes, Highways & Big Ideas
A road trip from New York to Miami, pancakes every morning - fluffy, hot, and unapologetically generous. It wasn’t long before we thought, “Why not back home?” The idea for a pancake restaurant one day in Melbourne was officially born.

1965 -1969

Hustle, Hotplates & Homecoming
Six years, one hot dog cooker side hustle, and a whole lot of belief later, we opened The Pancake Kitchen in a gutted deli in Adelaide. Sundays? Open. Menus? Printed on shirt cardboard. By 1969, we made it back to Melbourne, opening our first Parlour at 4 Market Lane - our hearts (and plates) finally full.

1970s

Pancake Parades & Rethinks
Why wait for guests to come to us? We built the Pancake Parlour Party Machine - a food truck before food trucks existed. And when our Market Lane lease ended in ’79, we threw a full-blown Pancake Parade down Bourke Street. Go big or go home!

Open All Hours, Loved All Over
We opened our first suburban restaurant in Doncaster - it was so busy we kept it running 24/7. Then came Highpoint and Northland. The Soda Fountain outside Bourke Street served ice creams and dogs with flair. We were growing fast.

1980s

2000s

Trees inside & Bars Out Back
Melbourne Central introduced our boldest look yet - complete with an actual tree. Malvern East arrived with our first in-house bar and lounge area (still hosting amazing events now!). Inspired, we gave our Doncaster and Highpoint locations a glow-up, plus introduced seasonal specials that still hit the spot today. We launched a digital loyalty program, alongside a custom app!

2010s

Pancakes & Popcorn, anyone?
We opened in Melbourne’s east at both Eastland and Glen Waverly, pairing pancakes with movie nights. Our restaurants were conveniently located near cinemas. By 2007, our latest Fountain Gate haunt brought a sleek new look and a fresh feel - copper, timber, charm. A taste of what was to come.

2020s

Stacks at your Finger Tips
When the world flipped in 2020, so did we - in the best way. Drive-in pancakes, takeaway windows, online ordering - we got creative, quick. But we didn’t just adapt, we evolved.

From renovating our Werribee restaurant to opening brand new Parlours in Southland and Watergardens, we kept stacking up the good stuff. Our TikTok found its groove (and went viral), social media became a space for community, and our website got a well-deserved glow-up.

2025

Sixty, Sweet & Still Flippin’
This year felt like a reset - and a launchpad.

We brought in a new POS system that’s made ordering smoother and earning rewards simpler. We reimagined our menu, turning limited-time favourites into full-time legends. And with a fresh app and loyalty program in hand, we’ve never felt closer to our community.

What’s next? Let’s just say... we’re only getting started.