Oakleigh's cafe culture is an extension of its Greek identity — the cafes here are Greek cafes in the proper sense, places where strong coffee and conversation are the point and where the pastry case next to the counter is taken as seriously as the espresso machine. The outdoor tables on Eaton Mall are used year-round, with heaters appearing in winter and the pavement filling up on warm evenings. This is not the specialty-coffee scene of inner Melbourne; it is something older and more social.
There are no notable cocktail bars in Oakleigh. The drinking culture here runs through the tavernas and the cafes rather than through dedicated bar venues.