Bunnies to join baristas in new Melb cafe

Bunnies will bounce beside baristas if funding for Australia's first bunny cafe gets a hop on.

The part-cafe, part-shelter in Melbourne could also allow suitable customers to take home a furry friend.

But it will all remain a dream if crowdfunding for the inner-city vegetarian cafe does not double to $20,000.

Helen Hu says she and fellow bunny lover David Johnston hope to offer a space for relinquished rabbits that could also teach customers about rabbit welfare and adoption.

"We heard about the Cat Cafe and thought it'll be a wonderful idea to have a bunny cafe where the general public can learn a bit more about them," she told AAP on Thursday.

Cuddling over coffee would not be on the menu, but customers could still get up close with the animals by stepping into a separate room.

"They won't be free-roaming in the cafe," Ms Hu said.

"It'll be a glassed-off area to ensure food safety and a stress-free environment for the bunnies."

The rabbits will come from the Rabbit Run-away Orphanage, from where Ms Hu and Mr Johnston have adopted their own pair of pet rabbits.