This upstairs cafe bar tucked away off another Melbourne Laneway is a great destination for meetings, social gatherings or just delicious food.
The simple menu offers a good range and the focus is quality.
The Asparagus dish satisfies with a good amount of crunch and freshness. It smells good, makes you feel good after eating it and enjoy a great coffee whilst you look across Elizabeth Street at the Grand old GPO Building (H&M Department Store).
When your finished your meal, wonder around the retail offers from master craftsmen ranging from designer jewellery and leather works or even get a fresh new do at the barber.
This is a must for an immersive Melbourne crafted experience with food, drinks and so much more.
What a fantastic place! My service was great, especially from the waitress named Shelby.
Been here twice and I really like the ambiance. It's located on the 2nd floor with really chill vibe and spacious setting. Staff was really nice too.
Had coffee here twice, both soy cap and soy mocha was really good, definitely one of the best I've had.
They're creamy and not sour, the way I liked it. Cappuccino had a good amount of foam while mocha had a great ratio of choc and coffee with a hint of sweetness too.
I also got a complimentary canele (after sitting for almost 3 hours lol) and it was really yum!
Overall a great cafe to chill and have coffee!
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ｘｘ，ｊｏｅｌｌｅ.
4.0 Very Good
Captains of Industry occupies a unique space, not only is it a cafe but also occupies a space with a cobbler as well as a barber. We were brought out a menu board comprising of a few brunch items and sandwiches.
On tables were some antique sewing machines where we enjoyed a coffee. Latte was very creamy and had a distinct hazelnut flavour to it.
We followed up with some food, I got their magic mushrooms which consisted of various meaty mushroom varieties, goats cheese, miso butter (I thought was pesto sauce), some fresh herbs and a beautifully poached egg. Solid dish.
Grab a seat near the window as most people were crowded around there and it was much brighter than where we sat.
Interesting little place hidden away in an alley.
The place was uniquely decorated and looked cute. Got a flat white and it was pretty good without sugar. They say if a coffee is good, you really don't need sugar!
Also this place is one of the top coffee places in Melbourne - love their coffee!
There is just purely something so Melbourne about randomly turning into a laneway you did not know existed, walking up a ranshackle set of stairs through a suspicious looking door, and finding a quirky little establishment hiding at the top. Ambience by the bucketload, excellent service and while a limited menu it did the job. Our only real sad part was we like our coffees in a much larger cup, but that is purely personal and did not detract from what was a really enjoyable experience.
Fresh herbs an perfectly made poached eggs.. bacon cooked just the way I love.
Coffee smooth and moorish.. freshly squeezed orange juice very fresh
Great place to hangout and have a chat with friends. We didn’t try their coffee because we dont feel like it and had their freshly orange juice.
Will I be back? Yes
This place is very more special than other brunch stores. Because there are a lot of handmade shoes. The food is very more delicious than some brunch, but the light of the place is a little darker than other place. Finally，It is as popular as other brunch places.
The coffee here is so good. I’d come back here just for the coffee. The ambience is nice too. There’s an interesting feel, as you’re surrounded by a vintage interior sharing its space with a gentleman’s outfitter and barber shop.
Having said that, from the two times I’ve visited, the tables have been dirty before we sat down. Staff do take a while in clearing the glasses and plates. The menu is also limited (And there’s literally only one menu - that staff will bring to your table if you ask for it). The ‘Smashed Avocado’ ($17.5) was delicious and the portion size was just right. The ‘Asparagus’ ($14.5) was average; too much salad in comparison to everything else on the plate. Not much flavour either. Still, both dishes had the nicest toasts with a spread of butter! **NOTE: Kitchen stops serving food after 3pm.
The breakfast roll is probably the best thing I have ever eaten. The beer is great too, and the service and decor are really nice! Captains is definitely worth the visit. The miscellaneous cocktails are amazing, and the Bloody Marys are the best I've had in my entire life. Kudos to the owner he is fabulous! Will definitely be back!
Lovely place for a lunch catchup with a friend. Such an interesting space. We shared 2 sandwiches as we both couldn't decide on just one thing. Breakfast roll & the Hemingway. Man they were both delicious. Great bread, succulent chicken and really good bacon. Friendly staff & quick service. Looking forward to going back.
4.3
Captains of Industry is quirky Melbourne at its best. Twosheds and friends attended a Saturday evening birthday event here. Looking out over Bourke St and the former GPO building, this place is a bizarre combination of cafe, eatery, function space and boot making factory. It’s wonderful. Enter from the lane behind Bourke St, up old wooden stairs, and into the space surrounded by old boot making and sewing ephemera. Our function was catered but we’ve been here before and tasted the normal fare and it’s fantastic.
Guaranteed fun. Try it. 4.3
Hidden away in a little valley, it’s a bit hard to find. But once you get there it is awesome. The breakfast roll is probably the best thing I have ever eaten. The beer is great too, and the service and decor are really nice! Will definitely be back!
I have only had my soy cap here but it was an amazing cup of coffee ☕️ interesting space with a leather workshop, accessories workshop, and a barber altogether forming true Melbourne vibes
Located in one of Melbourne's finest alleyways, Captains is definitely worth the visit. The miscellaneous cocktails are amazing, and the Bloody Marys are the best I've had in my entire life. Kudos to the owner he is fabulous!
A fantastic hidden place in the city center. Excellent service and great atmosphere is the reason why always bring me back. The food and coffee is nice as well. The concept of mixing different concepts is very cool and unique. Off street location gives the place a bite quietness. Always a good time to enjoy the coffee and chill with friends, while seeing the traffic to passing through the street.
A nice place with not pricey food options. The magic mushroom and Hemingway sandwich are both good. Coffee is nice also. And it's really adorable to see they carry the huge menu around the room.
Ambiance: Authentic Industrial Vintage, very unique and cozy setting.
Service: Warm polite so happy with the staff :)
Food: I got the Asparagus, perfect combination of flavoring and texture, coffee washed it down smoothly. Tbh the best coffee I’ve had in Melbourne to date!
Thank you for the wonderful experience !
Great atmosphere, off the streets so it's quiet - great place for catching up with friends that you want to talk to for a very long time. Coffee is excellent, highly recommend.
I got the ‘magic mushrooms’ and it was delicious! The mushrooms were tender but not soggy, there was an adequate amount of goats cheese without being over empowering.
Staff were friendly. And the ambiance is quite unique.
The best coffee I've tried in Melbourne, tied with Duke's on Flinders.
The toast was also really delicious & crunchy
The staff was really polite and the ambience was cozy & cute
Would def recommend
Went here a couple of times and loved the laidback, rustic vibe of the place. I ordered the Magic Mushrooms which were sauteed mushrooms on sourdough. Not bad. The star of the place definitely lies in the coffees though. They always get it right!
Me and my bf been there twice, both time we ordered the magic mushroom, obviously the mushroom was the winner otherwise we would not order again but the second time was not as good as first time, the bread was over toasted. So we were both little bit disappointed. The second dish we ordered was the pull pork burger which was really yummy. We also ordered the Hemingway, that one was just okay.
What a pleasant and charming place. Excellent service and coffee and a nice spot of food too. The windows illuminate a splendidly airy space made all the more splendid by old knick knacks and various retro motifs, including the gorgeous work's of two artisanal craftspeople and a working retro style barber shop. Again, a truly charming and unassuming place, a nice retreat from the seldom tranquil hustle and bustle below it.
My go to place when I want a good coffee in the city. Tucked away behind Elizabeth St, Captains Of Industry is a cute and quirky cafe. I was considering having lunch here too however the menu didn't tickle my fancy so I opted for a coffee instead. The staff are really friendly and up for a chat which is great. No reading material though which is unusual for a cafe like this and disappointing. Would like to see the Herald or Age next time I am there please team :)
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Came here for lunch with my sister today. The cafe is down a side street and quite tucked away but has a great view of Little Bourke Street when inside. The cafe has a cool old-fashioned shoe repairers store.
The service was friendly and accommodating- although I found it strange that they only have 1 menu board that they bring around table to table for you to look at. Wouldn't be too hard to write out some menus- even by hand in the same style as the menu board.
Like the twins we are, my sister and I both got a long black coffee to start. It was a very good coffee.
I ordered a Hemingway and got avocado added to it. Two things made me happy about this- 1)they are flexible with their menu items and 2) they make the sandwiches fresh to order. Plus it meant I got to have some Avo (so make that 3 things!). The sandwich itself
Was DELICIOUS. The bacon was cooked perfectly, the chicken was real whole bits of chicken breast and the tomato was fresh and well-seasoned. There was also a tasty relish in there.
My sister ordered the Halloumi Burger and said it was really nice, as well.
Service was a little bit slow (20 minutes for our sandwiches) but since they were made fresh, with real whole ingredients, this wasn't too much of a problem for me.
They don't split bills which is always a bit of a downside for me. Other than that though, this is a nice little place for lunch.
I found myself in the area around breakfast time, so decided to look up some well rated places around and ended up trying out this place. The set up was quite different with lots of antique objects from a barbershop around, but provided an interesting atmosphere. The service was great, although it would have been nice to get an individual menu. But I guess the communal menu added to the charm of this place. The food was tasty, not a standout breakfast I've had, but still enjoyable. A few places around here have rather large ques, so good to come here if you don't want to wait around to eat.
I went to Captains of Industry many years ago and had a really great experience. I am going back in this week and will update my review if necessary. Cool fitout excellent food and I love the concept with the shoe makers and barber
Stopped by for a takeaway coffee, smooth consistency and a tiny bit bitter which is how I like it :)
FYI - They only have one small size of coffee cup and charge 50c for EFTPOS transactions (not sure if this is because my order was under 10 dollars). Very Melbourne location - in an alleyway, upstairs and also is a hairdressers hehe. l'll come and try a meal here soon :)
A really chill ambience at this gentlemens outfitter meets brunch spot overlooking Elizabeth Street's GPO. I couldn't help a laugh as the waiter brought me & my friend the menu, which is handwritten on a gigantic board and lists a smaller selection of food items, although all sounding delectable.
Both of us had the magic mushrooms (plus an extra poached egg, please), ginger beers, and lattes - because apparently great minds think alike. All of it was good, although a pretty standard formula & nothing truly exciting - as far as brunches go.
I will say this is an excellent place to daydream/people-watch all day, though, and I might come back to do exactly that.
This is where I love, feeling back to 20 years ago when people are not rushing for everything. No aircon but you will definitely enjoy the fan. It is not crowded, perfect spot for casual friend catch up. The food is nice and fresh with good size. The only thing is the latte, not enough foam as I expect. But it is the place I will come back.
Omg i love this place. Emily told me about it. I love that its ona little side street and you might not even see it if you werent looking. I love the unique and cosy vibe. I love that theres sewing machines on some tables (of course i need to sit here :)). The coffee was great! The service was great! And the three cheese sandwich that emily recommended... yuuuuuuum! 👌
I even love the unique spoons! I wasstaring at my little Romespoon that came with my coffeeforages. Awesome staff too :)
Captains of Industry is a pretty cool and interesting cafe, I had a seat over looking Swanston St which was great. Coffee was pretty good, didn't eat this visit, but I'll be back.
A nice cozy place, great atmosphere, best coffee I have ever had in Melbourne so far. I have tried the canales (pastry originally from Paris), was really good, crunchy and soft texture at the same time, I love this cafe, I will come back for sure.
The hemingway is to die for, thankyou to the smart cookie that came up with that one, coffees good, not as good as it could be the vibes nice friendly efficient fast but it is the hemingway that I love
Cool concept w good coffee and great food. What more do you need? Especially impressed w the relaxed atmosphere and just the right amount of checking if we wanted anything else during our 2.5 hr brunch on a drizzly Saturday morning. Thumbs up.
Special mention of their coffee. I usually enjoy a mocha and I find some other places over do the chocolate but here it was the perfect balance where the chocolate did not over power the coffee bean taste. I also liked how their menu is a black board thing that moves around to your table and then back to the main counter instead of the tradition hand out menus.
Enjoyed a brief brunch here with SWMBO. Funky place overlooking the old GPO. Manages to produce some great sandwiches, excellent coffee and you can also have a shave and get a pair of bespoke shoes made as well. Which I suspect makes this place unique. Filled with 20 somethings during their lunch break. We ate their equivalent of the BLT, which benefitted from the addition of some very moist , very tasty, roast chicken breast. On slightly toasted white sourdough bread. Filling indeed. Tasty For sure.
Worth a visit although service of food can be a bit slow during the busy lunch time peak.
Good spot for breakfast/brunch. Very eclectic fit out with a sewing theme happening. Very cool!
Coffee was quite nice and served by the quiet but friendly waitress.
Food takes a while here so probably wouldn't recommend it if you're in a rush. It wasn't very busy and ours took 30-40 mins to come out.
I had the "mushroom" dish with a poached egg on top. Flavours were great but my egg was cooked solid.
He had on of the sandwiches, I forget the name but it was loaded with chicken. Very tasty.
The concept and environment of this restaurant is great. The food was nothing out of ordinary but still it was good and deserves a 4.5/5. The mushroom dish was nice and the goat cheese was not too stinky which enhances the taste of the dish. The burger bun was perfectly toasted . Highly recommended. Also the workers were friendly. :)
i feel like I have came into a wrong place when i first walked in..
it decorated with some unique and classic leather goods, and also sewing machines.
the food and coffee was amazing
if you have a chance to seat next to the window and have a cup of coffee
observing the most crowded part of the inner city with a sense of peace.
So so Melbourne!
Great fresh tastes and quality ingredients.
The house made lemonade is a must have and their smashed avo whilst classic is absolutely beautiful to eat! Every element on the plate is perfect!
I wish I took a picture of the food because I can't explain how delicious it was. First off the interior is pretty cool with old furniture and that vintage vibe. Secondly, although the menu isn't extensive, the food was absolutely delicious! Being a mushroom fan I went with the mushroom and bread dish with a poached and it was probably the best I've ever had. Husband went with the muesli which wasn't overly sweet and just the right amount. Come here is you want something different to the usual hype and if you want just simple good flavours.
Exceptional ambiance and feel. Has a haunting, historic tinge which takes you back in time. Singer sowing machines converted into tables and a hidden barber shop made me smile. During brunch, the sunshine and view of Elizabeth Street from the window table is delightful. Uncomplicated, unpretentious and small menu delivered on quaint tin plates. A simple toastie with three cheeses and tomato tasted just how mom would make it. Coffee was solid, service was functional.
Environment is fantastic! I ordered hamburger roll and sandwiches, two of those are delicious! My friend said she would likely going twice, because she really enjoy the sunshine cross the window!
Good space, great coffee and nice atmosphere- not too noisy in the busy city! Both my brother and me had smashed avocado, that was nice too. Look forward for the next visit.
Located in a small isle of Melbourne CBD, I find this place quiet and relax compared to the busy environment looking out to Elizabeth street.
I enjoy the coffee a lot, exceed my expectations. I have sandwich as lunch, nice combination.
Great atmosphere but menu leaves much to be desired, staff on the most part were great but spent a good time waiting to be served at the counter. I would go back again!
Captains Of Industry is a very welcoming cafe. The coffee, the Elizabeth street view, the sweets the people...oh my, so good!
The service is fantastic && so is the coffee. Coffee is really smooth, soft and fluffy!
ventured into here for Sunday brunch following our workout. The space was initially used for a tailor, but now transformed into a cool cafe. Sat by the window and had a great view of the old GPO building. We ordered the Pear and Blue Cheese Sandwhich. French Handbag got his mouth around the Knuckle sandwich. Mine had the perfect mixture of sweet mixed with the savoury touches of bacon and walnuts. The bread served for the knuckle sandwich was a little too hard, but otherwise delicious. Flat white was hot (!!) and macchiato was very competent. Make sure you pay with cash, they charge 50cents for using debit/credit. Otherwise Would love to come back here
If you venture into this building, climb up the old staircase and stick your head through an unmarked door, don't fret. You're not trespassing on private property. You've actually just made it to Captains of Industry.
Settle in and you'll find this is a very cool place to be. It's Melbourne cafe meets vintage retail store. The decorations aren't static either, you can buy their little trinkets if you feel the need to impulse shop during your stay.
This is a nice out of the way cafe that has a great view overlooking Elizabeth st.
I ordered a flat white which was had a strong aroma and a bit of a kick.
The menu comes as a massive chalkboard to your table if you didnt see it behind the bar. Small list of options but well chosen. I had a pear and blue cheese sandwich that hooked me on the first bite.
It is now one of my frequent mid city stops.
Must try pull pork bun!! Everything is good! Good coffee & nice cannula to go with it. Nice vintage hippy ambiance! Love going there. Staff friendly. Must try place in Melb & again pull pork bun best I ever had!!!overall rating 4.6*
Captains of Industry is so very odd and Melbourne. It's hidden off a small alley (on the second floor), and actually a bespoke men's outfitter plus cafe. It's old and rustic, and the tables have old sewing machines! The atmosphere is very chill and the service is equally relaxed and friendly. Coffee has been consistently good. Look for the food menu on a board. I recently tried a pulled pork sandwich, which was large and decent tasting, but I don't think one would write home about the food here. It's about the ambiance and it's a place frequented for coffee meetings or just to sit and watch the streets below.
Super big fan of their ice coffee! Best I've tried so far o~🙋🏻mushroom also could be a recommend dish and what's important!!!! Choose a seat by the Windows 😆😆😆😆
Cafe designed to appeal to Melbourne's increasingly eclectic taste situated in one of its famous laneways embellished with street art.
The coffee was smooth and excellent. I would have preferred it in a proper rounded cup (which enhances the flavour); however, it was so nice that it didn't bother me in the end.
You need time to take a tour of the wonderful old-world, industrial interior with its Singer sewing machines (which also double as coffee tables), leather apparel and cobbler's shoemaking/repair apparatus.
Service was very professional and friendly.
A hidden treasure just waiting to be discovered in Melbourne's laneways.
Impeccable staff, presentation
Espresso slightly over extracted and under strength
Food is reasonably priced. Interested in their new roasting space.
Melbourne never fails to surprise me when it comes to culture, food art. Captain of industry is the one place where all things happened in one roof. Tucked away behind busy Elizabeth St; it is definitely a hidden gem where you can find a good range of drinks, leather goods made locally whilst waiting for an 'old school' haircut from the barbershop located just in the café. Highly recommend
This place is really cool and hidden away (I almost walked past it by accident). The coffee is fantastic and the service is friendly. The cafe itself and its decor is super quirky and was such a cool place to go for an afternoon coffee stop.
The service was wonderful and the atmosphere was quaint.
I ordered the smashed avo. It wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was definitely better than passable. I would have gone a little easier on the garlic, it overpowered all the other flavours.
Overall, lovely place.
Been to this place a couple of times now and I really like it, hidden gem. I like sitting by the window with my laptop while watching people walking by. I've had the steak sandwich and muesli, both delicious!
really interesting place, nice unique decors. the place is a little stuffy but the coffee was great and worth it! would definitely consider coming back
God bless Melbourne's lanes ways! Another lane, another new find for me. Met a client who frequents this place and I must say I quite enjoyed the rustic, quirky, bohemian atmosphere.
It was quiet ( tick ) with friendly efficient staff (tick) and pretty good coffee. I will come back for lunch as the blackboard menu looked interesting and reasonably priced ( eg; steak sanger $15-50)
They sell leather wear ( wallets, belts etc) and shoes as well. Something for everyone really!
My first time to be in the coffee shop where so much is happening. Love the concept, the decor of vintage and old stuff, out of nowhere sewing machine on the table, and a leather workshop as well. The coffee is pretty decent, not too strong and creamy :)
Another hidden gem in Melbourne. Love the coffee here, it's strong. The interior and industrial feeling here is somehow makes you feel homey and cozy. I love sitting near the window and see people walking by outside. :)
Good place to go with friends. Food is mainly made by green and few of oil. Hamburg is delicious but salad is just okay. Btw, lemonade is good!
(OPEN FOR VIDEO)
This little outing was a little unusual from others, in the sense that Jaz and I actually planned for it a month in advance (what?? a month? that’s crazy), instead of a ‘hey that looks interesting, let’s go next week? sure’. Well, the other times we didn’t have a special guest coffee-ing with us – Emmy from Zomato – to chat with, over peppermint tea and soy lattes (because now this blog is registered with Zomato, yay!!). But it was only after her departure that Jas and I realised we were a bit peckish, and so to the menu we went.
This is a really cute and quirky little cafe tucked away from the business of Bourke St. If you're looking for good coffee where you don't have to wait in a queue, try this place! Coffee was delicious however could've been a little hotter.
An opportunity to meet up with the Zomato crew in Melbourne had us introduced to the cool and unique Captains of Industry at Level 1, 2 Somerset Place, Melbourne. There's more to this place than just a place to eat. Whether you need your shoes shined, want to buy some hand made jewellery or need a haircut while you have some breakfast or lunch then this is your one stop shop. What a great concept!
The sandwiches and iced coffee here is divine! And the staff are lovely. It's such a nice view with a perfectly simple menu. I love coming here!
Hipsters hangout that welcomes allcomers, the food was good and while the lattes were well made they were smaller than is expected.
Great atmosphere but service a bit slow.
Great food, prompt service. Low key, friendly environment. Ideal location and interesting venue. I had the chicken, bacon and lettuce sandwich and it was definitely worth trying. The coffee is excellent as in Melbourne it needs to be. Will be back.
Cafe Condiments (Justin)
+4
Tucked away in a small lane off Little Bourke Street this hidden café is located up a flight of stairs and features antique furniture featuring old trade goods such as vintage sewing machines, leather making equipment and has an operating Leather worker and barber that operate out of the same building. The atmosphere for a CBD café is relaxed and the menu although simple offering various sandwiches is effective. The coffee is smooth and textured as reflected in my long machiatto although the crema seemed to settle far too quickly for my liking and not linger hinting that it was perhaps a bit thin. This place also apparently transforms to a whisky bar on Friday evenings and they stock my favourite range of Japanese whiskeys that I am keen to return to savour.
Just love the atmosphere here, nice view by the window and trendy decorations. We had a good time just relax and talk while drinking their really nice coffees.
Had a very smooth and well balanced latte here the other day. I had a day of catching up with people at different cafes and so had tried a heap of coffee - and the coffee at Captains was the best.
The actual space is so cute, trendy and hipster. In typical Melbourne style, it is down an alleyway and up some stairs with minimal signage.
It is also quiet with lots of space - a great place to catch up with friends/have meetings.
Terrific location, quirky idiosyncratic atmosphere. Always take visitors here. Good coffee. Other drinks and food pricy. Nice place to go after your main meal.
Had an amazing home made lemonade with Mitch here. Great location, nice quiet spot in the city.
Best place for meetings or hangouts!
I would recommend this to anybody going to grab a sit down coffee in the city
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Morning meeting with Zomato at Captains of Industry . This is typically the type of cafe where everyone would just grab a cup of coffee to ease early morning depresso. Menu wise, nothing spectacular, just simple sandwiches, toasts and basic breakfast items to get you get by. The cafe is located at the second floor of a building. It is unique as it has its own gentlemen barbershop at the restaurant itself. They also sell men outfitter knick knacks from leather belts, shoes to bags and accessories. Some tables you might be sitting on to sit on are sewing machine tables with foot pedals to rest your feet on. And true enough, only passable hipsters were spotted when I was here. Skinny Flat White Good coffee, great vibe. Each teaspoon is quirky like those you would find in old England. Love keeping myself occupied in the simplest form of hobby, I enjoyed some quiet time reading a book after my meeting. So excuse me while I... read. Captains Of Industry 2 Somerset Place, CBD Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia Tel: +(61) 03 9670 4405 Mon to Sun: 9am-5pm
Fork And Foot (formerly Two Clowns Tripping)
+4.5
I took my poison in liquid form; dark, rich and bitter; and left on a cloud of my own making. Captains of Industry – From boys to men, since 2009.
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