The Mess HallPh: (03) 9654 6800 ; 51 Bourke St, Melbourne 3000Cafe, $ Open mon-fri 7.30am-9pm sat-sun 8am-9pm; Licensed; AE DC MC V EFT |
|
Other published opinions
The Age Cheap Eats 2009 "Sometimes staff enjoying themselves isn't a good thing. Private jokes and postwork planning can mean the death of good service"
The Age Cheap Eats 2007 "The clean sheen of the Mess Hall has endeared itself to the office workers at the top end of town. But civilians should make a special trip to this stylish, unaffected cafe, run by venerable gentlemen."
The Age Cheap Eats 2006 Nothing messy here: this hall is more like a gallery, with white walls enlivened by cubist blocks, piano melodies, and murmurs from Spring Street pollies tucking into top-notch nosh.
The Age Cheap Eats 2005 "THE eavesdropping is excellent at the Mess Hall, a skinny shopfront just down the hill from Parliament. Government ministers whisper to minders over cardamom-spiced chicken stew on cous cous, but public servants slurping Armenian lentil, barley and silverbeet soup nearby hear everything."
Or perhaps ...
The Basement Cafe (03) 9329 4554, 350 Latrobe St, Melbourne
Birdcage Cafe (03) 9329 7525, Hotel Discovery, 167 Franklin St, Melbourne
Cafe Au Soleil (03) 9650 0462, shop 45, royal arcade, 148 Elizabeth St, Melbourne
Caffe e Biscotti (03) 9650 1080, 41-43 Block Pl, Melbourne - Once a little hole in the wall, Caffe e Biscotti has expanded to include two rooms with tables and chairs out in Block Place.
Cafe Y (03) 9329 5188, 489 Elizabeth St, Melbourne
Coffea (03) 9326 7388, 521 Elizabeth St, Melbourne - Visit any time during market hours and this place is packed to the rafters with coffee-a-holics in this coffee roaster.
The Commune (03) 9654 5477, 27-29 Parliament Pl, Melbourne
Dancing Goat 9670 4002, Dancing Goat, Shop 4, 280 King St, Melbourne
Degraves Espresso Bar (03) 9654 1245, 23 Degraves St, Melbourne - This mostly outside cafe that takes over a lane is long time favourite of city work workers and residents. Always busy for coffee, lunch and snacks.
Deli Manjoo (03) 9671 4544, QV, 210 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Demi Tasse (03) 9642 3571, 550 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
e:fiftyfive (03) 9620 3899, 55 Elizabeth St, Melbourne - Backpackers and travellers of all ages find this Internet cafe a comfortable way to contact the world they have left.
Elizabeth Street Espresso Bar (03) 9663 4422, 28 Elizabeth St, Melbourne - This one-time cigarette kiosk has become Melbourne's tiniest cafe. Good coffee and bread based snacks.
Guggenheim (03) 9662 1655, 55 Flinders la, Melbourne - For those of us who understand that a bagel is more than a bun with a hole in it, Guggenheim adds significantly to the amenities of the inner-city.
The Mess Hall (03) 9654 6800, 51 Bourke St, Melbourne
Postal Hall (03) 9663 0998, 116 Russell St, Melbourne - At the ground level of the Hero Apartment Buildings, Postal Hall brings to inner city workers and residents, reliable, good quality coffee, food and friendly service
Queen Vic Gallery Cafe (03) 9663 8799, QV, 210 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Sam And Sons 0414 911 625, Shop 45, Royal Arcade, Melbourne
SMXL (03) 9629 6344, Shop 5, 15 Customs House La, Melbourne
The Commercial Bakery (03) 8631 5900, rear, 360 Little Collins St, Melbourne
Time Out (03) 9671 3855, St Paul's Court, 2 Swanston St cnr Flinders St, Melbourne
Toasted On Collins Place (03) 9654 4445, Shop 51 Collins Pl, 45 Collins St, Melbourne
Travellers Cafe (03) 9654 7690, 2nd Floor, 169 Swanston St, Melbourne
Word Lounge Bar (03) 9606 0611, 14 Goldie Pl, Melbourne