Captains of Industry

Captains of Industry.  Photo: Donna Broun

Captains of Industry

Lvl 1, 2 Somerset Pl, 

Melbourne

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, 

Tues-Fri 6pm-8pm (Set course bistro style)

Sat 10am-4pm

Made in Melbourne

"Gentleman's outfitters and cafe" according to the upper level window signage from Elizabeth Street.  Footy Hero spotting in the rain is a tough job but someone has to do it.  Grand Final Parade day in Melbourne - a city  prone to very WET weather  does not daunt the intrepid, and the upstairs cafe in an old magic shop (as the building is branded) looked to be a suitable haven for post-parade thirst.

There was  real magic to come...

Enter by the back door via Somerset Place - a laneway off Little Bourke Street. Up the stairs Blue Steel meets Clark Gable in this workshop dedicated to the delivery of the finest food, coffee, bespoke suits and shoes - and even haircuts.

Channelling Marilyn Monroe in the 'Misfits' (Monroe and Gable's last roles) I flirtily ordered latte and the special sweet of the day to share with my fellow footy follower ...

Captains of Industry: Lattes. Photo: Donna Broun

The latte came - Smooth, well balanced, perfectly finished and presented. I want a drip-line of this stuff.

Passionfruit creme brulee  - 

the labour of love concocted in front of us by a team of  fine chefs, came with   

delicate, delicious caramelized crust and tiny viola flowers.  

Exquisite flavour, texture and dedication to presentation detail. 

"You made me love you": Passionfruit Creme Brulee. Photo: Donna Broun

Judy Garland sang 'You made me love you' to Gable.  I was completely seduced by the coffee, food, and clean cut sartorial splendour surrounding us.   If singing will seduce you further - Friday nights feature a jazz duo and bistro dining, but make sure you book 24 hours ahead.

Captains of Industry. Photo: Donna Broun

Captains of Industry, Captains in the kitchen. Photo Donna Broun

"A man should look as if he bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care, then forget about them"  (Hardy Amies)

Eat - then order up a suit, shoes and a haircut.   This "haven for men's men" and the women who love them, also produces fine made-to measure-suits and bespoke shoes from kangaroo leather with wattle or oak tanned leather soles. 

"Affordable, accessible, and overall enjoyable" is the philosophy. 

And as we found... no effort is spared to achieve.

*http://captainsofindustry.com.au/

Also reviewed by Vogue Living magazine.

All photos by Donna Broun. Copyright 2012

Cafe Noir is a midnight blog cafe - and records the architecture + coffee experiences of Muz and Mez around the world.  
Mez is a Melbourne Lawyer and Muz is a  Landscape Architect and Urban Designer.