hreefold might seem an odd name for café helmed by two owners, but partners Simone Moss and Lynn Brown had originally planned to enlist a third. It never happened, but the name stuck, leading to the opening of the smart, compact space late last week, designed by architect Travis Walton and perched on Flinders Lane between Queen and William Streets.

Threefold is a refreshing change to the pre-made sandwich culture that festers at that end of the city. The ladies have employed chef Stephen Black, formerly of Pearl, who has created a menu that is served via a stunning marble table placed in the middle of the long thin room.

Salads, mains, sweets and cakes are piled high on the table, with other dishes coming out from the kitchen. “We’re both mad cooks,” says former marketing executive Moss, who met designer Brown when they worked together at an advertising agency. “When we would cook for people, there would be platters down the middle of the table. We wanted to create that here.”

Good food, a short sharp wine list (by consultant and friend Jane Thornton) and the pair’s keen focus should keep the corporates distracted down their end of town.

Threefold
381 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
(03) 9614 8194

Hours
Mon to Tue 7am–4pm
Wed to Fri 7am–11pm

three-fold.com.au