A sculptural café in the heart of the city, where design and dining intertwine.

Dame: Melbourne Minimalism, Perfected

From the team behind Hazel and Dessous, Dame is a café that feels like a gallery. Located at the base of Collins Place, it’s a study in balance — part Scandinavian calm, part Melbourne sophistication. Polished stone counters, curved timber and soft light create an atmosphere that’s warm but precise. The hum of espresso machines blends with quiet conversation, and every detail — from the ceramics to the cutlery — speaks of intent.

It’s a place for those who appreciate the art of subtlety. Calm, elegant and unhurried, Dame transforms a weekday coffee into a ritual worth dressing for.

The Food: Familiar but Fine

Dame’s menu is designed for the city’s rhythm — quick breakfasts, long lunches and lingering afternoons. Expect avocado toast reimagined with cultured cream, silky scrambled eggs with chilli oil, and pastries that look as good as they taste. The ingredients are local and seasonal, treated with care rather than complexity. For lunch, dishes like grilled chicken salad or prawn rolls hit that sweet spot between comfort and refinement.

It’s food that understands its place — unpretentious, beautifully executed, and entirely in sync with its surroundings.

The Coffee and Service: Polished to a Shine

Ona Coffee runs the program here, ensuring each cup matches the aesthetic precision of the space. The flat whites are balanced, the filters crisp, and the service glides quietly — attentive without intrusion. Whether you’re meeting a client, reading solo or escaping the office chaos, Dame gives you room to breathe.

In a city built on café culture, Dame proves that refinement doesn’t have to mean restraint. It just means knowing exactly what to leave out.