Three Bags Full

A longtime leader in Melbourne's cafe scene.
Amy Collins and Andrew Zuccala
Published on January 20, 2013
Updated on January 16, 2023

Overview

Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool? If Three Bags Full was like the nursery rhyme, we'd want to be the little boy who lived down the lane. Fortunately for us, however, there is plenty of Three Bags Full goodness to go around.

You'll find this gem of a cafe nestled inside a huge warehouse building in the back streets of residential Abbotsford.

And like any good Melbourne cafe, Three Bags Full takes its coffee seriously. Very seriously. Five Senses coffee is expertly brewed to give each origin its turn in the spotlight. Single origins and seasonal signature blends are pumped out using their Synesso machine, which is custom made, of course. Filter and pour over are also on offer.

The food is worth writing home about, too — and has been for many years. Oatmeal, toasts, and more adventurous breakfast dishes like the Turkish breakfast ($22) made up of cilbir eggs (a kind of poached egg), sliced tomato and cucumber, green olives, pickled chillies, baba ganoush and dried fruit on toast are all generous in their servings.

And as Melbourne's cafe scene increasingly embraces healthier dishes, Three Bags Full has kept up with a series of less greasy options. The bircher muesli ($17) is a classic win with seasonal fruit, honey labneh, chia seeds, roasted almonds and elderflower pearly. The everchanging super bowl ($18.50) is a must-try for health-conscious diners, too.

Boozy brunches are also on the menu at Three Bags Full, thanks to its decent selection of wines, beers and cocktails. We still can't skip the spicy chipotle bloody mary when trying to nurse that Sunday hangover.

Like Three Bags' food and drink offerings, there's no room for disappointment when it comes to the place's interior. A beautiful, light room is filled with pieces that give it an industrial but warm feeling. We hear the communal table in the centre used to be a ten-pin bowling lane.

Hearty food, buzzing atmosphere, and satisfying coffee have been on the cards at Three Bags Full for almost a decade — and this Abbotsford go-to is showing no sign of slowing down.

To ensure you get a table at this beloved Melbourne cafe, book ahead via the Three Bags Full website.

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