The now famous Lindt cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place reopened on Friday morning three months after a 16-hour siege which claimed the lives of two people.

Gunman Man Haron Monis took 18 staff and customers at the cafe hostage on December 15 before being killed in a shootout with police.

• Tea, cake, murder: Sydney siege details emerge
• Sydney ‘smiles again’ with Lindt Cafe reopening

Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson lost his life in the siege, along with barrister and mother-of-three Katrina Dawson.

Lindt Australia chief executive Steve Loane said the decision to reopen the cafe was made after consulting staff and was important for moving forward.

Sydney siege victims Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson.

“Overwhelmingly, the feeling was that reopening and moving forward is the best thing to do for everyone affected,” Mr Loane said.

Speaking to ABC radio, he said the reopening came after “three months of sadness” and said counsellors would be on site for staff.

“They’re ready to go and they really want to welcome customers in.”

Doors to the cafe opened at 10.00am on Friday, and standard trading hours will resume on Saturday.

Two plaques dedicated to Mr Johnson and Mrs Dawson have been installed inside the cafe as a permanent memorial and will be unveiled on Friday

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird met with staff ahead of the reopening.

Mr Loane thanked the public for what he said had been an outpouring of support since the siege.

“This has been an extremely difficult period for so many people impacted by those tragic events,” he said.

He also asked that the staff’s personal privacy be respected as they go back to the job they love.

Significant restoration work has been made to the cafe after it was badly damaged in the police shootout which ended the siege.

LINDT CAFE MEMORIALS: Tori: “Forever in Our Hearts” Katrina: “An Inspiration” @TheTodayShow @9NewsSyd pic.twitter.com/QiZ9MXJpJn

— Chris Urquhart (@chrisurquhart) March 19, 2015

#LindtCafe : #MartinPlace cafe opens today @ 10AM. @mikebairdMP to meet staff before. @sunriseon7 @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/lB7XL06hwj

— Paul Walker (@pdwnews) March 19, 2015

The first photo inside the #Lindt Cafe following the #SydneySiege where I’ve been for @nova_969 very uncomfortable pic.twitter.com/8vjnzRMDDL

— Matt de Groot (@mattdegroot_) March 19, 2015

Lindt cafe reopens today… Beautiful to see the umbrellas up this morning. Thoughts are with the staff. #LindtCafe pic.twitter.com/XEsHRW53Pr

— ruthann richardson (@ruthannr) March 19, 2015

Final cleaning as the Lindt cafe prepares to reopen this morning @BreakfastNews @abcnews #abcnews24 #lindtcafe pic.twitter.com/xpd3hweiIY

— Johanna Nicholson (@johanna_nic) March 19, 2015

Lights back on inside the #Lindt cafe this morning… #sun7 pic.twitter.com/GGMHrolVGU

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) March 19, 2015

Media outside the Lindt cafe this morning. It will reopen at 10am. @abcnews @BreakfastNews #abcnews24 #abcnews pic.twitter.com/AphoUuIYBz

— Johanna Nicholson (@johanna_nic) March 19, 2015

The Lindt cafe doors will reopen today, 3 months after the 16 hour siege there. More on @BreakfastNews #abcnews24 pic.twitter.com/iqT7NTOMXz

— Johanna Nicholson (@johanna_nic) March 19, 2015

– with AAP