Eden's Backyard Is Melbourne's Newest Brunch Oasis

Eggplant chips, duck quesadilla and brekkie chicken lasagna. They're all on the menu at new Melbourne café, Eden’s Backyard. Having opened on the stretch of Nicholson Street between Johnston Street and Alexandra Parade just a fortnight ago, this new eatery is already attracting the inner north's ravenous hordes.

Calling itself a 'modern brunch cafe', Eden’s specialises in just that — the lazy, hazy space between breakfast and lunch. But you won’t find any old run-of-the-mill Western meals here. Nearly every dish is spiced up with a touch of Asian fusion and a dash of creativity.

The duck quesadilla ($21) is a tortilla filled with a roast duck fillet, caramelised onion, roasted peppers and mozzarella, while the brekkie chicken lasagne ($18) is made up of chicken ragu, light béchamel sauce, sautéed spinach, ricotta, mozzarella and, to ensure its ‘brekkie-ness’, fried eggs.

Meanwhile, sweet tooths can get stuck into Kev’s secret French toast ($19), a decadent mountain of Nutella, vanilla poached pear, blueberries, strawberries, caramel sauce and brioche; or the pancake stack ($15), which comes with mixed berry compote, honey mascarpone, green tea ice cream, maple syrup, Oreo and peanut crumbs. You’ll find the rest of the menu on the Eden’s Backyard Facebook page.

As the name suggests, the cafe aims to provide a bit of an oasis on an otherwise barren, busy street. On the outside, visitors are greeted with a mossy vertical garden and winding vines, while inside, there’s an emphasis on natural colours and textures.

Find Eden’s Backyard at 161-163 Nicholson Street, Carlton. It's open Tuesday to Friday, 7.30am-4pm; Saturday-Sunday, 8.30am-4pm; and is closed on Monday.