set in the gardens of historic como house, it’s safe to say that you feel as if you’ve arrived for an english garden party when brunching at the stables of como. como house (read: mansion) itself was built in 1847. tale has it that the original owner (an edward eyre williams) and his new wife built the property and named it after lake como where they became engaged. how romantic! the house has had plenty of owners and occupiers since then and is now in the hands of the national trust – meaning that (for a price) you can take a tour through the historic house. the gardens are free and open for a wander through.

the cafe itself has a romantic (almost tranquil) feel with a stunning white verandah dining area. outside tables are dog-friendly, which was perfect for us this weekend as we were puppy-sitting for friends of ours.

for drinks, the stables serve allpress espresso and finn cold press. they also serve a very tempting selection of milkshakes (including a salted caramel flavour), but with a 7km walk to get home afterwards i opted for a single flat white which was delicious and my husband went with a refreshing roots juice: carrot, beetroot, mint, apple + lemon.

the gardener’s breakfast: poached free-range eggs, grilled bacon, avocado + roast tomato.
eggs were perfectly poached + the mushies were a lovely surprise. generous serving of bacon + i loved the addition of fresh basil. fresh – tick. light – tick. healthy – almost tick!? either way, totally delicious!

hot banana cake with berries, mascarpone, caramelised banana + toasted coconut.
crispy crunchy outside, moist + fluffy inside, this banana cake was scrumptious and flavourful. mascarpone was soft + creamy, and the addition of coconut was perfect.

the interior is also beautiful – artistic, relaxing + creative, and there are plenty of dining tables inside also. staff were friendly + efficient, and the food came out very quickly following our order. this was a beautiful experience from start to finish – delicious food and a magical garden setting. i’m looking forward to taking my mother-in-law here next time she visits… she will love it!

verdict: a romantic brunch + delightful english garden.. all in suburban melbourne
find: http://www.thestablesofcomo.com.au/

p.s. i’m envious of anyone who can boast of getting married here – what a special wedding venue!