Halcyon Days

Chef Eugene Lavery (also behind Proper & Son) and Anthony Cozzella are behind Halcyon Days, a Euro-inspired daytime diner in the corner spot previously home to Fat Albert.

The space is minimalist but still has plenty of character, with smooth archways and polished-concrete floors throughout. The best seats in the house are the snazzy stools (cute and curvy, in bright orange and olive green) or you can perch on the leafy corner outside.

Food-wise, it’s mostly homey and European-inspired. You might expect carrot-cake toast slathered with carrot marmalade and cream cheese, or buckwheat hotcakes of both the sweet and savoury variety – the latter might be stacked with smoked salmon, sour cream and caviar. If you’re on the go, the crowd-favourite chicken-caesar sandwich is hard to leave without.

Half of the menu is centred around sourdough loaves from Carrum Downs bakery Lievito, which you can order by the slice with add-ons that might be tinned sardines, poached eggs or caponata. As for drinks, you’ll find coffee by Melbourne favourite Industry Beans, alongside boozy-brunch-friendly cocktails and a pét-nat.