Melrose House Cafe occupies one of Nelson's most distinctive dining rooms: a grand house built in 1879, surrounded by public gardens and a nature walkway. High ceilings, polished rimu floors and chandeliers preserve the character of the building without turning the cafe into a museum. A table inside suits a slower breakfast or lunch, while the garden setting gives visitors another reason to linger on the Brougham Street property.
The daytime menu mixes familiar cafe comforts with combinations that belong to this kitchen. Green Eggs and Ham brings together eggs, pork and green accompaniments, while house-cured salmon gravlax is served with kumara rosti, eggs, hollandaise and dukkah. Creamy mushrooms use coconut cream, and changing salads build colour and substance from vegetables, grains and ingredients such as pumpkin and chickpeas.
Diners after something more substantial can look to the all-day grill, roast dishes and salmon plates rather than treating the cafe as a coffee-only stop. Vegetarian choices are integrated into the main selection through halloumi, seasonal vegetables and plant-based sauces. That range, together with attention to different dietary needs, makes the historic setting workable for mixed groups rather than only special occasions.
Baking and service beyond the regular a la carte menu are equally important here. Cabinet sweets are made in house, and high tea turns cakes and savouries into a more formal afternoon experience. The cafe is fully licensed and also handles catering for functions at Melrose House, allowing the same kitchen to move from a garden lunch to weddings and other gatherings within the historic rooms.
Address: Melrose House, 26 Brougham Street, Nelson South, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
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