The Terrace might be the best spot in Melbourne to sink into a scone. The breezy cafe overlooks the Ornamental Lake at the inner-city oasis that is the Royal Botanic Gardens.

This one-of-a-kind view isn’t the only thing that warrants a trip to the gardens. There are, of course, fluffy scones alongside ricotta hotcakes, Turkish-style eggs, fragrant fattouche, club sandwiches and more.

It’s fully licensed too, so you can park yourself outside with a spritz. Or if you’re picnicking, grab a Terrace-To-Go box with a sanga or salad, a juice, and something sweet.

The indoor-outdoor cafe was refurbished by Techne Architecture & Interior Design. It features lush green tones, tiled stone benchtops and geometric furnishings. Beyond the cafe, there’s also a stunning events space with lake views and room for up to 300 people.

The Terrace itself is from the hospo collective Darling Group, which also counts Top Paddock , Higher Ground , The Kettle Black , Darling Cafe and Dundas in its stable.