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Restaurant

Halaya

285 Spring St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Recommended by 78 people

Updated

Find Halaya

285 Spring St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9329 8000
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Halaya

Across from Carlton Gardens, Halaya flips classic Filipino comfort into sharp cafe fare. Weekday regulars drop by for the brisket bistek melt or longanisa eggs benny before claiming a leafy bench in the courtyard. Purple yam runs the pastry case—think ube flan rolls, basque cheesecake, and layered cakes that keep sweetness firmly in check. Tables frequently share a dirty ube latte or an iced ube cloud alongside savory plates of lechon sisig with garlic rice.

  • Dedicated Ube Program: House-crafted drinks and pastries balance purple yam without cloying sweetness, from iced dirty ube lattes to layered ube flan rolls.
  • Contemporary Filipino Brunch: Traditional breakfast and lunch staples reworked as longanisa eggs benny, brisket bistek melts, and sizzling lechon sisig.
  • Parkside Courtyard Dining: Outdoor patio tables face Carlton Gardens, offering an airy alfresco setting right on the edge of the city.
RestaurantBrunchDessertCafeBakery

What's On at Halaya

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Halaya Stands Out

Why Melbourne diners choose Halaya for modern Filipino brunch and artisanal ube sweets

  • Balanced, Nuanced Ube Creations

    House-crafted ube beverages and pastries balance authentic purple yam flavour with restraint, delivering smooth indulgence that avoids cloying sweetness.

    The desserts are beautifully presented and perfectly balanced, capturing rich flavors without being overly sweet.

    Vito Butardo

  • Authentic Philippine Cafe Experience

    Halaya elevates traditional Philippine desserts and signature drinks, delivering a genuine, home-rooted culinary profile that stands apart from superficial trends.

    support a Filipino- owned cafe that actually delivers a local’s palette and experience.

    Sarah Giselle Arabejo

  • Reimagined Savory Comfort Staples

    Classic Filipino comfort dishes are reinterpreted into hearty brunch plates like beef tapa bowls, crispy chicken bicol express, and savory pork adobo.

    The gastronomic goodness of the beef tapa rice bowl reworking tapsilog with quiet finesse.

    Glen C

  • Contemporary Fusion Brunch Formats

    The kitchen remixes iconic staples into cafe-style formats, serving plates like Longanisa Eggs Benny, Tocino Burgers, and Brisket Bistek Melts.

    Very delicious Filipino fusion dishes, well worth the travel.

    Margarette Naldoza

  • Courtyard Dining Across Carlton Gardens

    An open-air garden terrace situated right across Carlton Gardens offers a spacious, pet-friendly outdoor dining atmosphere for sunny catch-ups.

    Beautiful outdoor seating courtyard, and one of the best pork adobos I’ve had

    Damian

  • Shareable Feasts for Groups

    Plentiful seating and vibrant, camera-ready platters make the cafe an inviting destination for sharing multi-course spreads with coworkers and friends.

    The food looked so good that we spent a fair bit of time taking photos before actually digging in.

    Sherryl Lou

Modern Filipino cafe brunch dishes and comforting savory plates

  • Pork Sisig

    I loved the pork sisig, especially the cracklings on top

    Sherryl Lou

  • Beef Tapa

    Our favorite was the Beef Tapa. So good.

    Liza Bun

  • Pork Adobo

    one of the best pork adobos I’ve had - not overcooked, juicy and tender and perfect balance of tanginess.

    Damian

  • Brisket Bistek Melt

    I ordered the Brisket Bistek Melt, and you can taste the filipink flavour on it.

    makishin des

Other favorites

Specialty ube-infused coffees, drinks, and house-baked pastries

  • Dirty Ube Latte

    Great flavour for the dirty Ube latte, 100% recommended!

    Liza Bun

  • Ube Flan Roll

    Both were creamy and mildly sweet, with a flavor that reminded me of vanilla.

    miu

  • Ube Matcha Cloud

    Highly recommend these dishes, we'll be back for more

    Margarette Naldoza

  • Ube Pancakes

    the ube pancakes ROCKED. So yummy.

    Elizabeth Stanton

Before you head over

Practical advice on reservations, seating, and ordering for your visit

  • Book Ahead to Avoid Delays

    Tables fill up quickly during peak lunch hours and weekends, so reserve in advance or prepare for ticket times of around 30 minutes when dining in.

  • Grab Courtyard Seating for Pets and Views

    Outdoor dining overlooks Carlton Gardens and accommodates pets, making the courtyard a prime choice during warm weather or group visits.

  • Request Extra Sauce on Savory Plates

    If you prefer savory mains with extra punch, ask for extra green chilli sauce on the side to pair with rich meats like lechon sisig and pork adobo.

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