If you are after a unique Melbourne breakfast spot with a fragment of flair, an ounce of originality and a touch of tradition, Bayte is for you. The Middle Eastern inspired eatery, which opened in Collingwood last month, is the first venture of owners Conor Roverts and chef Julie Touma, who learnt the ins and outs of Lebanese delights from her nan.

The Allpress coffee is spot on, but for something different try a freshly brewed Lebanese coffee, poured from a long-handled pot called a ‘rakweh’. You won’t find the ubiquitous smashed avocado with feta or corn fritters here. Instead, the dishes are bona fide Lebanese brekkies with more than just a pinch of the Middle East. Bayte has the kind of menu that makes you uneasy, purely because you want to try it all. Go for the Beyd bil Zaatar: perfectly poached eggs coated in the herby Middle Eastern spice mixture and served next to a creamy, homemade babaganoush with pumpkin kibbeh and warm flatbread.

If you can’t decide what to gobble, order the breakfast mezze for either one or two people. For lunch, there is a mixture of wraps (think sardine with fresh tomato, babaganoush and Lebanese cheese, or grilled lamb kafta with hummus onion and tabouleh) and a selection of mezze.

The comfortable courtyard is begging to be used in the evening by local folk, who will definitely be craving some mezze and a glass of red after they visit. Inside, ornate light fittings from Istanbul are suspended from the ceiling and Middle Eastern objects such as shisha pipes and decorative plates are peppered around the room.

The main reason Bayte is so damn exciting is because it’s the most refreshing brunch spot to hit Melbourne for some time. As the Lebanese saying goes, “good food is good for your body, but it’s better for your soul”.

Location: 56 Johnston Street Collingwood
Open: Weekdays 7am-5pm |Weekends 8am-5pm | Closed Tues
Phone: (03) 9415 8818
Details: bayte.com.au