Cornucopia Museum Cafe

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
The best thing about Cornucopia Museum Cafe is being able to relax on the wide verandah overlooking tropical greenery and pandanus which foregrounds the turquoise sea. The second-best thing is eating and drinking at the same time! The cornucopia, or horn of plenty, is an ancient symbol of food and abundance and therefore an apt christening for this delightful cafe situated in the gardens of the Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery. The Museum and Art Gallery is a free venue with attractions for locals, tourists, art-lovers, croc enthusiasts, kids and shoppers – and Cornucopia is the place to stop after browsing Aboriginal art, listening to Cyclone Tracey’s terrifying ferocity or marvelling at Sweetheart’s girth and teeth (if you don’t know who she is, this is your excuse to visit!).

Cornucopia opens daily and is fully licensed. Soak up the views with a delicious breakfast or catch the breeze with coffee and cake. Bring the kids (high chairs are available) and treat them from the special children’s menu. Breads, mains and salads come with suggestions for an accompanying wine. Try the wild-caught Territory barramundi fillet with a glass of Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc, or the Cornucopia Caesar salad with a Cockfighter’s Ghost Verdelho. Cornucopia also caters for functions and is a perfect setting for weddings. There’s room for up to 600 guests with indoor air-conditioned seating, plus seating on the decking and lawns. The museum undercroft west of the restaurant, which is fully undercover, is also an option, with space for 100 guests for a sit-down dinner, or 250 guests for a cocktail party.

Merridy Anne Pugh