Heritage-listed Eva's Cafe in Darwin's botanic gardens trashed; man on allegedly on 'drug and alcohol binge' arrested

A man allegedly on a "drug and alcohol binge" is accused of trashing Darwin's heritage listed Eva's Cafe and then trying to steal the car of the caretaker who came to investigate.

PHOTO: Owners of the cafe have described the damage as "senseless" and "disgusting".
(ABC News: Jacqueline Breen)

Police alleged 25-year-old Brett David Turner caused "significant damage" to the cafe in Darwin's George Brown Botanic Gardens about 4:15am, trashing windows and smashing furniture and upending property.

"The alarm had gone off and [the caretaker] went down to check," Duty Superintendent Louise Jorgensen said.

"The male tried to steal the caretaker's car."

She said police then arrived and arrested the manwho she alleged had "apparently been on some drug and alcohol binge".

Mr Turner was charged with numerous offences, including unlawful entry, criminal damage, stealing and being armed with an offensive weapon.

The cafe situated in a heritage-listed Wesleyan church has been targeted by acts of vandalism several times before.

The owners of Eva's Cafe later posted on Facebook and expressed "great frustration and sadness" and described the vandalism as "senseless" and "disgusting".

Head barista Jag Sekhon told the ABC they hoped to reopen within days, but said given the prior attacks, morale was low.

"What else do you do? This is our livelihood. [We] spend more time here than we do at our own home, so, what would you do if it happened at your home, so, that's what we have to do," he said.