A cultural melting pot, a dynamic metropolis, a history hub, an edgy cosmopolitan zone, an architect’s dream and a foodie’s delight; these descriptions feature in almost every ‘traveler’s guide to Melbourne’ in existence. And that’s not even the half of it! Located in the state of Victoria in the southeast corner of Australia, Melbourne is a city with big lights, big attitude and an even bigger reputation that it upholds (and exceeds) effortlessly.
Melbourne is about food, art and, best of all, people. I think Melbourne is best described the way you would describe an excellent cup of espresso in the morning. Melbourne is a place with a strong reputation that makes every traveler drawn to its rich aroma. The city is warm to the touch, and gets under your skin and into your bloodstream the more you explore its alleyways and nightlife. There’s no need to add sugar — it’s sweet enough. The unique blend of incredibly diverse personalities from all over the globe gives it a full-bodied flavor with unmistakable hints of history and strong undertones of fragrant modern Australian style. It’s strong, satisfying, goes down smooth, and generally comes with an oversized slice of to-die-for cake if you pick the right café!
Hold on tight and read on: I’m taking you downtown.
Culture, history and style
Home to approximately 4.5 million people from more than 140 ethnic backgrounds, Melbourne is Australia’s fastest growing city. It’s considered by many to be the art, fashion and food capital of the entire country, maintaining a rich multicultural vibe that’s envied by other Australian and international cities alike. You’ll find endless pockets of Italians, South Koreans, Chinese, Lebanese, Vietnamese,and the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Europe — all of which attest to the country’s high quality of life and level of diversity. And what important thing do you get when you merge all of these incredible cultures into one vibrant city? Really, really good food.
Do yourself a favor and undo a few buttons: It’s chow-time.
If you ask a local on the street for some examples of quintessentially Australian foods, they probably wont quite know what to say. That’s because most of the dishes that taste like ‘home’ for Australians actually come from overseas, having been brought here by migrants and adapted slightly for Australian tastes. Despite being fairly welcoming on the whole, Australians are known to worry about the effects that increased immigration might have on the anglophone majority. Unfortunately, many don’t realize that some of the things they love most have come from abroad, including the multicultural lifestyles that they enjoy daily. Like some favorite eateries, for example, including the Lebanese shawarma joint around the corner, the curry house run by a local Indian family next door, and the Vietnamese Pho restaurant downtown that they can’t get enough of.
Indeed, Melbourne’s culinary style can be best described as a clever fusion of flavors, where world-renowned chefs come together to produce innovative, edgy dishes. If fine dining is what you’re after, treat yourself to a night at the multi-award-winning restaurant ‘Attica,’ which serves degustation-style food for people who take their digestion seriously. With everything from salted red kangaroo to fresh mussels, snow crab to local honeycomb, you wont leave disappointed. Be sure to book a few months in advance for this spectacle.
If you’re sticking around for a few more days, hit up ‘Cutler & Co.’, which is as famous for its food as it is for its undeniably quirky décor. This restaurant has been taking on classic flavors with a modern demeanor since 2009, and is located in the trendy heart of Fitzroy, just on the edge of Melbourne city center. If you’re a cheese lover, check out ‘Milk the Cow’ in St. Kilda for a wall of creamy delicacies. Other noteworthy restaurants include The Flower Drum, Longrain and Da Noi, which offer a variety of Chinese, Italian, Thai and other flavors.
Yet if white tablecloths, classical music and squeaky leather shoes aren’t really your scene, Melbourne’s got you covered. While this city does fine dining well, it arguably does food trucks, take out and street food even better. A quick scan of the names of some of the city’s food trucks will offer some clues as to the kind of food you’re in for: ‘Greek Street,’ ‘Happy Camper Pizza,’ ‘Lets Do Yum Cha,’ ‘The Brûlée Cart’ and ‘White Guy Cooks Thai’ are just some of the choices on offer, in addition to a range of rooftop bistros. Once you’ve finished your lunch at one of these show-stopping eateries, roll yourself over to the nearest lane-way to take in some coffee and watch the world walk by. With regard to Melbourne’s coffee scene, you should certainly believe everything you’ve heard: Melburnians are infatuated by coffee. Like actually. Try Seven Seeds, Market Lane and Assembly for some incredible tasters that attest to this city’s love of the perfect brew.
Shop-till-you-drop
Now, as a true war hero of the constant battle between eyes and stomach, I can tell you that after all of that delicious food you’ll eventually get to the point where the mere scent of a deconstructed dulce de leche salted caramel flan with elegantly crumbled peanut brittle and macerated raspberries makes you feel positively nauseated.
So, “What now?” I hear you ask, as you attempt to close the top button of your pants once again, closely followed by a quietly shameful reversion to your elastic sweatpants. Well, in an effort to aid digestion, all that one can possibly do at a time like this is … go shopping! And boy does Melbourne impress on this front. Hotspots include the Bourke Street Mall, Collins Street, the Royal Arcade and Chapel Street. You’ll come across the outlet stores for some of Australia’s best design labels, including Alannah Hill, Calibre, Morrissey and Natalie Alamein, along with a range of other boutiques and hidden treasures.
Be sure to time your stay in line with some of the city’s most exciting festivals. Noteworthy mentions include the annual International Melbourne Comedy Festival held each April and May, the Melbourne Arts and Culture Festival in October, and the Fringe Festival that happens during September and October every year. Combined, these community attractions attract people of all kinds for some excellent celebrations of art, fashion, film, music, theater and multicultural food, all tied together with a good-hearted Aussie laugh. Melburnians are also huge ‘footy’ fans. You might have heard of the strange Australian sport where perfectly rational men run around in bizarre formations, wearing unnecessarily small shorts and chasing an oddly shaped ball. Some would call this insanity; Australians call it ‘Australian Rules Football.’ Stereotypes aside, you’d be mad to miss out on the chance to witness this fast-paced Aussie game during your stay. The season typically runs from April to October, and tickets are readily available if you plan ahead a little.
Getting out of the concrete jungle
If you’ve conquered the sights of the concrete jungle and are seeking a more slow-paced experience to wind up your final days in the area, why not make a trip down to the Peninsula Hot Springs? Here you’ll receive a thermal spa experience to rival even the best that Europe has to offer Enjoy the outback ambience as you bathe in naturally heated mineral water overlooking the rugged Australian bush. Located just over one hour from Melbourne, the springs are close enough for a day trip, and far enough to shrug off the city. If you have a couple of days up your sleeve, try staying overnight at the Bay of Islands, a beautiful coastal park dominated by cliffs, wildflowers and incredible beaches. It’ll take you approximately thee hours by car from Melbourne, and is just beyond the famous 12 Apostles of the Great Ocean Road. As this park is less well known by tourists, you’ll likely have whole beaches to yourself for the duration of your stay.
From the city to the coastline, Melbourne and its surrounds really do impress. Offering a wide range of culinary innovations, cultural attractions and natural beauties, your time will be well spent in this bold, exhilarating city.
—
Email: [email protected]
Melbourne is about food, art and, best of all, people. I think Melbourne is best described the way you would describe an excellent cup of espresso in the morning. Melbourne is a place with a strong reputation that makes every traveler drawn to its rich aroma. The city is warm to the touch, and gets under your skin and into your bloodstream the more you explore its alleyways and nightlife. There’s no need to add sugar — it’s sweet enough. The unique blend of incredibly diverse personalities from all over the globe gives it a full-bodied flavor with unmistakable hints of history and strong undertones of fragrant modern Australian style. It’s strong, satisfying, goes down smooth, and generally comes with an oversized slice of to-die-for cake if you pick the right café!
Hold on tight and read on: I’m taking you downtown.
Culture, history and style
Home to approximately 4.5 million people from more than 140 ethnic backgrounds, Melbourne is Australia’s fastest growing city. It’s considered by many to be the art, fashion and food capital of the entire country, maintaining a rich multicultural vibe that’s envied by other Australian and international cities alike. You’ll find endless pockets of Italians, South Koreans, Chinese, Lebanese, Vietnamese,and the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Europe — all of which attest to the country’s high quality of life and level of diversity. And what important thing do you get when you merge all of these incredible cultures into one vibrant city? Really, really good food.
Do yourself a favor and undo a few buttons: It’s chow-time.
If you ask a local on the street for some examples of quintessentially Australian foods, they probably wont quite know what to say. That’s because most of the dishes that taste like ‘home’ for Australians actually come from overseas, having been brought here by migrants and adapted slightly for Australian tastes. Despite being fairly welcoming on the whole, Australians are known to worry about the effects that increased immigration might have on the anglophone majority. Unfortunately, many don’t realize that some of the things they love most have come from abroad, including the multicultural lifestyles that they enjoy daily. Like some favorite eateries, for example, including the Lebanese shawarma joint around the corner, the curry house run by a local Indian family next door, and the Vietnamese Pho restaurant downtown that they can’t get enough of.
Indeed, Melbourne’s culinary style can be best described as a clever fusion of flavors, where world-renowned chefs come together to produce innovative, edgy dishes. If fine dining is what you’re after, treat yourself to a night at the multi-award-winning restaurant ‘Attica,’ which serves degustation-style food for people who take their digestion seriously. With everything from salted red kangaroo to fresh mussels, snow crab to local honeycomb, you wont leave disappointed. Be sure to book a few months in advance for this spectacle.
If you’re sticking around for a few more days, hit up ‘Cutler & Co.’, which is as famous for its food as it is for its undeniably quirky décor. This restaurant has been taking on classic flavors with a modern demeanor since 2009, and is located in the trendy heart of Fitzroy, just on the edge of Melbourne city center. If you’re a cheese lover, check out ‘Milk the Cow’ in St. Kilda for a wall of creamy delicacies. Other noteworthy restaurants include The Flower Drum, Longrain and Da Noi, which offer a variety of Chinese, Italian, Thai and other flavors.
Yet if white tablecloths, classical music and squeaky leather shoes aren’t really your scene, Melbourne’s got you covered. While this city does fine dining well, it arguably does food trucks, take out and street food even better. A quick scan of the names of some of the city’s food trucks will offer some clues as to the kind of food you’re in for: ‘Greek Street,’ ‘Happy Camper Pizza,’ ‘Lets Do Yum Cha,’ ‘The Brûlée Cart’ and ‘White Guy Cooks Thai’ are just some of the choices on offer, in addition to a range of rooftop bistros. Once you’ve finished your lunch at one of these show-stopping eateries, roll yourself over to the nearest lane-way to take in some coffee and watch the world walk by. With regard to Melbourne’s coffee scene, you should certainly believe everything you’ve heard: Melburnians are infatuated by coffee. Like actually. Try Seven Seeds, Market Lane and Assembly for some incredible tasters that attest to this city’s love of the perfect brew.
Shop-till-you-drop
Now, as a true war hero of the constant battle between eyes and stomach, I can tell you that after all of that delicious food you’ll eventually get to the point where the mere scent of a deconstructed dulce de leche salted caramel flan with elegantly crumbled peanut brittle and macerated raspberries makes you feel positively nauseated.
So, “What now?” I hear you ask, as you attempt to close the top button of your pants once again, closely followed by a quietly shameful reversion to your elastic sweatpants. Well, in an effort to aid digestion, all that one can possibly do at a time like this is … go shopping! And boy does Melbourne impress on this front. Hotspots include the Bourke Street Mall, Collins Street, the Royal Arcade and Chapel Street. You’ll come across the outlet stores for some of Australia’s best design labels, including Alannah Hill, Calibre, Morrissey and Natalie Alamein, along with a range of other boutiques and hidden treasures.
Be sure to time your stay in line with some of the city’s most exciting festivals. Noteworthy mentions include the annual International Melbourne Comedy Festival held each April and May, the Melbourne Arts and Culture Festival in October, and the Fringe Festival that happens during September and October every year. Combined, these community attractions attract people of all kinds for some excellent celebrations of art, fashion, film, music, theater and multicultural food, all tied together with a good-hearted Aussie laugh. Melburnians are also huge ‘footy’ fans. You might have heard of the strange Australian sport where perfectly rational men run around in bizarre formations, wearing unnecessarily small shorts and chasing an oddly shaped ball. Some would call this insanity; Australians call it ‘Australian Rules Football.’ Stereotypes aside, you’d be mad to miss out on the chance to witness this fast-paced Aussie game during your stay. The season typically runs from April to October, and tickets are readily available if you plan ahead a little.
Getting out of the concrete jungle
If you’ve conquered the sights of the concrete jungle and are seeking a more slow-paced experience to wind up your final days in the area, why not make a trip down to the Peninsula Hot Springs? Here you’ll receive a thermal spa experience to rival even the best that Europe has to offer Enjoy the outback ambience as you bathe in naturally heated mineral water overlooking the rugged Australian bush. Located just over one hour from Melbourne, the springs are close enough for a day trip, and far enough to shrug off the city. If you have a couple of days up your sleeve, try staying overnight at the Bay of Islands, a beautiful coastal park dominated by cliffs, wildflowers and incredible beaches. It’ll take you approximately thee hours by car from Melbourne, and is just beyond the famous 12 Apostles of the Great Ocean Road. As this park is less well known by tourists, you’ll likely have whole beaches to yourself for the duration of your stay.
From the city to the coastline, Melbourne and its surrounds really do impress. Offering a wide range of culinary innovations, cultural attractions and natural beauties, your time will be well spent in this bold, exhilarating city.
—
Email: [email protected]
