Melbourne, Australia

Art.  Culture.  Coffee.  Fashion.  Melbourne has a lot of creative energy and style.  In Sydney, I felt like there were a lot of specific sights to see, while in Melbourne it was more about exploring the city and absorbing the culture.  Here are some ideas for a visit to Melbourne.

SEE + DO

Federation Square (aka “Fed Square”) is a cultural hub for arts, food, and events/festivals.  Lots of activity here and seems like a place where people like to hang out.  There are places to grab a drink or bite to eat. There’s also a visitor centre here where you can get information and book tours.

Flinders Street station near Fed Square was Melbourne's first railway station and its beautiful architecture stands out at the corner.  It's a local landmark and apparently a favorite meeting spot for locals. 

Explore the city's “laneways” to discover tiny cafes, bars and restaurants in these backstreets. Check out Hosier Lane and Degravest St to admire the constantly changing street art. 

Queen Victoria Market is an open air market with fruit, veggies, souvenirs, clothes, and lots of other items.  A fun place to browse and do some shopping without spending too much money. 

St. Kilda is a laid back beach with a pier and amusement park.  Accessible by tram from the central business district. 

Brighton Beach is famous for its colorful bathing boxes which you've probably seen lots of photos of. 

Take a day trip to Yarra Valley for winetasting (1 hour drive from Melbourne).  See my post on Yarra Valley winetasting for ideas.

SHOP

Collins St - high end luxury shops

Little Collins St - Australian designers

Bourke Street Mall - a large pedestrian shopping mall with Australian department stores like David Jones and Myer

Swanston St - good for souvenir shopping

Also be sure to explore shops in laneways and arcades.

EAT + DRINK

Meat Fish Wine is a modern restaurant with a sophisticated but relaxed ambiance.  A nice spot for a quiet meal and a break from the crowds.  I had the seafood stew which was pretty good.

The Atlantic is a seafood restaurant in a nice waterfront location at the Crown Entertainment Complex.  Extensive menu and wine list.

The Crown also has some popular restaurants by Australian celebrity chef/restaurateur Neil Perry:

Spice Temple - trendy, modern Chinese food

Rock Pool Bar & Grill - go for steak

Rosetta – Italian cuisine in a luxurious interior.  We only stopped in here for drinks so I can’t speak for the food.  Seems like a fun place to come with your girlfriends.

The coffee culture in Melbourne is strong.  There are many good cafes and the quality is pretty consistent throughout the city, so it's hard to go wrong.

STAY

I stayed at the Park Hyatt in a peaceful area near Parliament.  The service and amenities were excellent.  There is also a Grand Hyatt in a more central but hectic location.  Depends on your preferences.

TIPS

Melbourne is one of the most expensive cities in the world along with Sydney so be prepared if you plan to dine at the city's well regarded restaurants.  Fortunately, there are also many good moderately priced options and Melbourne is very walkable so exploring the city on foot won't cost anything.

Melbourne is very fashionable and both men and women here are well dressed so it’s worth putting some extra thought in packing clothes.

The weather is variable and I found it quite chilly at times.  Pack some layers or prepare to buy some stylish warm clothes while you’re here.  :-)

Thanks for reading!