Guidebook for Melbourne

Kris
Guidebook for Melbourne

Food scene

If you are looking for brunch spots in the Melbourne CBD, this is definitely one of the gotta go cafes for brunches! Loved the taste of the coffee and latte arts! Beautifully made dishes of food which was very enjoyable, perfect portion and tasty too! Nice atmosphere of the restaurant and their love of the indoor plants! Comfortable atmosphere and vibe! Kids and baby friendly!
162 locals recommend
Higher Ground
650 Little Bourke St
162 locals recommend
If you are looking for brunch spots in the Melbourne CBD, this is definitely one of the gotta go cafes for brunches! Loved the taste of the coffee and latte arts! Beautifully made dishes of food which was very enjoyable, perfect portion and tasty too! Nice atmosphere of the restaurant and their love of the indoor plants! Comfortable atmosphere and vibe! Kids and baby friendly!
Great food, located quietly away on Oliver lane. Visited on a Saturday afternoon, a short wait to walk-in. Very friendly service. There's a long table and a good few smaller tables in and outdoors to suit all parties. We had the waffles, beef brisket bagel and peanut butter hot choc. All delicious and came out quick. The checked decor and fonts does make it feel like a New York subway.
25 locals recommend
Bowery To Williamsburg
16 Oliver Ln
25 locals recommend
Great food, located quietly away on Oliver lane. Visited on a Saturday afternoon, a short wait to walk-in. Very friendly service. There's a long table and a good few smaller tables in and outdoors to suit all parties. We had the waffles, beef brisket bagel and peanut butter hot choc. All delicious and came out quick. The checked decor and fonts does make it feel like a New York subway.
Queen Victoria Market is an authentic, bustling, inner-city market that has been the heart and soul of Melbourne for 140 years. Home to over 600 small businesses, it is a great place to discover fresh and specialty produce, hand-made and unique products, great coffee and food, souvenirs and clothing. Shopping at the Market has always been one of life’s great pleasures. It is not just the abundance of fresh food, it’s the friendly banter with the traders, the vibrant and multicultural atmosphere, the special events and festivals, and the sense of belonging that comes with it. While you’re here, make sure you visit String Bean Alley which is home to a colourful collection of Melbourne’s best independent makers, creators, designers and artists. Be sure to take the Ultimate Foodie Tour, a two-hour guided walking tour where you’ll taste the freshest produce, discover unique ingredients, learn tips and tricks for shopping and cooking, discover the Market's history and meet some of our beloved traders. Bookings essential at the website. Queen Victoria Market is also home to the Night Market on Wednesday nights, showcasing global street food, live music and entertainment, festival bars, specialty shopping and a great Melbourne night out. The Market also offers a historic venue space with a range of indoor and outdoor spaces.
957 locals recommend
Queen Victoria Market
Queen Street
957 locals recommend
Queen Victoria Market is an authentic, bustling, inner-city market that has been the heart and soul of Melbourne for 140 years. Home to over 600 small businesses, it is a great place to discover fresh and specialty produce, hand-made and unique products, great coffee and food, souvenirs and clothing. Shopping at the Market has always been one of life’s great pleasures. It is not just the abundance of fresh food, it’s the friendly banter with the traders, the vibrant and multicultural atmosphere, the special events and festivals, and the sense of belonging that comes with it. While you’re here, make sure you visit String Bean Alley which is home to a colourful collection of Melbourne’s best independent makers, creators, designers and artists. Be sure to take the Ultimate Foodie Tour, a two-hour guided walking tour where you’ll taste the freshest produce, discover unique ingredients, learn tips and tricks for shopping and cooking, discover the Market's history and meet some of our beloved traders. Bookings essential at the website. Queen Victoria Market is also home to the Night Market on Wednesday nights, showcasing global street food, live music and entertainment, festival bars, specialty shopping and a great Melbourne night out. The Market also offers a historic venue space with a range of indoor and outdoor spaces.
Wow! There aren't many restaurants that use native Australian ingredients that aren't fine dining (with the fine dining price point to match!) Mabu Mabu (or Big Esso) was a delight. I assumed it would be overpriced and under-deliver given its touristy location in Fed Square, but I genuinely enjoyed the variety of dishes and would return to try more of the menu. It was also reasonably priced - about $40pp. Great use of native ingredients, lovely stuff and good atmosphere I'm so looking forward to coming back to try all the things I didn't get to try this time around Would massively recommend the cocktails, and the oysters 10/10 will be coming back Thanks heaps all at mabu mabu
Mabu Mabu
2 Swanston Street
Wow! There aren't many restaurants that use native Australian ingredients that aren't fine dining (with the fine dining price point to match!) Mabu Mabu (or Big Esso) was a delight. I assumed it would be overpriced and under-deliver given its touristy location in Fed Square, but I genuinely enjoyed the variety of dishes and would return to try more of the menu. It was also reasonably priced - about $40pp. Great use of native ingredients, lovely stuff and good atmosphere I'm so looking forward to coming back to try all the things I didn't get to try this time around Would massively recommend the cocktails, and the oysters 10/10 will be coming back Thanks heaps all at mabu mabu
I am absolutely in love with this place! The food is absolutely amazing,burger are to die for the Mac and cheese really hit different. The cocktail jug I ordered was so so so nice but a little bit on the pricier side. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the train and the atmosphere was outstanding. Staff are super friendly. Really wanted to order dessert, however we spent a good 20 mins trying to get the staffs attention due to him being very occupied with a large group of people who had just walked in, so not his fault at all. The music is also so mad. One of my favourite eateries. BOOKINGS ARE DEFINITELY ESSENTIAL THOUGH!
53 locals recommend
Easey's
48 Easey St
53 locals recommend
I am absolutely in love with this place! The food is absolutely amazing,burger are to die for the Mac and cheese really hit different. The cocktail jug I ordered was so so so nice but a little bit on the pricier side. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the train and the atmosphere was outstanding. Staff are super friendly. Really wanted to order dessert, however we spent a good 20 mins trying to get the staffs attention due to him being very occupied with a large group of people who had just walked in, so not his fault at all. The music is also so mad. One of my favourite eateries. BOOKINGS ARE DEFINITELY ESSENTIAL THOUGH!
Everything was phenomenal! Amazing service, food, cocktails and overall vibe including DJ. Will be back again soon
Pinchy's Lobster & Champagne Bar
200 Bourke Street
Everything was phenomenal! Amazing service, food, cocktails and overall vibe including DJ. Will be back again soon

Shopping

Beautiful and quaint arcade in the heart of Melbourne, off Elizaberh Street, near Flinders Street train station. Great architecture and amazing shops. Even has Dr Suess and the world's oldest barber shop!!
82 locals recommend
Block Arcade
282 Collins St
82 locals recommend
Beautiful and quaint arcade in the heart of Melbourne, off Elizaberh Street, near Flinders Street train station. Great architecture and amazing shops. Even has Dr Suess and the world's oldest barber shop!!
Mr Wares is a must visit shop if you’re in town, and absolutely worth the trip into the City if you’re in the suburbs. A shop made for that hard-to-buy-for relative or friend, or someone who appreciates things artisanal, handmade and unique A small space filled (but not cluttered!) with an impressively curated collection of superior quality locally and internationally made gifts, covetable items and essentials ranging from personal care to outdoor gear with everything in-between. Also seems to be one of a dwindling number of businesses in the Block Arcade that hasn’t been replaced by a watch or jewellery shop; a trend reflected in the City with a dwindling number of unique small businesses in the CBD. #shopsmall #supportsmallbusiness
Mr Wares
282 Collins Street
Mr Wares is a must visit shop if you’re in town, and absolutely worth the trip into the City if you’re in the suburbs. A shop made for that hard-to-buy-for relative or friend, or someone who appreciates things artisanal, handmade and unique A small space filled (but not cluttered!) with an impressively curated collection of superior quality locally and internationally made gifts, covetable items and essentials ranging from personal care to outdoor gear with everything in-between. Also seems to be one of a dwindling number of businesses in the Block Arcade that hasn’t been replaced by a watch or jewellery shop; a trend reflected in the City with a dwindling number of unique small businesses in the CBD. #shopsmall #supportsmallbusiness

Sightseeing

Fern Gully… This is a truly mesmerising experience in this garden, you can see various different types of ferns across the globe all nestled here in this garden, the plantation creates a lot of shade, so it's very cool.
1262 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
1262 locals recommend
Fern Gully… This is a truly mesmerising experience in this garden, you can see various different types of ferns across the globe all nestled here in this garden, the plantation creates a lot of shade, so it's very cool.
Relaxing Sunday afternoon wandering through the collections. Great atmosphere, well designed - even the transition between different floors was smooth. So good it's free entry, bags can be left at the cloakroom. Spent about 2 hours exploring and still have more to see for a future visit.
1737 locals recommend
National Gallery of Victoria
180 St Kilda Rd
1737 locals recommend
Relaxing Sunday afternoon wandering through the collections. Great atmosphere, well designed - even the transition between different floors was smooth. So good it's free entry, bags can be left at the cloakroom. Spent about 2 hours exploring and still have more to see for a future visit.
I'm a big fan of IMAX Melbourne. Housing one of the few 1570 IMAX film projectors, the crew take great pride in their work. Over 3 years I've been here for multiple screenings and have always been wowed by how the staff enthusiastically go above and beyond. Cancellations and even minor hitches if they ever happen are handled with the customer in mind. Love their work and have great respect for them!
315 locals recommend
IMAX Melbourne Museum
Rathdowne Street
315 locals recommend
I'm a big fan of IMAX Melbourne. Housing one of the few 1570 IMAX film projectors, the crew take great pride in their work. Over 3 years I've been here for multiple screenings and have always been wowed by how the staff enthusiastically go above and beyond. Cancellations and even minor hitches if they ever happen are handled with the customer in mind. Love their work and have great respect for them!
23 locals recommend
Degraves Street
Degraves Street
23 locals recommend

Neighbourhoods

Vibrant and convenient. Brunswick over the years has developed in to such a terrific suburb. A hot spot for cafes, arts, live music and of course shopping. Easily accessible via public transport with Brunswick and Jewell Train stations and Sydney Road tram, as well as Moreland Train station just on the border.
54 locals recommend
Brunswick
54 locals recommend
Vibrant and convenient. Brunswick over the years has developed in to such a terrific suburb. A hot spot for cafes, arts, live music and of course shopping. Easily accessible via public transport with Brunswick and Jewell Train stations and Sydney Road tram, as well as Moreland Train station just on the border.
When they came up with the phrase ‘west is best’, they must have been thinking about Footscray. This inner-city suburb is the brightest jewel of Melbourne’s west, primarily thanks to the migrant communities that have come to call Footscray home. A melting pot (or wok pan) of cultures spanning from Vietnam to Ethiopia have given the suburb touches of their home countries, which means you can scoop up a goat curry with fresh injera, slurp up pho and hunt down the best cannoli in town all in the same street.
19 locals recommend
Footscray
19 locals recommend
When they came up with the phrase ‘west is best’, they must have been thinking about Footscray. This inner-city suburb is the brightest jewel of Melbourne’s west, primarily thanks to the migrant communities that have come to call Footscray home. A melting pot (or wok pan) of cultures spanning from Vietnam to Ethiopia have given the suburb touches of their home countries, which means you can scoop up a goat curry with fresh injera, slurp up pho and hunt down the best cannoli in town all in the same street.

City advice

Getting around

Tram

Melbourne is an easy and inexpensive city to get around, with the metropolitan area servicing a great network of public transport, roadways and walking paths. This useful information will make moving around Melbourne’s different areas and attractions very simple. Our tip: travel like a local and save yourself some money by using the free city tram services.
What to pack

Four seasons in one day!

Here we help you prepare what to pack for Melbourne with our insider knowledge of the city. Ah, Melbourne, so stunning when it’s sunny! Moody when it rains. Glistening in the autumn colours. All in one day. Yes, Melbourne is one of those places you need to get set for packing for four seasons in one day, every day! The key to packing for Melbourne year-round is layers, for all of you! You will equally need to remember your suncream as well as your umbrella.