Guidebook for Melbourne
Arts & Culture
National Gallery of Victoria
180 St Kilda RdState Library Victoria
328 Swanston StOld Melbourne Gaol
377 Russell StTake a guided tour, well worth the visit.
Plenty to see and an excellent kids section both indoors and outdoors. Worth a visit. Surrounded by beautiful Carlton Gardens.
222 locals recommend
Melbourne Museum/Rathdowne St station
Plenty to see and an excellent kids section both indoors and outdoors. Worth a visit. Surrounded by beautiful Carlton Gardens.
Everything Else
National Gallery of Victoria
180 St Kilda RdCheck out Yarrville village, a suburb renowned for its unique character, architechture and village life
It's worth catching a movie at the restored Sun Theatre.
The Sun was visited in a surprise visit by Quentin Tarantino, Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell in 2016, because the theatre was one of the select few Australian venues for the roadshow 70mm presentation of The Hateful 8.
42 locals recommend
Yarraville
Check out Yarrville village, a suburb renowned for its unique character, architechture and village life
It's worth catching a movie at the restored Sun Theatre.
The Sun was visited in a surprise visit by Quentin Tarantino, Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell in 2016, because the theatre was one of the select few Australian venues for the roadshow 70mm presentation of The Hateful 8.
Food Scene
Great yum cha. If you've got young kids you can also try the kiosk style yum cha around the back of the restaurant, more casual and relaxed.
15 locals recommend
Dragon Boat
201 Little Bourke StGreat yum cha. If you've got young kids you can also try the kiosk style yum cha around the back of the restaurant, more casual and relaxed.
Melbourne laneway style. Trendy food and drinks on your doorstep
90 locals recommend
Rice Paper Scissors
15 Hardware LnMelbourne laneway style. Trendy food and drinks on your doorstep
Delicious Southeast Asian food & cocktails, share plates and communal tables
76 locals recommend
Longrain Restaurant
44 Little Bourke StDelicious Southeast Asian food & cocktails, share plates and communal tables
Hip basement venue for Japanese tapas and drinks. You really need to be looking for this place to find it, hidden from the street.
230 locals recommend
Izakaya Den
118 Russell StHip basement venue for Japanese tapas and drinks. You really need to be looking for this place to find it, hidden from the street.
Stalactites Restaurant
183 Lonsdale StVery budget friendly Greek food
Cumulus Inc.
45 Flinders LnUpmarket breakfast/brunch spot
Communal benches and an open kitchen. Pan-Asian dumplings, bao and mains. Great buzzy vibe.
109 locals recommend
Supernormal
180 Flinders LnCommunal benches and an open kitchen. Pan-Asian dumplings, bao and mains. Great buzzy vibe.
If you're in the mood for cheap dumplings, this place is for you.
21 locals recommend
Shanghai Dumpling House
23 Tattersalls LnIf you're in the mood for cheap dumplings, this place is for you.
After a casual meal in Chinatown? This is the place.
Lively restaurant offering Chinese staples in basic setting with tablecloths and red feature wall - cheerful atmosphere.
Ants Bistro
7 Corrs LnAfter a casual meal in Chinatown? This is the place.
Lively restaurant offering Chinese staples in basic setting with tablecloths and red feature wall - cheerful atmosphere.
Tapas bar with graffiti art exterior and a laid-back, high-ceilinged dining area with hip music.
Can be hard to get a table.
203 locals recommend
MoVida
1 Hosier LnTapas bar with graffiti art exterior and a laid-back, high-ceilinged dining area with hip music.
Can be hard to get a table.
Spacious, high-ceilinged spot with hanging lights and a muralled wall for Mexican food and tequila.
Can be hard to get a table.
286 locals recommend
Mamasita
11 Collins StSpacious, high-ceilinged spot with hanging lights and a muralled wall for Mexican food and tequila.
Can be hard to get a table.
Modern Asian food in a sprawling space with bar, courtyard and tables next to a huge red lantern.
42 locals recommend
Red Spice Road
141 Queen StModern Asian food in a sprawling space with bar, courtyard and tables next to a huge red lantern.
Cosy laneway restaurant plating speciality tapas at romantic balcony tables and a shared long bar.
9 locals recommend
Portello Rosso
15 Warburton LnCosy laneway restaurant plating speciality tapas at romantic balcony tables and a shared long bar.
character filled Melbourne laneway great for a coffee, breakfast, lunch, or early casual dinner
164 locals recommend
Degraves Street
Degraves Street character filled Melbourne laneway great for a coffee, breakfast, lunch, or early casual dinner
Iconic family-run Italian coffeehouse with a changing daily menu and counter seating. Budget friendly pasta dishes.
228 locals recommend
Charlie's Bar
71 Hardware LaneIconic family-run Italian coffeehouse with a changing daily menu and counter seating. Budget friendly pasta dishes.
The Mess Hall
51 Bourke St breakfast option very close to the apartment.
This place is great but be prepared to queue.
31 locals recommend
Shanghai Street Dumpling & Mini Juicy Bun小街小籠館
342 Little Bourke StThis place is great but be prepared to queue.
Upmarket Cantonese restaurant perfect for a special occasion. Book ahead.
36 locals recommend
Flower Drum Restaurant Melbourne
17 Market LnUpmarket Cantonese restaurant perfect for a special occasion. Book ahead.
A popular spot with Melbourne's business elite. High-end Modern Greek degustation in a contemporary-design space.
40 locals recommend
The Blue Room
332-334 Clarendon StA popular spot with Melbourne's business elite. High-end Modern Greek degustation in a contemporary-design space.
Pretty standard type of pub - fine for casual drinks or family meals with kids. Nothing special, just a pub.
23 locals recommend
Imperial Hotel
2-8 Bourke StPretty standard type of pub - fine for casual drinks or family meals with kids. Nothing special, just a pub.
Good for cheaps eats during the day. Check opening hours and days on their website.
630 locals recommend
Queen Victoria Market station
Good for cheaps eats during the day. Check opening hours and days on their website.
If you're in the mood for a curry this place is usually decent.
12 locals recommend
Red Pepper Indian Restaurant & Bar
If you're in the mood for a curry this place is usually decent.
Asian share plates and cocktails in a trendy hangout with an open kitchen and striking decor.
58 locals recommend
Lucy Liu Kitchen and Bar
23 Oliver Ln Asian share plates and cocktails in a trendy hangout with an open kitchen and striking decor.
Super close - just around the corner on Little Bourke. A cosy restaurant and wine bar with good service.
13 locals recommend
Punch Lane Wine Bar & Restaurant
43 Little Bourke StreetSuper close - just around the corner on Little Bourke. A cosy restaurant and wine bar with good service.
Great mini grocer and gelateria, perfect for picking up a gourmet baguette and gelato or coffee for brunch/lunch to take back to the apartment or across to the Treasury Gardens nearby.
51 locals recommend
Spring Street Grocer
157 Spring StGreat mini grocer and gelateria, perfect for picking up a gourmet baguette and gelato or coffee for brunch/lunch to take back to the apartment or across to the Treasury Gardens nearby.
This place is ideal for a business lunch, carpeting keeps the sound low for conversation and the decor is comfortable and subtle. Delicious food.
8 locals recommend
Cecconi's Flinders Lane Restaurant & Cellar Bar
61 Flinders LnThis place is ideal for a business lunch, carpeting keeps the sound low for conversation and the decor is comfortable and subtle. Delicious food.
Nice little place with a relaxed vibe. Good for a relaxed drink. Also does coffee & breakfast.
8 locals recommend
Neapoli Wine Bar
30 Russell PlNice little place with a relaxed vibe. Good for a relaxed drink. Also does coffee & breakfast.
A gorgeous little café around the corner, good for coffee & pastries.
7 locals recommend
Le Petite Bourke
24 Little Bourke StA gorgeous little café around the corner, good for coffee & pastries.
Drinks & Nightlife
Gingerboy
27-29 Crossley St Vibrant restaurant and bar serving up Asian street eats
Classy rooftop terrace bar with Parliament views. Serves wine, cocktails, whiskey, bar food.
115 locals recommend
Siglo
161 Spring StClassy rooftop terrace bar with Parliament views. Serves wine, cocktails, whiskey, bar food.
Late night martinis and classic cocktails in a quirky basement lounge with eclectic old-world decor.
74 locals recommend
Gin Palace
10 Russell PlLate night martinis and classic cocktails in a quirky basement lounge with eclectic old-world decor.
Staff in traditional Bavarian dress serve up schnitzels, sausages and steins in a buzzy beer house.
10 locals recommend
Hofbräuhaus
18-28 Market LnStaff in traditional Bavarian dress serve up schnitzels, sausages and steins in a buzzy beer house.
Restaurant and cellar bar with kitsch decor including a mounted giraffe. Check out the basement bar accessed from behind the bookshelf. It's pretty packed and loud on weekends, so not the place for a quiet drink.
98 locals recommend
State of Grace
27 King StRestaurant and cellar bar with kitsch decor including a mounted giraffe. Check out the basement bar accessed from behind the bookshelf. It's pretty packed and loud on weekends, so not the place for a quiet drink.
Arbory Bar & Eatery
1 Flinders Walk Riverside venue. Buzzing on Friday nights.
Trendy bar and diner in a restored 1850s synagogue with a huge beer garden, plus rooftop beehives.
36 locals recommend
Trunk Diner
275-285 Exhibition StTrendy bar and diner in a restored 1850s synagogue with a huge beer garden, plus rooftop beehives.
Rooftop cocktail bar with garden furniture and grassy areas, offering small plates.
163 locals recommend
Madame Brussels
59 Bourke StRooftop cocktail bar with garden furniture and grassy areas, offering small plates.
Lily Blacks
12 Meyers PlLaneway bar with intimate candlelit tables & premium cocktails.
Retro-chic riverside bar. Pretty cool for a drink or two - you sit right over the river.
163 locals recommend
Ponyfish Island
Retro-chic riverside bar. Pretty cool for a drink or two - you sit right over the river.
Entertainment & Activities
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
King StreetIf you have a car and some time, it's worth getting out to the Werribee Zoo and taking their safari bus to see giraffes, rhinos and more up close.
161 locals recommend
Werribee Open Range Zoo
K RoadIf you have a car and some time, it's worth getting out to the Werribee Zoo and taking their safari bus to see giraffes, rhinos and more up close.
Parks & Nature
Take a stroll around these lovely gardens a few minutes walk from Liverpool Street
30 locals recommend
Treasury Gardens
2-18 Spring St Take a stroll around these lovely gardens a few minutes walk from Liverpool Street
Lovely beach, usually less busy than other Melbourne beaches, lovely for a walk or some peace and quiet.
77 locals recommend
Williamstown Beach
Lovely beach, usually less busy than other Melbourne beaches, lovely for a walk or some peace and quiet.
Shopping
Melbourne Central
Swanston StreetBourke Street Mall
Bourke Street MallEmporium Melbourne
287 Lonsdale StDFO South Wharf
20 Convention Centre PlFactory seconds available here, lots of bargains.
Great weekend brunch/lunch spot, shopping, and groceries.
365 locals recommend
South Melbourne Market station
Great weekend brunch/lunch spot, shopping, and groceries.
Chapel Street station
Amazing fashion, cafes, and nightlife.