So here we have a whole post dedicated to Australia's southern city; Melbourne. Oz's self-proclaimed coffee capital did succeed in impressing me (but only if we exclude the fact it was -1 degrees in July - it was a bit of a shock having come from 32 degrees the week before on my graduation day in Hampshire - I'd barely packed any winter clothes!)
Melbourne is such a diverse and multicultural city with true charm and character. If you want to discover where to find the best brunch spots so 'Pinterest' it hurts, delicious coffee or somewhere to kick up your feet after a long day of exploring then please, read on...
Best neighbourhood:
Chapel Street
For Melbourne's coolest cafés, restaurants and shops, you've got to visit Chapel Street. It's like stepping right into Kreuzberg in Berlin, plus it's also where I ate some of the best food of my trip... Hit up Uncommon for brunch, Fonda for dinner (basically Australian Wahaca) and Borsch, Vodka & Tears for a Polish after-dinner vodka-based cocktail - you won't regret it. The street stretches 2.5 miles from South Yarra (the posh end, with designer boutiques such as Green with Envy) right down to St Kilda (with Windsor in the middle - my favourite part). You're also not that far from St Kilda beach, just hop on a tram.
Brunch at:
No. 60 Chapel St, Windsor, VIC 3181
This little piece of Insta-heaven exceeded all expectations. With complimentary green tea, a lovely touch, we tried the acai smoothie bowl and avo on toast = both winners.
Area: Windsor
Hours: 7am - 3.30pm weekdays (8am on weekends)
Nearest tram: 78, Stop 43, Chapel St/Maddock St
Price: ££
If you like art...
...visit the National Gallery of Victoria. It's free entry and artworks range from indigenous pieces to seasonal exhibitions - Degas was running when we visited. (It's also a great place to stop off when you're after some wifi... Ssssh!)
180 St Kilda Rd, VIC 3006
Area: Southbank
Hours: 10am - 5pm
Nearest tram: Flinders St Station
Price: Free!
Yet more brunch:
50 Albert Rd, South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Nestled between two sky-high glass office blocks, you'll find a beautifully quaint Victorian building known as The Kettle Black. The food was excellent and it definitely deserves its reputation for being one of the best breakfast spots in the city. But get there early as it can form quite the queue.
Area: South Melbourne
Hours: 7am - 4pm (8am on weekends)
Nearest tram: Stop 21, Bowen Crescent
Price: £££
Afternoon snack:
5 Degraves Street, CBD, VIC 3000
Doughnut Time is a relatively new doughnut chain taking over Australia's East Coast. This branch was just off Flinders Lane (Emily spotted the pea-green giftboxes from a mile off and it wasn't long until we clocked the branding and tracked it down). The nutella-centered Poké Balls were AMAZING (10/10 for on-trend doughnut designs!)
Area: Flinders Lane, CBD
Hours: 7am - 11pm (8am on weekends)
Nearest tram: Town Hall/Collins St
Price: £
Dating back to the 1920s, The Royce is a boutique luxury hotel converted from an old Art Deco Rolls-Royce showroom. Upon arrival, we were upgraded to an Executive Suite with a huge balcony overlooking South Melbourne and jacuzzi bath and TV. It was complete bliss - the perfect retreat to spend the day recovering from jet lag and escaping the winter breeze outside. If you fancy staying somewhere hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD in a pretty, quiet part of town a stones throw from the Royal Botanic Gardens; the Royce is perfect for you.
Area: South Melbourne
Nearest tram: Stop 22, Toorak Rd
Price: £££
For the best coffee in town:
Shop 73-76 Dairy Produce Hall, VIC 3000
Melbourne is quite literally bursting with coffee shops so I wouldn't worry too much about tracking down a specific place, however, if you do find yourself in or around Queen Victoria Market I suggest paying a visit to Market Lane Coffee... Who doesn't enjoy an aethestically-pleasing takeaway coffee cup?!
Area: Queen Victoria Market
Hours: 7am - 4pm
Nearest tram: Queen Victoria Market/Elizabeth St
Price: £
Next in the series... Sydney!
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