Have you ever had a friend coming to Melbourne from out of town and you stressed about where to take them? Or even worse, do you need to recommend a day’s worth of activities for them while you’re stuck at work? Well, with travel well and truly back and visitors flooding back into Melbourne, here is a whole day’s itinerary to keep your guest entertained from sun-up to sundown!
8am: Kick off the morning with a burst of energy at Queen Victoria Market or South Melbourne Market. Walk the isles and smell the fresh produce while the vendors spruik their goods. The perfect place for your first coffee of the day to wake yourself up and a freshly baked croissant. Or even better, a cheeky visit to the hot jam doughnut van. Yummm!
Don’t skip this van filled with the baked goodness.
9am: Time to work off some of those calories and take a casual stroll through one of Melbourne’s beautiful gardens. Perhaps the World Heritage-listed Carlton Gardens or Flagstaff Gardens. Even on a brisk winter morning, both are worth a visit for a touch of greenery in your city visit.
10am: Time for an iconic Melbourne meal - brunch! With so new hotspots continually entering the brunch scene, it’s hard to keep up with the latest. For an Asian fusion, try Morpha or Budapest Cafe, or a toasted panini at Queensmith Baretto. If you prefer the classics, drop into an iconic laneway cafe like Journal, Quarter or Vertue. For something sweet, you’ll need to join the queue to feast on yuzu-filled croffles at Bakemono or the legendary croissants at Lune.
My favourite hidden bakery wonderland, Bakemono.
11am: Melbourne is filled with plenty of free activities and they’re a great way to fill in an hour or two before your next activity. If you love art and culture, visit Queer at NGV International or see the free Indigenous artworks at NGV Australia’s Ian Potter Centre. For the film buffs, explore the history of film at ACMI with free entry to the Story of the Moving Image. And if nature is your thing, head over to the Royal Botanic Gardens to punt on the lake or take a free guided walk.
Ron Mueck's 'MASS' artwork will return to the NGV for Art After Dark.
1pm: You know it, it’s lunchtime and your options are endless. Whether grabbing a panini on the go or a banquet style long lunch, every second step will present you with a new option. Try hawker-style dining at ChinChin, timeless Italian at Grossi Florentino, fill up on noodles at Udon Yasan, grab a passing plate on the sushi train at Sushi Hotaru or check broadsheet for what’s fresh and new to the CBD.
3pm: Time for your friend to check into a cool Melbourne hotel. Even if you’re a Melbournian, a little stay-cay in this great city is always fun and gives you a chance to check out some of the city’s newest hotels including the blingy new W Melbourne & Movenpick or take a left of centre approach and stay in an old school airstream caravan on a rooftop at Notel.
Airstream caravan accom at Notel.
4pm: No time to enjoy that swish new hotel yet, let’s explore Melbourne’s famous laneways. Grab another coffee for an afternoon pick me up and stroll through the laneways. It’ll be hard to miss the walls filled with spectacular graffiti. As you wind your way through the city, you’ll also find plenty of boutique shops from high-end Collins St to craft stalls the CBD has it all.
5pm: Here’s the hour we’re all waiting for - happy hour! From rooftops to dimly lit dining rooms with a warm fireplace, whatever vibe you’re after, we have it. Go luxe with oysters and champagne at Chancery Lane or start on the seventh floor at the open-air bar at Curtin House, where spicy margaritas are just $12 during happy hour. Discover a greenhouse oasis on Farmer’s Daughters’ rooftop, and a hidden laneway bar topping Sojourn.
7pm: Melbourne's restaurant game is strong, with options ranging from traditional fine dining to casual wine bars and modern eateries. Try Garden State Hotel's Tippy-Tay for classic Italian or charcoal-grilled Japanese at Yakimono. The pizzas are always perfect at Di Stasio Carlton. Graze on mod pan-Asian at Aru or delectable tapas at Crossley St Cantina.
Tippy-Tay at Garden State Hotel
9pm: Melbourne may not have the nickname of the city that never sleeps, but it should. Continue the night at one of the bars you stumbled across earlier, take a date ice-skating in Docklands, catch a late show, or check out the cool Art After Dark taking over the town on 13th and 14th of May. Check whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au to see what’s happening when you’re in town.
12am: Still awake? If you’re a party animal, Melbourne has you covered! Karaoke until the AM, play old school arcade games at B lucky, sip whisky and try cigars at Siglo or simply go bar hopping, the choice is yours. And if you’re peckish, don’t think you have to eat a roadside kebab, of course, unless you want to! Many of the city's finer establishments open late with Gimlet even offering caviar and oysters until 1am.
Exhausted? Well, I am! Hope this helps you fill in a (long) day in this great city of ours or helps you with a few ideas next time you have a visitor. Enjoy!
