The Ultimate Melbourne Guide: A Weekend of Culture, Food & Cocktails

• Queen Victoria Market: Melbourne’s oldest market. This is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere, offering coffee, flowers, pastries and organic produce.

• Main Yarra Trail: Take in city views, walking around the golf course and into the Central Business District.

• Degraves Street: A bustling street filled with coffee shops and restaurants.

• High Street: Named one of the coolest streets in the world by Time Out, it’s lined with bars, restaurants, food trucks, cafes and shops — perfect for a day of dining and shopping.

• Chapel Street: A vibrant area known for its music scene, dining options and vintage shopping.

• Melbourne Central: A central shopping hub in Melbourne.

• Bourke Street Mall: An historic postal building now home to stores and coffee shops.

• National Gallery of Victoria: Downtown Melbourne’s premier art museum, featuring a range of exhibits.

• Lume: The largest digital art gallery in Melbourne.

• Sporting events: Melbourne is renowned for its sports, with the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground hosting various events. Catch an Australian Football League game — featuring teams like Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond — or a cricket match or the Australian Open, held every January.

• Food & wine tours: Explore Melbourne's culinary scene or venture out to Yarra Valley, Victoria's oldest wine region, for a food and wine tour.

Day trips

• Phillip Island: Travel to Phillip Island to enjoy its stunning beaches and witness the cute little Penguins who regularly come ashore.

• Yarra Valley: Experience local food and fine wines in Melbourne's beautiful wine region.

• Great Ocean Road: Take a two- to four-day road trip and embark on one of Australia’s most scenic drives. Visit the iconic Twelve Apostles — despite there being only nine rock formations. Stop in charming towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay to soak in the breathtaking views.

Dinner

• Gimlet: The best steak I've had in ages, and don't miss the signature Gimlet cocktail. Though I'm not usually a gin drinker, I found the drink to be extremely light and refreshing.

• Koko: Experience authentic teppanyaki with chefs preparing your meal right before your eyes. The ambiance feels like a serene zen garden and you'll dine next to an indoor water garden.

• Baby Pizza: A trendy Italian restaurant serving delicious pasta and pizza dishes.

• Tonka: Modern Indian cuisine located in Melbourne’s trendy Duckboard Place. Order the Tandoori chicken tikka or Scotch filet.

• Restaurant Hubert: A charming French bistro with classic dishes in a cozy atmosphere.

• Il Barco: Enjoy Italian food in an intimate setting featuring a two- or three-course set menu for groups of eight or more.

• Supernormal: A chic Asian fusion restaurant. Make sure to get the potstickers and wagyu beef buns.

• Kisume: Elegant Japanese dining with exceptional cocktails and a sophisticated ambiance.

Brunch

• The Kettle Black: A charming restaurant housed in an 1880s terrace. I highly recommend the ricotta hotcakes and chili scramble.

• Lune Croissanterie: Melbourne’s top spot for croissants. Make sure to get there early to try these popular pastries.

• Two Birds One Stone: Brunch spot perfect after a night out in Melbourne. I loved the Shakshuka and breakfast board.

• Cafe Larome: A unique fusion of Japanese and French, offering tasty snacks and exceptional coffee.

• Pillar of Salt: A classic Australian breakfast spot with menu items like pulled pork Benedict, poke bowls and chicken schnitzel.

• Livingstone: Balinese-inspired café and bakery.

Coffee

• Campos: Cozy and trendy coffee shop. Please note that when you ask for ice coffee in Australia you may end up with ice cream in your office. I learned that the hard way when I ended up with a coffee-flavored ice cream at seven am.

• Good Measure: A Japanese-inspired cafe. At night the cafe turns into a cozy cocktail bar. Don’t miss the TikTok-famous Mont Blanc, topped with fresh cream and orange zest.

• Abacus Bar & Kitchen: Perfectly situated on Chapel Street, it’s an ideal spot to unwind with a coffee and people-watch during your shopping break.

• INI Coffee: A sleek, minimalistic coffee shop.

• Tone Coffee: A spacious café with a wide range of coffee options — definitely try the Tiger Bomb if you like creamy and smooth coffee drinks.

Nightlife

• Apollo Inn: A great date spot next to Gimlet, this is an ideal place for a pre-dinner drink.

• Albert's Wine Bar: A charming wine bar on High Street, right in the heart of Melbourne's nightlife.

• Eau de Vie: A dimly lit speakeasy on Flinders Lane with a unique, intimate vibe.

• The Beverly Rooftop: A trendy cocktail bar offering near-panoramic views of Melbourne.

• Gin Palace: A sophisticated cocktail bar, perfect for enjoying a late-night martini.

• The State of Grace: A cocktail bar in the central business district, featuring a cozy cellar bar and a rooftop option.

• Bar Margaux: An old-time French basement bar known for its award-winning cocktails and cuisine.

• Whitehart Bar: Located in a repurposed car park in the central business district, this bar is decorated with cool graffiti murals. The menu changes frequently as there are different food trucks at the venue every other week.

• The Kilburn: A stylish cocktail and whisky bar.

• Bar Bambi: A lively restaurant and late-night bar, offering a $35 express dinner.

• Electric Bar: A moody lounge that is an ideal spot for a night out if you like DJ sets. The bartenders stand on the bar table tops and spin the chandeliers around.

• The Emerson: A three level bar with dance floors and bar areas.