Melbourne
A great city and has loads to do. Wake up to breakfast this morning and make your way by taxi to a very different part of Melbourne – to St Kilda. It’s the trendiest part of Melbourne. There are several shops, cafes and the Beach. St Kilda is also where the entertainment complex, Luna Park is.Monarchs – the cake shop is a must stop and their cakes and teas are really something! You must try and get to St Kilda on a Sunday morning to enjoy the weekly Sunday market that assures you of some great bargains and unique crafts to add to your collection. You can then head off to the Eureka Skydeck in the centre of the city and enjoy some amazing views from atop the tower and when here you must definitely try “The Edge”. Following the sky deck, you could make your way to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) where you can take a tour through the famous Long Room and the MCC Museum etc. A visit to the National Sports Museum is a must see and stop.
Later in the afternoon, you could take the free tram and head to the Harbor Town area that houses more than 200 shops, it is the largest retail shopping precinct here! You also can visit the Aquarium, the Grand Prix Circuit ground or just spend time walking around and sponging in the various facets of this vibrant and arty city.
We recommend you to have lunch at Cumulus Inc perhaps sharing slow-roasted lamb with cracked wheat and freekeh salad, or heirloom tomatoes and burrata. After lunch, wander down Flinders Lane for galleries including Anna Schwarz, Little Bourke Street for designer fashion boutiques, Bourke Street Mall for department stores, Little Collins Street for contemporary menswear, and women’s retailers including Scanlan and Theodore.
Stop in at DeGraves Lane (off Flinders Lane) lined with cafes, for a reviving coffee or afternoon tea, one of the city’s favourite spots for caffeine. The Block Arcade is a fine example of 19th-century Melbourne, renowned for its etched glass canopy, mosaic tiled floor and intricate wrought iron. Listed on Victoria’s Heritage Register, it also features boutiques and cafes.
Before dinner, have a drink at Bar Lourinha, then a five-minute walk along Meyers Place will bring you to the top end of Bourke Street and Grossi Florentino. Melbourne’s long history of Italian migration means the city is imbued with excellent Italian food and Grossi Florentino is a stellar example. Soaring frescoed ceilings, dark wood panelling and the charming waiters darting across the floor in their chic white jackets and bow ties, instantly transport you to the north of Italy. As do the menus, and the wine list, served across the three dining spaces within the opulent building: the casual Cellar Bar, Upstairs and The Grill. Be sure to order the signature dessert, La Mela Di Murano (a glass toffee ball filled with apple sorbet, served on a bed of pearl tapioca).
Overnight in Melbourne