Welcome to Melbourne! You’ve just arrived in what many (admittedly most of them live in Melbourne) describe as Australia’s coolest city. Whether you’re here for the sport, the live music, the shopping, the bars, the arts and entertainment or just for business, there’s so much to see and do in this pumping city, so it’s going to be hard not to have a good time.
Once you’ve picked up your hire car from our Flinders Street location (don’t forget to take a moment to admire the beautiful and historic Flinders Street Station façade while you’re in the area), here’s a run-down on how best to squeeze every drop out of your time in this hip southern town.
Getting your bearings in this thriving metropolis
One of the true delights of Melbourne is how diverse it is, not just ethnically and culturally (although that plays a big part too), but in how distinct and different the suburbs all are. Melbourne is not a city whose heartbeat throbs in the CBD and nowhere else, but rather a vibrant sprawling smorgasbord of delights spread across hundreds of different locations – each completely different and completely worth exploring.
For the “hipster culture” of rich street art and an atmosphere of constant creativity Melbourne is perhaps best known for nationally, you’ll do best by wandering the streets of Fitzroy, Collingwood or Northcote on the north side of town. In these street-art covered streets and endless back alleys you’ll find the city’s coolest bars, trendiest people and the biggest live music scene (although whether you would consider it the best is entirely dependent on your tastes, of course).
If shopping, clubbing and upscale dining are more your cup of tea, you’ll probably have a better time south of the river. To get your fashion fix, Chapel Street in South Yarra and Prahran is home to restaurants, cafes, and brand name designers, and turns into a pumping club scene after dark. St. Kilda Beach on the south side of town is a bustling part of the bay, perfect for soaking up some sun (further south, Elwood and Brighton are also accessible via public transport) [- do we want to emphasise public transport?]. The National Gallery of Victoria, Queen Victoria Market, and Royal Botanic Gardens provide cost-effective exploration throughout the city for exceptional art, outdoor spaces, and bargain shopping.
Melbourne is also recognised nationwide for its eclectic showcase of events. Melbourne's Music Week, the International Film, Comedy, Jazz, Fringe and Writer’s festivals, the Australian F1 Grand Prix, Australian Open Tennis, Fashion Week, AFL Grand Final, and Horse Racing's Melbourne Cup Carnival are all components of the city’s diverse occasions.
On your way to a city-wide event, visitors always stop to try this city’s most prized possession: coffee. Chain cafes are few, while bespoke boutiques and cafes run the show. Any shop that fails to deliver world-class coffee won’t survive. If you’re a fan of the humble coffee bean brewed to perfection, Melbourne offers an everyday treat.
Melbourne: a foodie’s delight
As far as food, Melbourne is as good as it gets – seek for a cuisine, and you’ll be met with a variety of options. To entertain your taste buds, check out a few of these locations for a diverse selection of tantalising dishes:
- Shujinko: A Classic Japanese restaurant with traditional décor in the CBD. Chinatown in the CBD boasts ethnic Chinese cuisine, including delicious dumplings around every corner
- Lentil as Anything: located in Abbotsford and St Kilda, this not-for-profit restaurant provides different vegan and vegetarian food every day. The payment model is ‘pay what you can.’
- Kin Vietnamese: Keen for a pho? Famous for their chicken pho, this Vietnamese shop in Prahran concocts a mouth-watering menu.
- Trippy Taco: Mexican street food with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Located in Fitzroy in the north and St Kilda in the south, try a burrito, quesadilla, or taco for a central American experience.
- Mukka: In the heart of Fitzroy you’ll find Mukka crafts a variety of authentic Indian curry pots and street eats to please.
Looking for laneways? These alleyways are easy to stop by for a burst of art inspiration or to grab a bite to eat while admiring the urban decoration. Hosier Lane is arguably Melbourne’s most iconic laneway, draped with prominent local and international artists. Close by, AC/DC Lane has ever-changing murals, while Degraves Street and Centre Place are a pair or narrow alleyways with historic architecture and quaint cafes. For a European feel, Hardware Lane is the ideal passage for dabbling in different cuisines, live music, and rooftop bars (great for your Instagram).
Enjoy a night on the town, no matter your vibe
Lastly, rooftop bars are a hot commodity in Melbourne. In the CBD, try Rooftop Bar on Swanston street, Madame Brussels on Bourke Street, or Siglo on Spring Street. Loop Roof in the CBD has a fun-filled atmosphere, and the bottom part of the bar hosts assorted DJs mixing music from Brazilian funk to old rock and blues. Outside of the CBD, Naked for Satan in Fitzroy gives guests an excellent view of the city, while the Emerson in Prahran gets the party going day or night. Feast of Merit or Mountain View Hotel in Richmond are also rooftop abodes with a relaxed atmosphere.
