Melbourne isn’t a city that reveals itself on the main drags; it’s a city of layers often hidden in tiny laneways, found in basement jazz clubs and 19th-century banking chambers. Here’s some suggestions to make the most of your trip to my hometown.
Coffee: Melbourne takes it seriously.
In Melbourne, coffee is a science and a primary export. Some VCs in Silicon Valley import the roasted coffee from here as their favourite blend! Local chains that you’ll find around the city include Axil Coffee Roasters, Code Black Coffee and many cafes that serve Campos Roasted Coffee. Below are some of my favourite specialty cafes
- Seven Seeds (Carlton): My personal favourite which blends great coffee, food and that industrial vibe to make a great cafe. This warehouse space just north of the CBD is where the city’s specialty coffee movement found its soul. They also roast and blend on location
- Patricia Coffee Brewers (CBD): A standing-room-only operation on the corner of Little Bourke and William St. It’s efficient, minimalist, and serves arguably the best filter and espresso in the legal precinct.
- Brother Baba Budan (CBD): Famous for the chairs hanging from the ceiling, this is a Seven Seeds offshoot that serves high-velocity, high-quality brews in a tiny, atmospheric space.
- Market Lane (Queen Vic Market): If you’re exploring the historic markets, this is the mandatory stop.
- ST. ALi (South Melbourne): Tucked away in a Yarra Place laneway, this converted warehouse is a coffee pilgrimage site. It’s always buzzing with people popping in for a quick coffee or a long lunch
Food: From Sandwiches to Gothic Dining.
Melbourne’s food scene is always changing with a variety that can rival most culinary hot-spots. While the Michelin Guide doesn’t review Australian Restaurants, look out for “hatted” restuarants – our marker of quality
- Higher Ground (CBD): An architectural marvel. This former power station features 15-meter ceilings and a menu that blurs the line between “brunch” and “fine dining.” The Ricotta Hotcake is a visual and culinary staple.
- Lune Croissanterie (Fitzroy/CBD) is an essential Melbourne experience. Founder Kate Reid is a former Formula 1 aerodynamicist/aerospace engineer who has applied that same technical rigor to the “Lune Lab” to create a mathematically perfect pastry. In 2016, The New York Times notoriously asked if Lune’s croissants were “the finest in the world,” a claim that has cemented its status as a global pilgrimage site.
- Hectors Deli (CBD/surrounds): For the definitive Melbourne sandwich. Personal favourite: the fried chicken – it’s delicious!
- Reine & La Rue (CBD): Located in a restored 1890s neo-gothic banking chamber. It is the most atmospheric fine-dining room in the country right now, offering French-inspired Victorian produce.
- Gimlet at Cavendish House (CBD): Old mixed with new in this great diner. It feels like 1920s Chicago but with a 2026 edge. Perfect for a serious dinner or a late-night supper.
- Chin Chin(CBD): Melbourne has amazing Asian-fusion restaurants and one of the staples is Chin Chin. This loud and busy restaurant somehow combines the feel of an Asian Food Hall while keeping some elegant touches and mixing up Asian flavours to produce something unique.
Things to Do/Places to See: In The City Grid
The CBD is a mix of offices, events and attractions that spill from the orderly city grid into the winding laneways that the city is famous for. Some attractions to see during a visit include:
- NGV International: A world-class art space that’s currently undergoing an expansion to become one of the biggest arts precincts in Australia. Don’t miss the Great Hall with the world’s largest stained-glass ceiling and the iconic “Water Wall” entrance, permanent gallery and ever changing new exhibitions.
- State Library of Victoria: A historic “rite of passage” for every Melburnian. The La Trobe Reading Room (the octagonal dome) is one of the most beautiful quiet spaces in the world. There’s also an art gallery in the upper levels
- Eureka Skydeck: The highest public observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere. For the brave, “The Edge”—a glass cube that slides out from the building—is mandatory.
- Lui Bar: Perched on the 55th floor of the Rialto. Go for a “drink with a view” as the sun sets over the bay—it’s the best way to see the city’s urban planning from above.
City Surrounds: The Suburbs and their vibe
There’s plenty to do in the suburbs of Melbourne too. Here are some highlights of the ones not too far from the city.
- St Kilda: Melbourne’s answer to Santa Monica, but with more coffee and a dash of bohemian grit. Walk the pier at sunset to see the colony of Little Penguins returning to their nests (needs tickets now). Luna Park is nearby for rollercoasters and rides
- Fitzroy & Collingwood: A rapidly gentrifying collection of suburbs that mix high-end boutiques and Smith Street for trendy bars, live music, and the city’s best streetwear. You can even have smash burgers in old trams that have been lifted to the top of buildings to form a restaurant, Easey’s. Or head to Charr’d about one suburb north for burgers that have been named one of the best in the world
- Princes Pier (Port Melbourne): A photographer’s dream. The historic wooden pylons provide a hauntingly beautiful backdrop for sunsets, often accompanied by local rollerbladers and impromptu DJ sets.
- Chadstone Shopping Centre: Officially the largest mall in the Southern Hemisphere. Known as the “Chaddy” by locals it houses over 500 stores under a stunning 7,000sqm glass gridshell roof.
After Dark: Underground Culture & Hidden Bars
After dark, the city has plenty of venues to explore, usually underground or down one of the many laneways.
- Paris Cat Jazz Club: Tucked away in a basement on Goldie Place, this is a three-story 1895 warehouse dedicated to jazz. It feels like a 1920s Parisian loft. It’s intimate, acoustic, and serves great tapas.
- Basement Comedy Club: Located under Morris House on Exhibition Street. It’s a New York-style club that consistently books the top 5% of Australian comedy talent. If you want to see a household name testing new material, this is the spot.
- Cherry Bar: Now located in Little Collins Street, it’s one of the most popular rock-n-roll bars around.
- Eau De Vie Melbourne: The absolute benchmark for the “hidden bar” experience. Located behind an unmarked black door down Malthouse Lane, it transports you to 1920s Prohibition-era America. There is a “Whisky Room” hidden behind a literal bookcase.
- Above Board: A minimalist, 12-seat bar in Collingwood that feels like a private sanctuary. There is no back bar, no bottles on display—just a counter and a master at work. It’s truly hidden; you have to walk through a sandwich shop/beer hall to find the tiny door at the back.
- Brunswick Aces: Opened originally as Australia’s first dedicated non-alcoholic bar and distillery now serving both. Lavishly decked out in “Moulin Rouge meets industrial chic” style.
Local Tips/Tricks and things uniquely Melbourne
- No Tipping Culture: Tipping is not expected in Australia. Staff are paid a living wage. If service is exceptional, 10% is appreciated but never mandatory.
- Free Tram Zone: Travel inside the CBD grid on trams is free – no need to tap on. If you’re heading outside the zone or catching a train, I suggest getting a physical Myki card. There is a City Circle historic tourist tram that circles the city and shows many of the sights.
- Order a “Magic”: This is the local’s secret. A Magic is a double ristretto topped with silky milk in a 5oz cup—stronger than a latte, smoother than a piccolo.
- The “Tan”: Join the locals for a lap of the Botanic Gardens on the “Tan Track”—a 3.8km loop that is the city’s unofficial fitness headquarters.
- Hot-air Balloon rides: Melbourne is one of about 5 cities in the world that allow balloon rides at sunrise over the city
- Boats on the Yarra River & Herring Island: You can rent a boat for a few hours (no license required) and cruise around the river. There’s a hidden island in the river that houses a sculpture park and picnic grounds that many locals don’t know about