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The Best Things to Do in Melbourne
Written by Sarah Wilkes
From hidden laneway speakeasies to parading penguins and one of the world’s biggest tennis events, this is our guide to the best things to do in Melbourne.
Australia’s culinary, cultural and sporting capital, Melbourne has a seemingly endless array of attractions, experiences and festivals to discover. Whether it’s a weekend city break or you’re visiting Melbourne for the first time, keep reading to discover the city’s best lattes, laneways and beyond.
Visit the National Gallery of Victoria
With a colossal brick exterior and water-wall entrance, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is a magnet, luring people in from far and wide. Split across two main sites, the NGV showcases Australian and international art.
NGV National spans three open-plan levels, featuring permanent collections and limited-edition ticketed exhibitions – often with a blockbuster reputation. Friday Nights at the NGV are the epitome of cultural cool, where a select exhibition comes alive after hours with live music, DJ sets, themed dining and premium drinks.
NGV Australia – also known as The Ian Potter Centre – in nearby Federation Square exhibits the country’s rich cultural tapestry, with a focus on works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island artists.
Shop or stay in the ‘Paris End’
Walking towards the east of Melbourne’s CBD comes with an air of affluence. The streets are tree-fringed, the buildings are grand and (of course) the boutiques are designer. It’s the part of the city where Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior are neighbours, along with hotel counterparts like Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Grant Hyatt Melbourne and The Hotel Windsor.
Melbourne’s high tea game is strong, but the ‘Paris End’ is where it really shines. At The Windsor, you’ll be transported back to the 1800s, with tiered cake stands, champagne and intricate porcelain gracing each table. Enjoy freshly baked scones, dainty sandwiches and house-blend tea, all while feeling like a Bridgeton character.
Bar hop again and again
Options for a top-tier tipple in Melbourne abound, so naturally, bars rely on creativity to stand out. Melbourne’s bar culture truly has it all, from rooftop bars like Johnny’s Green Room to jazzy listening lounges like Her’s Music Room, and Abory Afloat’s beloved seasonal Yarra River residency.
A top contender is Fall From Grace: step through State of Grace’s European-leaning restaurant on King Street and slide a bookshelf (secret door) to enter a speakeasy-style bar, serving carefully curated cocktails – now that’s what you call a hidden gem.
Dine in Hardware Lane
Though just a small passageway in Melbourne’s grid, Hardware Lane packs a punch. This lively cobblestone street is packed with back-to-back eclectic eateries, from Italian trattorias like The Hardware Club to sleek wine bars like Gracie, where diners pour out onto the street. By evening, street performers emerge, transforming Hardware Lane into a must-visit marvel for anyone visiting Melbourne.
Succumb to the sporting spirit
While sport isn’t for everyone, Melbourne’s sporting spirit is contagious: world-renowned venues are dotted around the city, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground (the birthplace of test cricket) and Melbourne Park (home to the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament). The fuss goes well beyond the grandstands, continuing to various pubs around the city – you haven’t experienced true footy fever until you’ve visited The London Tavern in Richmond on game day.
Sample shokupan at Melbourne’s best Japanese cafes
Melbourne has long had a love affair with Japanese cuisine. The city is peppered with Japanese-inspired cafes, offering everything from crispy katsu sandos (fried chicken sandwiches) at Le Bajo Milkbar and cloud-like souffle pancakes at Kumo Dessert to pillow-soft shokupan toast (milk bread) at Fuumi Fuumi.
Tucked away in Drewery Lane, Little Rogue accumulates a line out the door every day, serving up marble-like Matcha lattes in abundance. A few steps down lies Little Rogues’ sister store, Bakemono Bakers, famous for its buttery yuzu-infused croissants.
Peruse Queen Victoria Market
Reigning since 1878, the Queen Victoria Market is Melbourne royalty. In true Melbourne fashion, start your day with one of the best brews in town at Market Lane Coffee before strolling through labyrinths of stalls. Fill your basket with fresh flowers, stock up on your groceries for the week and sample international food stores for lunch.
Tick off each level of the Curtain House
Melburnians have long braved the climb up the stairs to reach the summit of Rooftop Bar in Curtain House – and know it’s worth it. Constructed in 1923, Curtain House is Melbourne’s six-storied, Art Nouveau building, acting as a bit of a vertical laneway, filled with hidden boutiques and nightlife venues. It’s a one-stop shop for a no-fuss night out: start at Rooftop Bar to catch the skyline at sunset, head to Thai restaurant and beer hall Cookie for dinner and then boogie the night away at The Toff.
Spot penguins in St Kilda
You’ve likely heard about the penguin parade at Phillip Island, but did you know that St Kilda Pier is home to its very own colony of the little creatures? Every night when the sun falls, visitors enjoy views of Melbourne’s sparkling skyline over Port Philip Bay while waiting for the penguins to come out to play.
Dine inside Melbourne’s original stock exchange
Reine & La Rue offers fine dining, with French fare, on the corner of Queen and Collins Streets. It inhabits the Neo-Gothic landmark that was the original stock exchange of Melbourne, making it the most Instagram-worthy restaurant in the city. Its elegantly tiled floors, immaculately uniformed waiters and beyond-high ceilings whisper ‘treat yourself’ like no other. If you’re after an evening of opulence, book ahead to secure your spot at the table.
Retreat to the Royal Botanic Gardens
Twenty-eight hectares of greenery and more than 8,500 species of plants make up the Royal Botanic Gardens. More than just a garden, it’s home to the Moonlight Cinema in the warmer seasons, the famous running track The Tan and free guided walking tours.
Eat your way through Grazeland
Composed of shipping containers converted into food stalls, Grazeland calls itself a foodie’s playground for good reason. Located in the seaside suburb of Spotswood – near Melbourne’s busiest container port – it’s a west-side icon. Between Smokework’s BBQ meats, Chimnutz’s Hungarian-inspired chimney cakes and Claw and Tail’s lobster rolls, you can experience the flavours of the globe at Grazeland.
Watch a movie at ACMI
ACMI – the Australian Centre for the Moving Image – has cemented itself as a cultural institution. Nestled in Melbourne’s beating heart – Federation Square – ACMI is the one-stop shop for digital media, hosting film festivals, immersive exhibitions and educational workshops. There’s always something happening in this hub of interactive installations, including state-of-the-art cinemas featuring films that are hard to come by elsewhere.
Discover Melbourne
Feature image courtesy of Visit Victoria.
