July 10, 2005
Melbourne Guide
I realised that I have not put a melbourne guide together, so in the spirit of the NY guide here is the CRISPY GUIDE TO MELBOURNE.
Online Guides
Melbourne Citysearch
http://melbourne.citysearch.com.au/
The place to find out what is going on, listings, directory, maps and more.
Miettas Guide has come to replace cheap eats as the must have for knowing where to dine in Melbourne
Melbourne Bar Secrets
is a great guide to where to drink in Melbourne with maps and guides and information, it is like a box of playing cards unfortunately it doesn't have much of an online presence - but it does direct you to where you can buy one via Remo Online.
Thats Me!bourne
a site run by the Melbourne City Council - great source of information but actually very ugly to look at. They have special offers, tons of information and are always uptodate but those colours...
http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/
Restaurants
Melbourne's restaurants and bars set it apart from other cities the style is more than a statement, it probably comes from the rich italian and greek migrant heritage combined with the Melbourne establishment demanding every greater levels of culinary excellence. There are so many outstanding venues so I have just covered the ones I find truely special.
Becco Crossley Place Melbourne
Becco is an institution in eating fine italian food Melbourne style. Start with a Becco Macchiato - vodka, tonic, fresh lime, campari - yum. Then the stuffed olives just like robbies mum makes. I am a huge fan of the veal but everything is so tasty and you always have to end it with the torrone (home made nougat to you and me) delicious I am hungry just writing this.
Cicciolina 130 Acland Street St Kilda
03 9525 3333
Cicciolina is outstanding. Its small, dark with wood and a wall of art. The food is quite legendary, but you can't book so enjoy a drink in the cocktail bar out the back and they may tempt you to enjoy a delicious bar snack while you wait.
Punch Lane Little Bourke St Melbourne
Another great Melbourne stand by, excellent food, great bar, great wine list - it all feels like a private club that you have been lucky enough to become a member of (except there are no fees, no stuffy rules, just great staff).
Langtons 61 Flinders Lane Melbourne
03 9663 0222
http://www.langtonsrestaurant.com.au/
Over the past 6 years I have enjoyed Langtons through 3 major changes in chef and style. It is still one of the great restaurants, it feels so slick. The table cloths are ironed daily, the staff are super professional - the best of the best, the wine list is a tome.
It is hard to go past the daily carvery always a treat so succulent and soft. They also make a great coffee.
Yu-u
(I am not telling you where this is)
Oh so so so good Japanese food, it is truely life changing. You don't need to know more except don't expect big bills, huge wine lists, or to get in without a booking.
Mitsuzu Victoria St Albert Park
Together with the spunky sake bar next door, this is another of the great Melbourne eating establishments, the murals on the wall are a wonderful treat bringing a three dimensional depth to the space, and the lovely traditional japnese garden out the back adds to the reasons you need to visit.
A huge range of Sake available, and alsorts of great japanese food.
Syracuse Bank Place Melbourne
Syracuse is another perfect example of the kind of restaurant that Melbourne does so well and Sydney can only dream of. (tough statement that). I can't tell you what about makes the place only describe the combination of marble, polished boards worn down through years of service, a mismatch of antique tables, and classic chairs. The huge wine list, the classic italian food, the stylish waiters with crisp linen - it all adds up to a sense of style so typically melbourne.
Cafes
Melbourne seems to live on coffee, the absolute drive for the perfect bean, barrista, latte or espresso - I don't know if it is snobbery, that Melbourne is a little further along the coffee maturity curve or it may again hark back to the migrant heritage. Its not just about the coffee of course, many of these places are the home of great food and it is hard to categorise between bar, restaurant and cafe. Melbourne the home of cafe culture, whatever that is.Beetroot
Cafe Racer
Wall 280
Cowderoy Dairy
Cafe a Taglio
Il Fornaio
Postal Hall
Cafe Eccucina
Bars
I am getting through them...
Cookie
Swanston St
Melbourne
Cookie is one of the new generation of Melbourne Bars that has just got it so right, an amazing range of beers (hundreds) good indoor and outdoor spaces and a great restaurant. The crowd is very different at different times of the day and night and a dj plays evenings to the wee small hours. Conveniently it is right across the road from the lounge
Lounge
Swanston St
Melbourne
Read what "the worlds best bars" has to say about The Lounge
A melbourne institution. So many good times had here over the last 15 years (I have to admit most were over 10 years ago) however it is still a great place for a drink a dance, a late night beer or even lunch on the balcony.
Meyers Place
Melbourne Wine Room
Fitzroy St
St Kilda
Once it was the George Hotel, under Don Levy's guidance it became legendary, others such as Maurice gave it more of a push in the right direction - now it is just a really great bar (goes absolutely off on a Friday night) a great place for dinner (if you dont mind the smoke) with outstanding steaks cooked to perfection.
The Supper Club
Spring St
Melbourne
Up at the top of the city above the classic European cafe is the Melbourne Supper Club. More than style it oozes the true underbelly of Melbourne living, a place you have to stumble over or be introduced to it features, over stuffed, over worn, comfy leather lounges, dimmed lighting, outstanding martinis, cognac and cigars... You never know who is sitting across the gloom from you unless you venture over....
Mink
Acland St
St Kilda
Melbournes original vodka bar, with an enormous range of infused and original blends. It harks back to the industrial russian style of check point charlie nightclub (now long gone) this place has tons of style (and conveniently in the basement of the Prince hotel)
La La Land
Hardware St
Melbourne
There is a string of La La Lands opening up but this one in the centre of the city is a comfortable change from the norm. I like as it is near my office and a cosy stop for a Friday drink, gas fire comfy old lounge, great range of beers on tap.
Pause
Live Music
Bennetts Lane
The Prince
The Espy
Museums and Galleries
Melbourne Museum
Scienceworks Museum
National Gallery of Victoria
Ian Potter Gallery NGV at Federation Square
Australian Contemporary Museum
The Arts Centre
Sport
MCG - Cricket, Football
Telstra Dome - Rugby, Football, Cricket everything
Rod Laver Arena & Vodafone Arena - Australian Open Tennis
Posted by crispin at July 10, 2005 10:20 PM