Wednesday, July 27, 2011

MELBOURNE

(includes Elsternwick, Bulleen & Red Hill)

BAKERIES, COFFEE, ICE CREAM, JUICE & TEA

Acland Cakes – 97 Acland Street (St. Kilda); 011-61-03-9534-3785; good for coffee and pastries.
A1 Bakery – 643-645 Sydney Road (Brunswick); 011-61-03-9386-0440; a1bakery.com.au; hybrid café-grocery; Lebanese.
Monarch Cakes – 103 Acland Street (St. Kilda); 011-61-03-9534-2972; monarchcakes.com.au; open since 1934.



BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
Bar Lourinha – 37 Little Collins Street (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9663-7890; barlourinha.com.au; Iberia-meets-New-World.
Cumulus Inc. – 45 Flinders Lane (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9650-1445; cumulusinc.com.au; white hot bar and café.
Everleigh – 1/150-156 Gertrude Street (Fitzroy); 011-61-03-9416-2229; theeverleigh.com; classy, 2nd floor cocktail bar with vintage chandeliers and candles; leather-booths and polished wood-paneled bar.
Ferdydurke – Level 1-2, 239 Lonsdale Street (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9639-3750; ferdydurke.com.au; lively, loftlike bar with esoteric propaganda posters.
Go Go – 125 Flinders Lane (Central Business District, at Chin Chin restaurant); 011-61-03-8663-2000; chinchinrestaurant.com.au; basement cocktail bar; banquettes illuminated by red neon sign in back.
Ponyfish Island – Southgate Avenue (Southgate or Yarra Pedestrian Bridge); 011-61-4-2650-1857; facebook.com/PonyfishIsland; floating bar.
Section 8 – 27-29 Tattersalls Lane (Central Business District); 011-61-430-291-588; section8.com.au; open-air drinking space in Chinatown car park; bar itself is housed in modified ex-shipping container; excellent bar snacks and yummy breakfasts if you’re there in morning.
Waiting Room – 8 Whiteman Street (Southbank, at Crown Towers); 011-61-03-8679-1800; twrbar.com.



HOTELS
Blackman – 452 St. Kilda Road (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9863-7806; artserieshotels.com.au/blackman; showcases Charles Blackman’s influence and work; ask for studio suite.
Crown Metropol – 8 Whiteman Street (Southbank); 011-61-03-9292-8888; crownmetropol.com.au; infinity pool on 27th floor and 180º views; 2 restaurants.
Crown Towers – 8 Whiteman Street (Southbank); 011-61-03-9292-6868; crowntowers.com.au; elliptical stone-and-glass Southbank tower; perfect location; floor-to-ceiling windows with Port Philip Bay views.
Cullen Hotel – 164 Commercial Road (Prahran); 011-61-03-9098-1555; artserieshotels.com.au/cullen; features Adam Cullen’s influence and work.
Langham Hotel – 1 Southbank Boulevard (Southbank); 011-61-03-8696-8888; melbourne.langhamhotels.com.au; modern hotel with luxurious atmosphere on Yarra River; spa with saltwater pool.
Lyall Hotel – 14 Murphy Street (South Yarra); 011-61-03-9868-8222; thelyall.com; 40 rm boutique so book in advance.
Olsen – 637-641 Chapel Street (South Yarra); 011-61-03-9040-1222; artserieshotels.com.au/olsen; features influence and work of landscape artist, Dr. John Olsen; heated, glass-bottom swimming pool.
Park Hyatt – 1 Parliament Place (East Melbourne); 011-61-03-9224-1234; melbourne.park.hyatt.com; retro Art Deco décor.



RESTAURANTS
Acland Cakes – 97 Acland Street (St. Kilda); 011-61-03-9534-3785; good for breakfast, as well as coffee and pastries.
A1 Bakery – 643-645 Sydney Road (Brunswick); 011-61-03-9386-0440; a1bakery.com.au; hybrid café-grocery; Lebanese.
Abyssinian – 277 Racecourse Road (Kensington); 011-61-03-9376-8754; theabyssinian.com.au; Eritrean and Ethiopian slow-cooked dishes.
Attica – 74 Glen Eira Road (Elsternwick, at Ripponlea House & Gardens); 011-61-03-9530-0111; attica.com.au; multi-award winning restaurant Attica; chef Ben Shewry creates beautifully balanced, modern cuisine in relaxed dining environment.
Bar Lourinha – 37 Little Collins Street (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9663-7890; barlourinha.com.au; Iberia-meets-New-World.
Birdman Eating – 238 Gertrude Street (Fitzroy); 011-61-03-9416-4747; birdmaneating.com.au; airy cafe decorated with doll-size winged birdmen suspended from ceiling; perfect place to greet day; best brunches around.
Bistro Guillaume – 8 Whiteman Street (Southbank, at Crown Entertainment Complex); 011-61-03-9292-4751; bistroguillaume.com.au; Australian-French.
Blue Diamond Social Salon & Cabaret – 123 Queen Street, 15th Floor (Central Business District); 011-61-03-8801-2720; members cabaret that welcomes guests.
Brunetti – 194-204 Faraday Street (Carlton); 011-61-03-9347-2801‎; brunetti.com.au; Mediterranean.
Café di Stasio – 31 Fitzroy Street (St. Kilda); 011-61-03-9525-3999; distasio.com.au; 20-years old and “eternally hip”; Italian.
Chin Chin – 125 Flinders Lane (Central Business District); 011-61-03-8663-2000; chinchinrestaurant.com.au; vaguely Thai-inflected.
Chu The – 270 Victoria Street (Richmond); 011-61-03-9428-7797; pho restaurant.
Cumulus Inc. – 45 Flinders Lane (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9650-1445; cumulusinc.com.au; white hot bar and café.
Dainty Sichuan Food – 176 Toorak Road (South Yarra/Toorak); 011-61-03-9078-1686; about as dainty as spicy fire-hose; worth making special trip to this one because only location that serves fish-flavored fired eggplant.
Dainty Sichuan Food – 206 Bourke Street, Level 2 (Chinatown); 011-61-03-9650-2188; about as dainty as spicy fire-hose.
Epatant – 33 Peel Street (Collingwood); 011-61-03-9417-7739; epatant.com; café, restaurant, gift goods.
Eureka Skydeck 88 – 7 Riverside Quay (Southbank); 011-61-03-9693-8888; eurekaskydeck.com.au; glass box with wharf views.
Gigibaba Turkish Meze Bar – 102 Smith Street (Collingwood); 011-61-03-9486-0345; long broad marble bar where fragrant, sublime Turkish food served; try squab rubbed with chile and cinnamon.
Golden Fields – 2/157 Fitzroy Street (St. Kilda); 011-61-03-9525-4488; goldenfields.com.au; chic, minimalist design; small plates.
Hung Vuong – 128 Hopkins Street (Footscray); 011-61-03-9689-6002; cheap Vietnamese.
Journal Canteen – 253 Flinders Lane, Shop 1, Level 1 (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9650-4399; for breakfast; City Library’s cafe; get portuguese custard tart.
Maha Bar & Grill – 21 Bond Street (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9629-5900; mahabg.com.au; Lebanese and Maltese food; pork sausage (zalzet malti) and Ghejniet (peppered sheep’s milk cheese).
Minh Minh – 94 Victoria Street (Richmond); 011-61-03-9427-7891; Laotian and Vietnamese.
Momo Restaurant – 123 Collins Street, Lower Plaza Level (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9650-0660; momorestaurant.com.au; Lebanese; beneath Grand Hyatt.
MoVida Bar de Tapas – 1 Hosier Lane (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9663-3038; movida.com.au; dinner or tapas; excellent calamari, as well as swordfish with chickpeas.
The Press Club Restaurant & Bar – 72 Flinders Street (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9677-9677; thepressclub.com.au; modern, high-end tribute to Greek cooking.
Rockpool Bar & Grill Melbourne – 8 Whiteman Street (Southbank); 011-61-03-8648-1900; rockpool.com; excellent food.
Rumi – 116 Lygon Street (Brunswick East); 011-61-03-9388-8255; rumi.com.au; Lebanese, Persian, and Turkish food in hip, small restaurant.
Sarti Restaurant & Bar – 6 Russell Place (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9639-7822; sartirestaurant.com.au; owner hunts wild boar himself to make his own hams; Italian; beautiful rooftop terrace.
Spice Temple – 8 Whiteman Street (Southbank, at Crown Entertainment Complex); 011-61-03-8679-1888; spicetemplemelbourne.com.
Stokehouse – 30 Jacka Boulevard (St. Kilda); 011-61-03-9525-5555; stokehouse.com.au; for lunch; city institution.
Trunk Food & Wine Precinct – 275 Exhibition Street (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9663-7994; trunktown.com.au; located in former synagogue building; sleek atmosphere; pan-Italian; excellent chocolate desserts.
Vue de Monde – 525 Collins Street (Central Business District, at Rialto Building, 55th Floor); 011-61-03-9691 3888; vuedemonde.com.au; fine, sustainable dining.



SHOPPING
Alice Euphemia – 37 Swanston Street (Central Business District, at Cathedral Arcade, Shop 6); 011-61-03-9650-4300; aliceeuphemia.com; Alice Euphemia champions local labels; around 80 clothing and accessory designers given exposure; cabinets of contemporary jewelery.
Christine – 181 Flinders Lane (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9654-2011; accessories; christineaccessories.tumblr.com; Sonia Rykiel and Longchamp bags; Anya Hindmarch totes; scarves and scents, hatpins and headpieces, belts and brooches.
Epatant – 33 Peel Street (Collingwood); 011-61-03-9417-7739; epatant.com; café, restaurant, gift goods.
Horse With No Name – 1/171 Greville Street (Prahran); 011-61-03-9077-7002; hwnn.com.au; Australian and international women's wear.
Northside Records – 236 Gertrude Street (Fitzroy); 011-61-03-9417-7557; northsiderecords.com.au; vinyl.
Dagmar Rousset – 157 Gertrude Street (Fitzroy); 011-61-03-9419-2200; dagmarrousset.com; clothing boutique.
Since Grey – 122 Gertrude Street (Fitzroy); 011-61-03-9416-0458; sincegrey.com; Melbourne-based designers.
South Melbourne Market – 322-326 Coventry Street (South); 011-61-03-9209-6295; southmelbournemarket.com.au; curio pedlars and specialty food marketers; also arts & crafts.



SIGHTS & SITES
Astor Theatre – 1 Chapel (St. Kilda); 011-61-03-9510-1414; astortheatre.net.au; classic, single-screen Art Deco film house.
Australian Center for Contemporary Art – 111 Surt Street (Southbank); 011-61-03-9697-9999; accaonline.org.au; contemporary Australian and international art space.
Australian Center for Moving Image – Russell Court (Federation Square); 011-61-03-8663-2200; acmi.net.au.
Carlton Gardens – 11 Nicholson Street (Carlton); 011-61-03-9658-9658; museumvictoria.com.au/reb/history/carlton-gardens; “pleasure garden” created for 1880 International Exhibition carriage drives and pathways wind around fountains and lakes; century-old oaks tower over flower beds.
Docklands – 109-425 Docklands Drive (Docklands); 011-61-03-9658-9658; docklands.com; 39 public art installations.
Flinders Lane – Central Business District; whole street.
Flinders Street Station – corner Flinders & Swanston Streets (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9655-6666; cv.vic.gov.au/stories/flinders-street-station; elaborate, Edwardian edifice; public transit station.
Heide Museum of Modern Art – 7 Templestowe Road (Bulleen); 011-61-03-9850-1500; heide.com.au; prominent arts patrons (1930s-1950s), John & Sunday Reeds’ former home; 3 exhibition spaces and sculpture garden.
Hosier & Rutledge Lanes – Central Business District; 2 streets notable for urban art (graffiti).
Melbourne Museum – 11 Nicholson Street (Victoria); 011-61-03-0013-0152; museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum; Aboriginal artifacts.
National Gallery of Victoria – 180 St. Kilda Road (St. Kilda); 011-61-03-8620-2222; ngv.vic.gov.au).
Port Phillip Estate – 263 Redhill Road (Red Hill); 011-61-3-5989-4444; portphillipestate.com.au; main building designed by Wood/Marsh (local firm), overlooks vineyards and unfurls across site, spiraling out of ground like abstract sculpture.
Ian Potter Center (of National Gallery of Victoria) – corner Russell & Flinders Streets (Federation Square); 011-61-03-8620-2222; ngv.vic.gov.au; Austrialian art from aboriginal to contemporary.
Queen Victoria Market – 513 Elizabeth Street (Central Business District); 011-61-03-9320-5822; qvm.com.au; since 1878.
Ripponlea House & Gardens – 192 Hotham Street (Elsternwick); 011-61-03-9656-9815; ripponleaestate.com.au; grand Victorian house; gives feel for old-money Melbourne; socialite Sir Frederick Thomas Sargood built Rippon Lea House between 1868-1903; ballroom & pool added in 1930s; interesting Romanesque architecture (note polychrome brickwork & stained glass); downside: entry to house by guided tour only; real attraction is 13 acres landscaped gardens, which include conservatory, lake, and lookout tower; tearoom open on weekends, public holidays, and during school vacations, from 11am to 4pm; allow 2 hours.
Royal Botanic Gardens – Birdwood Avenue (South Yarra); 011-61-03-9252-2300; rbg.vic.gov.au; sprawling with weird and wonderful fauna; in summer, open-air cinema (Moonlight Cinema: moonlight.com.au/melbourne).
Royal Exhibition Building – 9 Nicholson Street (Victoria); 011-61-03-131-102; museumvictoria.com.au/reb; centerpiece of 1880 International Exhibition; German-inspired Rundbogenstil architecture (“round-arched”) combines Byzantine, Romanesque, Lombardic, and Italian Renaissance styles; 22-karat gold-coated cupola; murals by John Ross Anderson.
Shrine of Remembrance – Birdwood Avenue (Kings Domain); 011-61-03-9661-8100; shrine.org.au; commemorates the lives lost in the Great War of 1914-1918.
Yarra Valley Cider & Ale Trail – Yarra Valley; yarravalley.com.au; visit numerous boutique breweries and artisan cider makers; trail incorporates 7 cider and ale producers in region.

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