Okay, so I have lived in Melbourne for most of my thirties. I was born there, and then we moved to a small town in the country and then I took myself off to Sydney and to travel Europe in my early twenties, only to return to Melbourne at age 27. I still remember my oldest sister (who now lives in Dublin, and as adults we have never ever lived in the same city) giving me a piece of paper with some of her favourite places to eat and drink and venture when I moved there. And as I read through my own list, 10 years later, I realise not much has changed. Melbourne has so many places that are an institution to this grand city. Yes, new places continually pop up and turn heads, as a woman with a mini skirt and long legs seems to also do, but this only adds to the speckled and wonderfully distinct pull of the city.
So you know from the start, my list of places to eat, drink, relax and shop, is purely a snapshot of my own experiences. I want to share the familiarity that only a really good friend would do. Understand this is purely a list compiled for fun. And feel free to provide feedback if you dare to try any of the places I flag over the life of this blog. If you haven’t already worked this out, I could seriously go on forever and ever about Melbourne. Once I started thinking about places to send my friends who had never been to this city before, I realised this city is full of so many amazing, wonderful things to see.. So why not share it with the wider community. I hope you sift through and see if anything grabs your fancy…
So to start, here goes people…
Brunswick Street, Fitzroy is only like a 10 minute tram ride from the city, it is amazing, full of spirit and color and you can buy almost anything, at any time of day. If out for drinks they have the best SOUVLAKIS open all night. You can be who you want here, and no one ever stares, so many funky little wine bars and eateries it is hard to choose.
Not far up the road from here (tram continues along Brunswick away from city) you will find yourself in East Brunswick. Mainly, Lygon Street. It's important you know this is not the Lygon Street near the city with all the Italian eateries, but further out on the tram (only 20 mins). And what a plethora of goods you will find. Oh my god, lygon street here is just starting to become the new place to be with so many undisturbed amazing places, I will try to jot some down below on the list. Another (surprise, surprise) of my favourite parts of the city.
The other side of town is my other most darling part, YARRAVILLE which is the next suburb from Footscray, only 11 mins from city. You can catch the train from Flinders or Southern Cross (the 2 main stations). You will discover that Yarraville Station is such cute little station, just like you got off the train in the 1920's. Out of the station you turn left and walk over the train line. This is Anderson Street. Great little cafes, boutiques and butchers. At the Post Office on the next corner, turn left into Ballarat Street. Take the tiny stairs up to AQUA DE VINO for a wine and coffee and then toddle over to THE SUN theatre for an old fashioned movie experience (a must is to browse the bookshop whilst you wait for your movie to start). Oh and our favourite place to eat, LUCCELLINO, yum, love the pesto, prosciutto pizza, mamma mia, like being in italia!
I feel I have left so much out, there seems to so many more amazing places, but I am sure as i start writing this, it will be a work in progress and I can keep adding, and discovering of course.
And let's not forget the shopping aspect of Melbourne. I will address this at a later stage, as this will just blow you away, as you discover all the wonderfully individual designers and boutiques, hidden and tucked away for the shopaholics out there screaming for true love!! You can also spend a day wandering around MYER in Bourke St Mall, and all the shops. Don’t forget DFO at Southern Cross, has great bargains, just catch train down from city. Don’t bother with the new DFO at South Wharf, it is not cheaper, just over priced shopping centre!
p.s. I am really new to blogging, so I will create the pages to follow as the pages holding the key to exploring this fair maiden of a city…..
