Curator’s statement
A city that is the essence of cool, Melbourne has no shortage of lovely wine bars. If grabbing a glass of natural wine after a long day of seeing the sights is your thing, maybe Melbourne is your next destination. I was absolutely blown away by the food scene there, and that includes the wine bars!
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Things to do
Photography by Courtney Bishop
Brunswick Street: Spend some time shopping on the hip Brunswick Street. Plant shops, bookstores, art galleries, and even designer clothing stores line the street on either side. Brunswick Street is the perfect mix of new and old.
Central Business District: Melbourne’s downtown is packed full of incredible restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and fun activities, Whether it’s grabbing dinner and drinks, hanging out in a park, catching a concert, walking by the river, or seeking out one of the many amazing community activities like outdoor screenings of silent movies accompanied by live music, there is something for everyone in the CBD.
Royal Botanic Gardens: The Botanic Garden is the perfect free activity in the heart of Melbourne that truly feels like an escape. Breathtaking gardens welcome you immediately and transport you to exotic locales. It’s beautiful!
St. Kilda: Spend an afternoon in this beachy neighborhood. Filled with hidden gems of restaurants, a cute old-school amusement park, and a very cool new pier, St. Kilda is the perfect vacation activity for a visitor.
Visit wineries: Melbourne is surrounded by amazing wine regions. Both the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula abut the city, so a short day trip to visit a few wineries is easy and so pretty.
Places to eat & drink
Bahama Gold: Bahama Gold is a serious wine bar and bottle shop with the air of a tiki bar on the beach. There’s an air of vacation at Bahama Gold thanks to a few nods to a beachside dive bar. The result? The moment you walk in, you feel yourself relaxing and flipping the switch to vacation mode. Pro tip: catch the wood-fired pizza pop-up, Da Paolo, which is currently operating out of Bahama Gold. The perfectly-cooked, creatively-topped pizzas pair amazingly with the bright natural wines on offer.
Lune: Looking for a high-end croissanterie with inventive flavors and amazing coffee? Look no further. Lune is amazing and the perfect place to grab breakfast after an evening of tasting natural wines.
The Moon: “Let’s go to The Moon!” What a fun name! Who doesn’t want to say they went to The Moon last night or invite their friend to The Moon for wine. The witty name belies that underlying Australian sense of humor that can be found in even the nicest of establishments. The natural wine list at The Moon is out of this world.
Myrtle Wine Bar: A beautifully designed restaurant with an extensive natural wine list and beautiful food menu, Myrtle is the perfect place to have a celebratory dinner on your last night in Melbourne.
Patricia Coffee Brewers: Melbourne is famous for its specialty coffee scene, and there’s no shop that embodies that more than Patricia. Located in the CBD, it’s cool, friendly, and serves perfect coffee. Start your day at Patricia!
The Walrus: A charming oyster bar in Saint Kilda with a distinct sense of humor that drives out any seriousness, The Walrus welcomes guests in immediately. Quirky, colorful art (mostly of oysters) adorns the walls; the space is decorated impeccably; the servers are extremely knowledgeable about wine but in that casual Aussie way which never comes across as snooty. In short, the Walrus is a serious wine bar with high-end small plates masked as a casual hang-out.
Need to know
Melbourne’s food and wine scene is unmatched: creative restaurants, hip natural wine bars, cool spaces, friendly service. The city itself is beautifully located on the coast, easy to get around via public transit or car, and affordable. If you love food and wine, Melbourne is a must!
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Melbourne page.
Travel Advisor
Courtney Bishop
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