Exploring Melbourne

For a bird's eye view of the city, head up to the Realto Towers observation deck. I suggest going just before sunset. Afterwards, you can take a stroll across to the Crown Casino, where outside each hour there is a fire-shooting show.

Just take care to bring an umbrella, even if the day is sunny. Residents often joke about Melbourne weather, seeing all four seasons in one day. What starts out as a sunny day could quickly have cold, pouring rain.
However it does start to pour there are various "hidden" bars and clubs in the CBD to duck into. Talk to a local cause sometimes finding these places is a mission. Down little laneways and behind other buildings you can find some great hidden gems of the city.

Quick Tips:

Melbourne is also a great place to pick up some bargains. Get down to Queen Victoria market to get deals on clothing, souvenirs, and live birds. Get there after 1pm for extra bargains on fruit and veggie items.

For deals on meals, check out the blackboards outside the pubs. Many do deals Tuesday to Thursday, such as parma and a pot for .

Best Way To Get Around:

They have recently opened up their upstairs to accommodate the ever steady stream of patrons and in summer they have tables outside. I suggest starting out with the chicken satay sticks. The peanut sauce is lovely and thick. Satays run about $5 for 4-5 sticks. For a main we always go with the pad Thai guy (chicken) and usually a fish curry dish. With the curries you get your choice of green (hot!), red (not too hot), or yellow (not so hot) curry and a choice of meat (or tofu).

The portions are huge, so it’s more than likely you'll have lunch for tomorrow. Prices are on the cheap side. Around $10 for a large plate. I recommend going in a group, ordering several dishes and passing those around to share. When split our individual bills have never been over $15. Thaila Thai is open Tuesday to Sunday after 5pm for dine-in and takeaway. They are so busy the rest of the year they can get away with being shut for most of Jan.

We tucked in a lovely bottle of Six by Six Pinot and some satay chicken to start. The peanut sauce, of course, contained chilli. Not so much that it knocked you back but enough to give it a small kick. If the wine was good before the appetizer, it was superb after. The chilli brought out the flavour in the wine.

For mains I chose the fried Pepper Okra. Vegetarians take note. There is a whole page just for you. Curry, noodle, and vegetable dishes are reasonably priced at under $20 a dish. Rice is $2 extra.

The chef's specials are yet another page and are featured heavily with fish dish. (And a bit more on the high price side. Mainly $20-30 a dish) My partner chose the whole snapper. It was gorgeous, done with a raspberry coriander and chilli sauce.

My okra was fried with more batter than I was expecting but was still very tasty. My serving was perfect to fill me up, while the snapper was more than enough to feed both my partner and myself and still have bits left over.

After spying the dessert menu before ordering the mains I made sure to save some room. My partner ordered the sticky date pudding while I ordered the chilli chocolate mousse with coconut/lime ice-cream. The pudding was on a bit of the dry side but lovely when submerged in the sauce and vanilla ice-cream. My mousse had a bit too much chilli kick and I had to give up half way through.

Service was top notch. Water classes were constantly filled and although they were never on top of us the waiters were there in a matter of seconds should we need something.

I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the mood for something special. It's not an everyday sort of place, but it's just right to try if you have the cash and are looking for a nice meal out. Oh, and it doesn't hurt to like chillies as well.

Victoria Street is just east of downtown Melbourne and the mecca of Vietnamese eateries, known for its large number of cheaply priced and tasty Asian restaurants. We have a rule in my house that we only eat in those restaurants where the name repeats itself. Therefore Minh Minh originally fit the criteria perfectly.

Surprisingly it's also one of the best places we have tried on this half-mile long strip. It's a little more upscale than its neighbouring competition, with softer lighting, two floors and bottles of tap water served in old Grolsh beer bottles. It's also slightly more expensive, however, almost nothing is overpriced when it comes Victoria Street. Appetisers are around $3-$5. Recommended are the spring rolls (8 in a serve), satay sticks (2 in a serve) and the prawn n pork toast (2 slices - an acquired taste). They have a full list of mains starting at around $7 and running up to double at $14 for some seafood dishes. Recommended is the red chicken curry (heavenly and about $10 for a huge bowl), the honey chicken (this can get a bit too sweet but is great to share $10) and the crispy chicken (comes with rice $7). Of course they do have pork, veggie and seafood options - we just seemed to be stuck on the chicken that night.

Service is fast once you order and you can take your time. Wait staff usually only come over when signalled, which can be tricky when your water runs out. This restaurant is licensed for you to bring your own wine, $1.50 corkage per person, but they do not serve alcohol. They do accept credit cards and eftpos. It tends to be a loud place.

Open hours are: Tues 4pm-10pm
Wed-Thu 11.30am-10.30pm
Sat 11.30-11pm
Sun 11.30am-10pm

Canary Club restaurant/bar is one of the newer additions to Melbourne's hidden laneway bars. Tucked into Melbourne Place, just off Russell (near the corner of Russell and Bourke) with not much signage to let you know you've arrived is the sister to Melbourne's Hairy Canary bar. This Spanish tapas influenced bar has two levels. The top level is filled with tables and posh booth seating, a DJ, and a bar.  The first level also has a bar and more table seating.

They serve yummy sangria by the glass or the jug. By the glass is $5.5. The website price for a jug is $25, however when we got our bill they had charged us $28. Either way, not too pricey a drink when shared. Although, while tasty, I'm not sure how strong the mix was. They also serve a range of cocktails and martinis for $15 and wine by the glass (most between $6-8).

Food is tapas style with most of the dishes costing between $10-$18. And, being tapas, they are small. So unless you have the cash to spend I wouldn't recommend coming in too hungry. However, what you do get are portions big enough for a table of 5 to all get a mouth full. While all six of our choices were extremely flavourful there were three that I would recommend as a must. The macadamia crusted chicken skewers with mango and chilli jam, roasted portabello mushrooms with garlic & goats cheese, and blue cheese tartlet with rocket. They also serve salads for those who are feeling a bit hungrier and don't wish to share and they also have a few desserts to choose from.

Service wasn't the best. We had an 8:30 reservation because they girl on the phone advised me they were "pretty busy" that night. However, when we got in, there were plenty of empty seats suggesting we could have had the original 8pm time we wanted. There were plenty of wait staff running past our table through the night, catching one's attention was hit or miss. And don't be in a hurry for the food. Once you order it might take a while to appear. (Though it is worth waiting for.)

It was a bit loud due to the party at the far end of the second floor. I would recommend this place for a cosy drink with friends before a night out in the town.

Open 4pm till late Monday to Wednesday
4pm till 3am Thursday
11am till 3am Friday
6pm till 3am Saturday

It used to be that Trampoline, the specialty ice cream shop down the road, had the only chocolate fountain in the area. Not so anymore. San Churro has three.

The Spanish chocolateer on Brunswick Street has fast become a local favourite. Who can walk by a chocolate fountain (or three) and not stop to stare? Usually packed at night time, this small specialty café spills out onto sidewalk seating. Though do be prepared to wait for a seat between 5pm-8pm on certain nights.

Their treats come in a variety of ways. The Spanish hot chocolate is their signature drink. Made with chilli powder, it's dark chocolate with a kick. Also note worthwhile is the Spanish latte made with sweet condensed milk. Perfect for the coffee with sugar junky. They also offer a range of cold chocolate drinks. Most drinks are around $5. San Churro also offers a plethora of handmade truffles (for something like $3 a piece). If you prefer something a bit larger the churros with chocolate are for you; they come with your choice of dark, white, or milk chocolate dipping sauce. This is enough for two to share or for one divine chocoholic.

Note: a full plate of the churros plus a hot chocolate can be overwhelmingly sweet. However, sharing a plate and getting a hot chocolate each seems to work just fine. Churros will cost around $5.

Other desserts include chocolate ice-cream (with chocolate sauce of course!) and chocolate brownies among others. You can even get your churros and hot chocolate to go.

Highly recommended for any chocolate lover.

Open: Mon-Thu 10am-11pm
Fri,Sat 10am-Midnight
Sun 10am-11pm
Payment accepted: MasterCard, Visa and EFTPOS

Open 5 days a week, the Victoria Market has pretty much whatever you are looking for and a lot of stuff you aren't. The outdoor portion of the market has two sides, the clothing and gifts side and the fruit and veggie side. Across the street you'll find an indoor market filled with meats, fish, breads and specialty and organic food.

Much of the clothing is what you might expect in a market. It's not the best quality and the vendors don't really like to haggle. Many of the items don't have price tags, but when asked, the price quoted becomes a "fixed price." Best buys on this side of the market are the gifts and souvenirs. Winter hats with Australia logos can be found for $5. If you are looking for something a bit nicer, there is a stall that sells black-and-white pictures from around Melbourne. There are a range of sizes, and they are not terribly overpriced for an framed photo.

The reason for my highly recommended is based on the fruit and veggie side. Here is where you find the real deals: a dozen free range eggs for $3and 10 kiwifruit for $2, and if you hit the stalls around midday or 1pm, chances are you can get even better deals, like whole trays of tomatoes for $4. In my experience, since I don't need a whole tray, I just tell them what I do need and most times I get one or two of what I need for free.

This is a great alternative to the grocery stores, where produce seems to be marked up sky-high. Also, check out the market across the street for deals on meats and fresh fish. There are also a few bread stalls, but I've found that these aren't that much of a bargain.

One last suggestion: Bring a backpack. Before I got wise, I always left weighed down by heavy plastic bags. With a backpack, it's much easier to get back home on your bike.

On Brunswick Street, coffee bars and night lounges are a dime a dozen. With so much choice, a place really needs to stand out to grab the customer's attention. The Black Cat, however, sits tucked in a corner and waits to be discovered. For more than 15 years the Black Cat has watched other businesses last only 1 or 2 years.
So, what is their secret to lasting success? A reputation for being one of the most laid back venues in Fitzroy—a place where everyone knows the name "Black Cat" and, in a short time, everyone inside knows yours.
Their outdoor seating is perfect for a lazy summer day, sitting along the sidewalk, enjoy a local pot, while people-watching in eccentric Fitzroy. At night, you can choose to enjoy the evening air outside in the beer garden (heat lamps provided in winter), or you can cozy up on a couch inside, and watch lights and random scenes projected onto the front wall of windows.

DJ's spin alternative and funky beats and new artist works are displayed on the walls. They have a wide range of wines to offer with a glass of house running about $4. They offer several different types of bottle beers, plus a few on tap. Worth mentioning are New Zealand's Monteith beers and a full range of coffee drinks served (alcohol included at request).

Staff is friendly with a Fitzroy flair. The one downside to this bar is space, there is not a lot of it. This either works to your advantage by getting close on a couch (utilizing arm rests or your neighbors lap), or gets annoying when you're pressed up against Mister I don't shower.

A full bar is available, generally no cover charge and it's open till 1am or 2am. There are only two toilets.

It is what it says it is...a small local market on Rose street. Every Saturday, starting around 9am, people set up stalls and sell handmade jewelry, handmade clothing, paintings, photography, trinkets and more. There is usually a local band playing and you can get your self a coffee to walk around with. This is one of my favorite markets in Melbourne because of it's size and products. The pieces you'll find here are unique and not too pricey. You will also find a massage stand where seated massages are $30 for 30 minutes.

Some of my favorite stalls include: The guy who makes lounge chairs and rocking chairs from planks of weathered wood. The girl who sells hand-made skirts that are reversible. $40 each, double your value. The mini-cactus magnet stall. You'll also find friendly people who would just as happily share a chat with you. If you are in the area I would recommend checking it out. The market runs until about 4pm.

Beer on tap is king in this pub and drinks will run under $5 for a pot. They do drink specials each day. There is a dining room connected with the pub which is non-smoking and a lot quieter. (You can get meals in the pub as well, order from the bar in both cases). The pub serves some great food...the lamb shanks being one of the best items to order. They do a chicken parma on a Sunday for $8. It's not the best but it is only $8 and comes with chips and salad.

Both rooms have fireplaces to warm your toes and the pub has one of the best old jukeboxes in Melbourne with classes like "Livin on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi. It's pretty standard to see someone playing a pool que as a guitar on any given weekend night.

A great place to meet up with friends for a drink in the pub or a quiet meal to warm you up on a cold Melbourne winter.

The pub does parma and pot deals for $12 on Monday through Tuesday. They do food most nights til 8:30pm (9:30pm in summer) and are open until 1 to 2am on a weekend night.

You can get a Carlton on tap for about $3.50 and there's an open fire place to sit by or just pull up a stood at the bar. Staff is always friendly and willing to help.

It can get bit smokey inside and the only thing that seems to be missing is a live music night.

Highly recommended to share a drink with friends indoors by the fire in winter and outdoors in the beer garden in summer.

Deco Wine Bar has a laid back feel to it. It's a cozy little venue set among a row of shops. During warm nights there are tables set up outside but most of the ambiance is retained in the small darkly lit inside. A long bench and tall chairs are set up along the window facing the street for those who want to people watch. Further in are comfy couches to lounge on and a few tables and chairs. On a weekend night space can be an issue and finding a seat might be a tad hard between 8-midnight. Their wine list is expansive, it would have to be for a Wine Bar. But don't worry..their friendly staff can navigate you through it and get you onto wine that suites your pallet and desires. Mid-priced bottles range from $20 to $30, with some going over my daily pay! They also serve some dreamy cocktails (about $8 to $11 a drink) and some great Belgium beers (about $8 to $12 depending on the beer). The staff are quick to get you new glasses if you switch wines and the low lighting is much appreciated after a few glasses.

If you live in the North Fitzroy/Fitzroy area this is a must to visit. Otherwise, if you don't mind the travel time, Tram #112 towards Preswick stops just outside, this is a great place to catch up with a mate and have a pre-going out drink or a nice Night Cap.

Upstairs plays host to local bands banging out any range of musical talents. The times I've been there the music has been on the harder/louder side, but I believe they do have a range of live acts play.

Downstairs is where the Sunday night pub quiz is held (although it takes a break during winter for a few weeks). Fix yourself up with a cheap but delicious Cape pizza for only $10 and grab yourself a beer on tap. Quiz nights are always good for a laugh...and you might even win some free stuff (including free drink).

Their menu includes pizzas (regularly $13 to $17 dollars) and a range of chef's specials to pub grub (anything fried, price range $6 to $8) to the seafood rice paella (around $18 to $22, to be shared).

There are comfortable couches spread through both levels and tables ranging in size. They are able to accommodate large group parties. There is an ATM inside the pub and they have credit/eftpos facilities behind the bar.

It's the bar with the giant baby on the building... most nights this bar is dark and loud from DJ's spinning. So perhaps those not into that scene should avoid on weekend nights. However, Bimbos has a few perks that the locals know about...

First:
For those looking for a quick and cheap mid-week meal look no further than Bimbo's on Brunswick St., Fitzroy. Monday through Friday from 12-4pm and Sunday through Thursday nights from 7-11pm Bimbos does a $4 pizza deal. You read that right, $4 for any pizza on their menu. Even if the pizza was just so-so in taste you'd be getting a bargain, but these pizzas are lovely. About 10 to 12-inch in size, so big enough to fill you up. They even have a few dessert pizzas for you sweet tooth’s-again $4. Normally (and on Friday and Saturday nights) these pizzas are around $12. They have a few beers on tap, including one of their own special brews- pots cost around $4. They also have a range of flavored vodkas on demand.

And Second:
They have an amazing roof top beer garden during the summer. What better way to get a jump start on your lazy Melbourne summer night than taking in a few beers high above the bustle of Brunswick? Bimbos have now added tin walls to block the strong day sun and, I suppose, make it a bit more exclusive.

I didn’t notice an ATM inside but there are plenty on the street. All off street parking (pay if you're on Brunswick). Open from about 11am till late (about 1am weekday nights, 3am weekends). non-smoking. Order at the bar.

Entering Cherry, you'll be greeted by usually two bouncers and a girl at the front desk (to take your entrance fee and check your coat if need be). It's not a big bar, just one large room with one bar, a dance floor two steps down, and a stage (for those of you who want to be seen dancing). It's usually pretty dark and grungy, but there's a certain rocker charm about the place. There is plenty of sitting room with cushioned seating around the dance floor and by the bar. Drinks aren't too pricey. A bottle of Crown will set you back $5, while most other bottles are around $6. Mixed are around $6 to $7. It's a pretty basic beer-and-spirits bar, but if you want the odd cocktail I'm sure the friendly bar staff will look after you.

I would highly recommend Cherry to anyone seeking a night out where they want to dance and don't want to deal with the usual "poser" pretense at other clubs. Open til 2am Sun-Thurs and 5am Fri-Sat.

Perhaps it's better on a weekday if you want some expensive bubbly. Open Thursday till late and till 3am Fri-Sat.

With several stores around Melbourne (such as one on Flinders Street, one on Brunswick and several more tucked in corners throughout the city) you're sure to find one near you. It also has a sister store called Revival and many of the clothes you'll find in Dangerfield you can find here.

Clothing items range from Levis jeans (the run around $150) to T-shirts with old 80's cartoon characters on them (around $30-40). They like plaids, stripes and bold colours. Recently there have been some very cute dresses in a 60's airline stewardess style in the window. Most dresses will run $78.

They do have a men's section as well as a lady's. (Men's hoodies run around $80). They also sell undies, hats, belts and accessories.

The staff members are very friendly and pretty good judges of what looks good. If it doesn't, generally they'll tell you, bluntly. If you've just moved over to the N side of Melbourne check them out. If you are just passing through Melbourne and want to take home some genuine made in Melbourne clothes Dangerfield has some great picks and won't make you go broke.

Store hours vary but most open after 10am and are open til 5-7pm (or later). They take major credit cards.

Lounge is one of those places that is a cafe during the day, a bar in the evening and a nightclub at night. We chose Lounge because Boogs was DJing on a Saturday night before he went to Revolver to bring in the Sunday morning.

Lounge is several levels. Each only accessible from the street and not accessible from each other. The main street level area closes late afternoon. During the day Lounge has seating outside on the street and inside, serving coffees and light lunches. You can still head upstairs and get a pot during the day and sit on their 'outdoor balcony' which is heated in the winter and always wrapped with plastic, even in the summer.

The bar area has a bit of a grungy look to it. The bar itself is pretty nice. There is only 1 bar but the club is small, and the bar stretches... you won't wait long for a drink. Friday and Saturday night expect a cover of at least $5 if not $10. (But if Boogs is on you know you're getting your money's worth). Music on a Saturday night are house and breaks and the crowd is right into all of it.

There are three toilets for each sex so you might have to wait a while, and don't be surprised to see a little puke while in there. Seating is limited in peak hours. There are three large booths on the far wall near to the dance floor... a fairly large dance floor with a stage area. Other smaller tables and chairs are scattered throughout the club, including a pool table. The balcony is always busy, even in winter. Finding a seat may be a challenge and the bouncers frown on those sitting on the steps. The bar area does serve food (I think until about 9pm) and it's pretty decent for bar food. A meal will run between $10-$15 and a pot of draft beer will cost around $4.

If you are looking for a low-key place to have a beer on a Friday night or dance your socks off on a Saturday night this is your place.

The Sunday Market at the Art Centre features many homemade and handcrafted products. Starting at street level there are about ten tables including a clairvoyant and a few handcrafted jewellery stalls. There is one man who handcrafts silver jewellery into different Australian animals. I have a lovely kangaroo pendant and some wombat earrings from this man. His products, like many other of the stalls you will find here, are unique and not outrageously priced. Most of the stalls are down at the riverside level. You will find about 3-4 stalls selling photography from around Australia (this count doesn't include the various other stalls selling paintings). A few stalls that have caught my eye are:

1) Magnetic healing stall - selling magnets to ease back pain and increase energy.
2) A jewellery stall selling items made from old computer chips (a bargain at $16 per necklace).
3) Soaps in shapes of cupcakes, donuts and other non-edible creations.
4) The sweet corn booth - $3.50 per ear - yum.
5) The mini-pancake booth - selling mini profiterole shaped pancakes with your choice of sweet toppings. $5 for 19 small pancakes.

This open air market is on every Sunday and most of the stalls have a regular table. Best to go on a sunny day but the part below is covered so you won't get wet if raining. And if you get bored of shopping there are usually street performers on the west end of the market.
Market is open until about 4-5pm.

Where else can you lounge around on white lawn chairs sat on fake grass indoors while being served martinis and cocktails by a staff dressed like workers from a posh American country club? Madame Brussels, one of the many hidden bars in Melbourne, offers all of this plus blankets to keep the winter chill out while you sit on the open air rooftop section. True to Melbourne's hidden bar culture Madame Brussels is a bit hard to find. On the top floor of a three story building there is a small sign at the entrance noting the bar; however, the doors make reference to a Chinese restaurant or club, making for confusion the first time we went. You can walk the three flights up...or you can take the lift.

It's not a big place, so it can get crowded. However, most nights that I've been there it has been full but not packed to the point where you can't move. The only mood lighting you will find is out on the deck, inside is brightly lit which accentuates the white pressed club outfits worn by the staff.

As for drinks, this isn't really a beer drinker’s venue. Cocktails and martinis have the right of way, as does the odd glass of vino. Jugs of cocktails for 2 will cost around $25, while a jug for 4 is around $45. We got a jug of the espresso martinis, which filled each of our glasses twice (and was extremely tasty!).

You won't break the bank coming here: most single cocktails average $16, which is pretty standard in Melbourne. However, it's the novelty of the bar that attracts the crowds. The view down onto Bourke and towards Spring Street is lovely in the street light glow at night, and the added comfort of fuzzy pastel blankets makes sharing that view with your friends possible. If you are in the area, this is definitely worth at least for one drink, if only to say you've been!

In need of a stiff cocktail? How about one made by staff who have been awarded time and time again for their cocktail making (and inventing) skills? Ginger is the place for you.

Bathed in soft orange (ginger) lights the bartenders swirl, shake, mix, and make-up various concoctions in view of the windows to Brunswick street and wide eyed drinkers inside. Behind the bar are several shelves lined with liqueur, which makes sense once you see the size of the menu. You can order at the bar, but it's mostly table service where, when you are first seated, you get a jug of water in a tequila bottle and a cocktail menu about 7 pages long. Settle in, because it's gonna take you at least ten minutes to ready through all the different drink descriptions.

Luckily they break the drinks up into sections so you can flick through to the area you think you might enjoy best. Since I'm a fan of creamy drinks the chocolate martinis and white chocolate brulee mixes usually top my list. However, fans of fruity drinks can find a range of temping combinations to satisfy their drinking desires. Most cocktails run between $15-$18 dollars. They also have a selection of beers and a range of wines by the bottle or the glass.

Ginger has two levels, with a function room (and toilets) upstairs. They do light snacks and sweets, but while the bar is open til 3am, the kitchen is not. Kitchen shuts around 10pm or 11pm.

Do note that these cocktails are STRONG and two will have you well into a start of a messy night. Some of the bartenders can cop an attitude but the ladies doing table service are lovely and well informed. So grab yourself a window front table to watch the hustle and bustle of a Saturday night on Brunswick Street, or sneak into a corner and forget the rest of the world exists.

For those that love live music and love to boogie, The Night Cat is the place for you. From jazz, to funk, to Latin beats Night Cat delivers night after night. This iconic Fitzroy club has been running for 13 years. Entry is almost always free. You'll find salsa classes on Sunday nights from 7pm and live music after that at 10pm. It's free entry to watch the class, and after 10pm when the band starts, or $15 to participate.

Only open Thursday through Sunday nights, those that are in the know head there early on a Saturday to avoid the queue and get a spot on the crowded dance floor. A regular band which features on Saturday nights (every few months) is Relax with Max, turning out three sets of good time funk from 10pm until 1pm. With new smoke free laws now in effect you can actually see in the club and you don't come out smelling of smoke (usually just sweat).

The crowd varies (this is Fitzroy so expect some unusual characters), but mostly they are friendly folk. The bouncers are quick to jump in at any trouble (and to point out your attire mistakes). Seats and tables available around the dance floor but get in early or enjoy them after the crowd thins at 1am. House beer from $3.50, house wine from $4 per glass, cocktails from around $12.

Opening hours: Thur-Sun 8pm-1am
Coat check $3. Off street parking offered. Get off tram 112 at Johnston Street.