Hospitality Business Magazine

Eat, drink and explore – two days in Melbourne

rsz_6_cecina_-_air-dried_wagyu_with_poached_organic_egg_and_truffle_foamNicola Richard, manager of Monsoon Poon in Auckland, takes us on a private tour of some of her favourite restaurants, bars and cafés in Melbourne.

Day One: Saturday

I don’t love waking up at 4am but getting that 6am flight to Melbourne is worth the pain because arriving before 10am gives you a full day of eating, drinking and exploring the city.  Go straight to your hotel and sweet-talk them into having your room ready or at least storing your bag (I try to stay in the Lonsdale Street/Littlet Bourke Street area) so you can go directly to Pellegrinis Espresso Bar for the best coffee of your weekend.

A Melbourne institution, Pellegrinis has been around for more than 50 years and not much has changed – the classic Italian menu, the oldest counter in town and a barstool as old as some of the staff.

Fully caffeined up, it’s now time to wander along to Guy Grossi’s excellent salumi bar, Ombra, where you can start your early, progressive lunch with Baked Salt Cod, Eggplant Fritte and Smoked peppers with Vincotto & Reggiano. All served with a smile by a handsome and personable staff.

Next it’s time for a walk through the streets, perhaps eyeing up some future shopping, on your way to Mamasita, arriving as close to 12 noon as possible in order to beat the crowds. Here you want to perch at the bar for a great Margarita, a banter with the bartender, fantastic goat tacos, perhaps some Zucchini fritters with heirloom tomatoes and, if you play your cards right, a look at the vinyl being played on the old school record player.

Lunch continues.  Next,  head along to Duckboard Place where you’ll find a modern Indian newbie called Tonka (same owners as Coda) – slick and stylish, the food is Indian but not as you might have previously known it. Try the soft shell crab pakhoras and the chargrilled Mooloolaba prawns. Step away from the table now, we have more courses to go.

Just around the corner in Flinders lane is the wildly successful Chin Chin, a riot of South East Asian flavours and busy-ness.  Here I would order the son-in-law eggs and the salt & pepper kingfish wings.  If visiting at night the basement bar Go-Go is a lot of fun too.  Two doors down from here is Meatball & Winebar and if you have been pacing yourself, it’s time to squeeze in your final course of guess what?

After a quick siesta/shower/jump in the hotel pool it’s time to head to Brunswick Street in Fitzroy for some bar hopping.  Arrive at Naked in the Sky before sundown for a cold one on this great rooftop bar.  Next stop is a short stroll across the street to a favourite hospo hangout, the Kodiak Club where you will find joy in the best bowl of buffalo wings you have ever eaten alongside a bourbon or two (their speciality).

Next up is the famed Black Pearl, another bartenders favourite, where the hipster bar guys can whip up any obscure cocktail you are craving – in fact, ask them for their current favourite and embrace the surprise element. After this little mission, it’s probably time for one of the best burgers in town so walk along Brunswick and turn into Gertrude Street where you will find Belles Diner, a cool little hangout with excellent service and good honest food. Once you have been fortified by the burgers head upstairs to the Everleigh, where you will admire the elegant speakeasy style surroundings, the owner’s collection of vintage glassware and cocktail apparatus and some of the most lovingly made cocktails in town.

What a day!  If you still have anything left in the tank I can recommend the Lu-Wow, a crazy, completely over the top tiki bar with the best selection of rums in town, and the all-important dance floor might just be calling you.

Day Two: Sunday

Sunday morning arrives and it’s time for some culture. The main exhibition building in Federation Square is home to many events, also a morning market, and an excellent visitors centre so it is worth a visit.  Conveniently across the road is Movida Next Door where a refreshing sherry based drink, a crisp Spanish white and some Ortiz anchovies could start your day.  Just along the road is George Columbaris’ modern Greek Taverna, Gazi, a great place for “Hellenic dirty food” backed up by a wine list featuring some interesting Greek wines – it’s not just retsina!

So you have managed to fit in lunch before heading to the airport for that 6pm flight, not a bad effort and comforting to know that Movida has ‘Bar Pulpo’ at the International terminal to have that final tapas and wine indulgence.

Salute!