I have recently returned from a week in Melbourne. It is a city of art, culture, food, wine, heritage and so much more.
If you've never visited I hope that the next few posts will give you an insight into things you can do and prompt you to go. You won't be disappointed.
About Food and Wine
Melbourne is known for its food and wine, its dining districts and cultural pockets.
We stayed in Carlton - a block away from Lygon Street - Little Italy. One of the endearing aspects to this area is how the representatives of each restaurant tout their business and attempt to draw you in. We considered many options for eating on our first night and decided on pizza from Mercadante Woodfired Pizzaria. However, after being seated quickly it felt like we were forgotten about. We had to call over the waitstaff and ask to order. When it finally arrived, the wine was suspect. We felt that perhaps it was watered down? That being said, the pizza more than made up for it. It was a dubious beginning.
Over the course of the week we ate at more places in Lygon Street.
A stand out for me was dinner at Piccolo Mondo. We got cornered by family members at the door. Their 20 second pitch promising a wondrous authentic culinary experience enticed us in. We were seated at a balcony table overlooking Lygon St. Speaking to the staff, we learned that three generations of family were on site on a Sunday night. The owner has been a restauranteur for 40yrs and his Ferrari parked kerbside suggests a successful business! The food was outstanding.
A comment on Hospitality: Whilst the food has been very good, the service was marginal. Three times out of three orders things were forgotten. Money taken, change given, wine or food not arriving until their whereabouts were queried. That being said, as the week progressed the quality of service improved. By the end of the week, we were left with a more positive outlook!
Coffee culture in Melbourne is alive and well. Coffee shops abound and the quality is fantastic.
We visited other precincts. Stalactites in the Greek Precinct was great. You find this on Lonsdale Street. Again, authentic food, reasonably priced and matched well with Greek wine. True flavours, absolutely delicious. Chinatown was fantastic. So much colour. We got off the beaten track and found the HuTong Dumpling Bar in Market Lane. This place served us the most amazing dumplings I have ever eaten.
We explored the city's acclaimed rooftop bars. These are incredibly popular places and governed by strict capacity laws. We tried The Rooftop Bar, Goldilocks and Sahara and completely failed to get in on a hot Friday evening! We did manage to get to the Rooftop Bar later in the week, late afternoon. It really is great sitting with a cider and taking in the cityscape. In December this space becomes an outdoor cinema. There are bars of every theme and style around the CBD and the suburbs.
We loved Mesa Verde in Curtin House so it deserves a special mention. Mexican themed and creators of excellent cocktails. If you get there you MUST try the tortilla chips and salsas. Delicious!
If you're visiting for a weekend or longer you will easily find places to sustain you without having to repeat visit. This is a city set up for going out!
For more information about Melbourne check out Visit Melbourne. There are always reasons to visit and fares are reasonable. Call us for more information.