Above Guide / Curated Melbourne
Things to do
in Melbourne.
Pair the Australian Grand Prix with world-famous specialty coffee, hidden laneways, and bayside culture.
Melbourne Beyond the circuit
Off the clock.
Explore Melbourne’s specialty coffee, street art, galleries and garden walks. Leave a separate day for regional road trips.
On the map
Where they all are.
17 places with mapped locations. Choose a pin to see its details; photographs appear where available.
Beyond the circuit Your next discovery
Coffee first. Dinner sorted.
Find your morning coffee or an evening table in the CBD, Southbank and St Kilda.
Choose a travel style to narrow the collection. Free and essential options can suit every tier.
The collection.
12 of 18 discoveries
Restaurants
Vue de Monde
A tasting-menu evening on level 55 of the Rialto, with views across Melbourne.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- French, tasting menu
- Address
- Level 55, Rialto Towers, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Before you go
- Reservations are released three months ahead on the first of the month. Book online; contact the restaurant for larger groups.
- Contact
- +61 3 9691 3888
- Pairs with
- A destination dinner for CBD stays, or a separate tram trip from Albert Park and St Kilda Road hotels.
Restaurants
Nobu Melbourne
Japanese-Peruvian dining inside Crown, with sushi, seafood and a lower-cost lunch option.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- Japanese-Peruvian
- Address
- Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank VIC 3006
- Before you go
- Book ahead through Crown. Check the lunch or dinner menu and your reservation time.
- Contact
- +61 3 9292 5777
- Pairs with
- Convenient for Crown, Langham and other Southbank hotels.
Restaurants
Rockpool Bar & Grill
A Crown steakhouse for dry-aged beef and seafood; premium cuts can exceed the planning range.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- Steakhouse, seafood
- Address
- Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank VIC 3006
- Before you go
- Reserve a table and check the current menu before choosing a steak or sharing cut.
- Contact
- +61 3 9081 0532
- Pairs with
- A Southbank dinner option close to the Crown hotel complex.
Restaurants
Donovans
Beachfront dining on Jacka Boulevard, with modern Australian and Mediterranean cooking.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- Modern Australian, Mediterranean
- Address
- 40 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda VIC 3182
- Before you go
- Reserve ahead for weekend lunch or dinner. Confirm seasonal opening days with the restaurant.
- Contact
- +61 3 9534 8221
- Pairs with
- A beachside dinner for visitors staying in St Kilda.
Restaurants
Stokehouse
An upstairs seafood dining room overlooking St Kilda Beach.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- Australian, seafood
- Address
- 30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda VIC 3182
- Before you go
- Book the upstairs dining room. Downstairs dining and bar offerings are separate.
- Contact
- +61 3 9525 5555
- Pairs with
- A beachside evening from St Kilda hotels; check the pedestrian route from your ticketed gate.
Restaurants
Cicciolina
An intimate Acland Street Italian restaurant, with a separate Back Saloon for drinks.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- Italian
- Address
- 130 Acland Street, St Kilda VIC 3182
- Before you go
- Restaurant bookings open online up to 90 days ahead. The Back Saloon accepts walk-ins.
- Contact
- +61 3 9525 3333
- Pairs with
- An Acland Street dinner for The Prince and other St Kilda stays.
Restaurants
Bistro Guillaume
French bistro dining inside Crown, suited to a Southbank evening without a tasting menu.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- French bistro
- Address
- Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank VIC 3006
- Before you go
- Reserve through Crown and check the current menu and any booking conditions.
- Pairs with
- Convenient for Southbank hotels and the Crown complex.
Restaurants
Chin Chin
Lively Southeast Asian shared plates on Flinders Lane.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- Southeast Asian
- Address
- 125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Before you go
- Bookings and walk-ins are accepted. Groups of six or more dine from a Feed Me menu.
- Contact
- +61 3 8663 2000
- Pairs with
- A CBD dinner near Flinders Street transport connections.
Restaurants
Tipo 00
A small Little Bourke Street pasta bar for an Italian lunch or dinner.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- Italian, pasta
- Address
- 361 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Before you go
- Book ahead; the dining room is small. Check the current service times.
- Pairs with
- Useful for Melbourne Central and northern CBD hotel stays.
Restaurants
San Telmo
An Argentine grill on Meyers Place, with shared steaks and a laneway setting.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- Argentine grill
- Address
- 14 Meyers Place, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Before you go
- Book ahead and check the menu and service times for your chosen evening.
- Pairs with
- A CBD laneway dinner near Little Bourke Street hotels.
Cafés & bakeries
Regulars
Specialty coffee and pastries on Little La Trobe Street, with dirty coffee as a signature order.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- Coffee & bakery
- Try
- Dirty coffee and a pastry.
- Address
- Ground floor, 38-40 Little La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Before you go
- Daytime coffee stop; confirm daily opening hours before setting out.
- Pairs with
- Melbourne Central and northern CBD hotel stays.
Cafés & bakeries
Pinned Coffee
A takeaway coffee hatch in Rankins Lane, serving espresso drinks and pastries.
Menu & visit details
- Cuisine
- Coffee & bakery
- Try
- Lion Tamer coffee with orange and cream, or a pastry.
- Address
- Ground floor, 2 Rankins Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Before you go
- Takeaway only. Arrive early for pastries; find the hatch on Rankins Lane.
- Pairs with
- A coffee stop near Little Bourke Street and Bourke Street.
02 / Build your own Melbourne
Follow what
pulls you in.
The city makes more sense when experiences are connected by interest, not forced into a generic ranking.
race-week-food-and-drink
Iconic laneway coffee & roasters
Specialty flat whites and breakfast institutions within walking distance of CBD tram hubs.- 01Patricia Coffee Brewers
Standing-room-only CBD institution renowned for flawless flat whites and seasonal filter roasts.
- 02Brother Baba Budan
Little Bourke Street landmark famous for chairs on the ceiling and exceptional specialty coffee.
- 03Lune Croissanterie
World-famous precision-baked croissants in Fitzroy and the CBD (arrive early to beat the queue).
neighbourhoods-food-and-nightlife
Rooftop bars & hidden speakeasies
Classic Melbourne drinking establishments across the CBD grid and bohemian Fitzroy.- 01Rooftop Bar (Curtin House)
Swanston Street open-air cinema and bar overlooking the downtown skyline.
- 02Eau De Vie
Hidden jazz-age speakeasy specializing in theatrical cocktail mixology and rare whiskies.
- 03Naked for Satan
Fitzroy rooftop terrace offering Basque pintxos, infused vodkas, and panoramic city views.
coast-parks-and-outdoors
Coastal St Kilda & Port Phillip Bay
Seaside dining and beach walks south of Albert Park; plan your journey from the gate on your ticket.- 01St Kilda Pier & Foreshore
Stroll the historic promenade for sunset bay views and coastal dining along the esplanade.
- 02Brighton Bathing Boxes
Iconic colorful 19th-century beach bathing boxes along Dendy Street Beach.
day-trips-and-extensions
Great Ocean Road & Yarra Valley escapes
Regional road trips and winery visits for a separate day; driving times vary substantially by destination.- 01Yarra Valley Wine Region
World-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay cellars (Domaine Chandon, Oakridge, Yering Station).
- 02Great Ocean Road Coastal Drive
Dramatic coastal scenery featuring the Twelve Apostles and surf breaks at Bells Beach.
04 / Keep planning
Turn inspiration
into a day.
Popular weekend dining spots in the CBD, Carlton, and Fitzroy book out weeks in advance for Grand Prix week; reserve dinner tables early.
