United Places Botanic Gardens
For the local character
Melbourne
MEL
Over the past few years, global surveys have pointed to Melbourne as one of the happiest and friendliest cities in the world. Credit the proximity to stress–free beaches, top–notch art galleries or the hip food and drink scene. While its tiny laneways are dotted with trendy restaurants, the city is most famous for its serious coffee culture.
Where to Stay
Park Hyatt Melbourne
For spacious guest rooms
Crown Hotels
For the panoramic views
QT Hotel Melbourne
For the industrial-chic design
Eat & Drink
Lucy Liu
Conceived by top chef Michael Lambie during a boozy night out in Shanghai, Lucy Liu brings Pan-Asian cuisine to one of Melbourne’s hottest laneways. Lit by red neon lights, an unmarked entrance leads into a buzzing dining room. The open kitchen turns out stellar dishes, like crispy pork buns served with kimchi fermented in-house.
Fourth Chapter
Instagram-worthy dishes, like raspberry pancakes topped with coconut ice cream, compete for your attention against smashed avo on toast with pea and almond pesto. The space is bright and airy, but if you want to dine alfresco, borrow one of the restaurant’s blankets and picnic baskets to eat in the neighbouring Victoria Gardens.
Osteria Ilaria
An homage to Melbourne’s large Mediterranean community, Osteria Ilaria’s menu is based on traditional Italian food, but don’t expect page after page of pizzas and pasta. The laid-back, wine-focused restaurant has everything from octopus to ocean trout to pork scotch on offer.
Proud Mary Coffee
Thank the Italian and Greek immigrants in Melbourne for creating a coffee culture like no other. The tradition is strong here: Beans are roasted less than a block away, and each single origin has its own dedicated extractor, so tasting notes aren’t compromised.
Attica
Owner and chef Ben Shewry hails from New Zealand, but that hasn’t stopped him from defining Australiana — think hand-dived scallops with wattlesoy, red kangaroo with truganini, and whipped emu egg. No meal is complete without a tour of the back garden, cup of tea in hand.
Trinket
Melbourne has no shortage of secret spots in alleyways, but Trinket redefines “hidden gem.” A seven-foot-tall ballerina guards the entrance; once inside, head through the wardrobe to discover an underground cocktail bar. Trinket’s Dark Tea service completes the Alice in Wonderland vibe, with espresso martini Gaytime pops and bottomless champagne.
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What to Do
Mornington Peninsula
Just an hour from Melbourne’s central business district, Mornington Peninsula is the local’s answer to the Great Ocean Road. There aren’t any apostles to see, but you may spot echidnas, wallabies, kangaroos and other wildlife. With fresh seafood to eat, sandy beaches to surf by, and vineyards to wander through, it makes for the ideal weekend getaway.
Aesop
This Melbourne-born line of plant-based luxury skincare and hair care has flourished worldwide, but it’s worth stopping by the flagship space to see the brand on its home turf. Despite its anti-advertising philosophy, the company has earned a cult following thanks to top sellers like the Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash and the Parsley Anti-Oxidant Seed Serum.
Welcome to Thornbury
With space for six trucks and about 500 people, Welcome to Thornbury is one of Melbourne’s largest beer gardens and the only permanent food-truck stop. Vendors change daily, so check the website to find out who’s serving, and when you can find trivia, bingo and themed nights (such as the popular dumpling festival, or its chicken nugget counterpart).
Curtin House
Built in 1923, the art nouveau Curtin House is known for its dining, rooftop bar and open-air cinema, but there are plenty of noteworthy tenants on the lower levels as well. Peruse Metropolis Bookshop for graphic design, architecture and art books, or browse Dot Comme for archival pieces from pioneering, fashion-as-art labels like Comme des Garçons.
Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Located in the Melbourne Museum, this cultural centre sits on the traditional lands of the Boonwurrung and the Woiwurrung language groups of the greater Kulin nation. Each year, the gallery holds three exhibitions showcasing contemporary Koorie artists, while the Milarri Garden outside grows plants significant to the First Peoples of Victoria.
Alpha60
Musician Patti Smith once gifted Jean-Luc Godard an Alpha60 T-shirt with her image. It was a fitting gesture, considering the Australian label was named after the filmmaker’s Alphaville. Known for their sophisticated quirk, the sibling founders Alex and Georgie Cleary have also curated garments for the National Gallery of Victoria.
Yarra Valley
Australian wine may be “New World,” but Yarra Valley — one of the country’s best grape-growing regions — has been operating since the first vines were planted in 1838. Here, it’s all about the chardonnay and pinot noir, and tastings at many of the area’s 70-plus cellar doors are complimentary. This is also where you can find French champagne house Moët & Chandon’s Domaine Chandon.
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