Plan Your Melbourne Holiday: Best of Melbourne
Explore Melbourne
Essential Melbourne
Food & drink
Seek Different in Australia's Northern Territory
How to do Melbourne in 3 days
My favourite Melbourne restaurants
Wasshoi13Wandering around Prahran Market, discovering this sake bar serving melt-in-your-mouth, slow-cooked, charcoal-grilled pork belly in a bowl of rice with lettuce, kimchi, and yuzu-chili mayonnaise was pure bliss. Grab a seat at the bar, order a sake or a citrusy yuzu shandy, and watch the Japanese chef fire up your order over the coals. Expect a long line at lunchtime. But seriously, the food, friendly service, and market ambiance make it all worth it.
Miss Mi Melbourne28If you’re missing the big, bold flavours of Southeast Asia, you can find them at Miss Mi Melbourne. A meal here starts with a big, fluffy roti served with a curry dipping sauce. You must try the spiced lamb ribs with an addictive chili-caramel glaze, the crispy pork belly, or the beef rendang. Save room for dessert—I love the fried sticky rice. Located across from Southern Cross Station, it’s easy to find.
Serai40Don’t expect to find your grandma’s traditional adobo or sinigang served here. Instead, you’ll discover reimagined Filipino dishes cooked over a wood-fired grill by Chef Ross Magnaye, a favourite contestant on MasterChef Australia. For example, his spin on kare-kare, a savory stew with peanut sauce, amps things up with caviar and salted duck egg. He’s gained the nod of Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, and others who frequent this hip and trendy restaurant.
Lulu's Char Koay Teow28When I’m craving the bold flavours of Malaysian cuisine, this Penang-inspired al-fresco eatery does the trick. As its name implies, this small space specialises in the stir-fried rice noodle dish known as char koay teow, serving it in seven different ways. I go for the version with blood cockles, shrimp, and Chinese sausage. Wash it all down with an ice-cold teh tarik (milk tea), just like you would back in Malaysia.
Asado222On the banks of the Yarra River, Asado has one of the best views of the city’s skyline. Serving up the authentic flavours of Argentina, this trendy bar and grill is a great place for date night. Definitely order the empanada humita with grilled corn, Manchego cheese, and smoked chilis. Carnivores can’t go wrong with any of the meat dishes, especially the cochinillo (slow cooked suckling pig) and the cordero (grilled lamb rump).
Soi 3855You won’t find more authentic Thai food than inside this car park at the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District. Office workers queue up at lunch time for a cup of Thai iced tea and a bowl of boat noodles, the place’s signature dish. In the evening, it serves a larger selection of street food like fried chicken and grilled pork jowls. The plastic stools make it feel like you’re dining in Bangkok.
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Travelers' pro tips for experiencing Melbourne
ColingUnther
Vegetarian and Vegan are well catered for especially in Fitzroy Carlton for Italian, and Chinatown is several blocks. Down at Flinders Lane queuing is common but De Graves st and Hardware Lane are not to be missed.
bukbuk51
Prepare for variable weather; 4 seasons in one day is common and occasionally 4 seasons concurrently. But that is part of the charm. Any sporting event at the MCG = Melbourne Cricket Ground is full-on crowd engagement, whether that is cricket, football or any other event. Add a visit to the great museum.
Jeffry b
A car is not necessary in central Melbourne. You can catch a tram almost everywhere you want to go. The city is laid out on a very simple grid system. Get a simple map and you will soon find your way around.
snuff82Melbourne
Melbourne has so many things to offer; from the sporting scene, to the arts, to the nightlife and finally the food, there is something for everyone. I love to explore my city and to play tourist - there is always something new to experience and discover.
bukbuk51
… Older buildings blend with contemporary architecture to help define The World's Most Liveable City. Wide streets show off the major museums, theatres, galleries and major department stores but it is the lane-ways that lead to boutique shops, funky restaurants and Chinatown. Home to 4 million folk from most nations in the world, locals love to eat and enjoy some of the best cuisine in the world. Shopaholics have a feast of choices. Grand Theatres with great shows plus festivals galore. A garden city but Sport is King!
LeonieshorncliffeQLD
Originally coming from Melbourne, I love going back. Melbourne is the Paris of Australia with lots to see and do. You will never be bored, but more than that Melbourne is a vibrant, exciting city that inspires and fulfills.
What is the best way to get there?
flying
Melbourne is served by two major airports, Tullamarine (MEL) and Avalon (AVV), which is closest to the city of Geelong.
bus
Greyhound Australia offers service to Melbourne; the bus terminal is located next to Southern Cross station. Airport buses also arrive and depart from here.
driving
If you’re arriving in Melbourne by car, you’ll likely come via the Princes Highway.
Do I need a visa?
If you’re visiting from overseas, see if you need a visa.
When is the best time to visit?
The streets and parks of Melbourne lend themselves well to wandering, so visit March-May or September-November for weather that’s mild and dry and for the lowest concentration of crowds. Expect average daily temperatures those times of year to be highs of 24-17 C (76-63 F) and lows of 14-9 C (58-49 F).
During the summer months, the Royal Botanic Gardens hosts events such as concerts and an outdoor cinema, while spring sees an abundance of cultural events focused on comedy, fashion, and coffee.
Find more information on Melbourne’s weather and when to go.
Get around
trams
Trams service most of Melbourne CBD and its suburbs. The City Circle tram—which covers popular Melbourne attractions such as Docklands, State Library Victoria, and Federation Square—is free.
In addition to the route 35 City Circle, there are more than 20 other tram routes operating within Melbourne. To access routes outside of the CBD free zone with ease, purchase a rechargeable Myki card at tram stops, train stations, or 7-Eleven stores.
taxis
All of Melbourne’s taxis operate on a meter system and a prepaid system comes into effect after 10:30 p.m.
trains
The City Loop light railway connects the five inner city stations of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, Parliament, and Flinders Street. Melbourne also has an overground train system that connects the city to the suburbs. Check timetables and routes.
On the ground
What is the timezone?
Australian Eastern Time (GMT+11)
What are the voltage/plug types?
The standard voltage in Melbourne is 230V and the standard frequency is 50Hz. Associated plugs are type I, which have two flat metal pins shaped like a V. For plug types, you can reference the international guide: https://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/
What is the currency?
Australian dollar (AUD)
Are ATMs readily accessible?
Yes.
Are credit cards widely accepted?
Yes.
Is it easy to find a bank?
Yes.
How much do I tip?
Tipping is not expected in Australia, however, a tip for exceptional service is always appreciated.
Are there local customs I should know?
Drinking
The federal legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 18 years old.
Public transport
Allow others to disembark before boarding, don’t take up more than one seat, and stand to offer seating to pregnant women or someone with a disability.
Walking
Walk to the right of the sidewalk and step off to the side of the sidewalk if you want to stop to check your phone, look up directions, or want to take in a view.