EATING
There's no shortage of great eateries nearby – here are some of our favourites.
A really cosy Japanese cafe serving yummy food & coffee every day. Tucked down a residential street, it also has a lovely little store selling Japanese home wares & design.
59 locals recommend
CIBI
33-39 Keele StA really cosy Japanese cafe serving yummy food & coffee every day. Tucked down a residential street, it also has a lovely little store selling Japanese home wares & design.
A Japanese restaurant recommended for dinner. Delicious food, nice atmosphere and not too expensive.
93 locals recommend
Peko Peko
190 Wells StA Japanese restaurant recommended for dinner. Delicious food, nice atmosphere and not too expensive.
Good old-fashioned burger joint. Quick, cheap, and delicious. Dine in or take away.
81 locals recommend
Huxtaburger Collingwood
106 Smith StGood old-fashioned burger joint. Quick, cheap, and delicious. Dine in or take away.
A must for all foodies – delicious modern Thai food with a creative twist. Very busy so go early and you can have a drink in their downstairs bar while you wait for a table.
552 locals recommend
Chin Chin
125 Flinders LnA must for all foodies – delicious modern Thai food with a creative twist. Very busy so go early and you can have a drink in their downstairs bar while you wait for a table.
Classic Melbourne Pub in a residential street with a lovely back courtyard and good 'pub grub'.
70 locals recommend
The Standard Hotel
293 Fitzroy StClassic Melbourne Pub in a residential street with a lovely back courtyard and good 'pub grub'.
Classic corner pub with a great atmosphere, pool table, back courtyard and very generous meals.
50 locals recommend
Union Club Hotel
164 Gore StClassic corner pub with a great atmosphere, pool table, back courtyard and very generous meals.
Famous for its 'Bogan Burger' the Napier serves classic pub food and is a good place to have an afternoon beer with the locals.
103 locals recommend
Napier Hotel
210 Napier StFamous for its 'Bogan Burger' the Napier serves classic pub food and is a good place to have an afternoon beer with the locals.
Of all the Italian restaurants on Lygon Street we recommend this one for its authentic approach and fast, fuss-free service.
27 locals recommend
Tiamo Coffee Restaurant
303 Lygon StreetOf all the Italian restaurants on Lygon Street we recommend this one for its authentic approach and fast, fuss-free service.
Outstanding gelato, made in store. Also very serious about their fresh pressed juices.
51 locals recommend
Spring Street Grocer
157 Spring StOutstanding gelato, made in store. Also very serious about their fresh pressed juices.
Trippy Taco
234 Gertrude StVegetarian Mexican food. Cheap & cheerful.
DOC Pizza & Mozzarella Bar
295 Drummond StOne of the best pizzerias in Melbourne.
Lazerpig
343 Smith StReally yummy pizzas – a strange mix of pub / restaurant, but good vibes.
One of our favourite weekend breakfast spots. Jump on the 86 tram going away from the city and it will drop you at the front.
35 locals recommend
Mixed Business Cafe
486 Queens ParadeOne of our favourite weekend breakfast spots. Jump on the 86 tram going away from the city and it will drop you at the front.
A great local cafe with a big wood fire, tucked away on a back street. Great for breakfast!
75 locals recommend
South of Johnston
46 Oxford StA great local cafe with a big wood fire, tucked away on a back street. Great for breakfast!
Great food and coffee in a beautifully renovated brick space that once housed a Thonet showroom.
10 locals recommend
Bentwood Fitzroy Cafe
237 Napier StGreat food and coffee in a beautifully renovated brick space that once housed a Thonet showroom.
A Brunswick Street establishment. Great place for people watching this cafe turns into more of a bar atmosphere as the sun sets.
66 locals recommend
Blackcat Fitzroy
252 Brunswick StA Brunswick Street establishment. Great place for people watching this cafe turns into more of a bar atmosphere as the sun sets.
Delicious & intimate Southern Spanish restaurant with an amazing list of tapas, paella and more for an indulgent night out. Bookings usually required. Phone (03) 9415 6101.
52 locals recommend
Anada Bar & Restaurant
197 Gertrude StDelicious & intimate Southern Spanish restaurant with an amazing list of tapas, paella and more for an indulgent night out. Bookings usually required. Phone (03) 9415 6101.
Baker D. Chirico
178 Faraday StGreat local bakery!
Fatto a Mano
228 Gertrude StGreat local bakery! The sausage rolls are delicious!
Real gelato in a beautifully renovated space. Our pick of the MANY gelato places around here.
35 locals recommend
Piccolina Gelateria
296 Smith StReal gelato in a beautifully renovated space. Our pick of the MANY gelato places around here.
A hidden gem – warm and glowing in an area brimming with great cafes in restaurants. Pizza is yum!
51 locals recommend
Rupert on Rupert
73 Rupert StA hidden gem – warm and glowing in an area brimming with great cafes in restaurants. Pizza is yum!
Technically a wine bar but also serving delivious food. A bit pricey but well worth it – bookings recommended.
63 locals recommend
Marion
53 Gertrude StTechnically a wine bar but also serving delivious food. A bit pricey but well worth it – bookings recommended.
Great coffee and food, all day! A short stroll from the apartment.
89 locals recommend
Archie's All Day
189 Gertrude StGreat coffee and food, all day! A short stroll from the apartment.
DRINKING
Rooftops, cosy cocktail bars, and an island in the middle of the Yarra. Take your pick!
An old Melbourne favourite. If you like gin,
this is the place to be. Open until 3am.
74 locals recommend
Gin Palace
10 Russell PlAn old Melbourne favourite. If you like gin,
this is the place to be. Open until 3am.
An intimate, seated only cocktail bar. The perfect place for a night cap and conveniently located right across the road from home. Ask the waitstaff for a cocktail recommendation based on your personal taste.
109 locals recommend
The Everleigh Melbourne
150-156 Gertrude StAn intimate, seated only cocktail bar. The perfect place for a night cap and conveniently located right across the road from home. Ask the waitstaff for a cocktail recommendation based on your personal taste.
Best views of Melbourne and great place for a drink after exploring the city. Take the stairs if you want to pop into the other great stores, restaurants and bars also located within ‘Curtin House’.
175 locals recommend
Rooftop Cinema
252 Swanston StBest views of Melbourne and great place for a drink after exploring the city. Take the stairs if you want to pop into the other great stores, restaurants and bars also located within ‘Curtin House’.
A bar built onto a pontoon in the middle of the Yarra! Enter via the pedestrian bridge.
163 locals recommend
Ponyfish Island
A bar built onto a pontoon in the middle of the Yarra! Enter via the pedestrian bridge.
Siglo
161 Spring StGreat rooftop bar, above Melbourne Supper Club.
A great bar with beautiful big arched windows overlooking Smith Street. Go for the $1 oyster special from 6pm – 7pm every night.
62 locals recommend
Panama Dining Room
231 Smith StA great bar with beautiful big arched windows overlooking Smith Street. Go for the $1 oyster special from 6pm – 7pm every night.
An elegant late night bar with an old-world feel. There is another bar above called Siglo with an outdoor terrace.
37 locals recommend
The Melbourne Supper Club
161 Spring StreetAn elegant late night bar with an old-world feel. There is another bar above called Siglo with an outdoor terrace.
An old Melbourne facourite. If you like gin, this is the place to be. Open until 3am.
74 locals recommend
Gin Palace
10 Russell PlAn old Melbourne facourite. If you like gin, this is the place to be. Open until 3am.
ARTS & CULTURE
Melbourne's largest art gallery and an iconic building. Definitely worth a visit! There is usually a great kid's exhibition on too, and make sure to visit the back courtyard. See what's on at http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au
1736 locals recommend
National Gallery of Victoria
180 St Kilda RdMelbourne's largest art gallery and an iconic building. Definitely worth a visit! There is usually a great kid's exhibition on too, and make sure to visit the back courtyard. See what's on at http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au
Fantastic contemporary photography gallery within walking distance of the apartment. See what's on at http://www.ccp.org.au
37 locals recommend
Centre for Contemporary Photography
404 George StFantastic contemporary photography gallery within walking distance of the apartment. See what's on at http://www.ccp.org.au
Iconic building and leading contemporary art gallery. See what's on at http://www.accaonline.org.au
90 locals recommend
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
111 Sturt StIconic building and leading contemporary art gallery. See what's on at http://www.accaonline.org.au
Excellent contemporary theatre showing a wide variety of performances. See what's on at http://www.malthousetheatre.com.au
64 locals recommend
Malthouse Theatre
113 Sturt StExcellent contemporary theatre showing a wide variety of performances. See what's on at http://www.malthousetheatre.com.au
Performances of all types; theatre, music, dance etc. See what's on at http://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
15 locals recommend
State Theatre
100 St Kilda RdPerformances of all types; theatre, music, dance etc. See what's on at http://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
A world-class facility for musical performances. See what's on at http://www.melbournerecital.com.au
52 locals recommend
Melbourne Recital Centre
31 Sturt StA world-class facility for musical performances. See what's on at http://www.melbournerecital.com.au
An excellent day trip for art lovers! Learn about the history of Melbourne's modern art movement and see some wonderfully curated exhibitions in three separate galleries. There's lots of open space to explore as well so take a picnic, or get amazing food there from the cafe. Easiest to drive here.
98 locals recommend
Heide Museum of Modern Art
7 Templestowe RdAn excellent day trip for art lovers! Learn about the history of Melbourne's modern art movement and see some wonderfully curated exhibitions in three separate galleries. There's lots of open space to explore as well so take a picnic, or get amazing food there from the cafe. Easiest to drive here.
Cinema Nova
380 Lygon StIMAX Melbourne Museum
Rathdowne StreetBig screen cinema
The Melba Spiegeltent
35 Johnston StEclectic mix of performances and theatre
The Rose Street Artists' Market
60 Rose StArtist market full of locally made gems
Melbourne Museum
11 Nicholson StMore science than arts!! Great museum!
GROCERIES & ESSENTIALS
Health food store with a good selection of (slightly overpriced) organic produce, fresh bread etc.
38 locals recommend
Aunt Maggie's Fitzroy
188 Gertrude StHealth food store with a good selection of (slightly overpriced) organic produce, fresh bread etc.
Coles Collingwood
172 Smith StClosest large supermarket.
Closest convenience store for milk etc. You can also purchase MYKI cards and top them up here or at any 7/11
51 locals recommend
FoodWorks
169 Gertrude StClosest convenience store for milk etc. You can also purchase MYKI cards and top them up here or at any 7/11
Turkish grocer with well-priced fruit & vegetables, friendly staff and freshly squeezed juices.
20 locals recommend
Sonsa Markets
216-218 Smith StTurkish grocer with well-priced fruit & vegetables, friendly staff and freshly squeezed juices.
PARKS & NATURE
A great activity for the whole family, you'll feel like you've left the city behind. There is an animal farm, lovely cafe with organic food and you can take a stroll along Merri Creek.
181 locals recommend
Collingwood Children's Farm
18 St Heliers StA great activity for the whole family, you'll feel like you've left the city behind. There is an animal farm, lovely cafe with organic food and you can take a stroll along Merri Creek.
An incredible botanic garden with lots to explore.
1262 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
An incredible botanic garden with lots to explore.
Edinburgh Gardens
Alfred CrescentAn iconic park and the best group picnic spot for a sunny day.
Beautiful, historic gardens in the centre of Melbourne. Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum are here too.
235 locals recommend
Carlton Gardens
Beautiful, historic gardens in the centre of Melbourne. Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum are here too.
Great local 50m swimming pool – take your book and relax for a while!
99 locals recommend
Fitzroy Swimming Pool
160 Alexandra ParadeGreat local 50m swimming pool – take your book and relax for a while!
SHOPPING
An excellent, fun store with an eclectic mix of home wares, gifts and oddities.
17 locals recommend
Third Drawer Down
1851 George StAn excellent, fun store with an eclectic mix of home wares, gifts and oddities.
Metropolis Bookshop
252 Swanston StGreat bookstore in Curtin House!
The Brunswick Street Bookstore
305 Brunswick StGreat local bookstore
Boutique shops and iconic laneways. Lots of excellent restaurants and cafes along the way.
Flinders La station
Boutique shops and iconic laneways. Lots of excellent restaurants and cafes along the way.
Mud Australia Store - Fitzroy
181 Gertrude StBeautiful Australian made ceramics.
Brunswick Street
Brunswick StreetA nice street to peruse the many shops, bars, cafes etc.
Gertrude Street
Gertrude StreetShop till you drop!