【A Condensed Travel Guide for Melbourne!】 | MiExpert | All-i

Must-do Activities

Stroll through the alleys of Melbourne

Immerse yourself in colourful street art, outdoor cafes, intimate wine bars and unique boutiques, and explore unknown new things in the wonderland that lies in Melbourne’s back alleys. Explore all of Melbourne's hidden laneways.

Explore Melbourne's vibrant arts and culture

Melbourne has a strong arts and cultural scene, with frequent international and local exhibitions and performances. Visit Australia's oldest art gallery and catch a concert in one of the many theatres. Find out why Melbourne is Australia's cultural capital.

Discover the city’s Aboriginal culture

Melbourne is a place rich in culture and character. Hear stories of the Kulin Kingdom, a local Aboriginal community, and learn about their history and culture through guided tours and authentic produce.

Enjoy the live music

Melbourne's great live music combines energy and musical talent. From the concert halls and jazz cellars around the city, to the bars and warehouses in the neighbourhood, there are outstanding performances everywhere.

Check out great places around Federation Square

Federation Square is the city's main cultural and entertainment venue. Art galleries, pop-up stores, bars, special events, cultural exhibitions and plenty of shopping and dining options to explore, all in Federation Square.

Visit the beach

The sheltered waters of Melbourne's beaches dotted around Port Philip Bay are calm and perfect for swimming. Each bay and beach is unique, some with colourful rainbow swim houses and others with penguins. Going to the beach is definitely a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Iconic Restaurants

Restaurants with stunning views

Bringing the fresh flavours of regional Victoria into the city, “Farmer's Daughters” celebrates Gippsland's seasons and the produce it produces. Four- and seven-course seasonal menus are designed to take diners on a regional journey, showcasing the abundance of ingredients, wines and spirits from coast to mountain, along with the producers and the stories behind them. Dishes are prepared in the open fire kitchen, using charcoal and wood cooking to bring out the rustic flavours of each ingredient. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of the three-story venue, with a deli in the basement and a conservatory-style bar on the rooftop, featuring native plants and herbs used in many of the cocktails and dishes.

This eclectic Southeast Asian restaurant is one of Melbourne's most popular restaurants, and you'll often find locals and tourists queuing outside. “Chin Chin” certainly lives up to its reputation, serving well-presented and oozing Thai-inspired dishes that are just as vibrant as the restaurant's blaring music, efficient staff and contemporary art adorning the walls. Chin Chin's dishes are designed for sharing and include a variety of delicious salads, spicy curries, French fries, smoked barbecue, various vegetarian dishes, and a variety of menus. You can arrive early, leave your name at the door, and have a drink at the GoGo Bar below the restaurant, and you will be called when your reserved table is available.

Best coffee shops

“ST ALi”, a coffee shop dedicated to the coffee heritage area, was a favourite of Renaissance coffee lover Salvatore Malatesta. With its trendy trash can decor and graffiti-filled alleyways, ST ALi is one of Melbourne's leading experimental coffee brewing spots, micro-roasters, green bean traders and country-of-origin specialists. This is one of the best places to enjoy a unique taste of cold drip coffee, which is low in acidity and low in bitterness, making it perfect for a delicious breakfast or lunch.

Located in Prahran Market, “Market Lane's Roastery and Coffee Shop” prides itself on its unique single origin coffee. Espresso and pour over coffee go well with cakes, pastries and muesli. It makes single-origin coffee beans and brewing equipment, and offers free public tasting (tasting) and brewing classes, including pour over, aeropress, and press coffee. Other stores are located in Queen Victoria Market and Caton District, and there are also 2 branches in the city centre.

Enjoyable civilian foods

You can avoid the queue of people waiting in front of “Hanoi Hannah” and go straight to the restaurant next door. This space is dedicated to Hanoi Hannah's takeaway, a small indoor table where you can watch the chefs cook up hawker-style Vietnamese food. You can choose dishes from the restaurant's menu, such as Vermicelli Salad with Charcoal Chicken, or Vietnamese Beef Pho, or try different dishes such as Pork Belly or Lemongrass Stir-Fried Beef.

“Miss Katie’s Crab Shack” has operated from multiple locations in Melbourne before establishing itself on the outskirts of Fitzroy as a must-see hot spot for shellfish dishes. Chef Katie Marron serves up authentic Southern cuisine at this restaurant. Shrimp platters, fried chicken and checkered waffles, fish tacos and homemade Louisiana-inspired Old Bay seasonings are on offer. If the food phase is embarrassing, the restaurant will also provide scarves.

Local hamburger fans no longer have to travel far to satisfy their burger cravings. “8bit” originally operated in the western suburb of Footscray, and then moved to the downtown area at the corner of Swanston Street and Little Bourke Street. Try the stacked Double Dragon Burger (double beef, double cheese and double bacon) or the Golden Ax (crispy fried chicken, Sriracha mayo and cabbage), served with crispy onion rings or beer French fries. To round out the meal, try the Salted Caramel Milkshake.