Melbourne wasn’t on my first itinerary in Australia. I focused on the Great Barrier Reef, the Sunshine Coast, and Byron Bay instead, knowing I’d explore Melbourne once we were more settled in the country. If you’re planning a trip to Australia, I’d 100% recommend stopping by Melbourne for a few of days though, especially if you love exploring cities, great coffee, and contemporary art.
Everyone I talked to ahead of our trip said Melbourne feels super European, and it’s true that, at times, it is like wandering through streets in Hackney or Kreuzberg. It’s also more artsy (the street art laneways are a big draw), and I’d heard tons about the amazing food scene as well. Having been only once, I can’t say I’m an expert, but this post should give you some honest suggestions for what you can realistically do in 3 to 4 days in Melbourne.
I won’t really dwell too much on our accommodation in Melbourne because we went for the most economical yet central option. We sandwiched this short trip between a very expensive move and an even more expensive home decor marathon of our new place, so a luxury hotel or fancy Airbnb wasn’t on the cards. We stayed at the super budget-friendly Carlton Lygon Lodge in Fitzroy, which was nothing special but had a fab location and the essentials you need for a comfortable stay.
Our Melbourne travel itinerary
We flew from Sydney mid-morning and checked in before heading straight out to find some food. We were starving, but it was mid-afternoon, and we didn’t want to spoil dinner. We made our way to one of Melbourne’s top-recommended Greek restaurants, Stalactites, which conveniently had long opening hours. This place didn’t disappoint! We indulged in all the classic delicacies (eating fresh dolmadakia is a passion of mine) and left feeling very content.
Day 1
After our meal, we strolled around Chinatown, wandered down to the Yarra River, and made our way to Flinders Street Station to snap some photos of this iconic Melbourne landmark. Then, we stopped by Dukes Coffee Roasters for a cup of decaf. We were tempted by their delicious-looking dessert treats but managed to resist the temptation. In the evening, we met a couple of local friends who showed us some of their hangout spots around Fitzroy: Builders Arms on Gertrude Street for a glass of wine, Grace Darling Hotel for a hearty pub dinner, and Bad Frankie for post dinner cocktails. Mine came in a koala-shaped mug, which means I’m living the Australian dream I guess.
Day 2
On day 2, we met our friends again for brunch, and they brought us to Archie’s. One thing I haven’t mentioned yet but that stuck with me is how big the portion sizes were – without losing quality and taste. Everywhere we went in Melbourne, we were served copious amounts of food, and Archie’s, in particular, serves the most generous avo toast I’ve ever tasted in Australia so far. We fuelled up before heading to Dekmantel, the first-ever Melbourne edition of the Netherlands’ most renowned techno festival (find out more here), for an afternoon and evening of dancing and fun.
Day 3
On day 3, we rolled out of bed and walked 10 minutes to Vertue Coffee Roasters to try their decaf and grab some brunch. Their menu has some very original flavours, and it was nice to branch out from my usual avo toast. I had their vegan and gluten-free “Umami mushroom” dish featuring house-baked corn bread, kale, poached egg, truffle foam and beetroot, which was pretty unusual and very tasty. Definitely check them out if you’re looking for vegan cafes in Melbourne.
We spent the late morning and afternoon strolling around Melbourne, mainly along the Yarra River banks and the gorgeous Royal Botanic Gardens, to soak up some vitamin D. We were incredibly lucky with the weather, enjoying full sunshine and bright blue skies for most of our stay, which isn’t really the norm from what we heard. We then stopped by the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) to check out the Triennial exhibition featuring works from 120 contemporary artists. However, we were a bit put off by the crowds since it was the last weekend before the exhibition ended. That’s a shame because the curation was excellent!
In the late afternoon, we headed to Southbank, which has a vibe similar to London’s Southbank, and had drinks and nibbles at Ponyfish Island. This little bar is tucked away under the Evan Walker Bridge, offering an uninterrupted view of the river and the passersby on the banks, which is where you want to be at sunset.
In the evening, we had a reservation at Lucy Liu in the East End Theatre District. Our love for gastronomy knows no bounds, so we always try to include a standout restaurant in our itinerary whenever we can. Their menu was quite extensive, so we went with their “Let Lucy Choose” option, which offered a selection of their best dishes (5 or 7). From memory, we enjoyed kingfish sashimi, green papaya salad, prawns with jasmine rice (no longer on the menu), and the dark chocolate pavé with cherry foam and coconut sorbet. Everything was exquisite and perfect to share between two. They also offer a vegan version of this set menu.
Day 4
On our last day, we went to Industry Beans for coffee and breakfast. This café looks like an Apple store and also feels a bit like one – think all-white, clean minimalist, and futuristic lines. We then tried to cram in absolutely everything we missed on day 3, which included St Kilda’s (the local beach), exploring more of the street art laneways, catching another part of the Triennial exhibition we had missed and doing some thrifting on Bourke Street.
It sounds like a lot, but everything is relatively close together, and the tram made it easy to get from one spot to another in 30 minutes or so. For lunch, we had Nico’s Sandwich – a very casual street deli that serves buttery sourdough melts filled with decadent toppings like sherry and red wine-braised oxtail or roasted portobello mushroom with taleggio cheese, and chimichurri sauce. This was a huge success albeit a greasy one.
What to pack for Melbourne
Absolutely pack some layers! Mornings are ice cold, and I know that Australia has the reputation of being a warm country, but it can get pretty cold in the lower 10s, and in Melbourne even more so. Also, rainwear is a must. We had some unexpected drizzle, and I was glad to have my Rains jacket with me. You see me wearing shorts in these photos because it was pretty warm in the afternoon. You can basically get all four seasons in one day. My favourite piece was this maxi dress from Seafolly that I thrifted on Depop before our trip. It was perfect for transitioning from day to night while keeping within my luggage allowance.
Useful Links: Restaurants and Bars in Melbourne
- Stalactites – Greek hearty food (long open hours)
- Dukes Coffee Roasters – coffee and pastries (not many seating)
- Bad Frankie – unique cocktails (get the one with the koala-shaped glass!)
- Runner up – cool rooftop bar, great margs
- Archie’s – all day brunch, big portions
- Vertue Coffee Roasters – coffee, vegan and gluten-free friendly brunch
- Ponyfish Island – bar with a cool under-bridge view
- Lucy Liu – fine dining at a fair price (vegan friendly!)
- Industry Beans – café and brunch, sleek and minimalist interiors
- Nico’s Sandwich – decadent sourdough melts (casual outdoor seating)
- The Grace Darling Hotel – pub restaurant, intimate vibes and great comfort food
- D.O.C pizza – good pizzas, friendly atmosphere
- Lune croissanterie – objectively fabulous, yet overpriced, croissants
