Melbourne: Australia's Cultural Capital

As we were told by a friend upon arriving: "Coffee is like religion in Melbourne". Apparently, Melbourne is all about going out for brunch and drinking really good coffee... so that's exactly what we did when BBB spent 3 days in Australia's cultural capital this April. 

Melbourne skyline along the Yarra River

How to get around:
Melbourne has an impressive public transport system: reliable, easy to use and very accessible. Trams, buses and trains, always something available to get you around. And of course, there is always Uber! The only disappointment was that their airport is not easily accessible by public transport. The Sky Bus leaves from Southern Cross station every 10 minutes for the cost of $19 Australian (AUD). 

Where to eat:

Manchester Press (8 Rankins Lane) in CBD: Try the multigrain bagel with eggplant; they have great coffee too!

We were staying with a friend in Brunswick and brunched two days in a row in the neighborhood. First, we tried East Elevation (351 Lygon St). Great ambiance and decor, plus the food and coffee were both on point! The next day, we took our business to Stand & Deliver (242 Victoria St) where it is safe to say we tasted the best Avo Smash we have tried in all 6 months in Australia. And let me tell you, we've tried quite a few. Awesome vibe, and there is even an art gallery upstairs! Oh and did we mention they make great coffee?

We also ventured South of the city one night and found lots of restaurants and bars on Chapel Street in Prahan. 

East Elevation in Brunswick

DeGraves Street

What to see:

• Federation Square
• DeGraves Street: lined with cafe's whose tables pour out into the laneway. Has a bit of a European feel and it's a great place to grab a coffee!
• Flinders Street Station: one of Melbourne's main transit stations and visually impressive!
• Flinders Lane: covered in Melbourne's renowned street art, Flinders Lane is 100% Insta-worthy. It definitely isn't the only place in the city to find street art though; venture down any little alleyway and voilà!
• Fitzroy: Melbourne's #1 "hipster" neighborhood. You don't have to look far for a cool cafe, bar or art gallery! 
• Chinatown: great asian food options! 
• National Gallery of Victoria (NGV): 3 levels of art and design from around the world. Unfortunately, we just missed the Andy Warhol exhibit. But the best part... it's free! 
• Queen Victoria Markets: Sells food, clothing and all sorts of knick-knacks. We were told it is the biggest market in Australia, spanning 2 city blocks. Definitely worth a look!
• Southbank: take a walk along the water or stop for a drink overlooking the Yarra River and the Melbourne Skyline. Warning: may be pricey! 
• For some shopping check out Melbourne's GPO or if you are into thrifting, you can find a multitude of op shops in Brunswick and Fitzroy.
• Didn't get a chance to check out Saint Kilda, but apparently it's the place to hit the beach in the summer, just a short tram ride south of the CBD. Apparently you can also see penguins! 

Flinders Street Station

Street art down Union Lane

Brunswick Street in Fitzroy

National Gallery of Victoria 

Gertrude Street in Fitrzroy

Where to stay: 
Unfortunately, we can't really help you out on this one because we were lucky enough to have friends to stay with in Melbourne. That being said, every neighborhood had it's own charm and because public transport is very accessible, you don't necessarily need to stay in the city center. We definitely enjoyed staying in Brunswick! 

Overall, we had a great time in Melbourne! It showed us yet another side of Australia - a big, metropolitan, multicultural and artsy city! We will definitely be back!