I fell in love with Melbourne after mere hours due to its small city vibe, beautiful street art, and the multi-faceted eateries tucked within laneways and throughout trendy neighborhoods. While in most cities, I look for tours and specific landmarks, I spent my time here eating and drinking—a culinary tour which left my belly full and my pants tight. Let’s just say this is a place for foodies and I was happy to indulge…until I later had to wear bikini. If you’re at a loss as to which major cities to visit Down Under, you must add this one to your list.

1. Hells Kitchen

Shortly after arriving from Brisbane, and starving, Hells Kitchen was my first dining experience in Melbourne. The atmosphere plus a meatball sub provided the perfect comfort meal after airport waiting. Located on the second floor along the first proper “laneway” I had ever seen, I sat by the window of this hipster pub drinking a beer and looking down upon passersby.

2. Chin Chin

Chin Chin is by far one of the hottest restaurants in Melbourne and if you talk with any local, they’ll direct you to go. It’s located in the heart of the city, and the food is a sampling of Southeast Asia. Order a number of dishes to share, or opt for the “feed me” option which enables you to try a few bites of their favored dishes. They also have a cool bar area where you can actually sit and dine (which is a rarity in Australia). Arrive early as there’s always an evening line.

3. Garden State Hotel & Rose Garden

This was my absolute favorite location in Melbourne and I returned several times during my stay. During the day this massive beer garden is divided into 6 different bars, eateries, and pop-up shops—each room decorated differently from the next. By night the space is transformed into a more upscale lounge. It’s a lively mixed bag of ‘amazing’ and if you go to Melbourne and don’t go here, you’re truly missing out.

4. MoVida

Having spent 3 weeks traveling through 4 cities in Spain, and sampling plenty of Spanish tapas, I must say the tapas at Movida rival those in Spain. Australians will tell you their seafood is the best in the world, and until visiting this beautiful country I had taken a lengthly hiatus from seafood. Sampling these seafood tapas was my gateway back into the seafood world. Indulge while here and try them all.

Some of the city’s prettiest graffiti is located across the street and you can sit and admire it over the plentiful wine options. Afterwards walk around the neighboring streets to see more.

5. Operator 25  

This trendy brunch and specialty coffee shop provided the perfect cure to a long night before—oh, and they also serve great local wine for a little “hair of the dog”. Order the porridge with fresh rhubarb or try the daily special. And did I mention the coffee? While it’s great everywhere you go in Australia, it’s really great here. Caffeine. Brunch. Wine. Go!

6. Eau de vie

Half of the fun in visiting this hidden speakeasy is the effort to find it. Once you do, you’ll feel like you‘ve been transported to America’s 1920’s prohibition era. A great dark bar with dark booze to match, it features a secret whiskey room hidden behind a book case. This place gets packed so don’t make it your last stop of the night!

7. Ponyfish Island Cafe

Surrounded by water, this bar sits on the Pedestrian Bridge that crosses the Yarra river, and is the perfect spot to grab a glass of champagne between regular dining hours. Sit there in the sun and relax, people watch, and listen to music while you sip some bubbly.

8. Arbory Bar & Eatery

Located on the Southbank Promenade alongside the famous Yarra river, this lively hangout is a great happy hour spot to people watch and sip expresso martinis (for that second wind). Grab a table along the water while you plan your next stop.

9. BAR AMERICANO

Another hard-to-find gem, stepping foot into Bar Americano takes you back to the golden era of American jazz. They serve only their own classic cocktails, the selection of which is limited and typically changes weekly. This tiny bar was designed to be the first standing-room-only venue in Australia, and it can only accommodate a few patrons at a time to enjoy their award winning concoctions and service. The cocktails are pricey but the experience makes it worth it.

10. Auction Rooms Cafe

I stumbled upon this great “brekkie” spot outside of the city center by accident. And I ate the perfect meal to end my time in Melbourne. The vintage warehouse-looking outside reminded me of my childhood in small town Pennsylvania, and the inside atmosphere was charming and artsy—just how I like it. Good vibes all around with great poached eggs, ham, and buttered toast (sans vegemite).

I recently stumbled upon a great article citing the 100 Best Things to Do in Australia. I will absolutely refer to this for my next Australian adventure—I highly recommend you do the same. Cheers! :)