Melbourne is home to the finest coffee beans in all the land (sorry, Sydney), teeny, tiny laneways brimming with cute cafes and bars, a constellation of fab vintage stores, and as we discovered on a recent trip, six of the best girls you ever did meet.
While in town, we hung out with the bunch o’ honeys, who gave us all the hot tips for visiting the city—from where to buy the yummiest cheap meals and jazziest cocktails, to the best places to shop, dance and unwind. Read on for a treasure trove of fun activities from those in the know for the next time you’re in town…
Ava
How would you sum up Melbourne in five words?
Small, expanding, cultural, forward, and (architecturally) confused.
How have you found the creative scene like there?
Well, I think it’s pretty damn creative! Before working in fashion I came from the music scene—booking, working at a studio and playing in bands. You can literally see multiple gigs every night of the week. Transitioning into the fashion industry has introduced me to a whole different group of creatives, young and old, who inspire me all the time to push boundaries further. In my opinion, it’s the most creative city in Australia, though it’s easy to take for granted because the city is so far away from the rest of the world.
Where are the best places in Melbourne to find cool vintage (please tell us your secrets!)?
I’m psycho obsessed with vintage, so pretty much any vintage store ANYWHERE gets me going. But some of my all time faves are My Delirium, Vintage Garage, Lost & Found, and Vesuvius Vintage.
And, the best places to find a bargain?
Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that a lot of vintage stores have gone up in price over the last few years, so I like to travel to the outer suburbs and markets in Melbourne to find the ~jaw droppin’~ bargains. Mill Markets are pretty good for that.
If you had 24 hours to show your favourite person around Melbourne, what would you do, and where would you take them?
Well, I’d take them for breakfast at Fort Green first, then I’d probably take them to the NGV (‘cause let’s be honest, I love 17th century art), or if it was hot, for a swim in the river by the Warrandyte cave and a picnic in nature instead. I’d then head back into town to have dinner at Pharaoh, my new favourite Egyptian restaurant, and, if there was anything good on, to a gig at The Tote (which is actually disgusting and old, but pretty iconic for Melbourne music) or the John Curtin. We’d wrap up the night with some gelato, because we have too many gelato places in Melbourne. I also love Luna Park (just putting it out there).
Three reasons we should move there?
Live music, food and culture.
Best coffee?
I haven’t had any coffee for a year, but when I did I frequented Alimentari.
Best wine/cocktail?
I also haven’t drank in two years, but when I did I only drank cocktails, so I recommend Lanes Edge or Polly.
Best place to people watch?
Corner of Otter and Smith street.
Best place to get a cheap feed?
Victoria street!
And, the best restaurant to treat yourself at? Well I always consider Pellegrini’s as a treat but last year my boyfriend and I went to this fancy pants restaurant called Bottega—every bite was actual heaven.
Best place to dance?
It’s cliche, but I love ‘Soul Night’ at Cherry Bar or The 86.
Best spot to unwind?
Again, for me it’s the Warrandyte River—it’s where I grew up and it’s only half-an-hour from the CBD. You can take the gal outta the bush, but you can’t take the bush outta the gal.
Mattea Marnika-Lee
How would you sum up Melbourne in five words?
Youthful, lively, immersive, educational and free.
What is the creative scene like there?
Age-defying!
Where are the best places in Melbourne to find cool vintage (please tell us your secrets!)?
Chapel Street Bazaar, Recycle Boutique and Shag.
And, the best places to find a bargain?
Camberwell Sunday Market, Recycle Boutique and Savers.
I hear you’re a vegan/foodie! Where are your favourite places to eat in Melbs?
There’s too many! But, here goes: Smith and Deli, Union Kiosk, Green, Refractory, Long Grain, Transformer and Evie’s Disco Diner.
What is your all-time favourite restaurant in Melbourne, and what should we order there?
For a special occasion, go to Longrain. The salt and pepper fried tofu is a must!
What’s your favourite at-home vegan meal (and how do we recreate it)?
Vegan carbonara. Its key components are cashew cream, tofu/mushroom “bacon” and vegan parmesan.
If you had 24 hours to show your favourite person around Melbourne, what would you do, and where would you take them?
In an imaginary world where all these locations are in close proximity to each other, it’d go like this: Wander around Camberwell Sunday Market, have a nice walk down Merri Creek with a picnic, hit up Recycle Boutique, grab a bite to eat at Green Refractory, lax out at Fitzroy Pools and finish the day sipping on a Pimms overlooking the city at Rooftop bar.
Three reasons we should move there?
1. All the amazing vegan food, 2. Freedom of creative expression and,
3. Repeat number 1.
Best coffee?
Manchester Press and The Moat.
Best wine/cocktail?
The Moat, Lazer Pig and Rooftop bar.
Best place to people watch?
Abbotsford Convent or State Library Victoria.
Best place to get a cheap feed?
Nguyen's hot bread (think mock chicken bahn mi), Green Refractory or Union Kiosk (for vegan jaffles).
And, the best restaurant to treat yourself at?
Transformer and Longrain.
Best place to dance?
Any karaoke bar.
Best spot to unwind?
Beside a pool or at Half Moon Bay.
Millie Ng
How would you sum up Melbourne in five words?
Ambitious, vibrant, diverse and fucking cold!
How have you found the creative scene like there?
Coming from Hong Kong and Brisbane, where creative communities are rarely formed and quite competitive, I’ve found that people in Melbourne are generally more encouraging and supporting of each other. Most of the people I know have moved here from different parts of the world to study or pursue their dreams, so it’s really motivating and quite a culturally diverse environment to be working in.
Where are the best places in Melbourne to find cool vintage (please tell us your secrets!)?
Suburbs on the edge of Melbourne, like Dandenong and Pakenham, have the best thrifts if you’re up for a road trip! Otherwise Collingwood markets always has grails for super cheap.
And, the best places to find a bargain?
Again, thrift shops in the outer suburbs of Melbourne and Collingwood, also vintage and streetwear pop-ups happen pretty regularly so always check your Facebook events!
If you had 24 hours to show your favourite person around Melbourne, what would you do, and where would you take them?
Shopping on Chapel St, lunch at Lentil as Anything in Abbotsford, Playtime arcade at Crown, Dragon hot pot in the CBD for dinner and then out to Fitzroy to club at Laundry and Yah yah’s!
Three reasons we should move there?
1. You could never get bored even if you tried, 2. Authentic and affordable international food!, and 3. The chance to meet so many driven and welcoming people.
Best coffee?
Melbourne’s coffee is extremely competitive, so most are really good! My go-to café is right next to my apartment—The Old Bike Shop Café (love a good almond latte).
Best wine/cocktail?
I don’t actually drink often, but Double Happiness bar in the CBD has the yummiest alcoholic bubble teas!
Best place to people watch?
Outside the National Gallery in Southbank. Once you cross the bridge separating it from the city you can instantly tell who’s on their way to VCA (Vic College of Arts) It’s like entering alt Instagram IRL.
Best place to get a cheap feed?
Empress of China in the CBD has 15 veg dumplings for $7.50. What more could you ask for?
And, the best restaurant to treat yourself at?
My favorite foods are conveniently very affordable. Vietnamese street food, Lebanese and Thai—so anything is a treat! A restaurant that is special to me though is The Origin Tales on Lygon St; they have a fully vegan restaurant and it’s owned by the loveliest family.
Best place to dance?
Laundry Bar on a Saturday.
Best spot to unwind?
At home with my cat!
Gemma
Where are the best places in Melbourne to find cool vintage?
Any convenient op shop, as long as you routinely visit.
The ones I go to are the Brotherhood of St Laurence on Brunswick Rd, because it's near my boyfriend's house, Salvos on Smith St, which is close to my work, and the Sacred Heart Mission op shop on Nicholson St. The posh op shop in Elsternwick is also worth the trek. "Thrifting" is full of intermittent disappointment, which I love as an antidote to instant gratification.
Best coffee?
From my french press in the morning.
Best wine/ cocktail?
The cheapest rosé on the wine list at Neapoli. Lol.
Best place to cheap feed?
Udon Yasan <3 <3.
And, the best restaurant to treat yourself at?
I never go to restaurants, but I indulge in pastries from italian cafes, like Mediterranean Wholesalers in Brunswick.
Best place to dance?
Unbridled and ebulliently on the street, drunk.
Best place to people watch?
State Library.
Best spot to unwind?
Under a giant tree, in unmown grass, in the centre of the Botanic Gardens.
Mina
How would you sum up Melbourne in 5 words:
Creative, cozy, eclectic, intimate, and carefree.
How did you find the move to Melbourne?
It was tough for me for the first couple of months. I was unfamiliar with where to look for housing, for roommates, where to go out and where to meet new people that had the same interests as me. It took almost a year for me to find my groove, but once I got settled, I grew to really, really love Melbourne.
Whereabouts did you live in America, and what do you miss most about it?
I grew up in an area we call the ‘DMV’ (DC/Maryland/Virginia). I think what I missed the most was snow during the winter and Christmas decorations in December. I’m not religious, but walking downtown and seeing Christmas lights, trees, wreaths and ornaments, shopping in the mall, hearing Mariah Carey and Dean Martin playing on the loudspeaker, and smelling eggnog and pumpkin pie in every café… it’s a very magical experience.
What are some similarities between where you lived and Melbourne? And the biggest differences?
I feel a bit disassociated with the DMV because I left before I was an adult and don’t feel I explored it as extensively as I did with Melbourne. I can say that both places have a diverse range of food options, are very clean for urban centers, and have lots of options for nightlife. But overall D.C. is a political city with mostly governmental and nonprofit organizations. There’s not really a creative scene and people dress conservatively.
I lived in Montreal, Canada for a few years right before moving to Melbourne and am probably more equipped to compare these two. Montreal’s a friendly environment (similar to Melbourne), but it’s cold and snowy most of the year (-40C sometimes) so there’s less room for experimental fashion. It’s more creative than D.C. though. The café culture is also strong and almost all of them are packed with uni students with laptops, which feels quite nice and cozy. I really loved Montreal. It was definitely hard to leave.
What’s the best piece of advice you have for someone considering moving to Melbourne?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Melbourne locals tend to have their own cliques and networks already, which can be intimidating if you don’t know anyone. I’ve also had run ins with a lot of flaky people, which was frustrating when I didn’t have my own circle. But if you go to events, clubs, or even talk to your baristas, you’ll come to find that most people are still open to making new friends. If there’s a place/event you like to go to (for me it was Beaut Club, RIP), keep going there, hang out in the smokers area, and eventually you’ll come to familiarise yourself with all the other people who go there. If you’re more creative, don’t be afraid to DM people on Instagram. Melbourne is a pretty collaborative environment.
What’s the funniest Australian word/saying you’ve heard so far?
“Fanging for a dart,” “root,” and “Maccas.”
What are the best places in Melbourne to find cool vintage?
My favorite places are Coco and Lune Selects.
And the best places to find a bargain?
Recycle Boutique in Brunswick (I’ve had better luck in Brunswick than at the Collingwood location) or any of the op shops in the southern suburbs. Recycle Boutique is a hit and miss with prices, especially because some of their stock is more high-end but it’s worth sifting through.
If you had 24 hours to show your favorite person around Melbourne, what would you do, and where would you take them?
A picnic at Werribee Mansion! It’s my favorite place in Melbourne, and definitely worth going to the most during the Spring when the rose garden is in full bloom. If we had time after, I’d take us to Dodee (off Little Collins St) for Thai desserts (durian sticky rice = YUM).
Three reasons we should move there?
The people, the coffee, and the relative ease of producing and joining creative projects for young creatives who are trying to figure themselves out.
Best coffee?
Little Rogue.
Best wine/cocktail?
Goldilocks (mulled cider during the winter).
Best place to people watch?
Gong Cha in QV.
Best place to get cheap food?
Nhu Lan Bakery in Footscray. You can get a whole banh mi for $5/6.
And, the best restaurant to treat yourself at?
Joomak has the best rice wine. But Jinda Thai has a pandan crepe cake. No. 35 if you’ve got serious cash to burn, and Shimbashi if you want amazing soba noodles (the ‘treat yourself’ factor comes in depending on how much matcha sake you plan to drink).
Best place to dance?
Umami nights at Laundry.
Best spot to unwind?
On a nice day, Williamstown Beach.
Amer
How would you sum up Melbourne in 5 words:
Fun, live, creative, accepting, and trendsetting.
How have you found the creative scene?
Melbourne is versatile, a home that embraces and promotes creatives so well. You can find a little bit of everyone here. Our creatives all know each other, through working directly together or working with the same clients and talent. We’re forever growing and becoming more dominating. It doesn’t take long for you to know everybody, who’s who and what’s what.
What are the best places in Melbourne to find cool vintage?
I’d say hit up the streets of Brunswick. Brunswick is notorious for its amazing throwback apparel. Brunswick Street, Sydney Road, Smith Street, Retro star on Swanston, and Monkey Jar on Smith.
And to find a bargain?
Retro Star and Savers. Best duo of Melbourne street time.
If you had 24 hours to show your favourite person around Melbourne, what would you do, and where would you take them?
It’s only right to begin the morning with my favourite person at Barry’s up in Northcote for breakfast. I have friends from the area that I see often and we always swing past for a solid stomach-filler. You get quantity, quality, good vibes, and GREAT seasoning far beyond the usual salt and pepper. Pretty proper place.
After that, we would head up to the National Gallery, infuse them with only the purest of Australian Art and local Melbourne talent. Without a doubt they would love and draw from it. At this point it’d probably be the afternoon, so we would definitely pull up to Melbourne Central, the Emporium. Allow them to explore the endless variety of shops we host and the corner juice kiosks housed everywhere.
At this point the bars would be calling, so away we go to Section 8— the place people go for only the brightest vibes, 90s and street music, cheap drinks, and amazing people. It is also home to a lot of creative’s chill time. We then have the option to switch it up and swing past Lounge, a 70s and 80s-based bar that has the CRAZIEST set up. Endless photoshoots, I tell ya what. Before we begin club talk, I’d take my 24 hour friend to my secret drinking spot which has the best view of inner Melbourne city. Only hint: it’s across from Flinders. Now let’s club talk. Undecided between YoYo, the best R&B hip-hop club in town (but they have disgusting security), or Miss Collins, another top shelf atmosphere. Once we decide, we go, have the best time and then probably call it a night.
Three reasons we should move there?
Opportunity, acceptance, and foundation.
Best coffee?
I’m one of those ‘first coffee shop in sight’ type of person. But just know, if the coffee shop lady serving you happens to be a friendly middle-aged lady that kinda sees you as her daughter or son through first interaction... she’s gonna serve you the BEST coffee and make your day. She’ll add so much love to it, and will probably refer to you as “sweetie” or “darling” on your way out.
Best wine/cocktail?
Fall from Grace and Naked for Satan have got to be my most memorable bars. Bartending is a talent at these bars and the bartenders are cool folks. They have pricey but amazing cocktails, so make sure to have been paid at least 24 hours prior. Or just be rich (and if you are, add me on Instagram @internetgirlsclub *wink*).
People watch?
Fed Square and the State Library [laughs].
Cheap feed?
Honestly, go to a food court. They have good variety and good enough food for a quick feed.
Best restaurant?
I personally treat myself at Huxtaburger. It’s only right.
Best place to dance?
ABC bar. The crowd there is so energetic and there are people constantly on the dancefloor. Good platform. It is also where I met a lot of social media friends for the first time through spotting them at the bar, bathroom sessions or the good ol’ smokers.
Best spot to unwind?
My friends and I just grab some snacks, a bottle and a few cans and head up to the docklands port during the evening. Set up a picnic and just think about life to some relaxing R&B and soul.
