First time to Melbourne, appreciate tips, help, and advice
 

Hello everyone!

Well it's official... I'll be traveling down under for vacation for the first time ever and have decided to come to Melbourne. My vacation time is somewhat limited and I didn't want to try and do too much on vacation and end up feeling like I didn't really enjoy it. So I decided on Melbourne for my first ever Australia trip because it looks like it has so much to offer. A little background on myself: I'm not the "adventurous" type, by that I mean things like diving, snorkeling and such don't really appeal to me. I am more of a sightseeing, food person who also enjoys a good bar every now and then. So my questions would be:

What would you recommend seeing?

Good recommendations on restaurants, bars? I love breakfast so if you know of some great places, by all means let me know.

I haven't booked yet but will be very soon and plan on traveling in April. How is the weather? What hotels would you recommend?

Also, is there a "dress code" for Melbourne? I mean don't get me wrong, I want to look nice but do you need to wear a suit and tie for dinner all the time? Well a nice shirt and nice blue jeans suffice most of the time down there? I guess I just don't want to look or feel out of place there

I realize I will probably get some many different answers and recommendations but that's what I want and I will appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

Chris

My Melbourne favourites are Cumulus, Caffe e Cucina, Movida and the Cafe Vue at Heide:

http://cumulusinc.com.au/
http://www.movida.com.au/
http://www.caffeecucina.com.au/
http://www.heide.com.au/

For breakfast I like Brunetti's http://www.brunetti.com.au/

Jeans and a shirt will be fine for all of these. It would be rare to find a restaurant that required suit and tie.

How much vacation time do you have Bugsy?

stormbird I will have two weeks but I figured in the travel time: Chicago to LA at four hours, and then LA to Melbourne at 15.5 hours. I just figured a week in Melbourne would be better than trying to do more in only a week

For restaurants, places for breakfast etc., check out Urbanspoon - http://www.urbanspoon.com/c/71/Melbo...staurants.html

There are endless choices. For something different, try Maha or Red Spice Road.

Hotels - depends on your budget. There are a number of short-term rental apartment blocks in the CBD which may be worth looking at or perhaps try the Novotel on Collins - we know people who stayed there and had no complaints - should be reasonably priced and it's right in the middle of town on Collins Street.

Much of Melbourne is hidden - the CBD is criss-crossed with lanes and alleyways. Many of them may not look particularly appealing but a lot of the bars and restaurants are down a laneway or up a grungy flight of stairs or down in a basement - don't be put off. Half the fun is trying to find places ...

For bars, try Madame Brussels, 1806, Melbourne Supper Club, Siglo, The Deanery, Section 8, MOO, Order of Melbourne, Cookie, Emerald Peacock, Irish Times, Hairy Canary, Double Happiness, New Gold Mountain, Toff In Town, Walter's Wine Bar, go and see Chloe at Young & Jacksons.

For days out, take a trip down the Great Ocean Road or visit the Yarra Valley. If time permits, visit Ballarat or Bendigo or Daylesford, the spa capital of Victoria.

Take a tram to St. Kilda and visit Acland Street. Have lunch at Cicciolina (they take reservations for lunch but not for dinner). http://www.cicciolinastkilda.com.au

Surprised no one has mentioned it--maybe it is too obvious, but don't miss Federation Square. There you will find the Ian Potter Center, which houses the National Gallery of Victoria's Australian art collection. Excellent museum, interesting modern architecture, right in the CBD.
http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions
http://www.fedsquare.com/culture/the...ngv-australia/
http://www.frommers.com/destinations...ne/A33129.html
http://www.fedsquare.com/wp-content/...e-Map-2011.pdf

You might enjoy perusing the online version of The Age Newspaper:
http://www.theage.com.au/travel/dest...ralia/victoria

Thanks so much for the replies so far and the links. A lot of information to look over and digest but that's what I want. Appreciate it very much

In addition to Diamantina's excellent suggestions, note that the main branch of the NGV (which houses the so-called "international" collection) is not at Fed Square but a 5 minute walk down St. Kilda Road. On the way, you'll pass the Arts Centre (which includes the recently re-built Hamer Hall and the State Theatre) - you may want to see if there's anything of interest on while you're here.
http://artscentremelbourne.com.au

Keep walking down St. Kilda Road and you'll reach The Shrine. If you want a nice walking loop, walk down to The Shrine, then walk through the Botanic Gardens, perhaps over to the corner of Alexandra Avenue/Anderson Street, where you can exit the Gardens to the Capital City Trail and walk back along the river. If you're in the CBD and crossing Swanston Street, look to the south (towards Fed Square) and you'll get a good view of The Shrine.
http://www.shrine.org.au/Home

If jazz is your thing, then head to Bennets Lane -
http://www.bennettslane.com

Getting around the CBD is pretty easy and it's hard to get lost - it's built on a grid so if you remember the main streets, you can't go wrong and can always find your way back! West to east it's Spring-King-William-Queen-Elizabeth-Swanston-Russell-Exhibition-Spring. South to north, it's Flinders-Flinders Lane-Collins-Little Collins-Bourke-Little Bourke-Lonsdale-Little Lonsdale-La Trobe.

If you want to visit some wineries, you have the choice of either the Yarra Valley (northeast of town) or the Mornington Peninsula (southeast). The Yarra Valley is probably the better-known of the two. If you want some specific suggestions of wineries to visit, just ask. A number of the wineries can provide a pretty good lunch. If you do go to the Yarra Valley, you could also visit the Healesville Sanctuary -
http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville

Coffee. Melbourne is the coffee capital of Australia and coffee is a subject that is taken very seriously. Although you will find the odd Starbucks, no self-respecting Melburnian would be caught dead in a Starbucks. We drink coffee here, not flavored water.
http://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions...ine/Cafes.aspx
http://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions...es/Coffee.aspx

Susan7 mentioned Brunetti's. Co-incidentally, we trundled into town last Saturday and headed up to Lygon Street to have a wander round and stopped in Brunetti's (on Faraday Street) for a coffee. They are really known for their cakes and pastries but I would have to say the coffee I had was pretty mediocre and certainly not up to usual Melbourne standards. Lygon Street is "little Italy" - lots of Italian restaurants but many tend to be of the tourist-trap variety.

Although you probably won't need to buy meat, fish, fruit and veg etc. while you're here, pay a visit to the Queen Vic Market, just north of the CBD. In addition to the food, it has lots of stalls selling other stuff and is worth having a wander round. Note that it's closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.
http://www.qvm.com.au

Google 'what's on in Melbourne' for the dates you are there, you may want to take in a concert, show, sports event etc. Melbourne always has plenty going on. I would certainly do a trip to the Yarra Valley and the wineries and the Dandenongs.
Check out www.visitvictoria.com

For a real cultural feast you are lucky that by April AFL Football will be back on - even if you're not a big sports fan, watching a big game at the MCG is a Melbourne treat.

Depending on your timing in April, April 25th is Anzac Day - you could catch the Parade in honour of our soldiers from all wars, followed by the traditional Collingwood / Essendon match at the MCG (with a crowd of nearly 90,000):

https://sitedesq.imgstg.com/customda...D=1689&count=1

http://www.rslvic.com.au/customdata/...8664&OrgID=195

http://www.afl.com.au/

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/defa...?newsid=134039

Good choice Melbourne for an array of activities.

As for being a foodie, I second the nomination for the Melbourne markets; samples, different cuisines/food shops on offer and the free entertainment provided all over the site. is a great place to enjoy a day (or two!).

Many different levels of cafe's/restaurants in Melbourne - as with any city- so the style of clothing depends on the style of dining, i suppose.

Melbourne has style without effort!

Going in early September so if there are any suggestions for that time of year-I would greatly appreciate it!

In September temperature will be around 23 to 26 degree. There might be possibility of shower as well. So plan your trip accordingly.

On the plus side - Australian Rules Football will be in the early part of the finals - an absolute treat if you get tickets to a big game at the MCG with 80-90,000 people!

Hubby is a Sydneysider. I am from Melbourne. His wish is to see a huge AFL block buster at the MCG. Visitors would love the atmosphere.

Consider an apartment if you're staying a week or more. Check www.stayz.com.au.

Don't neglect the suburbs if you have time. Many suburbs have a particular ambience or culture and they vary wildly across town. Ask if you want to know any in particular.

The weather in Melbourne is notoriously fickle but April is usually mild and often sunny. A great time to visit.

Don't miss Lygon St! It is an experience in itself and walking distance from the CBD. Also a great little hidden street is Degraves St off Flinders St. It has some great shops, restaurants and cafes.