flygirl

Good morning everyone

I'm in Sydney! I arrived on Wednesday morning and now it's Sunday morning and I've seen my friends a few times - in fact we're all going to brunch again today. Billy Kwong.

I stayed at the Shangri-La the first two nights and later when I found out that staying with my friends wasn't going to work this time, I chose the Marriott for the next three nights. Both times a stunning view of the Opera House from my bed!

I very much like the hotels and it's convenient to stay here for variety of reasons. But it's pretty quiet at night! For that matter during the day too - just like any other business district in any other city.

Yesterday rained quite a bit and I was looking for a nice café that had big plush chairs just to sit and hang out and read a book and the concierge couldn't think of any nearby. Many places nearby close on the weekends and at any rate none were the ambiance I wanted. I looked online and didn't see any nearby either.

So my question now is for both Sydney and Melbourne:

What district should I be looking for for a little bit more of young hipster-ish type ambiance? For instance in Washington DC it would be Adams Morgan or H Street or maybe Dupont Circle ... or in New York City it would be West Village or Soho or East Village... not just for a cafe - the whole village-y feel.

I'm going to check out Oxford Street later today if I have time before the bridge climb.

Thanks!

Diamantina

After visiting the Melbourne Museum in Carlton Gardens, I took a wrong turn and wandered into Fitzroy. It felt village-y and hip.
Have a look at the Time Out guide.

Diamantina

I hit the return button too soon. Here's the Time Out link:
https://www.timeout.com/melbourne

CounterClifton

Here in Melbourne, Smith Street and Brunswick Street in Fitzroy and Collingwood are closest to what you're looking for. Not sure they are quite as snug and village-y feeling as the East Village in NY, but they have the quirky cafes, the beards, the odd shops.

St. Kilda, around Acland Street is a happening little area to check out too. All accessible by trams.

northie

The Night market at Queen Vic is great on a Wednesday - great food places and lots of art/craft .
Also add Lygon Street Carlton - some good places but a but tired - the old original Italian area of Melbourne
Lygon Street East Brunswick has more range of bars and restaurants .

Bokhara2

Hi, just saw this.
Sydney - Surry Hills, Chippendale, Newtown, possibly Potts Point, Balmain, Kirribilli

Sydney is more of a casual, outdoor focused city than somewhere to hole up in a cosy cafe with a book. That said, there are some old style pubs around Paddington thst would land themselves to thst.

You’re in Melbourne now, I think. Lots more indoor coffee shops there that cater for inclement weather & European style hideaways.

northie

Also try the streets and lanes do it yourself tour - available at Touist info booth in Bourke. Stree mall - you'll see lots of cafes, street art (graffiti), and Hardware Lane , ACDC Lane etc.
also Southbank from Swanston Street down to the Casino at Spence Street is a buzz.
There's also a bar in the middle of the Yarra - pony fish Island , the Arbory Bar and Eatery on the other side of the river next to the railway station is fun - 1 Flinders. Walk .

CounterClifton

Thought you might find this interesting.

https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/a...pster-suburbs/

The ones they list are the real super hipster areas. So you can't wait to find "deconstructed coffee" or cafes called "Naked for Satan" filled with super beards, these are your places.

But honestly, there are great suggestions here in the thread for the things that appeal to a wider audience. And Melbourne is, even as a whole, way more hipster than anyplace I've lived in the US. You can't run a car wash around here without having a barista on staff and a tray of organic yet ironically retro biscuits on offer.

flygirl

Thank you everyone!

In Melbourne now and as a matter fact leaving for the great Ocean Road in a few hours for the sunset tour.

The coffee has been fantastic everywhere. I went to Fitzroy yesterday and really enjoyed it. And I took a photo of the bar Naked for Satan. Ha!

On the walk over from my hotel on Little Collins Street, I ran into a local and he said "go to Mario's, it's an institution" - so I did. And I spent at least two hours going through the two books I had bought earlier that morning - whilst nursing a coffee as well as a smashed pea on toast dish - one of them strictly on Melbourne laneways and the other one is a Melbourne highlights book by lonely planet.

Thoroughly enjoying this trip and Melbourne is amazing. Love the street art and the food and the coffee and the people are very friendly. I wish I had more time in Melbourne. Friday late afternoon I head back to Sydney.

And I wrote this post with Siri voice to text. How about that.

CounterClifton

Glad you're having a good time here! Shame you go back so soon. The weekends in the city centre are always busy but everyone is even more relaxed. Likely a festival going on. (there pretty much is every weekend) Maybe you'll get back some time.

Enjoy the Great Ocean Road and **take something with long sleeves** It is usually very windy and often cold at some of the formations, even in summer.

flygirl

Hi Northie and CC

I'm not sure if I'm gonna have time to meet you! Which would be a shame.

My time here now is so limited I'm going to limit my wandering to the CBD now. This morning I'm going to the Victoria market. If you happen to be local to that maybe we could meet for a coffee? Are you local to the CBD during the day?

I feel like I have this big list of restaurants I want to visit and sample and things I want to see and I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon. Too short!

CounterClifton

flygirl,

I get to the CBD quite often and my wife works down there as well. Unfortunately, I'm based a bit further east and won't be able to make it down today, with work and all.

Enjoy the market. Friday is a good day to go. Make sure to get inside the building as well as to the fruit and veg areas. (some of the market is across the little closed street that intersects the two halves of the market) There's a big area of souvenir sellers but there's so much more to the market for us locals than that.

flygirl

Oh bummer well if things change and you happen to get to the CBD today or tomorrow before lunch-ish let me know! After I have my last lunch tomorrow I'll still have time for a coffee.

northie

I will be in CBD Friday but probably too late for you. Where are you going for lunch ?
I love Naked for Satan - sitting outside viewing the surrounds.

margo_oz

I've just seen this too, but, as usual, for Sydney Bokhara has covered it pretty well. My immediate thought was Newtown.

Have fun in our city. There's plenty of coffer around.

flygirl

I just wandered.

Degraves espresso...

Royal botanical gardens... heard a Bell Bird!!

Then

Bottega, a few doors down from Pellegrinis. Almost went back to Pellegrinis but the menu at Bottega looked appealing. I was WELL taken care of at Pellegrinis yesterday.

The waiter at Bottega told me there was a nice rooftop bar nearby called Fancy Hanks so I hung out and had a margarita

Then another quick wander to Hosier Lane and now in cab.

Heart Melbourne!!

flygirl

Edit: checked in and waiting. Safari didn't want to post this...

gemmapurcell

Sydney is surrounded by water, and the sparkly azure waters of Sydney Harbour are some of the most picture-perfect. With more than 200km of harbour foreshore, it’s dotted with pretty harbour islands, and is the setting for a plethora events including boat races and, of course, Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

It may sound like a small thing, but it can make the difference between fantastic day out and a day that’s just kind of ok. Sydney’s weather is spectacular at best, and pleasant, moderate, yet still with four seasons that kind of…lazily give way to each other, at worst. Move here and you’ll quickly grow accustomed to generous, lengthy summers, mild winters and sunny days.

northie

Sorry we couldn't meet up- glad you liked Melbourne

gemmapurcell

These place are really nice. I have visited other part of Australia also. Canberra,Brisbane,Perth are the places. There are other place too.