WHERE TO EAT

When visiting Melbourne, you are totally spoiled for choice for finding something good to eat. It was hard to keep our shortlist of recommendations short. Feast your eyes below.

Flower Drum
17 Market Lane
Melbourne City
Ph: 613 9662 3655
Australia's best Chinese! Exquisite food in a sumptuous setting.

Ezard At Adelphi
Basement, 187 Flinders Street
Melbourne City
Ph: 613 9639 6811
Avant-garde food, Asian flavours done European style. Great for dinner.

Becco
11-25 Crossley Street
Melbourne City
Ph: 613 9663 3000
One of Melbourne's hot spots. Great for lunch and dinner with a sleek and stylish bar.

Mo Mo
Basement, 115 Collins Street
Melbourne City
(Enter via Laneway - George Parade, near the Grand Hyatt)
Ph: 613 9650 0660
Middle Eastern flavours combined with Asian, Australian and European influences, described as an Oriental delight. Great for lunch and dinner.

Ondine
299 Queen Street
Melbourne City
Ph: 613 9602 3477
For lunch or dinner with sensational desserts.

Langton's
61 Flinders Lane
Melbourne City
Ph: 613 9663 0222
Great for lunch or dinner with a superb wine list. The roast duck is delicious.

Mecca
Mid-level, Southgate
Southbank
Ph: 613 962 2999
Middle Eastern cuisine Australian style.

Red Emperor
Upper level 3
Southgate Avenue
Southbank
Ph: 613 9699 4170
'Yum on the Yarra!!' Cantonese with a fantastic Yarra River view.

Blakes Cafeteria
132a Greville Street
Prahran
Ph: 613 9510 3900
Food with groove. Great for lunch.

David's
4 Cecil Place
Prahran
Ph: 613 9529 5199
Yum Cha and Northern Chinese cuisine. Yum Yum.

Diningroom 211
211 Bunswick Street
Fitzroy
Ph: 613 9419 7211
Magical food, try for dinner.

Pearl
631-633 Church Street
Richmond
Ph: 613 9421 4599
Try this place that is described as a beguiling mix of the exotic and familiar for dinner.

France-Soir
11 Toorak Road
South Yarra
Ph: 613 9866 8569
Try this Melbourne institution. If French is your flavour, this is the best.

Cafe Di Stasio
31 Fitzroy Street,
St Kilda
Ph: 613 9525 3999
An ever-stylish institution in the heart of St Kilda. Dinner.

Stokehouse
30 Jacka Boulevard
St Kilda
Ph: 613 9525 5555
Modern Australian food positioned right on the water at St Kilda with a fabulous balcony. Great for long lunches.

Donovan's
40 Jacka Boulevard
St Kilda
Ph: 613 9534 8221
Fine Mediterranean food by the beach at St Kilda.

Spoonful
543 High Street
Prahran
Ph: 613 9521 5212
Fabulous café. Delicious for breakfast.

Mario's
303 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy
Ph: 613 9417 3343
The all-day breakfast is highly recommended!

Harvey's
10 Murphy Street
South Yarra
Ph: 613 9867 3605
Breakfast where your eggs are done by experts.

Cafe e Cucina
581 Chapel Street
South Yarra
Ph: 613 9827 4139
An institution - the original modern Italian café.

WHERE TO DRINK

Melbourne Supper Club
Level 1, 161 Spring Street
Melbourne City
Ph: 613 9654 6300
One of the best bars.

Bellavista Social Club
11-25 Crossley Street
Melbourne City
Ph: 613 9663 3000
Becco's upstairs bar. Hip and delicious drinking den.

Melbourne Wine Room
125 Fitzroy Street
St Kilda
Ph: 613 9525 5599
Becoming an institution. Great bar with an upmarket pub dining room.

Gin Palace
190 Little Collins Street
Melbourne
Ph: 613 9654 0533
Ultimate lounge bar.

Lyall Champagne Bar
14 Murphy St
South Yarra
Ph: 613 9868 8222
Sip champagne and cocktails in Melbourne's newest luxury hotel.

Mink
2B Acland Street
St Kilda
Ph: 613 9536 1199
In the basement of the Prince of Wales Hotel. Ultra-cool.

Ginger
272 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy
Ph: 613 9419 8058
Top cocktails in the honey glow of warm colours and lighting.

Liquid
New Quay
Docklands
Ph: 613 9642 4242
Minimalist chic. Waterside.

Yelza
245 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy
Ph: 613 9416 2689
Shabby chic.

WHERE TO STAY

There are more than 20 hotels at the top end, including the major players like the Park Hyatt, Westin Melbourne, Sheraton Southgate, Grand Hyatt, Le Meridien and Hotel Sofitel. Listed below are some favourite deluxe venues.

Adelphi Hotel
187 Flinders Lane
Melbourne City
Ph: 613 9650 7555, 1800 800 177
Fax: 613 9650 2710
Email: info@adelphi.com.au
A handsome boutique hotel with five-star facilities. Small and discreet, the Adelphi is in the heart of the city, housing a collection of Australia's finest contemporary art and photography.

Windsor Hotel
103-115 Spring Street
Melbourne City
Ph: 613 9653 0653
Fax: 613 9633 6001
Email: reservations@thewindsor.com.au
Often described as the 'grand old' Windsor. If you're after the Victoriana experience with a great room service and a central beat, this is your kind of hotel.

Crown Towers
8 Whiteman Street
Southbank
Ph: 613 9292 6666, 613 9292 6868,
1800 811 653
Fax: 613 9292 6600
www.crowntowers.com.au
Luxury. Luxury. Sensational views from all of the luxurious and spacious guest rooms. Soaring over Melbourne's biggest entertainment complex, includes luxury shopping, 40 restaurants & bars, three nightclubs, cinema complex and 24-hour casino. Crown Spa is luxury personified!

Hotel Lindrum
26 Flinders Street
Melbourne City
Ph: 613 9668 1111
Fax: 613 9668 1199
Email: aescott@hotellindrum.com
www.hotellindrum.com.au
One of Melbourne's great boutique hotels, with a ritzy private club look and feel. Small scale but definitely beautiful and welcoming. Delicious breakfasts!

Hotel Como
630 Chapel Street
South Yarra
Ph: 613 9825 2222
Fax: 613 9824 1263
Email: reservations@como.mirvac.com.au
Has long been one of the most popular places to stay. Its slick staff, its design and large, unobtrusive suites make it a hip and relaxed place.

The Lyall
14 Murphy St
South Yarra
Ph: 613 9868 8222
Melbourne's newest luxury five-star hotel.

The Prince Hotel
2 Acland Street
St Kilda
Ph: 613 9536 1111
Fax: 613 9536 1100
Email: thedesk@theprince.com.au
www.theprince.com.au
Stylish, contemporary boutique accommodation. Has everything you need - dine in at Circa, sip cocktails in Mink, hang out in the Prince Public Bar or unwind in the Aurora Spa.

Hotel Tolarno
42 Fitzroy Street
St Kilda
Ph: 613 9537 0200
Fax: 613 9534 7800
Email: mail@hoteltolarno.com.au
www.hoteltolarno.com.au
One of Melbourne's newest additions - small, funky and affordable.

Shandon (B&B)
361 Beaconsfield Parade
St Kilda
Ph: 613 9534 0080
Fax: 613 9534 1978
Email : info@shandon1884.com.au
Looking over St Kilda Beach. One of Melbourne's most gracious boutique B&B's. It has delectable breakfasts, excellent cappuccinos and even a pool.

The Mansion Hotel, Werribee Park
K Road
Werribee Park
Ph: 613 9731 4000
Fax: 613 9731 4001
Email: mansion@bigpond.com
www.mansionhotel.com.au
Positioned on the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, only 30 minutes from Melbourne's CBD. Luxurious and contemporary design, surrounded by picturesque gardens.

WHERE TO SHOP

Melbourne is great for its streets and streets of great shopping.

Chapel St & Toorak Road
The most popular fashion shopping strips in Melbourne.

Crown Plaza & Collins St
Up market shopping and fashion head to toe.

Flinders Lane
Antique stores, young Melbourne designers, art galleries.

High Street, Armadale
Antiques

Markets

Southbank on Sundays - crafty
Queen Victoria, Prahran and South Melbourne Markets are for you if food takes your fancy.

Market Import
Armadale
Italian & Mexican home wares.

Hermon & Hermon
Furniture

Simon Johnson
Toorak
Food

Spa's

Aurora at The Prince Hotel.
2 Acland Street
St Kilda
Ph: 613 9536 1111
Fax: 613 9536 1100
www.theprince.com.au

Crown Spa
Crown Towers
8 Whiteman Street
Southbank
Ph: 613 9292 6666
Fax: 613 9292 6600
www.crowntowers.com.au

MAKE SURE YOU…

Wander down Chapel Street, South Yarra and drop in for a coffee at Cafe e Cucina.

Take a tram to St Kilda for a day beachside and dine at one of the many fabulous restaurants - Donovan's, Stoke House, Cafe di Stasio - or pop into one of the great bars.

Check out Crown Casino. Not only is it Melbourne's biggest casino, but it also has luxury shopping, an entertainment complex of 40 restaurants & bars, three nightclubs and cinema complex.

Jump on a river cruise departing Southbank promenade and Princess Bridge near Flinders Street Station. Melbourne River Cruises provides a range of scenic cruises.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Visit the Philip Island Nature Park and see the little penguins just outside Melbourne.

OUT OF MELBOURNE...

Mornington Peninsula
Yarra Valley

Daylesford, Spa Country
Great Ocean Road

TRAVEL TIPS

Best time to visit is in the summer.

The Taste of Victoria festival is usually held in February (7th & 8th for 2004), which is described as a celebration of the best of Victoria's fine wine and foods.

If you're into your cricket, you cannot miss the Boxing Day Test at the MCC www.bushrangers.com.au

The Melbourne Cup Carnival a four-day event, a must if you're in the area. The main event, Melbourne Cup Day is always the first Tuesday in November www.vrc.net.au

WEBSITES

www.visitmelbourne.com
www.crowntowers.com.au

If you feel like heading out of town the Visit Victoria website has info for you - www.visitvictoria.com