Reasons To Visit Melbourne This Autumn

Melbourne is a city for all seasons, being equally lovely in summer and magnificent in winter. Of course, if we're being completely forthright, fall is the most beautiful time of year. However, where to start? Fortunately, we have already researched this thoroughly for you.

Here are six fantastic new reasons to visit Victoria, from the city's brand-new cafes and pubs to an amazing lineup of arts events.

1. The Delicious New Bars And Restaurants

People from practically every different cultures may be found living in Melbourne, as well as people from every walk of life. Therefore, if you are in the market for a bite to eat, you have a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, each serving delectable food from a different one of the thousands of countries represented here.

The streets of Melbourne provide a diverse range of dining options, from casual eateries to restaurants with five stars. The most exciting part? A culinary master makes everything you eat!

There are probably fifteen different new venues open in Melbourne right now, each with its character, but just a handful of them stand out as true gems. West Footscray's Chibong turns up the heat on traditional Filipino comfort food. At the same time, the 1920s-inspired Gimlet at Cavendish House boasts an extensive cocktail list (including a succession of gimlets known as "The Long Goodbye").

Finally, the poodle is a restaurant with a nice, approachable name and a strong pedigree, thanks to the masterful cooking of executives (previously of Marion and Cumulus Inc).

• Consider The Lui Bar And Vue De Monde

Located on the 55th floor of the Rialto Tower, the opulent Lui Bar is adjacent to Shannon Bennett's breathtaking new Vue de Monde restaurant. Guests can sip cocktails inspired by Melbourne's most luxurious era, the gold rush of the mid-1800s while taking in a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city and Port Phillip Bay.

In addition to the mind-boggling selection of cognacs and whiskies, ice is hand-cut to order. Carbon-neutral for the first time in Australia, Vue de Monde features recyclable furniture and kangaroo leather seating. In addition, a pair of the original observation platforms have been converted into outdoor dining areas. 

• Curtin House

Curtin Residence Cookie, a beer hall, cocktail bar, and Thai café with a fantastic wine selection, is one of the hottest locations in town. It's on the first floor of Curtin House, a 1922 Art Nouveau structure named for former Labor Prime Minister John Curtin.

In addition, the Toff in Town, a live music venue on Level 2, and the Rooftop Cinema, which operates from November to March and presents classic films as the lights of Melbourne twinkle all around, are both in the building.

• The Stokehouse Restaurant

Food at the Stokehouse The loyal customer base at the Stokehouse will not stand for the removal of "The Bombe" dessert. The dessert has been on the menu for almost five years and consists of frozen white-chocolate parfait, strawberry sorbet, and toasted meringue.

The shabby-chic beach restaurant has an almost cult following with its unpretentious concept of casual, enjoyable dining, its constantly growing menu of modern Mediterranean food, and its enviable location on the St. Kilda waterfront (see page 25) overlooking Port Phillip Bay.

• Circa At The Prince

Circa, Award-winning dining establishment The Prince Hotel in the trendy bayside neighbourhood of St. Kilda is home to the hip and happening Circa (see page 25).

This casually elegant restaurant has been serving contemporary Australian cuisine to adoring patrons for almost a decade and a half. The roasted Moroccan chicken, the 48-hour mutton cassoulet, and the spiced honey-roasted duck can all be ordered for one person, but they're even better when shared. The restaurant serves full breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and drinks in the fantastic, underlit bar every day.

2. The Game-Changing New Hotels

You'll need a place to stay if you want to do more than drink and eat your way around the city. New people have been added, so that's good news. There is the W Melbourne, which is like a hotel version of a Real Housewives character. Because of its eccentric fashion sense, avant-garde decor, and poolside cocktails; the Quincy Hotel Melbourne on lively Flinders Lane, which could be on a busy street in Bangkok; the fabulous Lancemore Crossley Street in the city's East End theatre district; and the Next Hotel Melbourne on Little Collins Street.

Staying in Melbourne and using a rental car to travel throughout the rest of Victoria is a convenient option due to the state's small size. The gold rush history of Ballarat can best be experienced by venturing north. Alternately, hop in the car and head a few hours east to the picturesque wine region of Yarra Valley.

The magnificent Grampians National Park is well worth the effort of the few hours' travel time to the west.

Many people from different places visit Melbourne every year, and with good cause. The popular Australian city is worth visiting for the wonderful food, shopping, and extensive entertainment options.

3. The City's Coffee Is To Die For.

However, a journey to Europe is not required to enjoy some of the best coffee in the world. Coffee in Melbourne is a global phenomenon. Coffee at the pubs and cafes in Australia's historic capital is, in my opinion, second to none. Don't freak out if coffee isn't your thing. Any decent cafe will have an enticing selection of tasty drinks for the whole family, including the youngsters.

Consider the following cafes:

• Try The Brunetti

Brunetti, The Carlton location of this Roman-style pasticceria caffè, first opened in 1985. Some locations have opened in recent years, including City Square, the suburbs of Camberwell and Fitzroy, the Myer shop on Bourke Street, and even Dubai and Singapore. Brunetti takes great pleasure in its extensive assortment of handcrafted pastries and its premium Arabica coffee and Italian hot chocolate.

The original café featured a creperie that made traditional crêpes.

• Visit St Ali Cafe

The owner of St. Ali Café travels to coffee plantations in Honduras, Brazil, Nicaragua, Peru, Columbia, and Rwanda in search of prospective new coffee shops and catering businesses to open. His responsibilities include overseeing the roasting and blending of coffee distributed nationally. St Ali, a trendy warehouse in South Melbourne's alleys, is where he and his baristas produce over 6,000 cups of coffee per week. Melbourne has been the centre of Australia's coffee culture since the first espresso machine was brought to the country in 1954.

• Manchester Press Coffee House

The Manchester Press: Coffee House or Not? Do you want a happy face, a girl with curls, or a heart between two lovers on top of your caffè latte? This barista at the urban coffee shop Manchester Press competes with his coworkers for the title of "best latte art." Located away from the hustle and bustle of Little Bourke Street, it is one of the city's many cafés. The lanes represent the many similar alleyways, arcades, and backstreets that can be found throughout the CBD. Some have sidewalk cafes, while others are dotted with intimate pubs and chic boutiques selling a wide variety of items.

4. The New Spots To Explore In Old Neighbourhoods

The suburbs of Melbourne are no exception to the rule that everything old is new again. Beyond the Central Business District is a plethora of vibrant neighbourhoods, each with its distinct cuisine, culture, and community — and they're always developing and changing. The inner-west neighbourhood of Footscray is where you need to go. If you're a fan of authentic Vietnamese cuisine; the Windsor district is where you'll find a laid-back atmosphere and interesting bars, and the Northcote area is where you'll find a unique blend of indie art galleries and vintage clothing boutiques.

Hosier Lane, a street art paradise in the heart of the city, is another location where you'll see something new every time you visit.

Melbourne is the epitome of all the sports fan love in Australia. Whatever the weather, Melbourne is home to some of the world's most attended sporting events. In January, the city plays host to the Australian Open Tennis Championship, and in March, the city is the site of the Formula One Grand Prix.

The city then goes crazy in November for the Melbourne Cup horse race. So whenever you visit the city, you may almost certainly catch a sporting event, no matter what your prefered sport may be.

• Scanlan & Theodore And Chapel Street

Places like Scanlan & Theodore and Chapel Street Scanlan & Theodore have been making fashionable clothing for women for over 20 years. Attracting fashion icons like Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Sienna Miller, Princess Mary of Denmark, Naomi Watts, and Kylie Minogue, the company is known for being a delightful rule-breaker.

The shop is one of several trendy clothing establishments lining Chapel Street. Also available are labels such as Akira Isogawa, Brave, Marcs, Saba, and Zimmermann, as well as those of new designers such as Collette Dinnigan, Alannah Hill, Ellin Ambe, and Wayne Cooper. So you can sum up modern Australian style by looking at Chapel Street. As a bonus, it's a fantastic spot for people-watching.

• Hopetown Tea Rooms

Tea House in Hopetown When it comes to shopping arcades, the Block Arcade in Melbourne is the equivalent of London's Burlington. The mosaic tiled floors and ornate ceiling make this space particularly attractive. Still, the tempting display of superb cakes and sweet delicacies at the old Hopetoun Tea Rooms is the true traffic-stopper here. It opened in 1892 and is named for Lady Hopetoun, the wife of a former Governor of Victoria. But, unfortunately, there are just 20 tables inside.

5. The New Adventures

A typical day consists of eating, sleeping, and surfing the web. And that's exactly what you can do at URBNSURF, a brand-new urban surf park in the Tullamarine area that consistently generates ideal waves. However, it is not the only source of excitement in the city. In addition to Ragged Edge, Extreme 4X4 Adventures and shark diving at the Melbourne Sea Life Aquarium, adrenaline junkies have plenty of options for getting their thrills. You should check out the new Three Blue Ducks restaurant if you're at URBNSURF for more than just the ideal waves. Your taste buds will go on an exciting journey.

Just like a great television cliffhanger, Melbourne is full of surprises. The plot will never cease to fascinate, delight, and surprise you, whether it's food, wine, or good times you're after. However, you can only learn more by making a reservation, staying, and discovering the area.

In the same way that Melbourne is an utopia for foreign shopping, it is also a paradise for foodies. South Yarra's Chapel Street is a chic, upscale boutique if you're in the market to splurge.

The Queen Victoria Markets in the city centre is the place to go if you're looking for a good deal. The many alleys and byways of the Central Business District are also worth discovering. You can find some great tiny cafes and stores tucked away in those areas.

• Melbourne Cricket Ground

Melbourne Cricket Ground' Lethal' Leigh Matthews, a star on the football field, is just one of several professional athletes who has earned the nickname. Stars have been cast in bronze and placed around the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). As a forward/rover with Hawthorn, he amassed 915 goals in 332 games. The MCG has been the centre of Australian football since its inception and is also the site of the first-ever test cricket match.

Over four million people visit there annually to watch events like concerts and the Boxing Day Test (Australia's most popular day on the cricket calendar), which has a capacity of 100,000. It was a crucial part of the Olympic Games in 1956 and the Commonwealth Games in 2006. The inaugural cricket match was played there in 1877, making it Australia's equivalent of Lord's in the United Kingdom. The venerable Long Room houses numerous sports-related artefacts.

• The Famous Yarra River

The districts that makeup Australia's cultural capital are home to a wide variety of entertainment options, from cafes and shops to galleries and concert venues. Highlights provided by Tricia Welsh.

The Yarra River, shown here near Princes Bridge, was once ignored by residents of Melbourne but is today considered the city's "social heart."

Trails for pedestrians and cyclists run down the river from the city's inner suburbs to the CBD and onwards along Port Phillip Bay to Brighton's colourful row of bathhouses. Melbourne Park (home of the Australian Open tennis tournament), the Royal Botanic Gardens, and Herring Island's sculptures are all within easy boating distance. Other nearby attractions include the Scienceworks museum, the Williamstown ferry, and water taxis.

• Birrarung Marr Parkland

The parks of Birrarung Marr Linking Federation Square and the Yarra River, Birrarung Marr is Melbourne's newest park. Its name, "river of mist", in the Woiwurrung language of the indigenous Wurundjeri people, reflects the area's ethereal atmosphere.

Opened in 2002, the park was constructed on reclaimed railway ground as part of the divisive Federation Square complex (see page 20), which has found favour mostly because of the success of its marquee tenant, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. It is the first major museum in the world to focus solely on Australian art. It features paintings from the National Gallery of Victoria across twenty rooms spread over three floors.

• Take A Peek At The Aami Park Stadium

Stadium AAMI Park Soccer, rugby league, and rugby union in Melbourne now play at AAMI Park, which features a geodesic dome roof shaped like a soap bubble. Built-in the middle of 2010, it offers full shade to most spectators without any obstructive pillars to the view.

In Melbourne, sports are a way of life. As the city's Spring Racing Carnival climax, the Melbourne Cup ('the race that stops a nation') takes place on the first Tuesday in November. Other notable events in Melbourne include the Australian Open (tennis) in January, the Australian Masters (golf) in November or December, the Formula One Grand Prix (March) at Albert Park, and the Melbourne Cup (tennis) in January.

• Experience The City Trams

It is impossible to imagine Melbourne without its iconic trams, which snake through the city and into the suburbs like tentacles. The green and yellow W-class trams are authentic, providing riders with a true tram ride (although, in recent years, some have become mobile billboards while local artists have painted others).

On other routes, brand-new, high-tech European versions are nothing more than a people-mover. For example, the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant operates three trams that serve surprisingly superb three-course dinners; there are numerous sittings each night as the trams chug through the city and inner suburbs of South Melbourne and ride on the special sightseeing Circle Line trams free of charge.

• The Amazing Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles of Christ The rock formations are known as the Twelve Apostles and are a natural landmark of the Great Ocean Road. Pounding oceans and erosion created these rock formations. The journey begins at Torquay, located 100 kilometres to the west of Melbourne, and continues along the coast for 247 kilometres until it reaches Warrnambool.

This road is widely regarded as one of the most breathtaking drives in the world. Because of its convenient location in the middle of the state, Melbourne serves as a portal to the numerous tourist destinations found throughout Victoria. You can be wine tasting in the Yarra Valley, swimming off the Mornington Peninsula, being pampered in Australia's finest spa region around Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, or viewing fairy penguins on Phillip Island in less than an hour's drive. All of these activities can be reached by car.

6. The Music, The Arts And Festivals

There are a plethora of things to do in Melbourne this fall, from the acclaimed play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" at the Princess Theatre to the opening of West Side Place.

A new retail precinct dubbed Australia's first "arcade," featuring works from some of the country's top contemporary artists, and the NGV's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition series. What a Twist! The Moulin Rouge! In addition, the musical will open at Regent Theatre in August.

At some point during the year, Melbourne is sure to have a festival that caters to your prefered genre. The city has many festivals, including a film festival, an international comedy festival, wine tastings, and music festivals.

So, a vacation to Melbourne is in order if you like to mingle with other festival-goers.

• The Spectacular Regent Theatre

The Regent Theatre, The Regent Theatre, was considered one of the most spectacular picture palaces in the world when it was completed in 1929, with the advent of talkies. It was reconstructed in 1945 after being destroyed by fire and flooding, but it fell into disrepair in the 1990s. It reopened in 1996 after a two-year refurbishment.

The mythical mood of Rococo style enthrals today's theatre goers. Priscilla, Wicked, Sunset Boulevard, Disney's The Lion King Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies, and  Queen of the Desert have all been box office hits. Melbourne, Australia's cultural capital, is blessed with several classic theatres, including the Regent and the Princess and Her Majesty's, both popular musical venues.

• The Outstanding Collins Street Architecture

Design of buildings on Collins Street The Manchester Unity Building on Collins Street is a superb illustration of the Gothic skyscraper architecture of the 1930s. Chicago's Tribune Tower inspired it. Melbourne's Central Business District has a wonderful blend of Gothic, Art Deco, Victorian, and modern architecture.

The 'floating' columns at 101 Collins Street, the Block Arcade at the corner of Elizabeth Street, the internal dome of the former CBA Bank at 333 Collins Street, the ANZ Bank at the corner of Queen Street, the Olderfleet Buildings at 471-477 Collins Street, the façade of the InterContinental hotel at 495 Collins Street, and the Rialto Towers at 525 are all noteworthy structures on Collins Street. Southbank is home to the highest building in Melbourne, the residential-focused Eureka Tower.

• Explore The Melbourne Museum

Museum of Victoria in Melbourne, The adjacent Victorian-era Royal Exhibition Building, hosted Australia's first Federal Parliament in 1901; the new, ultra-modern Melbourne Museum is widely regarded as the largest and most inventive museum in the southern hemisphere. T

he museum's Aboriginal component, Bunjilaka, is devoted to the indigenous people's history, culture, and art, and the museum places a strong emphasis on teaching and interaction. The chamber also features a section dedicated to the great Phar Lap.

During the Great Depression, this champion racehorse won the hearts of Americans with his astonishing string of victories, which included the Melbourne Cup.

• Be Awe With The Street Art

Public Expressions of Creativity Melbourne's alleys and laneways are home to some of Banksy's most famous works, including the artist's trademark "rats." Hosier Lane and MoVida, Melbourne's most popular Spanish restaurant, are two such pulsating instances.

Croft Alley off of Little Bourke Street in Chinatown, the privately owned Blender Lane off of 110 Franklin Street, and Post Office Lane off of Victoria Street in Little Vietnam are some places worth seeing. Melbourne Street Art Tours provides such an opportunity.