Guidebook for East Melbourne
Food Scene
Great atmosphere in this restaurant/bar. Can get busy on weekends but worth a visit for a casual beer or mid-market dinner. One of our favourite places.
62 locals recommend
Panama Dining Room
231 Smith StGreat atmosphere in this restaurant/bar. Can get busy on weekends but worth a visit for a casual beer or mid-market dinner. One of our favourite places.
Located in the same building complex as my apartment, it features some of the best fish & chips in Melbourne, plus friendly staff. I watch them furiously clean the place every night; very clean!
7 locals recommend
Kiwi Fish & Chips
412-442 Victoria ParadeLocated in the same building complex as my apartment, it features some of the best fish & chips in Melbourne, plus friendly staff. I watch them furiously clean the place every night; very clean!
Located on a fantastic street of converted factories and featuring top-notch coffee and brunch. Once saw Jamie Oliver here chatting to staff and diners.
125 locals recommend
Proud Mary
172 Oxford StLocated on a fantastic street of converted factories and featuring top-notch coffee and brunch. Once saw Jamie Oliver here chatting to staff and diners.
A longer walk than most places, but scenically along the Yarra. All you can eat vegetarian food with a pay-what-feel price. Includes coffee. Filled with hipsters, yuppies and backpackers alike.
66 locals recommend
Lentil As Anything, Abbotsford
3 St Heliers StA longer walk than most places, but scenically along the Yarra. All you can eat vegetarian food with a pay-what-feel price. Includes coffee. Filled with hipsters, yuppies and backpackers alike.
Seriously the best coffee in a city full is great coffee. They also have a large selection of beans and brewing equipment to take home (I recommend the Aeropress).
109
109Seriously the best coffee in a city full is great coffee. They also have a large selection of beans and brewing equipment to take home (I recommend the Aeropress).
Slightly away from the hustle and lower quality food of Lygon Street is this gem of a pizzeria. Not cheap by pizza standards, but the buffalo mozzarella is yummy.
295 Drummond St
295 Drummond StreetSlightly away from the hustle and lower quality food of Lygon Street is this gem of a pizzeria. Not cheap by pizza standards, but the buffalo mozzarella is yummy.
Modelled after the one in Fremantle, West Australia, a great place for both casual dining and casual drinking.
21 locals recommend
Little Creatures Dining Hall
Modelled after the one in Fremantle, West Australia, a great place for both casual dining and casual drinking.
This is one of our favourite up-market places to eat. Dinner costs about $70 per person for 3 or 4 courses.
57 locals recommend
Hell of the North
135 Greeves StThis is one of our favourite up-market places to eat. Dinner costs about $70 per person for 3 or 4 courses.
From this station east begins the Vietnamese neighbourhood. There are plenty of pho restaurants and, increasingly, some Korean places. The neighbourhood can bit grungy, but is mostly safe.
10 locals recommend
North Richmond station
Regent StreetFrom this station east begins the Vietnamese neighbourhood. There are plenty of pho restaurants and, increasingly, some Korean places. The neighbourhood can bit grungy, but is mostly safe.
222 Clarendon St
222 Clarendon StreetAbsolutely fantastic cafe just around the corner. Could not recommend more highly.
Huxtaburger Collingwood
106 Smith StLocal hamburger place that is popular with the locals.
Shopping
Our favourite furniture store in the world. If you like my dining table…well that's pretty much the cheapest thing you can buy here. Hand-crafted wooden furniture made on premises.
Mark Tuckey
4 Anderson RoadOur favourite furniture store in the world. If you like my dining table…well that's pretty much the cheapest thing you can buy here. Hand-crafted wooden furniture made on premises.
If you're relocating to Melbourne, you'll almost certainly need a trip to Ikea. Melbourne's Ikea is just a short tram ride from our place, and free coffee with the Ikea Family card (also free).
36 locals recommend
IKEA Richmond
630 Victoria StIf you're relocating to Melbourne, you'll almost certainly need a trip to Ikea. Melbourne's Ikea is just a short tram ride from our place, and free coffee with the Ikea Family card (also free).
While traditional book stores struggle, Melbourne's independent darling, Readings, does well. The Borders across the road is now in the dustbin of history.
74 locals recommend
Readings Carlton
309 Lygon StWhile traditional book stores struggle, Melbourne's independent darling, Readings, does well. The Borders across the road is now in the dustbin of history.
Drinks & Nightlife
Classy wine bar with a good food menu (the schnitzel is delicious). A pleasant walk from my place, or take any Victoria Parade bus to Spring street.
65 locals recommend
City Wine Shop
159 Spring StClassy wine bar with a good food menu (the schnitzel is delicious). A pleasant walk from my place, or take any Victoria Parade bus to Spring street.
One of my favourite cocktail lounges in the city. For something different, try a cocktail made with New Zealand feijoa-infused vodka.
32 locals recommend
Manchuria
7-9 Waratah PlOne of my favourite cocktail lounges in the city. For something different, try a cocktail made with New Zealand feijoa-infused vodka.
Hidden in plain sight on Lygon Street, features a good seasonal cocktail menu and is surprisingly easy to find a place to sit in.
6 locals recommend
Carlton Yacht Club
298 Lygon StHidden in plain sight on Lygon Street, features a good seasonal cocktail menu and is surprisingly easy to find a place to sit in.
A wine bar downstairs. We had a guest stay with us for the sole purpose of being able to go to the wine bar downstairs. It's a good one.
7 locals recommend
Cohen Cellars Wine Bar
162 Albert StA wine bar downstairs. We had a guest stay with us for the sole purpose of being able to go to the wine bar downstairs. It's a good one.
GG
158 Clarendon StA more upscale place to eat or have some wine. The service is really good.
Our favorite Thursday steak night place. Makes great pizzas too!
8 locals recommend
Baden Powell Hotel
61-65 Victoria ParadeOur favorite Thursday steak night place. Makes great pizzas too!
Sightseeing
Don't take a day trip to Phillip to see the penguins. There is a small penguin colony in St Kilda that's free and a short tram ride away. Take the 112 tram from Victoria parade all the way there.
13 locals recommend
St Kilda Pavilion
Acland StreetDon't take a day trip to Phillip to see the penguins. There is a small penguin colony in St Kilda that's free and a short tram ride away. Take the 112 tram from Victoria parade all the way there.
Don't pay ridiculous prices for a view of the city from Rialto or Eureka! This lounge on the 35th floor has great views of and is free. Be sure to check out the view from the bathrooms.
Sofitel electric vehicle charging
300 Barangaroo AvenueDon't pay ridiculous prices for a view of the city from Rialto or Eureka! This lounge on the 35th floor has great views of and is free. Be sure to check out the view from the bathrooms.
Arts & Culture
Local cinema with mostly independent or international films. DOC + Brunneti + Nova = a great night out in Carlton.
321 locals recommend
Cinema Nova
380 Lygon StLocal cinema with mostly independent or international films. DOC + Brunneti + Nova = a great night out in Carlton.
Essentials
There is an Aldi (cheap groceries) and an Woolworth's (regular groceries) in this shopping complex. Take the tram and it stops door-to-door or walk about 10 minutes.
42 locals recommend
ALDI Abbotsford
325 Victoria StThere is an Aldi (cheap groceries) and an Woolworth's (regular groceries) in this shopping complex. Take the tram and it stops door-to-door or walk about 10 minutes.