How to spend 48 hours in Melbourne

Lunch at The European

Just five minutes’ walk from the hotel is a stretch of “old Melbourne” on Spring Street, occupied by the stately Princess Theatre as well as its well-loved neighbours City Wine Shop and its adjoining dining space, The European.

They are favourites among the city’s theatre-loving crowd, who come for a bite and a drink before and after shows. A wall of local and imported wines greets guests at the entrance for guests to enjoy at the bar, or at The European with a meal. The bone marrow and chicken schnitzel are firm favourites, as is the grilled octopus on a bed of mojo rojo, a spicy red sauce. Be sure to ask about the daily selection of cheeses, which come from Spring Street Grocer next door.

Walk the Royal Botanic Gardens to South Yarra 

It may come as a surprise to some, but Melbourne is an excellent walking city.

A stroll through the gardens towards the north will take you to the trendy streets of Fitzroy, or take a leisurely walk along the banks of the Yarra River—with the option to detour through the stunning Royal Botanic Gardens along Alexandra Avenue—to the posh neighbourhood of South Yarra.

Dinner at France-Soir

Now that you’ve made it to South Yarra, we implore you to visit France-Soir. This Melbourne institution has stayed busy every day—from lunch service to afternoon lingerers, through dinner and digestifs—since owner Jean- Paul Prunetti opened its doors in 1986.

Newcomers will be charmed by the familial banter between the waiters and regulars, and delighted (albeit slightly overwhelmed) by the wine menu, which boasts the most extensive selection of French wines in Melbourne. The food here is excellent, serving French classics such as escargots, poulet au vin jaune, steak frites and crème brûlée. 

Drinks at Le Splendide

It’s been a long time coming, but France-Soir finally opened its very own bar, Le Splendide, right next door in October 2024. There’s an air of seduction and mystery here, with a generous lashing of red velvet and a strict “no photos” policy.

Enjoy classic cocktails, wines that lean toward an affinity for natural production—such as Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, and chardonnay from Burgundy sub-regions—as well as Kronenbourg on tap.

Breakfast at Elio’s Place

Despite being a fairly new addition to Melbourne’s dining scene, Elio’s Place feels like it’s been here for decades thanks to a stream of regulars and its retro-inspired decor—think timber, cork, frosted glass and a sunken parlour. It’s open from morning until night, but the breakfast is worth waking up for.

There are savoury dishes like a cheesy Comté omelette and focaccia with smoked trout, gherkins and pepperberry creme fraiche; as well as sweet options like kaiserschmarrn, a kind of scrambled pancake popular in the Tyrolean Alps, topped with blueberry compote and yoghurt. 

National Gallery Victoria

Hidden behind the walls of a bluestone monolith is the National Gallery of Victoria. The permanent collection of more than 70,000 pieces—enough to inspire you for hours but not so many to exhaust you—is free to the public, but their blockbuster temporary exhibitions are worth paying for.

Tatler tip: There’s a Yayoi Kusama exhibition running until April 21.

Lunch at Marion

A quintessential Melbourne pastime is spending a long, lazy afternoon at Marion. The wine menu covers major grape varieties, while also making room for lesser-known types like grüner veltliner, chenin blanc, gamay, orange and “skin contact” wines.

If the weather is nice, book an outdoor table, order a good wine to share among friends, graze on plates of charcuterie (and perhaps a cheeky bowl of fries; they are excellent) and people-watch in one of the city’s most eclectic neighbourhoods, Fitzroy.

Fun fact: One evening at Marion, I spotted actor Dev Patel by the window enjoying some wine with a friend. You really never know what—or who—you’ll see here.

Drinks at Tamura Sake Bar

Right next door to Marion is Tamura, where records are spun and a superb selection of sake is served. Seating wraps around
the bar for a communal feel, while a soundtrack of funk, disco and upbeat Japanese city pop plays in the background.

The shelves are adorned with all manners of Japanese kitsch from vintage posters to Hello Kitty lunchboxes. If you’re feeling peckish, they serve izakaya-style plates, including yakitori skewers and a delicious katsu sando.

Dinner at Benchwarmer

This menu at this hidden gem in West Melbourne has recently undergone a glow-up, thanks to chef Geoff Marett—proud sister here—who honed his craft at Hong Kong's Yardbird. The restaurant has the laid back vibe of a beer hall but it is so much more than that, with a stellar selection of wines, sakes and highballs to match the new Japanese-inspired menu. 

Some must-order dishes include the kingfish tostada on a crispy wonton skin; XO lamb on a sourdough crumpet with yuzu labneh, hot honey and pickles; chicken katsu with Japanese curry gravy; sake clams with miso butter, lap cheong, fresh herbs and hot buns for dipping. Kanpai. 

Or dinner at Reed House 

Housed in a classic bluestone building dating back to the mid-1800s, Reed House is helmed by chef Mark Hannell, whose first chef job was with famed Israeli British chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi’s group, where he worked for years before moving to Australia. The Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences of those days come through in the menu, featuring dishes like mushroom skewers with pomegranate molasses; roast chicken with saltbush za’atar; and a rye pici pasta with pecorino, black pepper and hazelnuts.

Drinks at Caretaker’s Cottage

Stroll across the courtyard to Caretaker’s Cottage, one of Melbourne’s most celebrated bars since it opened in 2022. The name is a homage to its location; it is housed in what was formerly home to caretakers of the nearby Wesley Church, tucked away in the heart of the city since 1914.

Feeling more like someone’s home, complete with a great collection of vinyl records behind the bar, the vibe here is intentionally, delightfully casual. The cocktails are fabulous—personal favourites are the martini and the clover club.

Lunch at Anchovy

Punctuate your Melbourne romp at Anchovy. Owned by Jia-Yen Lee and Thi Le, the latter of whom is also the chef, the charming restaurant is a contemporary nod to the city’s Vietnamese diaspora—or in their own words, “a Viet Kieu: of a Vietnamese identity naturalised in Australia”.

Menu highlights include the abalone sandwich with three-year-aged anchovies, mayo and mustard leaves; silver needle noodles with house-made XO sauce, mushroom and egg yolk; and banh khot, a fried turmeric rice cake with sweet corn and spanner crab.

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