Travel the World

Given Melbourne’s celebrated restaurant and bar culture that continues to draw in foodies from across the globe, it wouldn’t be too arduous a task to give into your every guilty pleasure. From authentic takes on world-renowned dishes to warm & welcoming restaurants adorned in trendy décor, Melbourne is where you can go on a wide spectrum of culinary journeys from morning till night.

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Variety is at the forefront of the city’s food scene with exciting and insightful adventures awaiting those who desire satisfying their every craving. Thus, in order to make your foodie trips a truly mesmeric experience, take stock of the following regions and neighbourhoods that have transformed the capital city of the State of Victoria into a gastronomic paradise well worth heading over to. If you see yourself in the company of the fine flavours of Greece, then consider exploring every inch of Oakleigh where a slew of Greek restaurants and bakeries can be found. From here, beeline in the direction of Fitzroy where flavoursome takes on Spanish tapas will be served while for a trip through rich, aromatic fare of the Far East, then do make a date with Chinatown. Further, for those seeking to munch on delightful pasta and pizzas, it will be prudent to allocate time for a visit to Carlton. Also, for a memorable cruise through Vietnam accompanied by affordable price tags, then look no further than visiting Richmond.

Regardless of where your paths lead to and which menu you end up pouring over, it is an absolute ‘must’ that you sample one of Melbourne’s most cherished and sought-after creations – smashed avocado on toast. Often paired with a choice of goat’s cheese or feta along with some eggs, this treat will have you salivating at the ends no sooner than the dish’s finer points are explained to you by a smiling waiter or waitress. What’s more? Smashed avocado is available at a majority of cafes in the city and better yet, minute differences can be zoned in on should you have sampled the same at more than one establishment. Complementing smashed avocado is Melbourne’s deep-rooted passion and obsession with coffee. Its coffees and baristas are some of the best that you will encounter in the world with brewing techniques and unique flavours appearing as its major talking points. In terms of where you need to be heading, consider unwinding at Market Lane Coffee, Proud Mary, St. Ali and Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters for rewarding and memorable coffee outings. In fact, if looking for a decent accommodation in the city where such cafes can be accessed, then do look at booking a stay with Avani Melbourne Central Residences which features its own Melbourne hotel restaurant to come over to.

For all things centred on meaty patties, hot sauces, fresh veggies and the softest burger buns in town, do make plans to dine at 8Bit, Huxtaburger, Betty’s Burgers or Good Times where juicy, flavourful burgers are made to tried and tested recipes. With reference to indulging your palate on local flavours and ingredients and that too within a fancy fine dining setting, then head straight for Attica if you desire contemporary fare that focuses a great deal on seasonal produce, Cutler & Co will be your best mate. Where you find yourself strolling through the hustle and bustle of the Central Business District in search of a place to eat, then you certainly will be spoilt for choice. For starters, the restaurant called Tonka will ensure that you are treated to household names in Indian cuisine complete with a sprinkling of ingenuity. Worthy of mention is Chin Chin where you will be in prime position to bask in the glory of a sublime ambience as you are taken through the ins and outs of Thai cuisine. However, for an unforgettable experience of modern-day Aussie food paired with an inviting list of wines, then it would be mandatory to arrive at Cumulus Inc. which is well-known for its brunch spreads.

Melbourne would always be a captivating city for the visitor offering an array of engrossing things to see and do. This destination would also offer a fine system of public transport meaning that you could easily explore it without a car of your own. Melbourne features convenient bus, train and tram services on which you could easily navigate the city. After obtaining a Myki card you could use these efficient systems of public transport which are described below.

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The city’s frequently used trams would be an iconic mode of local transportation that is also likely to be a novel experience for foreign visitors. There would be some points to keep in mind when using these trams as well. When boarding a tram, you would have to ‘tap on’; in other words, place the Myki card on the card reader. However, it wouldn’t be necessary to do likewise when getting off. Meanwhile, in the free zone for trams in the city’s CBD, tapping on wouldn’t be necessary at all. Travelling by tram would be a great way to see the sights of Melbourne, and you could also visit attractive places in the suburbs in this way.

Trains would be a great option for those who need to travel extensive distances or make their way into the suburbs. The trains of Melbourne could be described as a larger sibling of the trams, transporting passengers from the city’s fringes to the CBD and the inner suburbs. Depending on your location and destination, taking the train could be a more rapid alternative than buses or trams.

The downside would be that at peak hours, trains might be rather packed, so it would probably be advisable to avoid taking them at the time of the morning and evening rush hours. When taking trains, you would need to tap on before boarding at the station and tap off when leaving the station at your destination. You would also need to push the required button on the door of the train when getting on or off. One of the places just outside the city centre which make an ideal base and you can easily reach by train would be Box Hill; hotel properties here to consider include the likes of Avani Melbourne Box Hill Residences close to the local railway station.

The useful bus services would be a vital component of the mainly rail-based public transportation system of Melbourne. Although travelling by bus may seem less glamorous than taking the tram, the bus network would actually be more comprehensive; for instance, you could travel directly to Chadstone, the largest shopping centre in Australia, by bus, whilst this wouldn’t be possible by tram. There would also be a greater number of bus routes than tram routes; you could also travel a greater distance towards the suburbs by bus, and bus routes would also typically be more direct in comparison to those of other modes of public transport. Just keep in mind to have your Myki card ready and tap both on as well as off as you use the bus services.

When it comes to taking day trips from Melbourne and making your way to other regions of Victoria, your transport mode of choice would be V/Line coaches and trains. These services would take you to localities that wouldn’t be accessible through regular Melbourne trains, trams and buses. The hub for V/Line services in Melbourne’s CBD would be Southern Cross Station; this station could also easily be reached by bus or tram. From this station, you could conveniently take a coach or train to reach the springs at Daylesford, the goldfields at Ballarat or Bendigo, the shoreline at Warrnambool or Geelong, and so on. However, you should remember that some of the V/Line services would not use the Myki system.