A weekend in Melbourne

L to R across; Pellegrini's Bar, Melbourne Lanes, Leo's Fine Foods Kew, Flinders Lane
Parliament House, Flinders St Station, The City Wine Shop, The Melbourne Recital Centre
Sabine Meyer and the Mogdiliani String Quartet, Cheese at Leo's Fine Foods; Melbourne Recital Centre,                  Fish Hall Queen Victoria Markets

We recently had the pleasure of spending a long weekend in Melbourne to celebrate a dear friend's wedding.  I love Melbourne. It is such a rich, vibrant, plump city. Most Sydney-siders who visit Melbourne say it has a very European feel. I would agree. After a one and a half hour flight, you get a little glimpse of that European vibe that you normally only get after that long haul 20 hour flight.  


On this trip we stayed in the CBD, at what Melbournian’s call the “Paris-end” of town.  While all the suit wearing locals tend to flee the city on the weekends – this part of town still has a great vibe on a Friday and Saturday night.

After three days, I left Melbourne carrying several more kilos than when I arrived. Half in my suitcase and the other half on my person. The authentic Greek and Italian meals we ate under the shadow of the ornate lamps on Spring Street were among the best I’ve eaten this year. I thought I’d share with you the highlights of our long weekend (sans the wedding details…). Hope you enjoy!

By column; The foyer of the Hotel Windsor; Ladies Powder Room The Hotel Windsor
Exterior The Hotel Windsor;  Room interior at the Mercure Melbourne Spring Street 

1.

By column;  Outside the Cellar Bar
Offerings from the Greek Precinct, Lonsdale Street 

2.

By column; Menu at Tsindos; Giros at Stalacites
Breakfast of Almond and Chocolate Croissants at Laurent, Kew 

3.

By column;  The selection at the City Wine Shop;
Exterior the City Wine Shop; Interior the Supper Club

4.

By column;  The Dairy Hall; Queen Victoria Markets
The American Donut Van, Queen Victoria Markets