Itinerary

Friday night

Start your weekend at a quintessentially Melbourne-style drinking spot: Loop Roof. Decked out with an exotic garden, this laneway rooftop bar is perfect for soaking up the city views over a pre-dinner cocktail.

From there you're not far from a string of top-notch restaurants on and around Flinders Lane. Choose between the celebrated Cumulus Inc., Chin Chin or Supernormal, or combine dinner and drinks with old-world glamour at Gimlet on Russell Street. For craft beer, cold cuts and 'brick-fried' chicken, check out the new Brick Lane Market on Queen Street. This one's from the guys behind Brick Lane Brewing, so you know the pints are on point.

Saturday morning

Rise early if you can to enjoy Queen Victoria Market at its bustling best. We can definitely recommend a borek from the Borek Shop, just inside the main entrance (follow the queue of hungry locals). 

Join Melbournians hunting for the best fresh produce in the aisles and queuing for brekky bratwurst and baked goods in the Deli Hall. Stock up on treats to take home, grab a brew from Market Lane Coffee and perch outside to enjoy the theatre of it all. Pick up culinary know-how at specialist store Books for Cooks.

Saturday afternoon

Satisfy your lunchtime cravings at one of Melbourne's famous eat streets. Refuel at the Vietnamese eateries on Victoria Street, Richmond. Get a taste of la dolce vita along Italian-influenced Lygon Street, Carlton. Or find a seat for mouthwatering flavour in Chinatown, along Little Bourke Street.

Stroll to Fitzroy and Collingwood to discover the inner north's epicentre of noteworthy dining. Graze on a lunch of sensational meat-free dishes from Shannon Martinez at Smith & Daughters, arguably Australia's best vegan restaurant. Or enjoy a long, spritzy lunch with refined Euro-bistro fare at Poodle on Gertrude St. 

Work off lunch as you browse the boutiques and galleries on Smith and Gertrude Streets or amble through nearby Carlton Gardens. A stroll around the Exhibition Building is a must, especially as the sun goes down. 

Saturday night

Stay northside for dinner tonight. Sit back and savour a degustation menu at Cutler & Co., IDES or the intimate Restaurant Gaea. Top it all off with an exquisitely mixed cocktail from award-winning bartenders at The Everleigh or Black Pearl, or head upstairs for a brew with a view at Naked For Satan Rooftop. It's traditional to finish Saturday night with a cheap, greasy kebab on Brunswick Street. 

Sunday morning

Ease into Sunday morning with next-level coffee and delicious brunch at Proud Mary. Make time for browsing artisanal grocery goodies at Gertrude Street's Morning Market, and hop on the 86 tram to pick up cheese and gelato at Spring Street Grocer back in the city.

Sunday afternoon

Make your way over to Federation Square to explore the Australian art collection at the Ian Potter Centre. While you're in Fed Square, call in to Hero at ACMI to taste the absolute best of Victorian seasonal produce, or Big Esso by Mabu Mabu, where Indigenous flavours shine.

Meander along the Yarra River or join a foodie walking tour for an insider's guide to Melbourne's culinary secrets. Stop for coffee and snacks at places you discover along the way – perhaps a drink and a bite at Arbory or Ponyfish Island. If you have time (and stomach space) head to the new four-storey HER Melbourne, on Lonsdale Street. Start down the bottom with the bar at Her Bar, then work your way up to BKK and HER Rooftop (with a cheeky stop inside The Music Room). 

Sunday night

End your weekend of foodie adventures with another memorable dining experience. Book well ahead for one of the city's legendary eateries, Vue de Monde and Attica, try and grab a spot at Crown's The Atlantic. For something a little more casual but no less exciting, take a seasonal journey through Gippsland at Farmer’s Daughters in the heart of the CBD. Finish the night with wine and gooey raclette at Juliet, or a signature cocktail at gold-themed Jin Bar

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