Daisy's Guide to Melbourne

Aug 1, 2023
4 min read

I acknowledge the Warundjeri People; Traditional Custodians of Kulin Nation.

I pay my respect to their Elders; past present & emerging.

I honour their unbroken Aboriginal spirit & rich Indigenous Culture.

Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world, uniting a multitude of cultures, experiences, beliefs & traditions.

We owe our nations' accomplishments to the contributions or more than 300 different ancestries; from Indigenous Australians to the newest arrivals.

Melbourne is a harmonious and culturally diverse community of over 5 million people!

The outgoing city spirit embraces change, whilst respecting heritage. Melbourne celebrates diversity and shares a common sense of place & pride.

Melbourne celebrates diversity and shares a common sense of place & pride. Enjoy the personality of Melbourne!

The Yarra River

Most Melbournians know the Yarra River as a brown, polluted waterway, but to the Indigenous people of this area, it is known as the 'Birrarung'. The river was once beautifully blue, abundant with fish, eels, dolphins, sharks & stingrays. It was a main food resource for the local Indigenous.

When the British first came to Melbourne (up the Yarra), their sheep & cattle decimated the Traditional bush tucker (natural foods). It has never recovered.

A Warundjeri (Indigenous) person was guiding the British up the river to where there was once a waterfall. 'Yarro Yarro' was the name of the falls. Miscommunication led to naming 'The Yarra River'.

John Batman

In 1835, free settler John Batman negotiated a 'treaty' to claim the Indigenous lands. The documentation was written in English. Indigenous people never learned to read or write and therefore didn't understand the contents of the agreement; unknowingly giving away their land.

Batman's 'treaty' was not recognised under Kulin (Indigenous) Law or European law. Today, Batman is still recognised by the Indigenous Communities as someone that attempted to disadvantage their land & people.

City Grid

In 1837, Robert Hoddle designed Melbourne's city grid. It consisted of 48 rectangular blocks, separated by parallel streets. These blocks are made up of 1 mile streets X 1/2 mile streets (1.6km x 800m). We still refer to this as the 'Hoddle Grid' today.

Melbourne is extremely easy to explore & navigate. The most efficient way to get around is by foot or on a tram.

Trams

Melbourne is the only city in Australia with a network of trams. The trams share road space with cars & pedestrians so it is important to be road safe & street safe. Travel on trams in Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD) is completely FREE!

In Australia, cars drive on the LEFT hand side of the road. It is courtesy to walk on the LEFT hand side of the footpath. Please be considerate of this cultural norm and take precautions when crossing the road.

Please refer to the 'Free Tram Zone' on the map below.

Click to enlarge and download for offline use.

Click to enlarge and download this 'Free Tram Zone' map, for offline use.

Alleys & Laneways

There is always something new to discover in Melbourne's hive of bustling, creative laneways. There is approx. 200 of them in the city, filled with hidden boutiques, restaurants, hole-in-the-wall cafes & bars.

Street Art

If street art is your vibe, Melbourne is famous for coloured walls of personality & creative expression! Be sure to check out Hosier Lane, Centre Place, AC/DC Lane, Caledonian Lane, Croft Alley, Duckboard Place & Rankin's Lane.

Boutique Shopping

Whether you're looking for luxury fashion, streetwear, unique jewellery or a new pair of sneakers, Melbourne's alleys & laneways have you covered!

Australian Fashion

Check out the entire level of the Emporium shopping mall that is dedicated to Australian fashion & designers on the corner of Lonsdale & Swanston streets. Highly reputed brands include 'Bec & Bridge', 'Sass & Bide' and 'M.J Bale', amongst many more!

Bars, Pubs & Clubs

There are a multitude of wine bars, beer gardens, cocktail lounges & piano bars hidden amongst the laneways of Melbourne. Get lost in the city & see where you end up, or check out some of my favourite venues:

Above Board An intimate award winning cocktail bar (16 seats). Walk-ins only; no bookings!
Beneath Driver Lane Basement bar featuring cocktails, whiskey & blues. Open late!
Caretakers Cottage This dog friendly bar behind Wesley Place Church is probably the smallest pub in Victoria!
Embla Gourmet small plates with an extensive wine menu, inside industrial-chic setting.
Rooftop Bar 360 views over central Melbourne. Situated on the top floor or Curtain House.
State of Grace Fancy a swanky bar hidden behind a secret bookcase? 3 levels, including a rooftop!
Section 8 Laneway bar ft. local & international DJ's mixing deep penetrative sounds until dawn!

Restaurants

You may notice there are NO Michelin star restaurants in Australia. That's because the Michelin's have never been here and because we use an entirely different rating system referred to as 'Chef's Hats'. Hats are awarded for the food alone. Other considerations such as setting and décor, service and wine are represented by other symbols by the Australian Good Food Guide.

Prior to guiding tours around Australia, I managed bars, restaurants & catering teams in Australia & overseas. I value quality food & dining experiences.

Here are my Melbourne recommendations:

ARU Contemporary destination where native ingredients meet Asian flavours with French training & precision in an open kitchen & exceptional service.
Mabu Mabu Indigenous owned & run business, sharing native Australian flavours with the world! Take this opportunity to try kangaroo, emu & crocodile on the menu!
Minamishima Set menu; traditional Japanese cuisine. (If this is booked out, try Nobu or Kisumé).
Society Restaurant A fine dining statements of sophisticated modern-Australian dining.
Gimlet @ Cavendish House Oysters, caviar & hearty wood-fired mains. Will not disappoint!
Coda French-Vietnamese in a relaxed environment offering lunch, dinner & delicious deserts.
The Green Man's Arms The best vegetarian / vegan cuisine in all of Melbourne. Worth the taxi ride!