You’ve just finished your coffee after devouring the three courses at the World’s Longest Lunch, presented by La Trobe Financial, or the World’s Longest Brunch, presented by Cocobella. Basking in the afterglow of a day well spent, you’re contemplating your next moves. And the options are many. This list is a real choose-your-own-adventure situation, and just a place to start, but by all means run through the entire collection if you’re up for the challenge.
Visit the Triennial exhibition at NGV Australia
It’s brilliant, and it’s free.
NGV Australia, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, ngv.vic.gov.au
Drink Melbourne’s coldest Martini alongside its richest pint of stout
Caretaker’s Cottage is now considered one of Australia’s most internationally recognised cocktail bars. Time you found out why.
Caretaker’s Cottage, 139-141 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne, melbournefoodandwine.com.au
Stick a spoon in the watermelon granita at Pellegrini’s
The definition of classic, old-school Melbourne refreshment.
Pellegrini’s, 66 Bourke St, Melbourne
Learn more about Aboriginal art and culture at the Koorie Heritage Trust.
Be inspired by the history of the world’s oldest continuous living culture.
Koorie Heritage Trust, Swanston Street & Flinders Street, Yarra Building, Federation Square, Melbourne
Refresh yourself and your palate with a coffee spritz at Market Lane
Equal parts afternoon pick-me-up and non-alcoholic cocktail.
Market Lane Coffee, 83-85 Victoria St, Melbourne, marketlane.com.au
Indulge in a brown-sugar boba tea at Xing Fu Tang Melbourne
Order the signature boba and thank us later.
Xing Fu Tang Melbourne, 273 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, xingfutang.com.au
Order the Not Mezcal at Byrdi
Not mezcal, but not bad at all.
Byrdi, 211 La Trobe St, Tenancy GD075, Melbourne, byrdi.com.au
Upgrade your tableware selection at Made in Japan
Visit the Japanese ceramic importers Queen Victoria Market outpost and get yourself some new ramen bowls.
Made in Japan, Shop 11 Stringbean Alley, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne, mij.com.au
Browse the shelves at Books for Cooks
Home to Melbourne’s most extensive and well-curated selection of new and second-hand books spanning the world of food and wine.
Books for Cooks, Queen Victoria Market, 115-121 Victoria St, Melbourne, booksforcooks.com.au
Flip through the racks at No Order Market
Serving you independent international designers at Shifting Worlds and Australian label Permanent Vacation.
No Order Market, 193/187 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, noordermarket.com
Pick up a bottle from Blackhearts & Sparrows wine shop
Head through the rainbow bottle-shaped disco doors and grab a (Victorian) pét nat to drink in Carlton Gardens.
Blackhearts & Sparrows, Shop GD 077, Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, cnr Elizabeth & La Trobe St, Melbourne, blackheartsandsparrows.com.au
Cool off with an iced hojicha latte at BakemonoPick up a honey sesame and sea-salt pastry before you leave.
Bakemono, 273 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne, bakemonobakers.com.au
Invest in a better notebook at Milligram
Truly, one can never have too much stationery.
Milligram, 380 Lygon St, Carlton, milligram.com
Give your best Kylie-inspired performance at Kono Coin Karaoke
It’s a karaoke booth in a vending machine, it does what it says on the label.
Kono Coin Karaoke, 601 Little Lonsdale St, instagram.com/kono_karaoke
Feast on slices of raw tuna and salmon at Sushi 10
Visit this family-run, cash-only spot for the mixed sashimi plate.
Sushi 10, 178 Rathdowne St, Carlton
Try the mixed masala dosa at Saravanaa Bhavan
A savoury snack spot by way of southern India.
Saravanaa Bhavan, 131 King St, Melbourne, melbourne.saravanaabhavan.com.au
Stick a spoon in the lemon granita at Piccolina
Particularly if you’ve also just tried the watermelon granita at Pellegrini’s. Compare the pair: which granita reigns supreme?
Piccolina, 43 Hardware Ln, Melbourne, piccolinagelateria.com.au
Stick a spoon in the chocolate gelato at Pidapipó
The final stop on our Melbourne walking tour of icy treats, finishing with chocolate is a must.
8 Degraves St, Melbourne, pidapipo.com
Wander through the historic arcades of the Melbourne CBD
Take this as a sign to revisit Royal Arcade and Block Arcade.
335 Bourke St & 282 Collins St, Melbourne, royalarcade.com.au
Visit Hosier Lane
Graffiti selfies: just what your LinkedIn profile needs right now.
Hosier Lane, Melbourne
Check out the Mirka Mora mural at Flinders Street Station.
Underappreciated and right under our noses. And it’s big!
Flinders Street Station, Flinders St, Melbourne
Taste an array of hot chocolate options at Mörk
A real choose-your-fighter moment.
Mörk Chocolate Brew House, 150 Errol St, North Melbourne, morkchocolate.com.au
Flick through obscure vinyl at Play Music
A crate-digger’s delight.
Play Music & DVDs, shop 8/50 Bourke St, Melbourne, playmusicdvds.com.au
Have Martinis at Di Stasio Citta
Everyone is ordering the Negroni; buck the trend and go with the greatest drink of the 20th century instead.
Di Stasio Citta, 45 Spring St, Melbourne, distasio.com.au
Take a long walk along the Tan
Nothing beats a long walk after a long lunch (or indeed brunch), and this is one of Melbourne’s best.
Tan Track, Alexandra Ave, Melbourne
Work your way through the eight Margarita options at Tres a Cinco
MoVida runs this hole-in-the-wall Mexican spot, a must stop for all things tequila and mezcal.
Tres a Cinco, 3-5 Hosier Ln, Melbourne, tresacinco.com.au
Catch a matinee screening at Cinema Nova
Must be followed by a trip to Readings and dinner at Ti Amo; take advantage of the free BYO.
Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton, cinemanova.com.au
Wander through Carlton Gardens and pop into the Melbourne Museum
Nature! Science! Wonderment!
Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton, museumsvictoria.com.au
Go on a bar crawl in the upper CBD
Where better?
melbournefoodandwine.com.au
Enjoy an Orange Spritz at Arbory Afloat
Made with Melbourne’s own Marionette liqueur; soak up the sun in this pastel paradise on the Yarra.
Arbory Afloat, 1 Flinders Walk, Melbourne, arbory.com.au
Order a glass of sparkling and a round of oysters at City Wine Shop
Because there’s always room for oysters and a bottle of Little Cathedral Blanc de Noirs.
City Wine Shop, 159 Spring St, Melbourne, citywineshop.net.au
Partake in a classic cocktail on the deck at Siglo
You started at City Wine Shop, you had a snack at the European, then a Greek snack at the Supper Club; the only way is up.
Siglo, 2/161 Spring St, Melbourne, siglobar.com.au
Polish off a pistachio gelato from Spring Street Grocer on Parliament steps
A perfect early-autumn afternoon treat.
Spring Street Grocer, 157 Spring St, Melbourne, springstreetgrocer.com.au
See some live music at Angel Bar
You may be a few hours away from anyone taking the stage; may we suggest sitting out on Bourke Street for some A-grade people-watching till the show starts? With a Martini in hand of course.
Angel Bar, 12 Bourke St, Melbourne, angelmelbourne.com
Order a pint at the Cricketers Bar
Reliability at its finest, the epitome of classic Melbourne.
The Cricketers Bar, Hotel Windsor, 111 Spring St, Melbourne, thehotelwindsor.com.au
Find some vintage treasures at RetroStar Vintage Clothing
One of Australia’s largest and best vintage stores, hidden upstairs in the magnificent Nicholas Building.
RetroStar, Nicholas Building, First Floor, 37 Swanston St, Melbourne, retrostar.com.au
Take a walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens to Domain Road
Soak up the outdoor South Yarra vibe with a drink at The Botanical Hotel.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, rbg.vic.gov.au
Enjoy a Spritz or Negroni at the rooftop at King & Godfree
One of Melbourne’s best rooftop bar views – why not walk all the way along Lygon Street and take in all this bustling Melbourne street has to offer?
King & Godfree, 293/297 Lygon St, Carlton, kingandgodfree.com
Visit the Shrine of Remembrance in Kings Domain
Take a snap of the breathtaking views over the memorial gardens and CBD.
Shrine of Remembrance, Birdwood Ave, Melbourne, shrine.org.au
Get lost in Melbourne’s other laneways
Stroll the U-shaped journey of ACDC Lane and Duckboard Place, which now rivals Hosier Lane for street art and creativity.
ACDC Ln & Duckboard Pl, Melbourne
Take brunch to a whole new level and visit The Edge at Eureka Skydeck.
Located on the 88th floor of Eureka Tower, it suspends you almost 300 metres above the earth: 360-degree views; fastest elevator trip in the southern hemisphere.
Eureka Skydeck, 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank, eurekaskydeck.com.au
Hire a boat and take a cruise by along the Yarra.
Captain it yourself or take a skippered cruise. BYO drinks and snacks.
On a Boat, WTC Wharf, 18/38 Siddeley St, Docklands, onaboat.com.au
Get some serenity in the La Trobe Reading Room
An octagonal reading room six storeys high, housing 32,000 books. One of Melbourne’s most remarkable spaces.
State Library Victoria, 328 Swanston St, Melbourne, slv.vic.gov.au
Kick on at The Lincoln
One of the city’s best pubs, in the backstreets of Carlton. It fields a great wine list and always has an exciting mix of beers on tap.
The Lincoln, 91 Cardigan St, Carlton, hotellincoln.com.au
By Claire Adey, Zenon Misko, Pat Nourse and Frank Sweet