4 Stunning Ways To Explore Restaurants In Melbourne, Food And Lifestyle

Photo of Melbourne Food: The City On Every Travel And Food Blogger's Bucket List 1/1 by Aakanksha Magan

Welcome to Melbourne, a city that is a mix of intriguing city lanes, tempting food and wine culture, captivating wildlife and a stunning skyline. Stylish, arty and full of surprises, Melbourne is Australia's sports and cultural capital. While here, grab a cup of coffee and explore iconic laneways, hidden spaces, taste tantalizing foods, and explore a dynamic art scene. Or you can choose to swim and surf the waves at many beaches on the coast, followed by peaceful sunsets on rooftop bars, sipping a drink or two. Restaurants in Melbourne promise to dazzle you, with the spectacular cityscape and incredible natural attractions keeping them company.

What is Melbourne Food Like?

If you are still wondering why you need to explore this city at length, I'll give you four main reasons: Food and Wine, Nature and Wildlife, Sports and Art and Culture.

Experience the eclectic food and wine scene with a visit to authentic Australian food markets and indulge in wine-tasting sessions

From restaurants to quaint cafes by celebrity chefs Melbourne is your one-stop destination to savour the best that Australia has to offer. After all, it is not called the food and wine capital of Australia for nothing! Step into Australia's oldest continuously running food market, Prahran Market, proudly being in operation since 1864. Shop for cheeses, organic fruit and vegetables, beef, pork, poultry and fresh seafood. Or visit Queen Victoria market, an iconic Melbourne destination, and the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere, a great place to enjoy a meal, grab one of Melbourne’s best coffees and enjoy a truly unique shopping experience. And if the thought of over 600 shops and stalls seems a little daunting, you can opt to go for a two-hour Ultimate Foodie Tour, designed for the foodies.

Photo of Melbourne Food: The City On Every Travel And Food Blogger's Bucket List by Aakanksha Magan

After you are done exploring the markets, head to Attica, ranked 20th of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, for an evening of degustation and find out what has the critics raving worldwide. You can also choose to drive towards Yarra Valley, with its rolling green hills, which is less an hour from Melbourne, with its breathtaking scenery; romantic hideaways and indulgent adventures. The Yarra Valley is recognised as one of the world's premier wine growing regions with over 80 sensational cellar doors, superb restaurants serving fresh regional produce, luxury accommodation, iconic scenery and stunning artwork.

From the exemplary Melbourne Food And Wine Festival held in March, to the best restaurants in Melbourne and probably in the world, the city will tantalise your taste buds and will make you want to visit again and again.

It's no surprise that food blogger and writer Ankiet Gulabani has put Melbourne food on the top of his bucket list.

Experience exotic wildlife as you catch a glimpse of kangaroos and koalas at the Maru Koala and Animal Park and more

Melbourne, along with being home to more than 4 million people, is also home to some of the most exotic wildlife on the planet. Take a trip to Phillip Island Nature Park, home to the world-famous Penguin Parade and other wildlife adventures. Penguin Parade, is a little procession of Penguins where you can see them waddling around. Or you can take a virtual tour to the world's most extreme continent at the new Antarctic Journey at the Nobbies Centre. Get up, close and personal with Australia's most adorable animal, Koalas at the Koala Conservation Centre. Or you can choose to enjoy a fast and fun boat ride on the Wild Ocean EcoBoat Tour to Australia's largest fur seal colony where you will get a chance to get up close to the seals and witness their playful antics at Seal Rocks.

You can also visit the Maru Koala and Animal Park, where you will get a chance to feed kangaroos and koalas. Or head to the Ballarat Wildlife Park to tickle the tummy of a Wombat, meet Crunch the crocodile, Hugo the giant tortoise and have other close encounters with the animals. End your wildlife encounters at Healesville Sanctuary, where you can wade with a platypus, pet a wombat and get to see a Tasmanian devil.

If animals don't fascinate you, there are many parks, like the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, spread all across the city. Take your favourite book and just sit under a tree and have a quiet afternoon to yourself.

These are just a few of the reasons why Anunay Sood has decided to explore Melbourne for his next nature and wildlife encounter.

Experience the infectious energy of Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and more, in sports-crazy Melbourne

MCG, affectionately known as 'The G' by locals is the spiritual home of Australian cricket and football. This ground has played host to some memorable events, like the 1956 Olympics and 2006 Commonwealth Games. Also, the coming couple of years are going to be iconic for all cricket-fans. Boxing Day Test Match between India and Australia, beginning on 26th December 2018 and MCG as the host venue for both the women's and men’s finals of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in 2020 are two major events to look forward to. So if you still haven't paid a visit to MCG, book your tickets right and go watch an exciting game of cricket on the ground.

But if cricket's not your cup of tea, don't be disheartened. Melbourne is unrivalled in its diverse sporting events. Rugby, Grand Slam at Australian Open and Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix are just few of the events that are held annually in Melbourne. Apart from these, the stunning coastline offers a chance to host events like Rip Curl Pro Surfing Competition and The Volvo Great Ocean Race. You can also catch the Spring Racing Carnival, held on 6th November, 2018, for an electric atmosphere where you get to see thoroughbred horses race and enjoy eclectic music and some of the finest of Melbourne food served at your table.

Check out what Instagrammer Dikshit Mundra is saying about Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Experience multicultural Melbourne via its art exhibits and dynamic street art

Melbourne is a city buzzing with dynamic and cutting-edge arts and culture. Art galleries, museums, aboriginal art, street art, theatres, literary festivals etc. are just a few of the things that define Melbourne as a cultural hub. Visit the Arts Centre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse, Recital Centre and National Gallery of Victoria at Southbank precinct. Or head to Federation Square to get a glimpse of architectural art and to see the aboriginal art collection at Ian Potter Centre NGV. To get an idea of innovation and the skill of local artists and designers, wander the laneways and discover hole-in-the-wall galleries across the city. And to truly enjoy the street art in Melbourne, visit its most famous street, Hosier Lane, and gaze at colourful bursts of art displayed on walls.

Attend White Night Melbourne, a dusk-till-dawn event that brings the city’s dark corners to life with over 100 events. Cultural institutions shine with free and ticketed events from outdoor light displays and street performances to urban adventure and fashion experiences. Witness the best of dance, theatre, circus, music and visual arts during the Melbourne International Arts Festival. Visit the Melbourne Museum, a natural and cultural history museum, largest in the Southern Hemisphere, and see the largest collection of Vikings artefact and the exhibition honouring the selfless contribution of Aboriginals to the Anzac legends. You can also take a trip on the art trams of Melbourne, where this year, Victorian artists will paint the trams, focussing on artist’s interpretation of community.