31 minute read
THE INSIDERS
INSIDER
Damien Cody
Advertisement
As Managing Director of the National Opal Company, Damien Cody spends his days sourcing Australia’s brightest gems to share with the world. He reveals how he started in the industry, and let’s us in on a few local treasures of a different kind
As a boy I was always intrigued by rocks and minerals. I convinced my parents to take me fossicking at fossil sites and was able to start my own modest collection. Later I discovered opal on a school excursion to the mining town of Coober Pedy, and the notion that our wonderful planet could relinquish such incredible treasures filled my head with colourful dreams that remain with me today.
After doing business studies and surviving constant corporate battles while working in financial institutions, it occurred to me that there has to be something better than playing games of corporate snakes and ladders. So over a long lunch with my older brother Andrew at Melbourne’s famous Teppanyaki Inn, we conspired to join together in the opal business – the rest is history.
Australian Opal is gaining recognition as one of the world’s most ethically mined gemstones. For me the greatest satisfaction comes from seeing an excited customer select a beautiful piece. The journey along the way involved going to the outback mine, cutting and polishing the rough opal, creating the design, and being fashioned into the final piece by one of our expert goldsmiths. It’s wonderful to see every step coming together and finally culminating in a treasured heirloom.
I love the diversity of the people I deal with, and the places the job takes me. One day I could be roughing it in a remote outback mining location sourcing opals, and a few days later I could be in meetings with the world’s leading fashion brands in Paris, New York or London.
My ideal day in Melbourne would start with a stroll through our iconic arcades, visiting Royal, Block and Centreway and sampling coffee and cake along the way. I’d then stroll past Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, catching glimpses across the river to the leafy Botanic Gardens and Arts Centre spire, and jump aboard a ferry for a tour down the Yarra River (melbcruises.com.au). By now, it might be time to sample some freshly steamed dim sum in Chinatown (chinatownmelbourne.com.au), before jumping on a tram to St Kilda for a walk along the promenade and out to the pier to watch the sunset and see the local penguins whilst enjoying a feed of freshly cooked fish and chips.
The City Circle Tram is completely free, as is all tram travel in the city centre, from Queen Victoria Market to Docklands, Spring Street, Flinders Street Station and Federation Square – so you can jump on and off and visit the many museums, art galleries and beautiful gardens around the city (ptv.vic.gov.au). Brunetti’s in Flinders Lane make wonderful coffee, along with a rich selection of freshly made cakes and pastries (brunetti.com.au). I love the Transport Public Bar at Federation Square for a drink with friends. You can be inside or outside enjoying the views over the Yarra and watching the trams clatter across the beautiful Princes Bridge (transportpublicbar.com.au).
The ocean beaches along the Mornington Peninsula have a special allure for me. The crystal clear rock pools fringing the rugged sandstone reefs are like giant aquariums. Closer to home, I love my morning walks along the foreshore at Black Rock Beach. It doesn’t feel like exercise when you have such beautiful surroundings. I often see dolphins, swans, pelicans and even the odd seal, all less than 20 kilometres from the city.
I recommend taking a drive to Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula to go winery hopping, and don’t miss the peninsula beaches. Take the car ferry
from Sorrento to Queenscliff and visit this quaint historic seaport, then head back to Melbourne via Geelong or stay overnight and continue along the Great Ocean Road visiting the scenic coastline known as the Twelve Apostles. One thing I’ve never tried but am considering is skydiving from 14,000 feet, which has to be a great way to see the state from a different perspective (skydive.com.au).
Melbourne is full of amazing things to do in every season. There are great film, fashion, comedy, food and wine festivals all year round – you’ll never have to wait too long for the next one. The weather may dictate where you go or what activities you undertake, but you can plan to have loads of fun on any day.
Melbourne is … sophisticated, trendy, cultured, fun and friendly. DV
INSIDER
Christy Tania
Dessert queen Christy Tania swapped a career in project management to become a celebrated pastry chef. The MasterChef regular shares some of Melbourne’s sweetest secrets
I got into the dessert business by accident. I was working at IBM in Singapore and started a little cake business on the side to satisfy my creativity. Then I did a bit of soul searching and ended up in France learning about the artistry behind cake and pastry making. When I arrived in Paris I fell in love with it, it humbled me. I met my partner, who is Australian, while working as a pastry chef at the Ritz. We moved to Paris, and when his working holiday visa expired he asked me to come to Australia with him and I said yes – what did I have to lose?
My motto in life is to always strive for the best, and that’s how I started my working life in Melbourne. I worked in some of the city’s best restaurants including Vue de Monde, Jacques Reymond and Sake before becoming the head chef at Om Nom in the Adelphi hotel – the city’s first dessert themed restaurant. In 2017 I opened GLACÉ, my very own store in Windsor, followed by a second store at Emporium Melbourne in 2019 (glacedessert.com).
It’s hard to start a day in Melbourne without a good brunch, and one of my favourite places for this is the Prahran Market, which is home to incredible produce. I recommend Makers and Mongers for an exquisite cheese toastie, or Wasshoi Bar and Grill for amazing Japanese charcoal grills. Another great spot is the Mussel Pot, where a husband and wife team serve fresh mussels grown around Geelong. Q le Baker has amazing Viennoiserie and bread, and the coffee around there is as good as you’ll find (prahranmarket.com.au).
Melbourne has a huge range of events and festivals, so I always keep my eyes out for things like the Whisky, Wine & Fire Festival (whiskywineandfire.com.au), Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (melbournefoodandwine.com.au) or Spring Racing Carnival (springracingcarnival.com.au). I also love just sitting at a restaurant or bar at Southbank beside the Yarra River having a glass of wine.
Atlas Dining is one of my favourite restaurants. I’m there all the time, and not just because the chef Charlie Carrington is a friend – he’s an exceptionally talented and groundbreaking chef. His cuisine changes every four months, and his menu truly reflects Melbourne’s multi-dimensional culture (atlasdining.com.au). I also love Pastuso on AC/DC Lane. Head chef Alejandro Saravia really champions Peruvian cuisine in Melbourne (pastuso.com.au).
After dinner there’s nothing better than kicking on at a bar. Maybe Whisky and Alement (whiskyandale.com.au), Boilermaker House (boilermakerhouse.com.au), or one of the many bars in Brunswick – you can’t go wrong. If you’re looking to grab a drink with a big group of friends, I’d suggest Eau de Vie. They have private dining rooms and it’s such a special place to visit (eaudevie.com.au). For smaller groups or one-on-one, you can’t beat Romeo Lane. It’s so cosy and intimate and the service is amazing (romeolane.com.au).
The one touristy thing I love to do in Melbourne is to have a picnic. I go to the Queen Victoria Markets (qvm.com.au) and pick up cheese, dips, crackers, fruit and wine and then head to the Royal Botanical Gardens. It’s so beautiful on a sunny day, I really love it. You can sit back and relax and appreciate your surroundings (rbg.vic.gov.au).
I love discovering Melbourne’s underground food scene. Dodee Paidang is the most authentic Thai food I’ve ever had and is literally underground (dodeepaidang.com). My Thai staff introduced me to it – it’s where they go when they’re craving Som Tam (papaya salad). Romeo Lane is also quite modest, with super small sign on the outside and capacity for about 20 people – another of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets (romeolane.com.au).
At nighttime I’ll go to Supper Inn in Chinatown. Their duck congee is such a winter warmer and it’s open till 2:30am, perfect for late night eats. Also in Chinatown, Ling Nan Restaurant (with its angry uncle who we all love) has the best fried chicken ribs – so addictive and so good! There’s also a gorgeous one-of-a-kind vintage shop called Madame Virtue in Crossley Lane. If you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing the same thing as other patrons when you go out, you’ll find a range of rarities here, from vintage Mugler and Chanel to limited edition Dior (madamevirtue.com.au).
If I have friends or family visiting I take them to Daylesford and surrounds, they have so much amazing produce. There’s also hot springs, wineries, restaurants and great hotels to explore. I also love visiting Beechworth and Gippsland, because there’s so much to see and amazing local produce to discover there as well.
Melbourne is … a delicious, friendly, unpredictable, melting pot. DV
INSIDER
Heidi McKinnon
Heidi McKinnon grew up Tamworth, NSW, before finding her way to Melbourne where she spends her days working as a freelance graphic designer and creating children’s books. She shares her favourite city hot spots
I love that I get to be creative every day. As a kid I always drew pictures and wrote weird stories, so not much has changed. I never really planned to become an author/ illustrator, but the transition from graphic design to making books for kids has felt like a natural progression – it all happened organically and now I can’t imagine doing anything else.
I studied art and design at university and then fell into graphic design, which I still do. When our daughter Ava came into our lives I fell in love with picture books and began working on some ideas, not thinking they would actually become anything. I met the incredible author/ creator Sally Rippin at a workshop, and she encouraged me to pursue it.
I’ve never been a morning person and I’m so much happier not pretending to be. That being said, my five-year-old daughter loves to wake up early! My partner and I make breakfast, lunches and other ‘life stuff’ and drop Ava off to kinder, then I get a coffee and head to my studio. Some days are filled with design projects for freelance clients, and others with drawing, writing and refining ideas.
One of my favourite times to draw is in the evening, after Ava has gone to sleep. I often wonder if I would be better at things if I worked from a cabin in the woods overlooking a beautiful lake with no distractions, although I’m not sure I’d like it. I think I need all the fuss in life to draw creative energy from.
My perfect day out would start with breakfast at CIBI, a Japanese cafe in the Collingwood backstreets. They do a traditional Japanese breakfast, it’s kid friendly and has a great vibe (45 Keele Street, Collingwood). Then we’d head to the Melbourne Museum. Every time we go, we discover something new. It has a brilliant kids’ area and Ava loves the Bugs Alive exhibit. Sometimes the resident bowerbird is out finding blue things for its nest, which is very cool to see (musueumsvictoria.com.au).
Next we’d visit Queen Victoria Markets for its amazing produce (qvm.com.au), Emporium to wander around the fancy shops (emporiummelbourne.com.au), and the Royal Arcade, stopping to say hi to ‘Gog & Magog’ on the way (royalarcade.com.au). Lunch would be at Cumulus – I love to sit at the bar with oysters and watch the bustle of the kitchen (cumulusinc.com.au) – before spending some time at the NGV, which always has something great on for adults and kids (ngv.vic.gov.au). I’d finish the day at Siglo, the best rooftop bar for people watching and negronis (siglobar.com.au). Journal Cafe is a longtime favourite of mine. I could sit there all day leeching the wifi and ordering flat whites (journalcafe.com.au). For a drink with friends, it’s hard to beat Napier Quarter, a cosy little neighbourhood bar with a great wine list that is wonderfully – and dangerously! – located within stumbling distance from my front door (napierquarter.com.au).
Lune Croissants is also far too close to where I live. I was dubious there could be much difference between croissants, but I was very wrong. This place is a must and – I’m sorry to say – totally worth waiting in line for (lunecroissanterie.com).
Melbourne has really great Vietnamese bakeries, which are best known for banh mi – crunchy bread rolls filled with barbequed pork or chicken, cucumber, coriander and pate. But it’s all about the bread – if you’re not covered in bread shrapnel after eating one, it’s not good bread! The best ones can be found at N Lee Bakery (in Fitzroy and the CBD) and N. Tran (Prahran).
I often wonder if I’d be better at things if I worked from a cabin in the woods, although I’m not sure I’d like it. I think I need all the fuss in life to draw creative energy from.
I love a good park. Fitzroy Gardens is a favourite as it has a stunning view of the city, and Ava loves Ola Cohn’s Fairies Tree – a 300-year-old red gum with a series of carvings of fairies, gnomes and Australian animals (fitzroygardens.com).
Melbourne Zoo has a summer concert series called Zoo Twilights that is truly amazing. Last summer I saw Cat Power. It was a beautiful summer night, we had fancy picnic stuff, they sold good wine, bats flew overhead – it was a ‘planet-aligning’ concert experience (zoo.org.au). Another thing I’d love to try is the ghost tour at Pentridge Prison – preferably on a cold, stormy night (lanternghosttours.com).
Melbourne is … unique, unassuming, diverse, cultural, cool. DV
INSIDER
Rob Mills
Actor, TV host and singer/songwriter Rob “Millsy” Mills shot to fame as a finalist on the first season of Australian Idol. He gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of his life on stage and screen and shares his favourite Melbourne haunts
I studied drama and music in high school and sang in pubs and footy clubs around Melbourne from the age of 17. When I left school the plan was to get a job as an electrician and do gigs on the side, but after failing a colour-blind test I had to quit working as a ‘sparky’ and started a bunch of casual jobs – video store clerk, bar work, mowing lawns, changing advertising signs at the airport, labouring. Doing gigs every weekend helped keep me sane and happy – then I auditioned for the first season of Australian Idol in 2003, and the rest is history.
It’s funny how things work out. I am currently acting in Neighbours, which films not too far from where I grew up; right next to where I played baseball as a kid. My parents would take my brothers and I to see shows when I was kid, but I never thought I could actually do this sort of thing for a living.
I’m always playing the prince or good guy on stage, so I have thoroughly enjoyed playing the villain on Ramsey Street. Neighbours is Australia’s longest running drama series and is currently in its 35th year – that’s almost as many years as I have been alive! We shoot six episodes a week, which works out to nearly two feature-length films’ worth of footage.
I recently had my girlfriend’s parents out for a visit and we started the day with Devonshire Tea at NGV, followed by a walk through the gallery and Southbank (ngv.vic.gov.au). After that we took a tram out to St Kilda for lunch at The Espy and watched the sun go down over the water (hotelesplanade.com.au), then back into town for a show and supper in Little Collins Street. I would have loved to have taken them to the mighty MCG to watch the Hawks play, but alas – next time (mcg.org.au).
I have a pretty regular Saturday morning coffee spot; Magic Mountain in Little Collins Street. Awesome staff, great coffee and delicious fusion breakfast treats (magicmountainsaloon.com.au).
I had a seriously delicious dinner at Palermo the other night. No one does Argentinian cuisine like these guys. The food is top shelf and so are the Argentinian wines (palermo.melbourne). The Imperial Hotel at the top of town is a great place for a drink with friends. You can grab a good counter meal, watch some footy and then head to the rooftop for music and good vibes (bourkestreetimperial.com).
As you may have worked out I live in the CBD, so I love a run around the Tan. A round trip from my place is about seven kilometres. I’m training for the Run Melbourne half-marathon in July, so every kilometre counts.
The Forum is without doubt the best place in Melbourne to see a concert; a stunning venue that has something on nearly every night of the week (forummelbourne.com.au). I also really love what they have done to the Princess Theatre (marrinergroup.com.au).
Doing gigs every weekend helped keep me sane – then I auditioned for Australian Idol, and the rest is history.
I haven’t driven down Great Ocean Road since I was a kid, but would love to do it again. I am planning a trip with my partner for later in the year where we will take in some of the national parks and bush walks as well – I love a good trek. Closer to the CBD, Half Moon Bay in Black Rock is also a gorgeous little spot to visit.
I love the Dandenongs. The 1000 steps and especially the Fire Trail around the corner both have exceptional unobstructed views of all of Melbourne.
I’m loving autumn right now. We have incredible deciduous trees in and around the CBD. The colours are beautiful and the weather is perfect – although it can be rainy and sunny all in one day. Also the (AFL) footy season has started and the rugby and soccer are still going – can you tell I love sport? The weather is great for walks in nature or a gallery visit. Plus there’s always dinner and show.
Melbourne is … culture, sport, coffee, food and compassion! DV
INSIDER
ALLA WOLF-TASKER
Culinary Director of one of Australia’s most beloved restaurants and a long term champion of regional produce, Alla Wolf-Tasker shines a light on Victoria’s essential foodie experiences
I wanted to be a chef/restaurateur for as long as I can remember. When I was young I used to line up my dolls and toy animals and serve them individual dishes of food. My parents were post war migrants who needed their only child to have a ‘proper’ profession – doctor, lawyer, teacher, anything but a cook – so I did a brief detour into tertiary studies and completed a degree, but I spent every spare moment working in kitchens.
I eventually took myself off to France to really learn, working in kitchens I admired often for little or no pay. It’s what one did in those days to get a foot in the door – especially into Michelin rated establishments.
I love that Lake House Daylesford is an out of the city destination. An hour-and-a-half from Melbourne, it’s close enough to be comfortable to reach, but far away enough to feel like you’ve escaped to the country. Even on my busiest day a stroll through the grounds and a few minutes on one of our outdoor terraces, breathing in that sweet country air, is enough for an instant revival.
The awards and accolades keep coming, which is a tribute to our wonderful team. On those days we always find the time to down tools and enjoy a glass or two of congratulatory bubbles together on our Lagoon deck with one of my favourite views across the lake. Seeing our 100-strong team all in uniform and celebrating together is forever etched in my memory.
I’m looking forward to collaborating with great winemakers and chefs this year. There’s also our cooking school at Lake House, and a whole calendar of workshops in beekeeping, horticulture and sourdough baking at Dairy Flat Farm. These events mean I get to meet experts in their fields, as well as the guests who come to stay and enjoy these experiences.
When I travel, one of the first places I visit is the local food market. It gives me a sense of the food culture of the place – whether it’s the Union Square Green market in New York City, Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo or the daily fresh food market in Arles, Provence. For foodies visiting Melbourne, the Queen Victoria Market is a treat – a really great snapshot of our seasonal produce as well as plenty of tasting opportunities of local cheeses, salumi, charcuterie and good bread (qvm.com.au).
My perfect Melbourne day would start with coffee and breakfast at St Ali for a sense of the city’s great coffee scene, (stali.com.au). Followed by a walk through the amazing Botanic Gardens (rbg.vic.gov.au), to the National Gallery. The permanent exhibitions are wonderful enough, but there are always interesting events and travelling exhibitions on as well (ngv.vic.gov.au). Outside, catch a tram to St Kilda for a walk along the foreshore and lunch at the iconic Stokehouse, with its lovely food and great views (stokehouse.com.au).
I love Italian and the top end of Melbourne’s CBD has that pretty much stitched up, between Ronnie Di Stasio’s Citta (distasio.com.au/citta), and really anything by the Grossi family – Grossi Cellar Bar, Grossi Bar and Grill, Ombra. For a drink with friends I love both Citta and Grossi’s Arlechin – clever cocktails and just the right amount of attitude (arlechin.com.au).
In Daylesford, a picnic is a great way to experience the local produce. Start with a tasting at Daylesford Cider Company and leave with a few favourites (daylesfordcider.com.au), and continue at Passing Clouds cellar door just down the road (passingclouds.com.au). With your backpack another bottle or two heavier, your next stop should be Istra Smallgoods to stock up on their magnificent prosciutto, salami and a good deal more (istrasmallgoods.com.au). Head back into Daylesford and up to Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens. Nestled in the gardens is pretty Wombat Hill House where you can grab two or three beautiful fresh salads and baguettes or a sourdough loaf, all grown and baked at our Dairy Flat Farm. They’ll lend you a picnic rug, cutlery and anything else you need, and their coffee is the best in Daylesford (wombathillhouse.com.au). Spread your rug amongst the ancient trees of the gardens and enjoy a truly local picnic sourced from the best.
Lake House Daylesford is close enough to Melbourne to feel comfortable to reach, but far away enough to feel like you’ve escaped to the country.
Daylesford is blessed with many walking tracks around the lake and into the bush. You can do anything from an hour up to several days, as the tracks link up with the Great Dividing Trail, one of Australia’s great walks. There is plenty to see and mineral springs to enjoy along the way. This region has the largest number of naturally occurring mineral springs in Australia. In fact, there’s a pump on the foreshore right in front of Lake House.
The seasons are sharply defined here. It’s a joy for both cooks and gardeners as we anticipate the quinces and wild mushrooms of autumn, winter brassicas and chestnuts, asparagus, morels and sweet spring lamb and the local berries and stone fruits of summer. DV
ST. COLLINS LANE
sophisticated fit outs. Providing the CBD worker or visitor quality food and beverages in a stylish and modern setting.
Cementing its spot on the Melbourne food scene, the centre, in March of this year, welcomed exciting new food retailers Saint Dreux, Sushi Boto, Poke Workshop and Meat the Challenge.
The Food Hall compliments the luxurious nature of the precinct and the discerning nature of its clientele, with impressive seating arrangements comprised of outdoor furniture, dark oak bentwood furniture and bronze table bases to serve a larger food offering from the eight restaurants now available.
Collins Street has long been dominant in shaping Melbourne’s cultural reputation in fashion, food and retail, and St. Collins Lane continues to transform itself into an exceptional location within the fabric of Melbourne. It’s not just a pit-stop for shoppers, it’s the destination for dining, unwinding and meeting up with friends or colleagues.
Bringing together a considered mix of unique food, fashion and lifestyle, St. Collins Lane is a place of luxury set to inspire those who step inside. Walking through the Collins Street or Little Collins Street entrances, the precinct is what you make it, the opportunity to experience some kind of wonderful. St. Collins Lane is Melbourne’s premier retail destination in the heart of the illustrious Collins Street precinct, boasting a unique mix of food, fashion and lifestyle within a place of luxury to inspire, create and experience, and a must-visit when in Melbourne S ince opening in 2016, St. Collins Lane is a vital part of Melbourne’s diverse identity and holds significance to locals and international visitors alike, with the building playing a distinct role for the varied visitors: for city workers to walk through on their way to and from work, a place to stop and grab a coffee, somewhere to meet a friend for a delicious meal, and a sophisticated global retail destination, offering unrivalled shopping at more than 50 international and local boutiques.
New York fashion house Coach has their Melbourne flagship store at St Collins Lane, alongside beloved labels Zadig & Voltaire, Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot, Adolfo Dominguez, Reiss, Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer, cult favourite Birkenstock and Aussie classics including MJ Bale, Rodd & Gunn, and Melbourne’s only Leica Store and Gallery.
The iconic green pendant lights, also known as The Emerald City, on Level Two run the entire length of the second-floor canopy mimicking leaves falling from trees with thousands of freestanding LED glass bulbs hanging from the ceiling, acting as a barrier between the retail precinct and the Novotel hotel rooms above.
The stunning lightscape sits atop the Food Hall, which turns the traditional notion of the “food court” on its head through its first-of-its-kind concepts with
A guide to Melbourne’s most fashionable precinct
Melbourne’s Collins Street Precinct has long been regarded as one of Australia’s premier destinations, famous for its luxury shopping boutiques, five-star hotels, theatres, heritage buildings and its plentiful food and beverage offering.
From the Paris end to the New York end of town, you will find historic architecture, and more than enough shopping and dining options to fill a day, weekend getaway or longer stay. Originally one mile long when it was first laid out in the early 1800’s, the street now stretches three kilometres from Spring Street to the waterfront Docklands. The wider Collins Street Precinct encompasses Little Collins Street and Flinders Lane, along with the colourful laneways that connect them. Constantly evolving, an exciting mix of new businesses and retailers provide plenty of reasons for visitors to return to this iconic precinct time and time again.
LOOK The Collins Street Precinct is vibrant and forever changing. Take a wander down Collins Street and you will find some of Melbourne’s oldest and grandest buildings, which tell the story of Melbourne’s history, from the height of the Gold Rush era to today.
Once known as the ‘golden mile’, Collins Street is home to heritage listed buildings such as the Old Treasury Building, now home to a free museum, which captures the history of Melbourne and Victoria. Built in 1858, it was designed by 19 year old architect JJ Clark, serving as the home to the original vaults where gold bullion was stored during the Gold Rush Era. Heading down the strip you’ll find the historic Georges Building – the former home of the much-loved Georges Department Store, which was an Australian retail pioneer. The Georges Building is now home to the likes of Hub Australia and Christian Louboutin, along with a cocktail bar and Vietnamese inspired restaurant called the George on Collins.
Other grand buildings include Melbourne Town Hall, where you can join a free tour and stand on the portico where the Beatles waved to fans in their thousands in 1964. Opposite Town Hall, the imposing Art Deco Gothic style Manchester Unity Building was completed in 1932. At the time, it was Melbourne’s tallest building and boasted the city’s first escalators.
In between Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street you will find the Block Arcade, one of Melbourne’s most richly decorated interior spaces. Since opening its doors in 1892 it has remained one of Melbourne’s most loved shopping
precincts. The arcade boasts a soaring glass canopy and mosaic floors, which were inspired by Milan’s famed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
Finish your history walk at the striking ‘Gothic Bank’ built in the 1880s, which to this day offers one of Collins Street’s most impressive facades. You can get the inside word on the fascinating history of Collins Street’s building by joining one of the daily Golden Mile Heritage Walks.
STOP Collins Street may be most famous for its fashion credentials, however this fashionable precinct delivers plenty when it comes to choosing where to eat, drink and stay. Here you will find a wealth of world class dining options from basement bars, to sidewalk cafes and sky-high restaurants.
Flinders Lane is one of the city’s most popular eat streets, with the CBD’s highest concentration of awardwinning fine diners and popular eateries like Cumulus, Chin Chin, KISUMÉ and Coda to name a few. Another must visit on Flinders Lane is Brunetti, which runs the length of the block through to Collins Street – stop here for a drink at the Campari bar before feasting on Italian pasta, pizza and sweat treats.
Collins Street and Little Collins Street also serve up their fair share of delicious fare. Uncle Collins Street is a top pick for modern-Vietnamese. Liminal in the T&G Building is a café, wine shop and produce store all rolled into one. Garçon Paris Steakhouse serves up French classics in an 80s Paris style bistro, while Mercedes me Store Melbourne is a favourite for a mid-week brunch or lunch with food and coffee from ST ALi.
You are spoilt for choice when choosing where to go for a drink. Flinders Lane offers up some of the city’s trendiest bars. Top picks include Trinket, Hihou, Garden State Hotel or GoGo Bar. Or, for cocktails with unbeatable views, head to Lui Bar on the 55th floor of the Rialto Building, then stick around for dinner next door at the acclaimed Vue de Monde.
Whether you’re a visitor to Melbourne, in town for business or heading into the city for a staycation, Collins Street has plenty of stylish places to spend a night or two. At the Paris end of town you’ll find one of Australia’s most luxurious French hotels, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, home to the award winning No.35 Restaurant which offers a contemporary menu and stunning city views.
Further down the strip you’ll find the prestigious Grand Hyatt Melbourne, featuring 550 spacious guest rooms and suites and multiple dining options – including their famous buffet breakfast.
Moving towards the New York end of town, the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto is housed within an historic Melbourne landmark and features a stunning neo-gothic-style façade.
LUXE Likened to Fifth Avenue in New York, Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles and Regent Street in London, Collins Street is one of Australia’s most fashionable addresses. Along this stylish strip you will find high end luxury retailers sitting alongside Australian designers and boutiques.
At last count, over 25 flagship stores call the Collins Street Precinct home. At the Paris end of town you’ll find brands like Hermes, Prada, Christian Louboutin, Cartier, Harrolds, A-ESQUE, Chanel, Fendi, BVLGARI, Berlutti, Longchamp, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace and Bottega Veneta.
Alongside shop-front boutiques, the Collins Street Precinct is home to a collection of sophisticated shopping centres and arcades – housing luxury shopping retailers and home-grown brands alike. They include The Block Arcade, The Royal Arcade, Collins 234, St. Collins Lane and Collins Place.
Needto know
Collins Street Precinct collinsstreet.com.au Follow us on: Instagram: @collinsstreet #onlyoncollins
FROM TOP: The Block Arcade; The Regent Theatre; La Belle Miette; Burberry; Prada
Iconic Arcade
Step back in time at Melbourne’s iconic Block Arcade, a European-inspired shopping precinct boasting high end fashion, jewellery and world-famous tea rooms C elebrating its 125th anniversary this year, Melbourne’s iconic Block Arcade is regarded as the finest example of a 19th century shopping complex in the country. Classified by the National Trust and listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, the stunningly preserved arcade offers a premium shopping experience.
Modelled on the arcades of Milan, Paris and London, The Block Arcade features vaulted ceilings adorned with wrought iron, stained glass and intricate plaster ornaments. Marvel at the lavish interior aesthetics as you stroll past luxury jewellery stores, high end fashion, quaint gift shops and quality menswear.
Stop and watch master tailor Adriano Carbone at work in the window above the Elizabeth Street entrance as he wields his giant scissors cutting out another suit and listen for the melodies drifting from Melbourne Basement Discs at 24 Block Place, which often features intimate live performances. Visit The Art of Dr Seuss and relive your childhood memories or drop in to The French Jewel Box, Rutherford Pearls and Keshett for that special someone.
If you can tear your eyes away from the perfectly presented shop displays and charismatic shop owners, scan the arcade’s marvellous mosaic floor – a classic Victorian design made from tiles manufactured in Italy and a key component of the Block Arcade’s National Trust classification.
There are weekend live performances to enjoy from quartets to opera singers live under the dome and look for the resident German-made heritageclassified little ‘tapping man’ located under the spectacular dome. He has been tapping the glass in Melbourne for over 50 years.
But the history of the arcade delves deeper than aesthetic beginnings. CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE PAGE: Collins Street wing; The Block Arcade entrance in Collins Street in 1902; The Art of Dr Seuss; Beechworth Honey; La Creperie Saint Germain The site on which the arcade stands was sold by auction (one of the first to be held in the city of Melbourne) in 1837. It was purchased for £18 by Henry Batman, brother of John Batman, the founder of Melbourne. Some 50 years later, the site was ravaged by a fire – reportedly the most spectacular ever seen in the city – causing an estimated 200,000 pounds damage to ‘Georges’, the store present there at the time. Three firemen lost their lives in the blaze and, according to local legend, the ghosts of these men haunt the site to this day. It was as a result of this fire that Melbourne’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade was established.
With entrances on Collins Street, Elizabeth Street and Little Collins Street, The Block Arcade is easily accessible, whichever part of the city you happen to be coming from. In the Elizabeth St wing, you can visit Beechworth Honey an Australian institution since 1886 and also Creswick Woollen Mills occupying the entire basement of The Block. A taste of Paris in the heart of Melbourne, La Creperie Saint Germain serves authentic crepes, cooked in front of you daily. Take a trip down memory lane via historic photographs of the Block Arcade as you enjoy les galettes or sweet crepes, the divine decadence of Nutella on tap, and a glass of champagne at this licensed venue. Needto know 282 Collins Street, Melbourne theblock.com.au Tours Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment only. To book, call (03) 9654 5244 or email tours@theblock.com.au
La Creperie St Germain
