Melbourne: The capital city full of surprises

Unforgettable food experiences are part of Melbourne’s DNA, whether you do a tasting hop along the stalls at the iconic Queen Victoria Market, graze on the best takeaway fish and chips beachside or indulge at a hatted restaurant. It’s all about food, quality produce and good wines.

Coffee is huge and the best baristas are often down little laneways adorned with eclectic street art or in quirky cafes.

The city has long been known for its showstopper restaurants and there are some stunning newcomers.

In the centre of Melbourne, Farmer’s Daughters on Collins Street brings the best of Victorian regional tastes to the city. Peruvian-born chef Alejandro Saravia takes diners on a culinary journey through the seasons, with a menu that features local Gippsland producers and growers. Downstairs, there’s a deli with casual dining and a rooftop bar that showcases local craft beer, wines and spirits.

Chancery Lane, in the historic Normanby Chambers building on Little Collins, is where Scott Pickett and head chef Rob Kabboord offer a European-inspired bistro.

Andrew McConnell’s latest hospitality venture brings classic European charisma plus classy cocktails to the CBD. Cocktail bar and dining room Gimlet graces Cavendish House, a landmark 1920s building on Russell Street.

Fancy Indian? Indu on Collins serves South Indian and Sri Lankan village food featuring the best Victorian produce, under chef Ankit Padmani.

South-west of the city centre, in South Yarra, Vesper Bistro and Bar on Toorak Road is a Mediterranean-inspired eatery where dishes from Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece and the south of France star.

Head west of the city to Spotswood for a family food-filled adventure at Grazeland every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It is a playground for foodies with 50 food and beverage vendors. Try Nashville fried chicken from Charchella by Fins, Greek loukoumades from Lokma Lokma, traditional Scottish cuisine from Kilted Haggis, Sri Lankan street food from Drums and traditional Middle Eastern semolina cookies by Nuts About Ma’amoul.

To discover the city’s multicultural dining destinations – head to Richmond for Vietnamese, Carlton’s Little Italy, Fitzroy for Spanish and Brunswick for Lebanese.

If you want to learn more about the city’s fabulous food scene join a Foodie Culture Tour (foodietrails.com.au) which uncovers the many layers of local food, plus the architecture and stories of Melbourne on a four-hour walk of the city.

The Melbourne Foodie Discovery Walking Tour (walkmelbourne.com.au) also visits restaurants, coffee shops and street-food vendors as you explore the city’s narrow laneways, historical arcades and vibrant street art.

There’s always something exciting on the exhibition front in Melbourne. Discover the creativity and innovation of almost 100 years of Disney animation at ACMI’s Disney: The Magic of Animation exhibition in Fed Square from 13 May 2021.

More than 500 artworks from favourite animations will be on show. You can even step inside a scene from the Disney classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Art lovers are in for a treat with the annual winter blockbuster exhibition at the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria). This year it is French Impressionism with more than 100 masterworks from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Works by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro and Mary Cassatt, including 79 paintings that have never before been exhibited in Australia, will be showcased from 4 June until 3 October 2021.

You will find a multi-sensory experience at The Lume Melbourne, an epic adventure into art that opens in August at the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre.It features the vibrant works of Vincent van Gogh with vivid colours and intricate details of world-renowned artworks coming to life all around you. It’s accompanied by a symphony of sounds, aromas and tastes as you wander within the 3000 square metre, 11-metre-high digital art gallery.

Treasures of the Natural World will take centre stage at the Melbourne Museum with more than 200 artefacts varying from the biggest, most unique and extremely rare treasures to the mysterious and astonishing. The exhibition opens 12 June 2021.

You can delve deeper into Melbourne’s history and its striking street art on a Lanes and Arcades walking tour (hiddensecretstours.com).

If you loved Baz Luhrmann’s iconic film Moulin Rouge, get set for Broadway sensation Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Melbourne’s historic Regent Theatre, from 13 August 2021. Expect to hear all your favourites such as “Lady Marmalade”, “Come What May”, “Your Song” and a new version of the “Elephant Love Medley”.

The show has received rave reviews overseas and looks set to become the talk of the town with stars Alinta Chidzey as Satine and Des Flanagan as Christian. Simon Burke will take on the role of Moulin Rouge proprietor Harold Zidler, while Andrew Cook plays the villainous Duke of Monroth.

Melbourne is home to the AFL and there’s nothing like barracking for your favourite team at the MCG or Marvel Stadium at Docklands. Autumn and spring racing is held at Flemington Racecourse, the home to the iconic Lexus Melbourne Cup which will be held on 2 November 2021.There’s also racing at Caulfield and Moonee Valley.

The much-loved Melbourne International Film Festival will be staged from 5-22 August 2021. Established in 1952, it is one of the world’s oldest film festivals in the Southern Hemisphere.

Jazz lovers will also welcome the return of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, 15-24 October 2021.

Fancy a day trip or an overnight stay? Foodies will love the Yarra Valley with boutique wineries and restaurants found around every bend and lots of pretty scenery. Sign up for a private Yarra Valley tour of gin-tasting and lunch at distillery Four Pillars with Epicurean Tours.

The Yarra Valley is also home to the architecturally stunning TarraWarra Museum of Modern Art, built to integrate into the landscape.

The Mornington Peninsula has a name for great wineries and a vibrant food scene and Daylesford is considered a foodie haven and, along with the nearby Hepburn Springs, is known for its warm mineral waters and spas.

Enjoy coastal drives and walks along the Great Ocean Road with scenery including the 12 Apostles or take a helicopter ride for an exciting bird’s-eye view. Discover the cutest little penguins at Phillip Island, home of the nightly Penguin Parade.

The former gold-mining towns of Bendigo and Ballarat have struck gold on the arts scene. Bendigo is staging the Mary Quant exhibition until 11 July 2021. It was recently named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy for leading food and drink experiences. From 28 August 2021, Ballarat will host the Linda McCartney: Retrospective curated by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney and featuring 200 extraordinary photographs. It is part of the 2021 Ballarat International Foto Biennale.

Fly: Virgin, Qantas and Rex fly direct from all capital cities daily. Fares on sale now.

Stay: Look for accommodation packages at central Melbourne hotels Crown Metropol, Crown Towers, Rydges, Adina Southbank, Quincy Hotel, Vibe Hotel and Crowne Plaza.

Explore more: vivaholidays.com.au