| AROUND THE VENUE |
NEARBY PRECINCTS I ) Greville St: A mix of clothing and food, it's just fun to soak up the atmosphere. ArtBoy Gallery at number 99 features emerging Melbourne artists. Kit and Ace is a store made up of technical clothing which opened in Greville St last year (146 Greville) Toko Melbourne, at number 142, is fancy but fun Japanese. 2 ) Fitzroy Street (and Acland Street): Grungy and eclectic, it's filled with little cafes and will lake you towards Acland Street, where European cake stores, hip eateries and boutique stores await. Luna Park is close by if you like a roller coaster ride 3 ) Chapel Street, Windsor: The new area to be for hip, funky restaurants. The brand new one is Hawker Hall, but be prepared to wait for up to an hour (or go super early) Next to that, while you wait, is a sandwich place called Boston Sub. Go through the fridge door at the back to discover a tiki-themed bar - Jungle Boy. If you can't get into Hawker, try these: Tokyo Tina, Mr Miyagi, Saigon Sally (all on Chapel or off them), or on nearby High St, Hannoi Hannah or Charlie Dumpling. People watch at Morris Jones & Co. If you go up to the top of Chapel Street (near Toorak), there are tons of Australian designer stores: Scanlan Theodore, Sass & Bide, Alice McCall, Mimco. 4 ) Albert Park Shopping Village: Go to Filly's Stable, (130 Bridport St, Albert Park) Boutique store with emerging Australian designers. All of Bridport Street makes for a picturesque walk. Husk has designer clothes and a sweet cafe at the back (123 Dundas Place, Albert Park) and a couple of doors down is a fabulous bookstore - The Avenue (127 Dundas Place, Albert Park) PICTURESQUE WALKS I ) Along the beach (and bikes for hire) 2 ) Albert Park Lake RESTAURANTS Breakfast and Lunch 1 ) The Petty Officer (113 Victoria Ave, Albert Park): Brekkie and lunch every day (7am-4pm), you go here for the Espresso coffee but you stay for other delights: corn and zucchini fritters, buttermilk pancakes with baked apple ice cream, soft baguettes filled with beef short ribs or a Wagyu beef burger. Bread made onsite. (www.thepettyofficer.com.au) 2 ) Truman Café (381 Montague St, Albert Park): Outside tables when the sun is out, fuss-free space inside. The all-day breakfast features brioche French toast with banana Jam and bacon, while the signature Truman is a feast of scrambled eggs and potato and leek hash. Lunch is limited to sandwiches (including a steak one) and a couple of specials. Fabulous coffee. Open daily. 3 ) Kettle Black (50 Albert Rd, South Melbourne): Some would say the best coffee around town, anywhere in Melbourne. So busy that a coffee cart sits out front some days, to help people through the wait. Relaxed vibe but high-octane food, including King Island crayfish and Flinders Island wallaby. Dinner 4 ) Misuzu’s (3-7 Victoria Ave, Albert Park): This Japanese restaurant is a three-parter, including lake away and a lunch spot, but it’s the dinner that's the highlight. Innovative, fun, chic - it's an experience made better with truly delicious food. It's been around for yonks in Melbourne, making it an Albert Park icon, and is especially good for the health-conscious www.misuzus.com.au 5 ) DOC Albert Park (135 Victoria Ave, Albert Park): Classic Italian menu, contemporary settling, hip pizza, the sibling of other DOC's around Melbourne. Mon-Thurs, evenings only (5-1030), Fri, Sat, Sun: noon til 11pm. ph: 9690 7960 |
