Best Things to Do in Melbourne: Beaches and Markets, Coffee and Eating

You'll never run out of things to do in Melbourne. Take a stroll through its neighbourhoods, which are as diverse as they are dynamic, from the laid-back beachside suburbs of the southeast to the hipster inner-northor the art-driven laneways of the central business district (CBD).

Melbourne’s city centre is easy to explore thanks to the nine-by-nine grid of streets that make up the CBD, all interlinked by a network of free trams. Outside the city centre, trams, trains and buses link the inner-city and the suburbs.

The neighbourhood: Melbourne CBD 

Fun fact: Graffiti-clad AC/DC Lane pays tribute to one of Australia’s most famous rock bands. You'll also find Amphlett Lane (named for The Divinyls' frontwoman Chrissy Amphlett) and Dame Edna Lane, complete with a super-sized portrait of Australia’s most famous housewife, from the west Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds.

At a glance: The compact centre mixes street art with Melbourne's art galleries in and on the walls of colonial and contemporary buildings, underpinned by the meandering Yarra River. The city centre is a neat grid of streets running either north to south or east to west, interlinked by Melbourne’s iconic trams - free in the city zone - and a new subterranean metro train loop. Get off the straight and narrow in the city’s graffiti-filled laneways, where you’ll also discover intimate jazz clubs, achingly cool cafes and indie boutiques.

Do this: Two of Melbourne's best museums are close by, and closely linked: the State Library and Old Melbourne Gaol tell of the city's early, often bloody history; regular tours are available at both, which are interlinked by bushranger Ned Kelly. For a bird's eye view of the city, take a hot-air balloon over Melbourne’s CBD. Federation Square has free live music and cultural events year-round, including big events such as the Australian Open playing on its big screen, to a design market or a Hindi festival. It's also home to the Koorie Heritage Trust, for a deep dive into Melbourne’s Indigenous history.

Shop here: Bourke Street Mall is ground zero for Melbourne's best shopping; veer off into Emporium or Melbourne Central for more mainstream shopping, while the 19th-century The Block and the Royal are the city's oldest and most glamorous arcades. The Queen Victoria Markets are the largest open-air markets in the Southern Hemisphere, with 3,000 stalls including a decadent Delicatessen Hall and sections dedicated to locally created handicrafts and super-quirky Australian souvenirs; join a market tour to discover it all. Summer sees makers markets and night markets, with cocktails and live music.

Eat this: Flinders Lane is ground zero for Melbourne's epic restaurant scene; wander down artsy lanes to discover swish Gimlet or Supernormal, both by prolific Melbourne chef Andrew McConnell, and perennially popular tapas joint MoVida. Melbourne’s multiculturalism is evident in its new wave of Greek restaurants, such as Kafeneion at the Melbourne Supper Club, and its always-on Chinatown - head to Supper Inn for exceptional, late, late, late night Hong Kong/Cantonese dining and the burgeoning K-town precinct centred around Healys Lane. But really, Melbourne is the queen of brunch; start at the top, at Higher Ground, opposite Southern Cross Station. 

Drink this: Start the day hitting Melbourne's famed coffee culture; Market Lane Coffee is a reliable choice, while long-standing fave Journal hits it for atmosphere. Bookend the day slinking into an underground jazz club - try Paris Cat, Bird's Basement or Wax Music Lounge. Despite its reputation for unpredictable weather, there's a solid line-up of rooftop bars in Melbourne CBD – try chic Siglo, stylish Her, or Blossom on top of Pullman Melbourne City Centre, while on ground level, Caretakers Cottage is a regular in the world’s top 50 best bar lists, and gin distiller Little Lon Distilling Co is one of Melbourne's best hidden gems.

Check in: Not an early bird? Cheat and check in to Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, which has some of the best views in Melbourne city, whether from your room or No35 Restaurant. Don't miss the restaurant's toilets, with their unrivalled city views; be like Venus and Serena Williams and grab a selfie here.

The design at Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer nods to the artsy lanes that surround it; fuel up on the hotel brand's signature Chocolate Hour, with free-pouring chocolate for guests every day at 2pm. 

Pullman Melbourne City Centre also makes the most of its central setting, its ‘hidden’ entrance tucked down an alley; peak Melbourne. 

The neighbourhoods: Southbank, Docklands

At a glance: The mighty Yarra River carves a border through the city, a bronze serpent lined with great running tracks for joggers, canoes and craft to hire for pleasure-seekers, riverside parks for picnickers and sunset watchers. Architecture lovers are rewarded with historic cathedrals to angular modern statements.

See this: With a rolling calendar of international blockbusters, Indigenous galleries and culture-defining art, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is Australia’s oldest, largest and most visited art gallery. Its Winter Masterpieces series sees some of the world’s best art drop in for a coolcation. The NGV has two sites; the NGV International on St Kilda Road (kids, run your fingers through the water wall on the way in) and the dramatic Ian Potter Centre within Fed Square, which focuses on Australian art, including its spectacular First Nations collection. For art with live music and sparkling wine, check out NGV’s Friday night after-dark sessions. Also in Fed Square, ACMI is a museum dedicated to screen culture, with plenty of free exhibits.

Do this: Set 300 metres above the city streets, Melbourne's Skydeck in the Eureka Tower offers panoramic, 360-degree views. Often overlooked, District Docklands is great for family fun; Archie Brothers’ Cirque Electriq is fantastic if you’re travelling with or without kids, with a games arcade, bowling, dodgems and cocktail bar, while ArtVo 3D art gallery can send you into space and O’Brien Icehouse is the largest ice-skating rink in Melbourne. Docklands is also home to Marvel Stadium, which hosts many of the world's biggest artists, and join the crowds at an AFL game during winter in Melbourne.

Shop here: Walk the one-kilometre riverfront stretch, diving into Southbank and the Crown complex to shop the luxury and big-brand boutiques, or snaffle a bargain further along at the South Wharf DFO in Docklands.

Eat this: Some of Australia’s best-known chefs have set up shop in a string of upmarket restaurants along riverside Southbank. Neil Perry's Rockpool Bar & Grill is named Australia’s best steakhouse – book ahead or pull up at the bar. For fun and fabulous Indian, step into the Kolkata Cricket Club or visit Royal Stacks for outstanding burger action. It’s a short skip by tram to one of Melbourne's top markets, at the good-smelling South Melbourne market, load up the picnic basket, grab one of their famous dim sims, or stock up on stacked sandwiches and experience Melbourne outdoors with a sun-kissed picnic on one of the Yarra River’s electric GoBoats. 

Check in: Quay West Suites Melbourne lets you live like a local in its apartment-style hotel with stellar Southbank views. However, set on dining hotspot Flinders Lane, your kitchen may well remain unused. Otherwise, Mantra Southbank Melbourne, is steps from the NGV. Further west along the Yarra, Novotel Melbourne South Wharf is close by the DFO for great shopping.

The neighbourhoods: St Kilda, Elwood, Elsternwick, Brighton, Albert Park

Fun fact: Every February, the St Kilda Festival brings some of Australia's best performers to the streets in a huge, free weekend.

At a glance: Palm trees, sand, colourful bathing boxes, sun-dappled cafés, wide waterfront promenades, yachts dotting the bay – Melbourne’s well-heeled beachside suburbs to the southeast are laid-back, resorty and cool. The further south, the better the sand and the swimming, and opportunities for people-watching abound throughout. 

Do this: In St Kilda, grab coffee and cake from Monarch Cakes, serving decadent desserts on Acland Street since 1934, then go penguin spotting along the pier. Wander down St Kilda’s bustling Esplanade, every Sunday, it's lined with pop-up market stalls. At the beach, you can rent bikes, stand-up paddles or roller-skates, take a dip into St Kilda's historic sea baths or stroll waterfront promenades south toward Elwood, Elsternwick and swanky Brighton, with its ocean pool at Brighton Sea Baths and insta-worthy beach boxes. One St Kilda smile is unmissable; the landmark amusement complex Luna Park is Australia’s oldest theme park, with plenty of thrills. Take a rollercoaster ride for hair-raising views with screams. Albert Park is home to the Grand Prix circuit, which takes over the city each March.

Eat this: St Kilda's top dining rooms have their feet in the sand: long-standing Stokehouse marries seafood with sleek décor and sublime sea views; nearby unpretentious Donovans keeps a reliably fabulous menu. The Sandbar café at Middle Park is a local favourite for brunch and coffee with the beautiful people and their equally beautiful dogs.

Drink this:  Everyone’s heading to the historic pub The Esplanade (just call it The Espy), packed with scene-stealing restaurants and bars, but it’s best known as one of Melbourne’s premier live music venues, along with nearby The Prince Bandroom.

Check in: Start your day on a high at Pullman Melbourne Albert Park, steps from Albert Park Lake. A favourite for morning walkers, choose a lakeview room for inspiration.

The neighbourhoods: South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor, Albert Park

At a glance: The inner-southeast is a beguiling mix of wide, leafy streets that are home to wallet-busting mansions, Australia’s most applauded restaurants and upscale streetside boutiques on the fashion-forward shopping strips of Toorak Road and Chapel Street.

Do this: Time stands still in the Royal Botanic Gardens, set on a particularly pretty curve of the Yarra River. Lunch at its cafes and go forest bathing to reconnect with nature.

Shop here: Chapel Street is one of the city’s most elite shopping strips, a mix of upscale and edgy, big-brands and independent boutiques. Detour to the bohemian boutiques of Greville Street, then pop into the Prahran Markets for cheese galore.

Eat this: Brimming with top-end cafes and renowned restaurants, try Bistro Gitan for French fabulousness, Dainty Sichuan for Sichuanese, and The Botanical (‘The Bot’) never disappoints with its upscale pub seafood and wagyu. The café scene is strong: try Morning Market in Prahran and stand-out Baker Bleu, which has several locations including South Yarra, opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens, for perfect picnics.

Drink this: Chapel St’s nightlife is as hot as it is stylish; start with sake martinis at Tombo Den or snack on oysters at the Windsor Wine Room or euro-centric Ines Wine Bar. Stroll on to long-stayer Borsch, Vodka & Tears for vodka (unsurprisingly), with more than 100 on the menu.

Splash out: You’ll need to book well ahead to get a seat at Attica, frequently named Australia’s top restaurant, but it’s worth the wait and the hype. Chef Ben Shewry is a fan of native Australian ingredients; expect the unexpected, from wattleseed dahl to saltwater croc ribs, all presented in wildly fantastical ways. The quintessential dish is the exception; the spice-crusted Lamb Brick is the quintessential order.

Check in: Sleep in the heart of Australian culture in two hotels in the southeast. The spacious suites of The Olsen Melbourne - Art Series, in South Yarra, are infused with the lyrical works of revered Australian landscape artist Dr John Olsen. Otherwise, The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series in Prahran is a shrine to the avant-garde works of painter Adam Cullen, who was obsessed with bushranger Ned Kelly. Eye-popping is an understatement.

Long admired as one of the city’s swankiest addresses, The Como Melbourne sees swathes of marble, elaborate floral arrangements and jewel-toned velvet for a lush stay in South Yarra.

The neighbourhoods: Richmond, Collingwood, Abbotsford

At a glance: The inner-east is vibrant and multicultural, with legendary bars and live music venues. And with the MCG and Melbourne Park sports stadia here, it’s a major draw for sports fans. Richmond’s Victoria Street is the heart of Melbourne’s Vietnamese cuisine and culture.

Do this: Set on the river’s edge historic Abbotsford Convent is a creative hub with gorgeous gardens and spaces for live performances; its restaurants include lauded Julie's ETHOS. As the name suggests, the Collingwood Children’s Farm lets kids farm animals and pull vegetables straight from the soil. Follow the river of fans flowing toward the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Rod Laver Arena. The MCG hosts Australian rules football matches in the cooler months (March through September) and cricket in summer. The nearby Rod Laver Arena and its satellite arenas are home to the Australian Open, the first of four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, and the city goes tennis mad during the January competition. Book early; ground passes are one of the cheapest things in the city, as little as $20.

Eat this: Begin your day with coffee from speciality roasters Top Paddock on Richmond’s Church Street or Collingwood’s Proud Mary – named fourth best coffee in the world in 2025. Banh mi bar Ca Com is the new little sister to iconic Anchovy restaurant and to tap into old Richmond, pull up at Rowena Corner Store for Mediterranean eats and great coffee. Often listed in the top Melbourne fine-dining restaurants, book Minamishima for ocean-fresh sushi.

Drink this: Join the post-event crowds at the MCG and Melbourne Park and spill into the legendary Corner Hotel in Richmond for beer, live gigs and pub grub. More upmarket, end the day on a high at the Cliveden Bar & Dining, part of the Pullman Melbourne on the Park, also just steps from the MCG. Slick Art Deco joint Poodle in Fitzroy steals the cocktail scene in this part of town. 

Check in: To walk to the city’s best sporting action, Pullman Melbourne on the Park is the closest hotel to the MCG and Rod Laver Arena, as well as the Fitzroy Gardens. 

The neighbourhoods: Carlton, Fitzroy, Brunswick, Parkville, Collingwood

At a glance: The inner-north is a magnet for foodies, thanks to the ever-expanding Italian restaurants in Carlton and the boho dining rooms of Fitzroy and Brunswick. The further you venture from the city’s centre, the more eclectic the offerings in the alternative live music and independent fashion scenes.

Do this: Visit Melbourne Museum for its collection of natural and cultural history artefacts, then catch a film at gloriously retro Cinema Nova. For tunes, Bennetts Lane Jazz Club is the city’s top jazz venue.

Shop here: For fashion less ordinary, cruise the sustainable and vintage clothing stores amidst vinyl and bookshops along Brunswick Street while Fitzroy’s Rose Street Artists' Market is a staple for handmade and vintage fashion and design finds.

Eat this: Carlton’s Little Italy draws a loyal crowd - while Lygon Street is now a global culinary scene, classic stand-outs include the Carlton Wine Room for its handmade pasta and excellent Italian wine list, the classic Italian cafe Brunetti (also in the CBD) and elegant Di Stasio's garden restaurant. Add El Columpio’s in Fitzroy for Mexican breakfasts, and Iris the Bakery and Wild Life Bakery for all things pastries and bread, while the original A1 Bakery on Sydney Rd in Brunswick churns out hot, fresh Lebanese bread, pizzas and wraps, with gluten-free and vegan options; it also has an outpost on Brunswick St Fitzroy.

Drink this: Begin your day at Code Black’s Brunswick outpost or serene Acoffee in Collingwood for premium coffee roasts, then end in Carlton’s Bar Bellamy or Moondrop on Fitzroy’s edgy Gertrude Street to explore Melbourne’s peak cocktail scene.

Check in: Playful Australian artist David Larwill is celebrated at The Larwill Studio Melbourne - Art Series in leafy Parkville, where his creations throughout spark creativity and joy.

Design at the Novotel Melbourne Preston is equally colourful; a stay here gives easy access to some of the city’s edgiest fashion and design in Fitzroy and Collingwood.

The hallmarks of Melbourne's CBD are its coffee culture and art - from street art in its laneways to top galleries including the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Caffeinate at leading Melbourne roasters, including Market Lane Coffee, Industry Beans, Patricia and Dukes, as well as city newcomer Acoffee, then wander the laneways to discover new and revered street art: Hosier Lane is the best-known location, but explore further afield to Meyers Place, AC/DC Lane and Blender Lane (or anywhere with a wall).

Pullman Melbourne on the Park is the closest hotel to the MCG and Melbourne Park, which includes the Rod Laver Arena. The MCG hosts the major cricket series including the Boxing Day Test, AFL matches and major music events, while Melbourne Park is home of the Australian Open, and also hosts top basketball, netball and rugby matches. 

As Australia's culinary capital, Melbourne is home to renowned fine-dining restaurants including modern Australian masters Attica and long-staying Embla, renowned for its extensive wine list. The cuisines are drawn from around the globe, including mod-French Maison Batard, Minamishima for exemplary Japanese, Greek champion Kafeneion and Flower Drum, setting the benchmark in Cantonese cuisine since 1975. 

Melbourne's city centre is packed with stylish stays, including chocoholic Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer near Southern Cross Station and stylish Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. For an art-led stay, choose The Olsen Melbourne - Art Series in South Yarra or The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series in Prahran.