ACCOMMODATION
Mercure Welcome Hotel (03 9639 0555) in 265 Little Bourke St. Great position next to DJs, on Cnr Swanston and Little Bourke St. Haig Chocolates in foyer. Small compact well fitteed out rooms with great shower. Mini fridge and tea/coffee facilities. Can get a bowl, plate, and cutlery from Hotel restaurant. Request to not be near lift as it pings and irritates during the night/early morning - desk looking out the window is excellent. Online special Accor, 2 nights for $155 Mon - Tues in June. Min nightly rate in mid week low season is usually $119 per night. Parking is $20 per exit at nearby QV parking, or $35 for valet parking.
EATING YUMMY STUFF
Tried supper club -Choos Choos at the Toff upstairs 3rd floor 252 Swanston St thai tapas - spicy duck pancakes: and skewered beef ( tough) and skewered chicken ( tasty). Funky Music and private booths to sit in.
Little cupcakes in 7 Degrades St off Flinders Lane $2.20 ea . White choc raspberry as well as Belgium choc Little cupcakes in 7 Degraves ) Or Same shop also at 118 queen St and 181 William st and Bourke St (in Goldsbrough lane)Little cupcakes in 7 degrades st off flinders lane $2.20 ea white chic rasped berry as well asbelgium choc Little cupcakes in 7 degrades st off flinders lane $2.20 ea white chic rasped berry as well asbelgium choc Same shop also at 118 queen st and 181 William st and Bourne st in Goldsbrough lane
Le petite creperie take away stand on cnr Swanson and Little Collins - loved salted caramel as well as marmalade jam with chocolate and grand mariner
On the Way to the Airport (allow for peak hour traffic to slow you down add at lease 45 mins to what google says 0 instead of 22 mins form Lygon it took us an hour). get petrol on way to restaurant before lunch, not on way to airport.
Mercadante lygon st , pizza dough really good, pasta good, tira misu average- great authentic Italian, You take bottle of wine corkage $2 pp
Restaurant called Svago to try if open next time (opening hours are apparently erratic, so phone first?) 118 Lygon st.
116 Lygon street, Carlton, facebook.com/Il-Dolce-Freddo Gelati at 116 lygon st supposed to be best in Melbourne, very smooth and silky but not authentic - had artificial feel and flavour was low. The sorbet had no dairy in it, so some sort of fake filler to make it seem creamy. prefer
Casa Del Gelato
at 163 Lygon St, Melbourne VIC 3053
or try next time....
HELADOS JAUJA 222 Faraday Street, Carlton, 0422 004 750, pidapipo.com
"Lots of comforting classics are on offer with a superb attention to detail and locally sourced ingredients, though our favourites are the twists on the classics: dulce de leche with walnuts, salted caramel, strawberries and cream, black forest, peanut butter and even a tasty and unusual Szechuan pepper. You should also never leave without trying the hazelnut affogato, which tastes like a liquid Ferrero Rocher and keeps us coming back for more."
or
PIDAPIPO TEST LAB 222 Faraday Street, Carlton, 0422 004 750, pidapipo.com
"
At Pidapipo you will not see any gelato until it is sitting in its cone, in your very own hand. Lisa Valmorbida, the owner of the Pidapipo, has brought in a stainless steel Italian-built pozzetti fridge — meaning literally under the lid — where the gelato is kept hidden away at an optimal temperature Twelve rotating flavours are available with classics you would expect from any Italian gelateria and, as the name suggests, a few experimental test combinations. The gianduja(hazelnut), tiramisu and pistachio are some of the best out there, but if you are feeling adventurous, try one of the test lab creations constantly on rotation: coconut rice pudding with rhubarb, peanut butter and jelly, poached pear, virgin mojito or yuzo and Vietnamese mint are a few amongst many others.
In city:
GELATERIA PRIMAVERA
Sitting quietly on the Parliament side of the city in The Spring Street Grocer, Gelateria Primavera has held down a reputation as one of the best artisan gelaterias in Melbourne for some time now. Similarly to Pidapipo, they have decided to incorporate the beautiful pozzetti storage tubs to house their artisan gelato out of sight and ready to be eaten at the best possible temperature — this eliminates the use of preservatives or additives that are needed for open-air display cased gelato.
The menu changes daily, though you can be sure to always find something to suit your tastes. Past delicious favourites include the salted caramel and chilli, watermelon and fresh mint, goats curd with walnut and honey and young coconut and ginger. Offering only a small but selective collection of flavours, you can be sure that this will be one memorable dessert.
157 Spring Street, Melbourne, (03) 9639 0335, springstreetgrocer.com.au
GEELONG - TORQUAY
Wyndham Resort Timeshare was new with great restaurant.
EATING
Most spectacular restaurant and a Cafe - Jack Rabbit Vineyard, McAdams Lane, Bellarine. Food was good but view was awesome - Cafe would be fine.
BEST SEAFOOD MARKET
White Fisheries - 35 Murradoc Rd, Drysdale open weekdays and Saturday morning. 10min from Jack Rabbit. Great oysters!!
Scorched - great restaurant across from beach in Torquay. Really innovative middle east flavours - duck pies/ slow cooked lamb/ zucchini salad/baked haloumi. Complimentary fresh baked bread rolls with dukkah and oil. Book on weekends. Only open from 3pm on weekdays, earlier on Fridays corkage $25 per bottle.
Walking
Drive to Lorne for nice 90 min walk Cora Lynn Cascades Walk
This walk takes you through tall eucalypts and shady tree ferns
to an open area at the base of stunning cascades, which flow over a series of exposed shale ledges and are framed by luxuriant ferns and mosses.
Start: Blanket Leaf Car Park > Finish: Cora Lyn Cascades > Type: Return
> Distance: 2.1km one way > Time: 1.5 to 2 hours return > Difficulty: Moderate
Mercure Welcome Hotel (03 9639 0555) in 265 Little Bourke St. Great position next to DJs, on Cnr Swanston and Little Bourke St. Haig Chocolates in foyer. Small compact well fitteed out rooms with great shower. Mini fridge and tea/coffee facilities. Can get a bowl, plate, and cutlery from Hotel restaurant. Request to not be near lift as it pings and irritates during the night/early morning - desk looking out the window is excellent. Online special Accor, 2 nights for $155 Mon - Tues in June. Min nightly rate in mid week low season is usually $119 per night. Parking is $20 per exit at nearby QV parking, or $35 for valet parking.
EATING YUMMY STUFF
Tried supper club -Choos Choos at the Toff upstairs 3rd floor 252 Swanston St thai tapas - spicy duck pancakes: and skewered beef ( tough) and skewered chicken ( tasty). Funky Music and private booths to sit in.
Little cupcakes in 7 Degrades St off Flinders Lane $2.20 ea . White choc raspberry as well as Belgium choc Little cupcakes in 7 Degraves ) Or Same shop also at 118 queen St and 181 William st and Bourke St (in Goldsbrough lane)Little cupcakes in 7 degrades st off flinders lane $2.20 ea white chic rasped berry as well asbelgium choc Little cupcakes in 7 degrades st off flinders lane $2.20 ea white chic rasped berry as well asbelgium choc Same shop also at 118 queen st and 181 William st and Bourne st in Goldsbrough lane
Le petite creperie take away stand on cnr Swanson and Little Collins - loved salted caramel as well as marmalade jam with chocolate and grand mariner
On the Way to the Airport (allow for peak hour traffic to slow you down add at lease 45 mins to what google says 0 instead of 22 mins form Lygon it took us an hour). get petrol on way to restaurant before lunch, not on way to airport.
Mercadante lygon st , pizza dough really good, pasta good, tira misu average- great authentic Italian, You take bottle of wine corkage $2 pp
Restaurant called Svago to try if open next time (opening hours are apparently erratic, so phone first?) 118 Lygon st.
116 Lygon street, Carlton, facebook.com/Il-Dolce-Freddo Gelati at 116 lygon st supposed to be best in Melbourne, very smooth and silky but not authentic - had artificial feel and flavour was low. The sorbet had no dairy in it, so some sort of fake filler to make it seem creamy. prefer
Casa Del Gelato
at 163 Lygon St, Melbourne VIC 3053
or try next time....
HELADOS JAUJA 222 Faraday Street, Carlton, 0422 004 750, pidapipo.com
"Lots of comforting classics are on offer with a superb attention to detail and locally sourced ingredients, though our favourites are the twists on the classics: dulce de leche with walnuts, salted caramel, strawberries and cream, black forest, peanut butter and even a tasty and unusual Szechuan pepper. You should also never leave without trying the hazelnut affogato, which tastes like a liquid Ferrero Rocher and keeps us coming back for more."
or
PIDAPIPO TEST LAB 222 Faraday Street, Carlton, 0422 004 750, pidapipo.com
"
At Pidapipo you will not see any gelato until it is sitting in its cone, in your very own hand. Lisa Valmorbida, the owner of the Pidapipo, has brought in a stainless steel Italian-built pozzetti fridge — meaning literally under the lid — where the gelato is kept hidden away at an optimal temperature Twelve rotating flavours are available with classics you would expect from any Italian gelateria and, as the name suggests, a few experimental test combinations. The gianduja(hazelnut), tiramisu and pistachio are some of the best out there, but if you are feeling adventurous, try one of the test lab creations constantly on rotation: coconut rice pudding with rhubarb, peanut butter and jelly, poached pear, virgin mojito or yuzo and Vietnamese mint are a few amongst many others.
In city:
GELATERIA PRIMAVERA
Sitting quietly on the Parliament side of the city in The Spring Street Grocer, Gelateria Primavera has held down a reputation as one of the best artisan gelaterias in Melbourne for some time now. Similarly to Pidapipo, they have decided to incorporate the beautiful pozzetti storage tubs to house their artisan gelato out of sight and ready to be eaten at the best possible temperature — this eliminates the use of preservatives or additives that are needed for open-air display cased gelato.
The menu changes daily, though you can be sure to always find something to suit your tastes. Past delicious favourites include the salted caramel and chilli, watermelon and fresh mint, goats curd with walnut and honey and young coconut and ginger. Offering only a small but selective collection of flavours, you can be sure that this will be one memorable dessert.
157 Spring Street, Melbourne, (03) 9639 0335, springstreetgrocer.com.au
- Gills Diner 360 Little Collins
- Ill Bacaro Cucina Bar, 170 Little Collins
- Hairy Canary 212 Little Collins - still great. cocktail with fresh limes and passionfruit ( had tinned passionfruit) with vanilla vodka and white rum. Pork belly very crisp and well done. Pizza a bit average.
- Cumulus Inc 43 Flinders Lane - terrible disappointment - cold grilled tough octopus, bland egg plant salad. Bread was good. Extensive choice of cold cuts of meat/salami etc and oysters from different locations (not done different ways).
- Henry and the Fox, 525 Little Collins
- Cacao Green - frozen yoghurt 285 Swanston St. Only 4 flavours and not that great. Also, sneakily made the centre of it hollow. Green tea was nicest but would have caffeine in it.
- Tried to find Gelati in city - nil. Urban Spoon said Casa Del Gelato was at 163 Lygon St - Carlton - but was not (at Lygon st Carlton Nth so we should have driven south (away from airport) rather than north to get to it from Enoteca which is 920 Lygon St.
GEELONG - TORQUAY
Wyndham Resort Timeshare was new with great restaurant.
EATING
Most spectacular restaurant and a Cafe - Jack Rabbit Vineyard, McAdams Lane, Bellarine. Food was good but view was awesome - Cafe would be fine.
BEST SEAFOOD MARKET
White Fisheries - 35 Murradoc Rd, Drysdale open weekdays and Saturday morning. 10min from Jack Rabbit. Great oysters!!
Scorched - great restaurant across from beach in Torquay. Really innovative middle east flavours - duck pies/ slow cooked lamb/ zucchini salad/baked haloumi. Complimentary fresh baked bread rolls with dukkah and oil. Book on weekends. Only open from 3pm on weekdays, earlier on Fridays corkage $25 per bottle.
Walking
Drive to Lorne for nice 90 min walk Cora Lynn Cascades Walk
This walk takes you through tall eucalypts and shady tree ferns
to an open area at the base of stunning cascades, which flow over a series of exposed shale ledges and are framed by luxuriant ferns and mosses.
Start: Blanket Leaf Car Park > Finish: Cora Lyn Cascades > Type: Return
> Distance: 2.1km one way > Time: 1.5 to 2 hours return > Difficulty: Moderate