Melbourne - Part 1

We decided to go on a trip before I was due back for work (that was before I got my new job) and Melbourne was the destination! We love Melbourne - it's technically Bel's second time and decided it was a good time to go because of the weather. The last two times I got really sick... So Melbourne winters don't work for me. Here is a digest of our 5 days.

Day one

We arrived at 9.00pm, had an awesome taxi driver (taxi cost $56 from airport to city) and arrived at the Mantra on Russell.

We were hungry so went to a random Chinese place on Russell to buy congee and noodles. Was to hungry to take photos 😄.

Mantra on Russell 

1 bedroom apartment

++Awesome location++

30 seconds to Chinatown, QV.

5 mins to Melbourne Central, GPO, Elizabeth Street.

10-15 mins to Queen Victoria Markets

 

+ spacious lounge/dining area

- As with most Australian hotels, decor seems dated even thought the room is quite new.

- bathroom/toilets are an ensuite so if you have a 3rd person, they need to come into the main bedroom to use the bathroom

Day two

Nothing was open around our area but we managed to find a China Bar (chain store) in the Target Centre. Limited menu available but was a good start.

Market Lane Coffee

Prahran Markets

++ nice decor, nice cup of coffee

++ cupping is normally on fri / sat at 10am so we just missed that

++ lots of coffee gear available

Prahran Markets

Off Chapel St, South Yarra/Prahran

++ love this market. Heaps of fresh fruit and veges. 

++ my personal favourite market

Master Roll Vietnam

169 Toorak Road, South Yarra

++ maybe it was a super hot day but it was one of the best banh mi that I've had. 

++ fresh bread and pork belly was delish

-- the only that that could make it better is the pate

Einstein's Relative

1/9 Yarra St, South Yarra

++ freeman liked this coffee more than Market Lane Coffee

++ good cup of coffee - reminded us of our brother - in - law Francis' coffee

Melbourne Central

Melbourne CBD

Much of it has stayed the same, except now there is the Shot Tower building which is joined to La Trobe Building, which is joined to the Emporium, which is joined to David Jones. We didn't shop much but used the parents retreat on L2 the most. It's one of the best parents room I've been to. Lots of space for kids to play, ropes to climb on, tv, play kitchen, wooden train table, picnic table for families to eat on, spacious colourful breastfeeding rooms. It is definitely a retreat for parents.

New Shanghai Restaurant

Melbourne Emporium, CBD

++ Happy hour was great. You could choose a dish and drink for really good prices. Xiao long bao and drink was about $6 and fried rice and drink was $10.

-- not the best xiao long bao's but when you have a hungry kid with hungry parents it works out well. Plus it's cheap.