Melbourne thrives on its layers – hidden laneways, neighbourhoods with personalities and a sense of constant reinvention. Whether it’s your first time or your 50th, there’s always something fresh to experience. This city knows how to balance old with new, classic with innovative and luxurious with sustainable. For a weekend that captures all that and more, here’s the best Melbourne has to offer right now.
Friday
Start your weekend at 1 Hotel Melbourne, the city’s first mission-driven luxury hotel. Tucked along the Yarra River, it’s centred on biophilic design delivered with modern comfort – think more than 7000 living plants, light-filled rooms and a focus on sustainability woven throughout the space. It’s a nature-led, peaceful pocket just steps from the city centre.
Once you’re settled in, head to Circl Wine House for dinner. With more than 150 wines by the glass and 1500 by the bottle – including a collection of rare finds – it’s a haven for curious drinkers. The list spans several continents and styles, and the staff are adept at helping you navigate it without fuss. After dinner, it’s back to 1 Hotel to enjoy a nightcap at its “hidden-in-plain-sight” cocktail bar Upstairs with views over the Yarra River. Expect well-shaken cocktails and biodynamic wines by the glass, alongside a menu of elevated bar snacks that range from classic (appellation oysters and katsu sandos) to celebratory (seafood towers and caviar service).
Saturday
Kick off your morning with a fair-trade, organic brew from St Ali within Neighbours Cafe, the hotel’s in-house spot serving seasonal toast and superfood bowls. Then jump on a tram to Smith Street, Fitzroy, where vintage and second-hand stores line the strip. Stop in at Goodbyes for pre-loved designer pieces or Smith Street Bazaar for eclectic homewares.
When you’re ready for lunch, newcomer Crop offers colourful, customisable salads made with Victorian produce and a low-waste ethos. From there it’s a short wander to Abbotsford Convent, a former Catholic institution turned arts precinct. Inside, Julie takes a garden-to-plate approach with ingredients sourced from its own beds and neighbouring Collingwood Children’s Farm. This winter, a rotating line-up of guest chefs will bring their own spin to the restaurant’s seasonal ethos – stop by for an afternoon drink or early dinner.
If you’d rather stay cosy and dine at 1 Hotel Melbourne instead of braving the evening cold, From Here by Mike isn’t your usual hotel restaurant. A love letter to Victorian produce and producers, acclaimed Sydney chef Mike McEnearney’s first hotel project is focused on a low-waste, ingredient-first ethos with upscale, seasonal dishes and minimal-intervention wines. In the lobby, the light-filled Crane Bar & Lounge is built for winding down and sparking connections. The selection of local drinks and snacks is the perfect accompaniment for conversations with friends – old and new.
Sunday
Ease into the day with a visit to Bamford Wellness Spa, 1 Hotel Melbourne’s in-house sanctuary, for skincare treatments, rejuvenating sessions and nourishing practices. Or get your blood pumping at the The Field House Fitness Centre, also on the third floor.
Be sure to check out the hotel’s programming too: there might be morning yoga, mindfulness classes, run clubs, tarot readings, cheese tastings, live DJ sets, Sunday roasts and more while you’re there.
After check out, escape to nature a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens, which offers 38 hectares of winding paths, ancient trees and native plants just south of the CBD. When hunger hits, head to The Observatory, a new, light-filled venue by the Darling Group. The rich, creamy chilli sujuk eggs are a must-try. Or go all-in with The Observatory plate: a choose-your-own-adventure of soft-boiled eggs, hummus, seasonal veg, cheese, shaved ham and fluffy focaccia. It’s the perfect way to fuel up before you return home.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with 1 Hotel Melbourne.
