A Weekend Staycation Around the Yarra End of the CBD (With a Quick Trip to South Melbourne, Too)

Melbourne is a sprawling, culturally rich destination, and as a visitor it can be hard to know where to start. For decades, the CBD’s southern side has been packed with everything our city is famous for: cultural institutions, atmospheric pubs, great food and coffee, and views of the river and the sea. Here, where the Hoddle grid runs down towards the Yarra and out to the bay, there’s more than enough to fill a relaxing day with proper Melbourne experiences. Bonus: it’s also an easy tram or bike ride to South Melbourne and all the inner-city suburb has going for it. Here’s how to do it right.

A wellness-led stay

Some hotels are little more than a place to rest your head at the end of the day, but not 1 Hotel Melbourne. This new, sustainability-focused hotel on the banks of the Yarra is a well-positioned home base for exploring the city, of course, but it’s also packed with enough things to do that you won’t necessarily be racing out the door. Beyond its in-house restaurant, From Here by Mike, the hotel brings a wellness focus to its amenities, like the Bamford Wellness Spa by the UK’s organics, skincare and wellness visionary Carole Bamford. Head here for holistic, individually crafted treatments such as a restorative hydrafacial, immersive soundwave therapy, and a signature full-body massage that draws on shiatsu and Swedish massage techniques.

Creative scrolls and coffee

The team behind Heart Bakes has opened a new bakery dedicated entirely to giant, fluffy scrolls. Tucked away on Union Street in South Melbourne, Dance Bakes specialises in oversized pastries with buttery layers and cloud-like centres, available in both sweet and savoury flavours. The menu includes classics like cinnamon alongside more inventive options such as salted caramel banoffee, Mont Blanc with orange zest and a cheese and Vegemite scroll. Of course, you can’t forget a coffee to go with your order. Pair your pastry with a specialty coffee, then settle in or take it to go – just be sure to arrive early, as these fresh-baked scrolls have a habit of selling out.

A river-hopping bike ride

From the city, there are some lovely tree-lined routes to Melbourne’s bayside suburbs – and they’re perfect for cycling. 1 Hotel has electric bikes available for guests to book, which means a quick jaunt down to sunny South Melbourne is very much on the cards. You could keep cycling down to the bay (Port Melbourne Beach is patrolled, if you’re up for a dip) or head to the bustling South Melbourne Market, which should have plenty of mid-morning snacks (including those famous dim sims) to refuel you after that bike ride.

An inventive Korean Japanese lunch

Sadly for West Melbourne locals, Korean Japanese cafe Moon Mart jumped ship for an upgraded South Melbourne spot two years ago. The good news, though, is that everything that made Moon Mart a local favourite has remained, while the iconic yellow space is now bigger and better equipped. You’ll find all the menu classics – bulgogi breakfast muffins and okonomiyaki hash browns, naturally – alongside kimchi jaffles, katsu sandos and rice sets with toppings like a gochujang hamburg steak. That’s lunch, then.

Vintage retail therapy

Originally from Brisbane, pre-loved clothing store Swop is exactly the sort of curated-yet-accessible retailer Melburnians love – and it has just opened its biggest location yet in South Melbourne. The offering is built on clothing sold or exchanged for store credit, meaning there’s a constant turnover of curated vintage pieces to explore. You could bring your own clothes to swap, or just browse the racks for a rare find.

The best of Victoria on a plate

Riding the bike back to 1 Hotel Melbourne will work up your appetite – thankfully, there’s a spot for dinner in the hotel itself. From Here by Mike bills itself as a “love letter to the land”, with renowned Sydney chef Mike McEnearney sharing his love of Victoria’s produce at this celebrated new restaurant. Across the à la carte menu, you might find locally focused dishes like a half-chook from Aurum Poultry (served with sweet corn and garlic butter), a goat’s cheese souffle with rosemary cream courtesy of Meredith Dairy, and chargrilled octopus served with Portarlington mussels in merlot vinegar. Throw in a bottle of Victorian wine and you’re laughing. Plus, it’s just an easy lift ride up to your room if you’re keen to wind down for the night.

Drinks at Jayda

Or, if you’re in the mood for a nightcap, this opulent-yet-low-key cocktail bar is a short walk from the hotel. Tucked away next door to the original Maha fine diner on Bond Street is its sister bar Jayda: an ideal spot to cap off a day out in the city. Here, the focus is on spirits and unique cocktails, like the Plum Theory (a blend of bourbon, blood plum, black tea and sparkling shiraz) and Red Earth (quince-infused rum, lemon, burnt honey and amaro). Naturally for a Maha offshoot, there’s also a Middle Eastern-influenced food menu that runs the gamut from fried zucchini flowers with muhammara to a harissa cheeseburger – if you’ve got any room left for snacks, that is. Then it’s back to 1 Hotel Melbourne to sink into the plush beds and call it a day. 

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with 1 Hotel Melbourne.