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The Hot Strip
Raffish Smith Street is the dividing line between the bohemian hot- spot neighbourhoods of Fitzroy and Collingwood. It is also currently the beating heart of Melbourne dining.
Smith Street’s smartest address may
be Saint Crispin (No. 300, Collingwood; saintcrispin.com.au), where chefs Joe Grbac and Scott Pickett season plates with a
little molecular gastronomy and lots of good taste. For some of the most popular banh mi (Vietnamese pork-and-pâté sandwiches) in town, head to N. Lee Bakery (No. 220, Colling-wood). And for something sweet, try the Sicilian-accented Gelato Messina (No. 237, Fitzroy gelatomessina.com).
A bonus: You can sample all the flavors
you want before buying.
Elsewhere on Smith, Lee Ho Fook (No.
92, Collingwoo; leehofook.com.au) offers mod Chinese plates, including the unforgettable chicken with pig’s ear. At nearby
Northern Light (No. 102, Collingwood; northernlightbarandeatery.com), chilli crab in XO sauce is the go-to dish.
Drinks and Nibbles
Small, esoteric bars are one of the signature attractions of Melbourne. One of the city’s great pleasures is setting out on a treasure hunt through alleyways and old buildings in search of excitement. Below are just
a selected few of the city’s dozens of “hidden” venues where patrons can slake their thirst in style.
Melbourne’s popular rooftop bar, Siglo (161 Spring St.; theeuropean.com.au), has an
unmarked entrance opposite Parliament House and a cocktail list to suit those from all walks of life. Romeo Lane (1A Crossley St.; romeolane.com.au) offers cut-crystal glassware, classic cocktails and sultry soundtracks. The tiled street-front bar at Doc Martin’s (86 Collins St.) is a lively post- work hangout with old-school aperitifs. The elegant Brooks (George Parade; brooksofmelbourne.com) features a marble topped basement bar with sophisticated booze and French cuisine.
Meals Worth Traveling For
A blowout meal can be had at Brae (4285 Cape Otway Rd., Birregurra; braerestaurant. com), a landmark regional restaurant at the start of the beautiful coastal drive called the Great Ocean Road. Head chef and owner Dan Hunter handpicks prized
10 JANUARY 2018
This page clockwise: Dining out with friends is
an essential part of the Melbourne lifestyle and is taken very seriously. Melbourne is home to a vast and varied Asian food scene with everything from Thai to Japanese on offer. Go native and do as the locals do and get around by iconic Melbourne tram. Every laneway plays host to a variety of exciting eating options. Melbourne has a huge Mediterranean population resulting in some of the best Italian and Greek eating outside of Rome and Athens.