melbourne - citibank singapore › ... › travel › pdf › melbourne.pdf · 2016-03-02 · yarra...

Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP1 / LUXE MELBOURNE

Citi PrestigeSM

Melbourne

DEMURE AND SOPHISTICATED, MELBOURNE IS AUSTRALIA’S STYLE CAPITAL

Australia’s style capital, Melbourne

is the birthplace of many of the

country’s hippest fashion labels, not

to mention home to some of the best

dining and coffee you’re likely to find

Down Under.

Demure and sophisticated, Melbourne

coyly hides many of its best attributes

out of sight in lanes and arcades,

which makes discovering the town’s

treasures all the more enjoyable. Be

warned that getting around can be

somewhat challenging beyond the city

centre, and the unpredictable weather

will undoubtedly try to upset your

plans at some stage, but never mind

that. Slip on a few layers, pack your

umbrella, and dive into the fascinating

cultural hub that is Melbourne.

The cult pocket city guides and mobile

apps for the busy, sophisticated traveler

www.luxecityguides.comCITI PRESENTS LUXE CITY GUIDES


Citi PrestigeSM

• Weather: Melbourne has Spring,

Summer, Autumn and Winter almost

every day. Three words: learn to

layer

• Melbourne International Airport to

CBD by cab: 30-40 mins / AUD$50,

take the Citylink freeway (toll

applies)

• At times it can seem as if there are

only three taxis in the whole of this

vast city, so you’ll need to book well

ahead at peak times: www.silvertop.

com.au

• If you are lucky enough to hail a taxi,

make sure you know the area and

street you are heading for, unless

you want to end up in Fiji via Sydney

• The tram system is convenient in

the CBD, but can be slow elsewhere,

where cabs/driving is more efficient

• Events: What a busy, busy

Blah blahtown. Jan: Australian Open;

Mar: Melbourne Grand Prix;

Mar: Melbourne Fashion Week;

Mar-Sep: AFL (Football)

Premiership season; Oct: Melbourne

International Arts Festival;

1st Tue in Nov: Melbourne Cup; 26-

30 Dec: Cricket International Test

• In peak summer season (Dec-

Jan) and during many of the

aforementioned events, it is

essential to book way ahead for

everything

• Smoking is not permitted at indoor

restaurants and bars

• Goods and services tax (GST) is 10%,

tip an extra 10%

• Beer. If you are keen on a tankard,

remember: a glass is 200ml, a ‘pot’

is 285ml, and pints are for Guinness

• Coffee: discussed more heatedly

than politics, sports or religion. Any

person proclaiming the city’s best

coffee risks public humiliation and

being garroted

• Coffee etiquette: strong means

two shots; skinny is skim. Don’t be

surprised if a café doesn’t serve

skinny/soy

• International code for Australia is

+61 and 3 for Melbourne, neither

need to be dialed locally

• Emergency number is 000 for fire,

ambulance and police


Citi PrestigeSM

LUXE INSIDER

Matt Wilkinson / CHEF

Originally from England, Matt trained

in Michelin-starred chef Martin

Wishart’s kitchen before arriving in

Melbourne in 2000. He was sous chef

to Shannon Bennett at acclaimed Vue

de Monde, before moving into his first

head chef role at Alevansi in 2004.

After a subsequent successful stint as

head chef at Circa the Prince, Matt left

to open Pope Joan in East Brunswick

with business partner Ben Foster in

2010, followed by sibling bar Bishop

of Ostia in 2012. His cookbook ‘Mr.

Wilkinson’s Favourite Vegetables’ was

released in 2012.

www.popejoan.com.au

www.bishopofostia.com.au


Citi PrestigeSM

1) WHERE WOULD YOU GO FOR A COCKTAIL AND WHAT WOULD YOU ORDER?

Get into the Melbourne way of life by

heading for a cocktail or cheeky beer

at Madame Brussels. What to order?

Leave yourself in the hands of the

proprietress Miss Pearls. You won’t

leave disappointed – I never do! (see

LUXE Loves)

2) WHAT ARE 3 OF YOUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS IN MELBOURNE AND WHY? WHAT DISHES DO YOU ORDER AT THESE PLACES?

Circa the Prince, newly fitted out and

with new food direction, a must-have

being the clam and shrimp ma pu.

Then try Cutler and Co. in Fitzroy,

and make sure you try the five or so

snacks on the menu before ordering

your entrée and main. A must if you

like Vietnamese pho is Pho Dzung. I

order the beef and chicken medium

with fresh rolled prawn cakes, mint

and iceberg.

Pho Dzung / 234 Russell St / +61 3

9663 8885

www.circa.com.au

www.cutlerandco.com.au

3) WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PATISSERIE/CAKE SHOP OR BAKERY IN MELBOURNE, AND WHAT DO YOU ORDER?

Head to Burch & Purchese Sweet

Studio in South Yarra. Darren the

owner makes the best chocolates and

cakes in town and if you manage not

to eat them all before you go, he has

great little packaged treats to take

home for gifts. Everybody needs a

sweet treat on holiday.

www.burchandpurchese.com

4) WHAT RESTAURANT OFFERS THE BEST BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH IN MELBOURNE, AND WHAT DO YOU ORDER?

To enjoy the delights of early morning

eating and sipping a coffee, head

to The European for breakfast. It’s

got the feel of a Euro setting, with

delicious food and views across to

Parliament House.

www.theeuropean.com.au

5) WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE NEIGHBORHOOD TO VISIT FOR A DAY OF SHOPPING?

Most people will tell to you Chapel

Street, but I’m a north-sider, so I say

head to the corner of Gertrude and

Smith streets. Within 20 minutes of

walking you have three awesome

record shops, six cracking galleries

showcasing the best of Australia’s art

(including everything from modern

to street art), a great cookbook shop,

and amazing vintage, second-hand

and clothing stores. Add to all that

some great restaurants, cafes and an

organic bakery and you’ve got the

best corner in Melbourne, trust me.

LUXE INSIDER

Matt Wilkinson / CHEF


Citi PrestigeSM

THE PRINCE

Accomodation

The sweet, boutique Prince is just

minutes from the seaside, as well as

all that vibrant St. Kilda has to offer.

It packs a lot of punch behind its Art

Deco exterior, including 40 uniquely

laid-out rooms featuring natural

timbers and neutral tones, renowned

foodie-haven Circa, and excellent

Aurora Spa.

ATTICA Dining

Don’t be fooled by the suburban

location or the pared-back interior,

Ben Shewry’s visionary Australian-

fusion fine-diner has hit its stride in

recent years, garnering recognition in

prestigious culinary circles the world

over, including consistent rankings in

S. Pellegrino’s annual World’s 50 Best

Restaurants awards.

THE OLSEN Accomodation

Named for the renowned Australian

artist whose works line the hotel walls,

The Olsen is a fittingly stylish tribute

to the 2005 Archibald Prize-winner,

with its effortlessly chic suites,

cool icy-white, silver and charcoal

color palette, glass-bottomed pool,

Norbu day spa, Spoonbill and Steer

restaurants, plus fabulous retail-

central position.

637-641 Chapel St / South Yarra /

+61 3 9040 1222

www.artserieshotels.com.au

2 Acland St / St. Kilda / +61 3 9536 1111

www.theprince.com.au

74 Glen Eira Rd / Ripponlea /

+61 3 9530 0111 / tasting menu only

www.attica.com.au

LUXE Loves


Citi PrestigeSM

LUXE Loves

MADAME BRUSSELS Bar

Loll on the faux grass lawn at this

kitschy indoor garden party, complete

with wicker and chintz lounges,

wrought iron chairs, picnic-tabled

terrace and The Parlour at the rear.

Add to the mix a delicious range of

cocktails and punches and you’ve got

yourself a dandy night out.

3/F / 59-63 Bourke St / City /

+61 3 9662 2775

www.madamebrussels.com

MISS FOX

Bar

This glamorous 50s-style salon is the

place to go for immaculate blow waves.

Plus they’ve a full range of decadent

cosmetic, therapeutic and grooming

services, not to mention a central city

locale, and they use gorgeous Shiffa

Dubai spa products. Seriously, what’s

not to love?

1-3/F / 285 Little Collins St / City /

+61 1300 647 736

www.missfox.com.au

TARLO & GRAHAM Shopping

An interior designer’s dream store

in Windsor, with an ever-evolving

collection of quirky vintage

items handpicked for the home,

including ephemera, antiques,

lighting, statement C. 20th and

industrial furniture.

60 Chapel St / Windsor /

+61 3 9521 2221

www.tarloandgraham.com

POPE JOAN Coffee

In a town where coffee is a religion,

it takes more than a catchy name to

stand out. Luckily, Pope Joan has both

the interesting moniker and the right

stuff in the cup, as well as refined

breakfasts, tasty sandwiches, and a

hip northern location with offshoot

Bishop of Ostia next door.

77-79 Nicholson St / Brunswick

East / +61 3 9388 8858

www.popejoan.com.aul

GRAMERCY BISTRO Dining

An homage to the Big Apple, slick

shop-house Gramercy Bistro offers

a Melbournian take on what the US

does best – classic hearty breakfasts,

chopped salads and deli sandwiches

for lunch, and a robust Americana

dinner menu featuring steaks, ribs and

cheesecake, plus martinis to wash it all

down with.

The Cullen / 162-164 Commercial Rd

/ Prahran / +61 3 9098 1155

www.gramercybistro.com.au

CUMULUS INC. Dining

Open early till late, this hip central

City eatery attracts the brunch and

lunch set with its knockout modern

Australian menu, then as night falls,

the simple cafeteria-like spot fills up

to become a happening after hours

watering hole.

45 Flinders Lane / City / +61 3

9560 1445

www.cumulusinc.com.au


Citi PrestigeSM

LUXE LovesGPO

Shopping

Situated in the former General Post

Office building, the GPO arcade is

stuffed to the brim with the crème of

Australian fashion, including flagships

for labels like Willow, Fleur Wood, Sass

& Bide and Arthur Galan among many

others. If pressed for time, beeline

for this treasure trove and you won’t

leave disappointed.

MELBOURNE THEATRE Activity

Australia’s oldest theatre company

and without question one of its best.

If you like edgy local and international

productions staged in an even edgier

contemporary architectural landmark,

then head over to Southbank to enjoy

the show.

YARRA VALLEY Activity

Just an hour out of Melbourne,

this lovely wine region can easily

be enjoyed in a single day trip, or

for longer. The charming region

is an oenophile and gourmand’s

playground, with gastro pub

Healesville Hotel, locavore favorite Mt.

Rael, and TarraWarra winery just a few

of the terrific spots to note.

Healesville Hotel / 256 Maroondah

Highway / Healesville / +61 3 5962

4002

www.yarravalleyharvest.com.au

Mt. Rael / 140 Healesville-Yarra Glen

Rd / Healesville / +61 3 5962 1977

www.mtrael.com.au

TarraWarra / 311 Healesville-Yarra Glen

Rd / Yarra Glen / +61 3 5962 3311

www.tarrawarra.com.au

140 Southbank Boulevard /

Southbank /

+61 3 8688 0800

www.mtc.com.au

Cnr Elizabeth & Bourke / City /

+61 3 9663 0066

www.melbournesgpo.com


Citi PrestigeSM

LUXE LoathesLACK OF TAXIS

In this rather large city, two or three

cabs is woefully insufficient.

WEATHER

It’s seriously unpredictable and often

plan-interfering – layer your wardrobe!

HOOK TURNS

Waiting in the left-hand lane to turn

right? A very illogical road ‘system’,

sadly spreading beyond the CBD.


Citi PrestigeSM

Fab vs. DrabHOT AIR BALLOONING

It can be difficult to get an angle on

Melbourne from pavement level, so

take advantage of the opportunity to

drift over the city in a Hot Air Balloon,

then enjoy a champagne breakfast

once back on firm ground.

www.hotairballooning.com.au

GETTING AROUND

With Melbourne weather and cabs

equally unreliable, you’re likely to

end up stuck on the roadside, soaked

through at some point. That is, unless

you make like a smart local and jump

on a red, ‘antique’ City Circle Tram,

the free and simple way to circumvent

the city. Or, ditch land altogether

and scoot up the Yarra River on a

Melbourne Water Taxi.

www.yarratrams.com.au

www.melbournewatertaxis.com.au

SHOPPING

Being Australia’s fashion capital,

Melbourne is home to some of the

best

bespoke craftspeople around,

including gentlemen’s outfitter (with

in-house barber) Captains of Industry,

and milliner Ward and Wylie, so forget

shopping off the peg and go bespoke!

captainsofindustry.com.au

www.wardandwylie.com

PICNIC

When the sun is shining, don’t waste

time running all over town to get

the ingredients for a savory spread.

Instead, get your hands on a delicious

readymade Cooper and Milla’s picnic

hamper and head straight to the

lovely Royal Botanic Gardens for a

sunbathe and a nibble.

1094 High St / Armadale /

+61 3 9500 8127

GUIDED TOURS

Negotiating the city’s myriad nooks

and lanes unaided is no simple task, so

get some expert intel on Melbourne’s

best shopping, architecture, art,

vintage, coffee, wine and more with a

customized Hidden Secrets Tour.

hiddensecretstours.com


Citi PrestigeSM

Hip fashion, major art, top-notch

dining and a world-renowned

cocktail scene – Melbourne has it

all in sophisticated spades. Rise

and shine in your chic, cool-toned

Olsen Hotel (see LUXE Loves) suite,

accented with sleek-lined furniture

and dramatic lyrical artwork by the

hotel’s namesake, revered Australian

landscape artist Dr. John Olsen. First

stop is the Australian Centre for

Contemporary Art. If weather permits,

you can walk there via the lovely

Royal Botanic Gardens, otherwise

take a cab and spend the morning

getting acquainted with a horde of

Aussie and international artworks.

Cross over the river into the City and

weave in and out of the lanes to find

LUXE ITINERARY

Styleexcellent boutiques stocking local and

overseas labels, like Green With Envy

on Flinders Lane. Carry on up Flinders

and stop for a lunch of modern Thai

share plates at quirky retro-eatery

Chin Chin, then take a left into Spring

Street for a relaxing mid-shop spa

treatment at Aveda’s Retreat on

Spring. Feeling refreshed, head back

to South Yarra and hit style-central

Chapel Street, where heavyweights

Collette Dinnigan and Alannah Hill

share the sartorial spotlight with up-

and-comers including LIFEwithBIRD.

Drop your shopping back at the

hotel, then cross over the bridge

into Richmond for perfectly-crafted

cocktails at cozy hideout Der Raum.

Head back the way you came then

veer east into the suburb of Prahran

where the simply unmissable Jacques

Reymond pairs classical techniques

with Asian flavors to create a

spectacular modern Australian menu.

You are very close to home, so weary

ones can retire with a nightcap on the

balcony, or else take a taxi into the

City and beeline to Baroq House, an

ornate salon with chesterfield sofas,

chandeliers, and lots of intimate nooks

in which to stylishly sip the night away.


Citi PrestigeSM

LUXE ITINERARY

Business

While travelling for business isn’t

usually as enjoyable as holidaying,

in Melbourne it’s not far off. With

excellent restaurants, bars and cafés

galore, entertaining clients has never

been such fun. Firstly, check into

your contemporary suite at A-list

favourite Crown Towers, hard to beat

for its warm, plush décor and fabulous

riverside position, and then get the

blood pumping with a few laps of the

25m swimming pool downstairs. Cross

the bridge in the City to take your first

meeting over breakfast at the elegant

and historic Hotel Windsor. If you

have a break in your schedule, now’s

the perfect time to preen for the

coming day’s activities, with a string

of excellent spa and beauty salons in

the surrounding area. Men, head to

Collins Street for expert barber Herr

Blick, ladies to Little Collins Street

for perfect blow waves plus a full

range of face and body treatments at

Miss Fox (see LUXE Loves). Catch up

on emails over a coffee at Cumulus

Inc. (see LUXE Loves), then charge

straight on to your pre-booked lunch

table at Vue de Monde in Melbourne’s

iconic Rialto building. The spectacular

city views coupled with chef Shannon

Bennett’s avant garde, modern French

menu make it the perfect spot for

that all-important long lunch meeting.

Make a quick stop past the GPO (see

LUXE Loves) arcade on the corner of

Elizabeth and Bourke Streets for the

crème of Australian fashion, including

Willow and Arthur Galan amongst

many others, before heading back

towards the Crown Complex. Make an

impact at dinner with a pre-booked

table at show-stopping power-diner

Rockpool Bar & Grill. The soaring

ceilings and wall-to-wall cellar, not

to mention the local produce-driven,

modern Australian menu will be sure

to seal the deal. Top it all off with

post-dinner cocktails in glitzy, mosaic

and banquette-lined bar The Waiting

Room, then retire to your suite just an

elevator ride away.


Citi PrestigeSM

LUXE ITINERARY

RomanceNothing says romance like a day by

the seaside, especially when there’s

lengthy pampering and oodles of

indulgent European food thrown

in, so with that in mind begin your

sweet sojourn in the funky beachfront

suburb of St. Kilda. Enjoy a leisurely

lie-in in your rustic, minimalist suite at

boutique hotel The Prince (see LUXE

Loves), followed by breakfast at on-

site restaurant Circa. Wander a couple

of blocks west to St. Kilda Cycles on

Barkly Street, where your pre-booked

tandem bicycle (and hairstyle-ruining

helmet) awaits. Take a tour around

the area, firstly north-west along

Albert Park Lake – being sure to stop

at eclectic treasure chest Empire

Vintage for one-of-a-kind home wares,

and Truman Café for coffee and cake

– then back down along picturesque

St. Kilda beach. Finish your ride with

a well-deserved, modern Italian feast

in the casual downstairs refectory of

seafront institution Stokehouse, and

then drift back towards your hotel for

an afternoon spa session. The Prince’s

elegant and contemporary Aurora

Spa is both fabulous and very popular,

so make sure you book ahead and

arrive punctually (there is a strict time

policy) to enjoy decadent signature

therapies like the blissful Kitya Karnu,

comprising body exfoliation, massage,

facial and hair treatments. Feeling

all sparkly and new, slip into your

evening’s attire and taxi north to

diminutive, putty-colored speakeasy

Bar 132, situated inside the Millswyn,

and home to old world-inspired

cocktails with exotic twists. Dinner

time! From one tiny venue to another,

delightful Da Noi is an intimate

haven of excellent Sardinian cuisine

where owner Pietro Porcu dishes

up an ever-changing set menu of

family recipes. Taxi back to St. Kilda,

stopping for a casual nightcap at the

hip, neighborhood-y Newmarket Hotel,

then saunter home to your romantic

suite at The Prince where sweet

dreams await.


Citi PrestigeSM

LUXE ITINERARY

The Essentials

• Olsen Hotel

(see LUXE Loves)

• Australian Centre for Contemporary

Art / 111 Sturt St / Southbank /

+61 3 9697 9999

www.accaonline.org.au

• Green With Envy

268 Flinders Lane / Victoria 3000 /

+61 3 9663 8043

www.greenwithenvy.com.au

• Chin Chin

125 Flinders Lane / City /

+61 3 8663 2000 / no reservation

www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au

• Retreat on Spring

49 Spring St / City /

+61 3 9650 6261

www.retreatonspring.com.au

• Collette Dinnigan

553 Chapel St / South Yarra /

+61 3 9827 2111

www.collettedinnigan.com

• Alannah Hill


+61 3 9826 2755

www.alannahhill.com.au

• LIFEwithBIRD


+61 3 9029 6934

www.lifewithbird.com

• Der Raum

438 Church St / Richmond

www.derraum.com.au

• Jacques Reymond

78 William Rd / Prahran /

+61 3 9525 2178

www.jacquesreymond.com.au

• Baroq House

9-13 Drewery Lane / City /

+61 3 8080 5680

www.baroqhouse.com.au

STYLISH ITINERARY


Citi PrestigeSM

LUXE ITINERARY

The EssentialsBUSINESS ITINERARY

• Crown Towers

8 Whiteman St / Southbank /

+61 3 9292 8888

www.crowntowers.com.au

• Hotel Windsor

111 Spring St / City /

+61 3 9633 6000

www.thehotelwindsor.com.au

• Herr Blick

1/F / Suites 13-14 / 12 Collins St /

City / +61 3 9005 4612

www.herrblick.com.au

• Miss Fox

(see LUXE Loves)

• Cumulus Inc.

(see LUXE Loves)

• GPO

(see LUXE Loves)

• Willow

GPO / 350 Bourke St /

+61 3 9663 0045

www.willowltd.com

• Arthur Galan

GPO / Shop G14 / 350 Bourke St /

+61 3 9639 7555

www.agclothing.com

• Rockpool Bar & Grill

Crown Complex / Southbank /

+61 3 8648 1900

www.rockpool.com

• The Waiting Room

Crown Complex / Southbank /

+61 3 8679 1800

www.twrbar.com


Citi PrestigeSM

LUXE ITINERARY

The EssentialsROMANCE ITINERARY

• The Prince

(see LUXE Loves)

• St. Kilda Cycles

150 Barkly St / St Kilda /

+61 3 9534 3074

www.stkildacycles.com.au

• Empire Vintage

63 Cardigan Place / Albert Park /

+61 3 9682 6677

www.empirevintage.com.au

• Truman Café

381 Montague St / Albert Park /

+61 3 9077 1372

• Stokehouse

30 Jacka Blvd / St Kilda /

+61 3 9525 5555

www.stokehouse.com.au

• Aurora Spa

2 Acland St / St Kilda /

+61 3 9536 1130

www.aurorasparetreat.com.au

• Bar 132

131-133 Domain Rd / South Yarra /

+61 3 9866 5627

www.themillswyn.com.au

• Da Noi

95 Toorak Rd / South Yarra /

+61 3 9866 5975

• Newmarket Hotel

34 Inkerman St / St Kilda /

+61 3 9537 1777

www.newmarketstkilda.com.au


Citi PrestigeSM

Your LUXE notes

melbourne - citibank singapore › ... › travel › pdf › melbourne.pdf · 2016-03-02 · yarra...

Documents