Guidebook for Kensington
Food Scene
This is the closest cafe to our apartment. It is operated by a community organisation called AMES, with profits going towards helping migrants into education and work. Try the shakshuka.
Fifty-Six threads cafe
56 Derby StThis is the closest cafe to our apartment. It is operated by a community organisation called AMES, with profits going towards helping migrants into education and work. Try the shakshuka.
An alternative place with a record bar out the front and a nice courtyard out the back. It can take a while to get your food at brunch times... a little patience is needed. 7 min walk from apartment.
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White Rabbit Record Bar
176 Bellair StAn alternative place with a record bar out the front and a nice courtyard out the back. It can take a while to get your food at brunch times... a little patience is needed. 7 min walk from apartment.
The local pub with decent food and a Tuesday trivia (book in advance). 5 minute walk from apartment.
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Hardimans Hotel
521 Macaulay RdThe local pub with decent food and a Tuesday trivia (book in advance). 5 minute walk from apartment.
The most popular café in Kensington. Beautiful food and good service.
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The Premises.
202 Bellair StThe most popular café in Kensington. Beautiful food and good service.
Thai By Night
170 Bellair StDecent Thai food by night, a café by day.
The best laksa in Melbourne. On Friday and Saturday nights, be prepared to wait half an hour for a table as it gets really busy. Very fast service. Try any of the laksas and roti chanai.
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Laksa King Flemington
6-12 Pin Oak CresThe best laksa in Melbourne. On Friday and Saturday nights, be prepared to wait half an hour for a table as it gets really busy. Very fast service. Try any of the laksas and roti chanai.
Next door to Laksa King. If you can’t get a table at Laksa King, come here. A bit more expensive, but similar Malaysian cuisine and quieter, so you can talk.
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Chef Lagenda Malaysian Kitchen
16 Pin Oak CresNext door to Laksa King. If you can’t get a table at Laksa King, come here. A bit more expensive, but similar Malaysian cuisine and quieter, so you can talk.
Closer to Flemington, this is our favourite Ethiopian restaurant. Staff are friendly… you share a big platter with multiple curries and bread (injera) and eat with your hands.
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The Abyssinian Restaurant
277 Racecourse RdCloser to Flemington, this is our favourite Ethiopian restaurant. Staff are friendly… you share a big platter with multiple curries and bread (injera) and eat with your hands.
Japanese / South American fusion, this place is awesome. Lots of sashimi, so you need to like raw fish. We recommend the degustation options.
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Nobu
8 Whiteman StJapanese / South American fusion, this place is awesome. Lots of sashimi, so you need to like raw fish. We recommend the degustation options.
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare; the Soufra degustation is highly recommended.
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Maha
21 Bond StMediterranean and Middle Eastern fare; the Soufra degustation is highly recommended.
Fine dining Italian, Modern Australian. Owned by Guy Grossi celebrity chef. The food is sensational, and the staff will really look after you.
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Florentino
80 Bourke StFine dining Italian, Modern Australian. Owned by Guy Grossi celebrity chef. The food is sensational, and the staff will really look after you.
Our all-time favourite restaurant… we like it so much we bought the cookbook and try to replicate the recipes! Asian fusion food, the pork belly in caramel sauce is the best you will find anywhere.
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Red Spice Road
141 Queen StOur all-time favourite restaurant… we like it so much we bought the cookbook and try to replicate the recipes! Asian fusion food, the pork belly in caramel sauce is the best you will find anywhere.
This is not visible from the street and up a few flights of stairs. The décor has period charm and the menu has a European flair. Groovy music. Always busy.
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Panama Dining Room
231 Smith StThis is not visible from the street and up a few flights of stairs. The décor has period charm and the menu has a European flair. Groovy music. Always busy.
A Melbourne institution, this place gets very busy and the stairwell gets cramped with people waiting for tables. If you book, it’s a lot easier. Try the crispy-skinned chicken. BYO.
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Supper Inn Chinese Restaurant
15 Celestial AveA Melbourne institution, this place gets very busy and the stairwell gets cramped with people waiting for tables. If you book, it’s a lot easier. Try the crispy-skinned chicken. BYO.
Hardware Lane
Hardware LanePlenty of trendy restaurants.
Degraves St
Plenty of awesome cafés.
Lively café and bar strip with cheap and decent eats. The west end of Johnston Street has Spanish restaurants and cafés.
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Johnston St/Brunswick St station
Lively café and bar strip with cheap and decent eats. The west end of Johnston Street has Spanish restaurants and cafés.
Ants Bistro
7 Corrs LnDecent and fast Chinese food. BYO.
Cheapest Chinese dumplings ever. The service is atrocious (they can throw the food on the tables at times) and the cleanliness is questionable, but we don't know anyone who ever got food poisoning.
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Shanghai Dumpling House
23 Tattersalls LnCheapest Chinese dumplings ever. The service is atrocious (they can throw the food on the tables at times) and the cleanliness is questionable, but we don't know anyone who ever got food poisoning.
Izakaya Hachibeh
143-145 Bourke StGood Japanese food in the middle of the city.
Asian fare in a lovely restaurant setting. Busy, so you should book.
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Longrain Restaurant
44 Little Bourke StAsian fare in a lovely restaurant setting. Busy, so you should book.
A converted laundry in the centre of the city, the food is Asian inspired and the restaurant is small and intimate.
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Seamstress Restaurant & Bar
113 Lonsdale StA converted laundry in the centre of the city, the food is Asian inspired and the restaurant is small and intimate.
The best all-you-can eat buffet in town with a huge amount of fresh seafood, short-order cooks in different world cuisines and a chocolate fountain! Very pricey though. A special treat!
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Melba Restaurant
1 Southgate AveThe best all-you-can eat buffet in town with a huge amount of fresh seafood, short-order cooks in different world cuisines and a chocolate fountain! Very pricey though. A special treat!
Fruits of Passion
188 Bellair StGood fast service and decent café food.
They do great pho here. Hidden down an arcade near Laksa King.
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Green Tea Vietnamese
320 Racecourse RdThey do great pho here. Hidden down an arcade near Laksa King.
Pepper
44 Pin Oak CresGreat neighbourhood hangout with nice food and coffee.
Drinks & Nightlife
Thai food in a quirky bar / restaurant. The rooftop bar upstairs from here has a rooftop cinema showing movies on the fake turf during the summer.
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Cookie
252 Swanston StThai food in a quirky bar / restaurant. The rooftop bar upstairs from here has a rooftop cinema showing movies on the fake turf during the summer.
Awesome Spanish tapas, you need to book well in advance. Alternatively, go to MoVida Next Door, who take walk-ins.
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MoVida
1 Hosier LnAwesome Spanish tapas, you need to book well in advance. Alternatively, go to MoVida Next Door, who take walk-ins.
Sophisticated feel, with beautiful views of Melbourne city. Free entry, but trust us, they make the money with the drinks! We only stay for a couple of drinks just to prep ourselves for fancy dinner.
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Lui Bar
525 Collins StSophisticated feel, with beautiful views of Melbourne city. Free entry, but trust us, they make the money with the drinks! We only stay for a couple of drinks just to prep ourselves for fancy dinner.
Themed bar…think European country clubs from the 70s…cheap cocktails purchased by the jug.
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Madame Brussels
59 Bourke StThemed bar…think European country clubs from the 70s…cheap cocktails purchased by the jug.
Amazing view of Melbourne city, walk in entries can be problematic, so call ahead if you really want to go. They usually have live jazz/soul bands playing.
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Blue Diamond
123 Queen StreetAmazing view of Melbourne city, walk in entries can be problematic, so call ahead if you really want to go. They usually have live jazz/soul bands playing.
Irish bar, with lots of Irish people, Irish gigs, Irish beer and Irish fun.
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The Quiet Man Irish Pub
271 Racecourse RdIrish bar, with lots of Irish people, Irish gigs, Irish beer and Irish fun.
Busy local pub opposite Newmarket train station. Serve decent pub food too.
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Doutta Galla Hotel
339 Racecourse RdBusy local pub opposite Newmarket train station. Serve decent pub food too.
In an out-of-the-way alley (lane way off a lane way…off another lane way), past some rubbish bins, this place is set up like a chemistry lab; order a syringe drink.
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The Croft Institute
21 Croft AlleyIn an out-of-the-way alley (lane way off a lane way…off another lane way), past some rubbish bins, this place is set up like a chemistry lab; order a syringe drink.
This is a tiny bar (max 15 customers at a time), again, very hidden. Best cocktails in Melbourne! Only standing room, so it is not a place you will be spending all night at.
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Bar Americano
20 Presgrave PlThis is a tiny bar (max 15 customers at a time), again, very hidden. Best cocktails in Melbourne! Only standing room, so it is not a place you will be spending all night at.
This place is divided into the affluent West Berlin, and the grungy East Berlin; ask to sit in East Berlin preferably on the bunk beds) and order a German cocktail (they are quite strong!) or beer.
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Berlin Bar
16 Corrs LnThis place is divided into the affluent West Berlin, and the grungy East Berlin; ask to sit in East Berlin preferably on the bunk beds) and order a German cocktail (they are quite strong!) or beer.
Large venue with a big screen and regular drag shows with the usual topless male backup dancers through the night; upstairs is quieter and offers a good view of the dancefloor. Cover charge $20. LGBT.
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GH Hotel (Greyhound Hotel)
1 Brighton RoadLarge venue with a big screen and regular drag shows with the usual topless male backup dancers through the night; upstairs is quieter and offers a good view of the dancefloor. Cover charge $20. LGBT.
Free entry. A great night with unpretentious gays… however, the downside is all women need to be escorted by a male. Don’t bother trying to get in if you are a group of girls. Open till 6am.
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The Peel Hotel
46 Peel StFree entry. A great night with unpretentious gays… however, the downside is all women need to be escorted by a male. Don’t bother trying to get in if you are a group of girls. Open till 6am.
Molly Meldrum’s local…you are bound to find him there on the weekend.
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DT's Hotel
164 Church StMolly Meldrum’s local…you are bound to find him there on the weekend.
Very hidden bar (on a lane way, off a lane way). Really nice chill out place, a little alternative where most of the bartenders are covered in tattoos, but it appears to attract all kinds of people.
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Sister Bella
9 Sniders LaneVery hidden bar (on a lane way, off a lane way). Really nice chill out place, a little alternative where most of the bartenders are covered in tattoos, but it appears to attract all kinds of people.
Palm trees on the roof…has a tropical feel about it.
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The Carlton Club
193 Bourke StPalm trees on the roof…has a tropical feel about it.
Most popular of roof top bars, so it can be too busy for our liking.
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Rooftop Cinema
252 Swanston StMost popular of roof top bars, so it can be too busy for our liking.
Cool bar up plenty of stairs. Quirky and have table service.
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New Gold Mountain
21 Liverpool StCool bar up plenty of stairs. Quirky and have table service.
Sightseeing
The defining landmark of Melbourne at the junction of Flinders Street and Swanston Street; a popular meeting spot.
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Flinders Street Railway Station
Flinders StreetThe defining landmark of Melbourne at the junction of Flinders Street and Swanston Street; a popular meeting spot.
A new precinct with restaurants and bars; Harbourtown is the shopping centre there, which can be quite dead at the best of times.
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Docklands
A new precinct with restaurants and bars; Harbourtown is the shopping centre there, which can be quite dead at the best of times.
The tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere with views of Melbourne.
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Eureka Skydeck
7 Riverside QuayThe tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere with views of Melbourne.
Huge and colourful with an assortment of fresh and dry produce and tacky souvenirs.
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Queen Victoria Market
Queen StreetHuge and colourful with an assortment of fresh and dry produce and tacky souvenirs.
Federation Square
Popular meeting place with cafes and galleries.
Promenade on the south bank of the Yarra, with restaurants, bars and a Sunday art and craft market.
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Southgate
3 Southgate AvePromenade on the south bank of the Yarra, with restaurants, bars and a Sunday art and craft market.
On St Kilda Road, the major war memorial with a Ray of Light demonstration every half hour.
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Shrine of Remembrance
On St Kilda Road, the major war memorial with a Ray of Light demonstration every half hour.
Beautiful trees and greenery, not if you have hayfever; watch out for the beautiful people on their daily run around ‘the Tan’.
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Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Beautiful trees and greenery, not if you have hayfever; watch out for the beautiful people on their daily run around ‘the Tan’.
Arts & Culture
You can pick up some cheap tickets at Half Tix at Melbourne Town Hall for shows playing that evening… hit and miss though. If you are keen on seeing a certain show, we recommend buying in advance.
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Halftix Melbourne
208 Little Collins StYou can pick up some cheap tickets at Half Tix at Melbourne Town Hall for shows playing that evening… hit and miss though. If you are keen on seeing a certain show, we recommend buying in advance.
Includes the Crown Casino, many bars and restaurants, high-end shopping and Village Cinemas.
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Crown Melbourne
8 Whiteman StIncludes the Crown Casino, many bars and restaurants, high-end shopping and Village Cinemas.
Entertainment & Activities
Melbourne Museum
11 Nicholson StThe largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere.
Melbourne Zoo
Elliott AvenueIf you like animals.
Scienceworks
2 Booker StGood day out for the kids, learning about science.
Historic amusement park with the big mouth; small but fun.
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Luna Park Melbourne
18 Lower EsplanadeHistoric amusement park with the big mouth; small but fun.
Shopping
A kilometre-long strip of fashionable shops and cafes and beautiful botoxed people; the cheaper shops are toward the southern end; South Yarra and Prahran are the ‘pink’ area and are gay-friendly.
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Chapel Street
Chapel StreetA kilometre-long strip of fashionable shops and cafes and beautiful botoxed people; the cheaper shops are toward the southern end; South Yarra and Prahran are the ‘pink’ area and are gay-friendly.
Prahran Market station
Expensive gourmet market, good for a nosey.
Plenty of shopping, including Myer, David Jones, H&M, Zara and others.
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Bourke Street Mall
Bourke Street MallPlenty of shopping, including Myer, David Jones, H&M, Zara and others.
Large shopping centre with a broad range of shops.
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Chadstone Shopping Centre
1341 Dandenong RoadLarge shopping centre with a broad range of shops.
Bridge Road
Bridge RoadFactory outlet shopping and IKEA.
Outlet shopping centre next to the Convention Centre.
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DFO www.catalogclothing.com.au
20 Convention Centre PlOutlet shopping centre next to the Convention Centre.
Highpoint Shopping Centre… the west’s answer to Chadstone.
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The Bavarian Highpoint
120-200 Rosamond RdHighpoint Shopping Centre… the west’s answer to Chadstone.
Smith Street
Smith StreetFactory outlet shops and boutiques.
Essentials
Local Woolworths, with BWS and Thirsty Camel liquor stores, and Chemist Warehouse next door.
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Woolworths Newmarket Plaza
338 Racecourse RdLocal Woolworths, with BWS and Thirsty Camel liquor stores, and Chemist Warehouse next door.
FoodWorks
484 Macaulay RdClosest place for basic groceries.