Help a bloke out about Melbourne please

[ozstickman]

G'day. I'm taking my wife down to Melbourne in January and need a little info about transport and other stuff.

We are staying at Southbank area but need to travel there from the airport. What are my options? I'd prefer not to use a taxi if I can.

Also after a little local knowledge about nice bars and/or restaurant that have live music in the city.

I may be looking for other info too. Trying to make it good for her, it's for her 30th birthday.

Thanks in advanced

The Stickman

 

[scottm]

Hey Sticko, there is a bus that leaves from a bunch of places around the city called 'skybus' leaves every 20 mins or so. Probably closest station for you would be southern cross but worth checking out anyway. Has been a while since I caught it but think it was about $15 per person if you buy a return from memory (in traffic a taxi could be $60-$70).

So many good places to go in an around the city so you'll have to narrow it down a bit for me. Type of food? Price range? What sort of music? I can give you a top 3-5 if you like.

Let me know if there's anything else. I'm sure you'll have a cracking time and make it a trip to remember for your wife's birthday!

Cheers mate

 

[Rhys]

G'day. I'm taking my wife down to Melbourne in January and need a little info about transport and other stuff.

We are staying at Southbank area but need to travel there from the airport. What are my options? I'd prefer not to use a taxi if I can.

Also after a little local knowledge about nice bars and/or restaurant that have live music in the city.

I may be looking for other info too. Trying to make it good for her, it's for her 30th birthday.

Thanks in advanced

The Stickman

Hey bud if you are into jazz let me know what days/dates and I can point you in the direction of a few venues and who will be playing as my old lady helps manage a few jazz nights

 

[scottybobcat]

If You get stuck with anything stickman, my number is 0408145840. Can point you to a few places of interest. Are you hiring a car at all. You could probably get a good deal on car hire from the airport or you can catch the sky bus.

 

[ozstickman]

Cheers all.
We aren't hiring a car. Too much hassle to park etc. we find the cbd easy to get around by walking or trams.

Jazz sounds good. I would like to take the wife to the zoo and/or Werribee zoo too.

 

[scottybobcat]

If
You had a car, I could have taken you to the Healesville Sanctuary

 

[mike1303]

Lend out the d22!!! Hahaha

 

[ozstickman]

We've been to there about 8 years ago when we were down looking after my uncles company while he was on his honeymoon.

Too far to drive from Proserpine to Melbourne for a weekend.

We are planning on a road trip to Tassy with the kids for our tenth wedding anniversary in two and but years time with camper trailer in tow.

 

[BJ Navara]

if you are staying in a city hotel, I am pretty sure there is a bus from the airport that shuttles to all the hotels in turn - sounds like the same bus mentioned before

 

[ozstickman]

if you are staying in a city hotel, I am pretty sure there is a bus from the airport that shuttles to all the hotels in turn - sounds like the same bus mentioned before

Yeah mate staying in the city. Walk to everywhere etc. more choices or restaurants and bars.

 

[scottm]

Here are my recommendations of where to eat in no particular order:

Japanese
Izakaya Den
Cracking food, funky vibe, probably med-high end in terms of cost - not outrageous but 2 courses (read: 6 sharing plates) with a couple of beers and a cocktail is going to be $120 for two people.

Mexican
Mexicali Rose
This is just a short (5-10min) tram ride from the CBD but has exceptional mexican at very reasonable prices. I've never been disappointed here (have eaten there 10+ times regularly for birthdays etc). The combination plates are brilliant if you like different textures and mixing it up and if you have room the desserts are very good also (try and save room for the chocolate tacos, you'll thank me).

Modern Australian
Cumulus Inc
This is probably my favourite resturant in Melbourne at the moment, the qualtiy of food, service and atmosphere at this place is off the charts. It has an open kitchen which can be cool to watch if you're into food (you can ask to be seated at the bar looking in to the kitchen). If you want to totally wow your Mrs without breaking the bank this would be the place I'd choose. It is going to set you back a bit depending on what you order etc but I've always been happy with whatever the bill came to (and no I'm not minted). There's something for everybody on this menu. You may have to wait for a table depending on what time / night you go (we always try and get there early like 6 ish) and we've never waited more than 15 mins but you can just chill out and have a drink at their bar or upstairs while you wait.


Greek
Stalactites
If you fancy a bit of a meat fest this is definitely the place, you can get s humble souvlaki or getting a sharing plate with lamb skewers, mixed giros from the spit, lamb cutlets, hot sausages and greek rissoles for $20 per person. Quality food, always busy and quite loud so not really the romantic table for two type deal but very good if you feel like a filling meal.

I've tried to cover most of the bases there, if you're leaning one way or another or want more options let me know. I've included all the links to the restaurants on Urban Spoon so you can check them out yourself (can see most of the menus with prices etc). If you want cheap and cheerful type food let me know as there's heaps of them as well.

Cheers,

-Scott

 

[ozstickman]

Here are my recommendations of where to eat in no particular order:



Japanese

Izakaya Den

Cracking food, funky vibe, probably med-high end in terms of cost - not outrageous but 2 courses (read: 6 sharing plates) with a couple of beers and a cocktail is going to be $120 for two people.



Mexican

Mexicali Rose

This is just a short (5-10min) tram ride from the CBD but has exceptional mexican at very reasonable prices. I've never been disappointed here (have eaten there 10+ times regularly for birthdays etc). The combination plates are brilliant if you like different textures and mixing it up and if you have room the desserts are very good also (try and save room for the chocolate tacos, you'll thank me).



Modern Australian

Cumulus Inc

This is probably my favourite resturant in Melbourne at the moment, the qualtiy of food, service and atmosphere at this place is off the charts. It has an open kitchen which can be cool to watch if you're into food (you can ask to be seated at the bar looking in to the kitchen). If you want to totally wow your Mrs without breaking the bank this would be the place I'd choose. It is going to set you back a bit depending on what you order etc but I've always been happy with whatever the bill came to (and no I'm not minted). There's something for everybody on this menu. You may have to wait for a table depending on what time / night you go (we always try and get there early like 6 ish) and we've never waited more than 15 mins but you can just chill out and have a drink at their bar or upstairs while you wait.





Greek

Stalactites

If you fancy a bit of a meat fest this is definitely the place, you can get s humble souvlaki or getting a sharing plate with lamb skewers, mixed giros from the spit, lamb cutlets, hot sausages and greek rissoles for $20 per person. Quality food, always busy and quite loud so not really the romantic table for two type deal but very good if you feel like a filling meal.



I've tried to cover most of the bases there, if you're leaning one way or another or want more options let me know. I've included all the links to the restaurants on Urban Spoon so you can check them out yourself (can see most of the menus with prices etc). If you want cheap and cheerful type food let me know as there's heaps of them as well.



Cheers,



-Scott

Cheers. Japanese looks the go. Something different!

 

[d22dave]

Stickman check out Melbourne zoo on the net, they do or did use to have jazz nights at Melbourne zoo over the summer period, I just googled the zoo, they are having summer concerts again, might be something to look into

 

[ozstickman]

Stickman check out Melbourne zoo on the net, they do or did use to have jazz nights at Melbourne zoo over the summer period, I just googled the zoo, they are having summer concerts again, might be something to look into

The Zoo with Jazz would be the swizzle for zizzle!

 

[Jase V9X]

Chin chin
Asian inspired cuisine - Flinders Lane.
You can't book though.
Music downstairs after dinner!

 

[ozstickman]

Chin chin

Asian inspired cuisine - Flinders Lane.

You can't book though.

Music downstairs after dinner!

Cheers

 

[benchrisfennell]

G'day. I'm taking my wife down to Melbourne in January and need a little info about transport and other stuff.

We are staying at Southbank area but need to travel there from the airport. What are my options? I'd prefer not to use a taxi if I can.

Also after a little local knowledge about nice bars and/or restaurant that have live music in the city.

I may be looking for other info too. Trying to make it good for her, it's for her 30th birthday.

Thanks in advanced

The Stickman

Bobs chop and steak house in docklands...... Best steak there ever or even along the water at docklands heaps of places to eat and reasonable priced.....

 

[ozstickman]

Bobs chop and steak house in docklands...... Best steak there ever or even along the water at docklands heaps of places to eat and reasonable priced.....

I'm looking at staying at a place at Southbank. Area any good?

 

[scottm]

It's great along there... On the weekends there's often a small craft market towards the flinder st end, street performers, nice walk along the Yarra (lit up beautifully at night) nice cafes / bars etc to choose from, plenty of good breakfast places... Then you have the casino as well if you like to have a punt...

 

[ozstickman]

Booked a place to stay! Not on Southbank but down the road from flinders st station.