Overview Hotels Things to Do Restaurants Nightlife Itineraries Facts Explore Travel

Multicultural Melbourne

Description:

Melbourne enjoys a rich multicultural heritage as a result of the many diverse cultures that have found themselves at home in this city. Why not spend a day to appreciate the different cultural influences and cuisines that have shaped this city? From an Italian-style breakfast to free Cuban-style Salsa sessions, Melbourne has a multitude of gastronomic and cultural experiences for you to enjoy.

Author: Ai Tran

Day 1 - Melbourne

Start off of the day by enjoying a traditional Italian-style breakfast at one of the many cafes that dot Lygon Street. Be sure to choose one with outdoor seating if the weather permits, then sit back and enjoy a lightly toasted breakfast focaccia and a perfectly brewed Lavazza coffee while watching the old Italian women haggle with the shopkeepers and the students from the nearby university hurry off to class.

From here, catch a tram to the Immigration Museum. Here, you can easily spend hours exploring the exhibits that recount the unique stories of the numerous immigrants who came to make Melbourne their home.

For lunch, head down to Afghan Gallery on Brunswick Street, the first (and arguably still the best) Afghan restaurant in Melbourne. Here, you can enjoy a traditional Aghan-style lunch, dining on lamb or vegetarian kebabs seated on cushions in the upstairs tent room. Afterwards, you can spend a pleasant afternoon exploring the Bohemian Brunswick Street neighbourhood, where Japanese-inspired boutiques stand next to Nepalese handicraft stores.

In the evening, pop into Movida, one of the many fine Spanish restaurants in Melbourne. Even the narrow, graffiti-lined alleyways around the restaurant has the feel of Madrid to it. Here, in true Spanish style, the evening’s menu is inspired by the produce and ingredients that arrive at the restaurant in the morning. You may find yourself enjoying a lovely house-made morcilla (blood sausage) or an anchovy and smoked tomato sorbet. Don't forget to finish your meal with Movida's famous churros with hot chocolate. Afterwards, why not add a touch of Cuba to the evening by attending one of the free Salsa lessons at the nearby Salsa Foundation?

If you have still the energy, you can then head down to Chinatown for a late night visit. Once you pass through the ornate red and gold gates marking the beginning of Chinatown, you will find yourself taken by the frenetic hustle and bustle that permeates this district until the wee hours of the morning. Finally, you may decide to top off the evening with a late night meal at the Supper Inn. The Supper Inn is a Melbourne insititution, and even at 1AM you may find yourself queuing for a table. Don't worry, it is well worth it and you may even find yourself befriending some Melbourne locals during the wait. Once inside, you will have the chance to sample a wide variety of excellent Cantonese cuisine, including spicy quail, stuffed scallops, and multiple variations of steaming hot congee .

1