The Guide | Melbourne, Australia

— A PLACE TO REST —

The L+M Guide to Melbourne | Lilly + May

The Coppersmith Hotel
435 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne VIC
For the weary-eyed, head to this new-on-the-scene boutique hotel and bistro. With just 15 well-appointed rooms, the Coppersmith is intimate and the perfect place to kick up your heels after a full day on the streets of Melbourne. Its location is hard to beat on the doorstep of Albert Park and the famous racetrack of the Australian Grand Prix.

Images: The Coppersmith

— SHOPS NOT TO MISS —

Green with Envy
268 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC
Find all of the up-and-coming and established designer brands—and I mean all of them—within the gilt-trimmed walls of this boutique. Its flagship store is on Chapel Street, and it takes "one-stop shop" to another level.

Aesop
1c/268 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC
The popular skincare brand Aesop was founded in Melbourne in 1987, and the shop on Flinders Lane smells divine. Just remember to double-bag the forty-dollars-a-bottle hand wash in your luggage.

Incu
Shop ACL 12, Albert Coates Lane, Melbourne VIC
The well-curated Incu Men's store has the likes of A.P.C., Saturdays NYC, and Paul Smith.

Scanlan Theodore
566 Chapel Street, South Yarra VIC
My favorite discovery by an Aussie mile, the gorgeously tailored apparel at Scanlan Theodore hits the luxe-but-relaxed look just right. I should have bought that delicious dusty-rose-colored leather halter top—simply can't get it out of my head!

Shag
130 Chapel Street, South Yarra VIC
This is a serious education in vintage fashion. The store is tiny and jam-packed with treasures, so bring your elbows.

Sass + Bide
531 Chapel Street, South Yarra VIC
Denim, leather, bold prints, bright hues. Sass + Bide got its start on London's Portobello Road, but one step into the Chapel Street boutique, and you'll know why the brand made its way around the world.

Saba
1/576 Chapel Street, South Yarra VIC
Simple but modern basics, Australian-born Saba has men's and women's threads priced just right. You won't break the bank, but you'll sure look like you did.

— AROUND TOWN —

The National Gallery of Victoria International
180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC
Melbourne has two particularly impressive galleries, among many to be sure. The NGV Australia Federation Square and NGV International are just a short walk from each other. We had an hour to see a small sampling of the NGV International's magnificent collection of more than 70,000 pieces of art. Visit before April 24th, and you'll be able to view the impressive Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei exhibition.

The Shrine of Remembrance
Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne VIC
An iconic and powerful landmark to visit is Melbourne's World War I memorial to its fallen soldiers and their families. The Shrine of Remembrance is open 10am - 5pm, with the last admission 4:30pm, and guided tours are offered at 11am and 2pm daily.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne VIC
A place to relax, stroll and take in the gorgeous blooms, the Royal Botanic Gardens are open 7:30am to sunset every day of the year, and free!

St Pauls Cathedral
Corner Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne VIC
This neo-Gothic Anglican cathedral was designed by distinguished English architect William Butterfield in the 1880s, and it's a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle outside.

— GOOD EATS —

CHINCHIN
125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC
With only a couple days to explore Melbourne, the highly-touted CHINCHIN was at the tip top of our list. It was a thirty-minute-worth-the-wait, and the Coconut Crush and Pad Seuw do a body good.

The Meatball & Wine Bar
135 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC
We got a sneaky tip from our CHINCHIN waiter that The Meatball & Wine Bar was the place to go on our quest for Melbourne's best ice cream sandwich. When you order the Whoopie Mac, you get to choose your own cookie and ice-cream combo—coconut oatmeal, pistachio meringue, fig and almond—oh my. You can thank me after your first bite.

Cumulus, Inc.
45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC
One hip joint. We wandered our way through the lanes to this Eating House and Bar for brunch. Soft-boiled eggs and the sweetest fresh-squeezed orange juice to ever hit my lips.

Attica
74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea, Melbourne VIC
Ever seen Chef's Table on Netflix? Highly recommend it. In any case, New Zealand chef Ben Shewry shares his story of how his love of nature inspires his menu at Attica. We happened to be in Melbourne just after New Year's when many restaurants are still closed for the holiday. We didn't get a chance to experience Shewry's genius at Attica, but if you do, give my regards to the chef.

Coda
Basement 141, Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC
Another acclaimed restaurant on our list that was closed while we were in town, Coda is known for its fresh take on French-Vietnamese cuisine. If you're a walk-in, I hear they serve the full menu at the bar.

— AN AFTERNOON ON LAKE NARRACAN —

Lake Narracan
Gippsland, VIC 3825
Go where the local Victorians go. Pack a picnic lunch and while away the afternoon hours on the banks of Lake Narracan. Take a dip right from the shore or (hot tip!) befriend an Aussie with a boat.

— A DAY ON PHILLIP ISLAND —

The Nobbies
1320 Ventnor Road, Summerlands VIC
It's worth venturing to The Nobbies, where you'll take in spectacular views of Phillip Island's rugged south coast. If you time your visit just right, you'll catch the Penguin Parade, as the little birds waddle their way home after a day of fishing.

Cowes Jetty
The Esplanade, Cowes VIC
Get some serious rays at Cowes Jetty beach and watch the kayakers paddle by! If you fancy a dip, you could join the kids jumping off the end of the jetty's pier.

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Back Beach Road, Phillip Island VIC
Motor racing on Phillip Island dates back to 1928, and the Grand Prix Circuit is the track of legends. Put some pedal to the metal and go carting with friends on its neighboring replica circuit.