Melbourne: 24 Hours in Carlton

Jen Nguyen
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December 23, 2020
Back to Inspiration

Home to many alfresco cafes and Italian restaurants, you’ll find some of Melbourne’s best hidden foodie gems and as well as beautifully aged townhouses from the 1900s.

Start the day with a morning jog around the Royal Exhibition Building, located within Carlton Gardens. Since 1880, the building represents a symbol of wealth for the people of Victoria after the gold rush and is one of the few world heritage sites in Victoria. It’s home to an array of beautiful luscious greenery and flowers that will brighten up your morning jog.

Head over for some coffee at Grinders Coffee Roasters, the original grinders retailer store in Melbourne, which have brewed local coffee since the 1960s. The sleek upmarket concrete alongside deep timbers and industrial shelves creates an memorable rustic yet elegant atmosphere.

You haven’t experienced Little Italy without trying a cheese platter at Milk the Cow. Pick from their carefully tailored range or even create your own to choose how you want to experience great Italian cheeses with the company of a refined red wine.

If you're in the mood for a shop, visit dainty boutiques such as Milly Sleeping and Poppy Shop, which are both managed and owned by local designers, offering great souvenirs such as Italian music, movies and hand crafted toys for all ages.

If you're after something more relaxing, why not spend the day watching some of the latest and greatest Hollywood films at Cinema Nova? This old-school cinema intrigues all with its traditional Italian cinema room that is influenced by Victorian architecture. While you’re there, consider taking on a chef-prepared single course meal as you enjoy the movies.

Otherwise, eat the night away at with the hundreds of incredible restaurants that line the streets of Carlton.

Tiamo is a bistro and Cucina that offers authentic house made pastas that cater to all palates. Try creamy buttery pastas like crowd-favourite 'Alla Panna' which is pasta tossed with mushrooms sauce or perhaps try their delicious lightly crumbed veal.

But make sure you have space for dessert! End the night by treating yourself to Melbourne’s best artisan gelato at Pidapipo! Being extremely popular with the locals, lines that span out the door is never surprising. But your patience will make it well worth it when you indulge in a cone covered in hot Nutella sauce poured straight from the tap. Yum.


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