My whole adult life, people have been telling me "oh my GOD, you'll love Melbourne" and "it's so YOUR kind of city".
How then, did I get to the ripe old age of 33 without ever having visited? Particularly when you can often nab a Jetstar flight for $250 one way and it's only four hours away.
When one of my besties made the move across the ditch to settle in Melbs, I had yet another reason to make the trip - it was finally time to meet Melbourne.
Jetstar sorted me a starter plus bundle fare, which gives a discount on extras like 20kg checked baggage (I obviously needed to pack many outfit options), seat selection and an included in-flight snack and drink, which was ideal for my evening flight.
Here's how I spent my first time in Melbourne, finding out if it lived up to the hype:
Accomodation
I stayed at a stunning boutique hotel called the StandardX in the heart of Fitzroy, one of Melbourne's coolest neighbourhoods.
The lobby looks more like an art gallery than a hotel reception - and in fact, on the second night, there actually was an art show happening in the loft, with a DJ and free drinks!
These guys have really thought of everything. When I got in late at night from my flight, I found a cute welcome message on the TV and free lollies and popcorn waiting in my room.
The next morning, I made myself a delish local plunger coffee and sipped it in bed while watching hot air balloons float across the city from my window. Having a Bluetooth speaker in the room was an extra cute touch to add to the vibes.
There are so many selfie opportunities around the hotel that I began to fear I was becoming insufferable. That fear increased when I asked the staff to swap my fluffy soft pillow for a firmer one (this is thirty-something), but they kindly obliged.
The bed was roomy and comfy, the bathroom chic and beautifully appointed. It felt like my own cool little Fitzroy apartment for a few nights.
On Saturday and Sunday mornings, the Fitzroy Flea Market and Rose Street Artist's Market are literally right outside the hotel door. Plus, if you go for a wander in pretty much any direction, you'll find vintage shops, hidden bars and independent restaurants.
Shopping
A stone's throw away from the StandardX is Brunswick Street: A thrift shopper's dream. I lost hours of my life to the Lost and Found Market - a collective of vintage resellers in a hidden upstairs warehouse - but there are vintage gems to be found all the way along the street.
I had such a lovely time wandering the Rose Street Artist's Market with a homemade crumpet in hand (if you haven't had cheese, ham and relish on a crumpet, you should).
There were so many gorgeous handmade works of art, pottery, jewellery and even crocheted hats for dogs and cats. Speaking of dogs, lots of the stallholders and perusers brought their four-legged friends along, which I loved. Speaking of cats, I got an amazing watercolour portrait of my cats, Dingo and Gus, done in just half an hour.
Across the street, the Fitzroy Flea Market transforms a car park into a retro wonderland of faux fur, rings, sunnies and sparkly dresses. Heaven.
I must also mention the Uniqlo store in the Emporium shopping centre, with several floors of 'why don't we have this in NZ?' goodness, including knitwear, quality tees and shirts, underwear, outerwear, and heaps more.
Eating and Drinking
BANG
My pal and I had a Thai feast at BANG, the restaurant at the StandardX. We were grabbing a bite to eat before seeing Marlon Williams perform at the Town Hall for Rising Festival, and as we chowed down, Marlon himself walked in to fuel up before his gig. If that isn't a sign of a restaurant with a good rep, I don't know what is.
The menu is vibrant, exotic and sculptural - there's roast duck curry with coconut foam and lychee, truffled fried rice, and maybe the most uniquely presented dish: A chicken skewer loaded onto a giant lemongrass shoot and served with sambal matah and satay sauce.
Marios Cafe
I stumbled across Marios while wandering Brunswick Street, a little bit dusty from the Marlon Williams show the night before, and instantly fell in love. The charming old school spot was established by two Italian-Aussie waiters (both named Mario) in the late 80s, and one of them still greets and serves customers in a white shirt, waistcoat and apron.
I pulled up a pew at the front window (always a perfect solo traveller spot for people-watching) and ordered a crispy Diet Coke from a glass bottle and possibly the best carbonara I've ever had - free basket of bread included. Hungover meal of DREAMS.
Special mentions
Yakimono - a "high energy Japanese-inspired eating house" which has you questioning whether it is a restaurant or a nightclub in the best possible way.
Ponyfish Island - for cocktails and woodfired pizza, floating on the Yarra River under the Evan Walker Bridge.
And Carnation Canteen - an aesthetic little spot on the suburban streets of Fitzroy with an incredible seasonal menu and delicious wine matches.
Of course, even with all the music, shopping, eating and drinking, I felt like I'd only scratched the surface with my first trip to Melbourne.
It's safe to say the hype was lived up to, my friends were right about how much I'd love it, and my list of places to go next time is already dangerously long.
Monika visited Melbourne courtesy of Jetstar and Visit Victoria.
