It must be love
Earlier this year, thousands of Melburnians went to Time Out’s website and voted for their favourite cafés, pubs, shops, parks and other local spots that make us love our city. Now, we can finally reveal the results...
Café Winner! Auction Rooms Full of hot young things and cool old things, the Auction Rooms café and roastery serves tram trip-worthy coffee. à 103-107 Errol St, North Melbourne 3051. 03 9326 7749. www.auctionroomscafe.com.au. Mon-thu 7am-5pm; Fi, Sat noon-3am; Sun noon-1am.
Late-night spot Winner! Heartbreaker The home of late-night rock’n’roll on the edge of Chinatown is giving dive bars a good name. à 234 Russell St, Melbourne 3000. 03 9663 2112. heartbreakerbar.com.au. Mon-sat 5pm-3am; Sun 5-11pm. Bottle shop: daily 5-11pm.
Place to drink in the sun Winner! Arbory Bar and Eatery This massive outdoor eatery and beer garden stretches for 120 metres along the river bank and serves killer Espresso Martinis and Aperol Spritzes on tap. à Flinders Walk, Melbourne 3000. 03 8648 7644. arbory.com.au. MonWed 7.30am-11.30pm; Thu-sun 7.30am-1am.
Music venue Winner! The Forum Most locals have fond memories of dancing to their favourite bands under the twinkling lights of the Forum’s deep blue sky-ceiling, surrounded by Greco-roman statues. à 154 Flinders St, Melbourne 3000. 1300 111 011. www.forummelbourne.com.au.
Park Winner! Edinburgh Gardens These sprawling North Fitzroy gardens attract northsiders by the hundreds on sunny afternoons. à St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North 3068.
Club Winner! Revolver Upstairs On weekends, the party never stops at this Chapel Street institution, where many of the city’s best DJS can be found spinning tracks. à 229 Chapel St, Prahran 3181. 03 9521 5985. revolverupstairs.com.au. Tue-wed 5pm-4am; Thu 5pm-6am; Fri 5pm-noon; Sat 5pm-9am; Sun noon-9am.
LGBTQ hangout Winner! Sircuit Bar Whether you’re after a sweaty techno rave, drag queen performance or a chilled-out drink or two, this Collingwood bar never fails to deliver. à 103 Smith St, Fitzroy 3065. 03 9416 3960. www.sircuit.com.au. Wed-sun 9pm-3am.
Cultural institution Winner! NGV International With an excellent permanent collection and blockbuster exhibitions, this grand modernist building remains Australia’s most visited art museum. à 180 St Kilda Rd, Southbank 3006. 03 8620 2222. www.ngv.vic.gov.au. Daily 10am-5pm.
Pub Winner! The Park Werribee This craft beer destination makes the journey
to Werribee more than worth it. à12 Watton St, Werribee 3030. 03 9741 1441. www.theparkwerribee.com.au. Wed, Thu noon-11pm; Fri, Sat noon-late; Sun noon-11pm.
Landmark Winner! Flinders Street Station Which Melburnian hasn’t waited for friends under the clocks, or dreamed of one day visiting the elusive Flinders Street Station Ballroom? à Cnr Flinders St & Swanston St, Melbourne 3000.
Shop Winner! Readings Carlton This Lygon Street bookstore isn’t just famous in Melbourne either – Readings Carlton took out the Bookstore of the Year award at the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards in 2016. à 309 Lygon St, Carlton 3053. 03 9347 6633. www.readings.com.au/carlton. Mon-sat 9am-11pm; Sun 10am-9pm.
Cinema Winner! Cinema Nova Since its inception in 1992, Melbourne’s largest arthouse movie complex (it has 16 screens) has
been renowned for supporting local films. It was also among the first cinemas in the country to screen stage productions from around the world. à 380 Lygon St, Carlton 3053. 03 9347 5331. www.cinemanova.com.au.
Street art Winner! Hosier Lane Opposite Federation Square and joining Flinders Lane with Flinders Street, the cobblestoned Hosier Lane is arguably the central point of the city’s street art scene. à Hosier Ln, Melbourne 3000.
Arcade or laneway Winner! Royal Arcade Australia’s oldest arcade hasn’t lost any of its original charm and specialises in jewellers, fashion and gifts. à 355 Bourke St, Melbourne 3000. 0438 891 212. royalarcade.com.au. Mon-thu 9am-6pm; Fri 10am-8pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 10am-5pm. ■