An insider’s guide to Melbourne during racing season

MITRANANDNews

Melanie Grant

Beauty and wellness
Set aside a moment (or more) between race days to unwind in one of Melbourne’s most luxurious beauty sanctuaries.

  • Chuan Spa, The Langham, Level 9, 1 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.
  • Crown Spa, Crown Towers, Level 3, Crown Towers, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank.
  • Herbario Clinic, 222 Chapel Street, Prahran.
  • Melanie Grant, 1208 High Street, Armadale.

Crown Spa

By appointment
Diarise race-day beauty appointments ahead of time at our pick of the city’s best salons.

  • Hair Colour: Edwards and Co. Melbourne, 1/22 Punch Lane, Melbourne.
  • Blow-dry: The Blow, 146 Little Collins Street, Melbourne.
  • Styling: Joey Scandizzo Salon, 168/172 Toorak Road, South Yarra.
  • Make-up: Mecca Cosmetica, 79 Toorak Road, South Yarra.
  • Brows: Amy Jean Brow Agency, 25 Lansdowne Street,East Melbourne.
  • Nails: Miss Fox Melbourne, 1/285 Little Collins Street, Melbourne.

The Blow

Sleep
When you’re not trackside, relax and get your beauty Zs at one of Melbourne’s finest hotels.

  • QT Melbourne, 133 Russell Street, Melbourne.
  • Crown Towers, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank.
  • The Langham, 1 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.
  • The Olsen, 637–641 Chapel Street, South Yarra.
  • United Places, 157 Domain Road, South Yarra.

United Places

Eat and drink
The beauty of Melbourne’s energetic restaurant scene is that you’re spoilt for choice. These suggestions should take you neatly from breakfast through to dinner.

  • The Kettle Black, 50 Albert Road, South Melbourne.
  • Chin Chin, 125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
  • Supernormal, 180 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
  • Embla, 122 Russell Street, Melbourne.
  • Attica, 74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea.

The Kettle Black

Best coffee
Workshop Brothers Specialty Coffee, 4/190 Queen Street, Melbourne.
Best cocktail
The Everleigh, Level 1, 150–156 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy.
Best wine list
Marion, 53 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy.

Marion

Culture
This city is a cultural hot spot year round; soak up an exhibition or catch a film between trackside meets.

  • Rain Room at Jackalope Pavilion (until October 27), Corner Jackson and Acland Streets, St Kilda.
  • National Gallery of Victoria (ongoing), 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
  • Lavazza Italian Film Festival (until October 16), various locations around Melbourne.

INSIDER TIP
Click Here: nrl shopsMake a pit stop at Lune Croissanterie – in Fitzroy or the CBD – to sample what locals (and visitors) think is the finest example of the buttery pastry outside of France.