Melbourne Neighborhoods — Albert Park
Shopping, Walking and Dining in Melbourne’s Inner City Village
May 25, 2009
Filled with character and centered on locals, Albert Park offers an authentic look at Melbourne life, and with loads of great eateries, interesting shops, beautiful parks and a beach to boot, it’s a lovely place to spend half a day.
Cafes, Pubs and Restaurants in Albert Park
If you can only visit one eatery in Albert Park make it Misuzu’s, a cozy, popular restaurant that serves up some of the best Japanese food in the city. Get the lunchtime platter to try a selection of tasty dishes (which you can also pick up at the takeaway section next door) or come in the evening to share plates such as wagyu beef strips and crunchy gyoza (dumplings). Bookings essential (03 9699 9022).
With a great menu, high standards of service and a classy, modern interior, Hotel Nest is one of Albert Park’s highlights. Grab an international beer and a menu and set yourself up outside, or inside in one of the pub’s cozy corners. Come during the week for some space and personal service (it gets busy on Friday and Saturday nights) or on Sunday for live music or an afternoon high tea.
Other great places include Albert Park Deli, which has a mouth-watering selection of pastas, pastries and take-home dinners as well as yummy lunches and breakfasts; Husk for its simple, tasty food and hidden courtyard, tucked in the back of a clothing boutique; and Kamel for its great range of Middle Eastern mezze plates (including lots of vegetarian options).
Albert Park Takeaway Food
Two places in Albert Park are local institutions, and should definitely be tried if you have the time (and room in your stomach!). Andrew’s Hamburgers serves up deliciously simple burgers that are so good people come for from all over the city to get one, while Jock’s often has lines out the door for its range of homemade ice creams. Flavors at the ice-creamery change daily but range from the exotic, like fig ripple and Turkish delight, to the plain and simple, including a disarmingly creamy vanilla.
Parks and Gardens in Albert Park
Albert Park Reserve is the largest park in the area and famously hosts the Grand Prix every Easter, but it’s nowhere near as pretty or interesting as the many smaller parks in the neighborhood.
The quiet and picturesque St Vincent Gardens is one of the nicest in the city, with beautiful mature trees and lawns made for lazing, and as it is set only two blocks back from the village it’s a great place to come and relax after lunch. Stroll around its perimeter for a look at some of the most magnificent Victorian mansions in the area and, if you have kids, don’t miss its fantastic playground, located at the park’s western end.
Gasworks, on Richardson St just north of Victoria Avenue, is a lovely enclosed green space and art park, featuring working artists’ studios, galleries, a small theater and a cafe. A farmer’s market is held here on the 3rd Saturday of every month and as well as serving up fine produce, coffee and a wonderful village atmosphere, the galleries and studios are open, making it is a lovely place to spend a morning.
One of Melbourne’s Best Bookstores
Walking into Avenue Bookstore, with its books stacked artfully on tables and rising all the way up to the high ceilings on its shelves, is a heart-fluttering experience for book lovers. Situated next to Albert Park Deli, this lovely store has some very cute and delightful stationery, great science, history, biography and travel sections and a separate area dedicated to art and design. Expect to lose an hour or two.
Vintage lovers shouldn’t miss Empire Vintage on Cardigan Place, a tiny treasure trove of distressed furniture, signs, fabrics, homewares and jewelery, and many quirky objects that fail to be classified. The prices are high but you can always be sure to find something that delights, even if you don’t get past the charismatic window display. Look up at the second story facade to see one of the city’s cutest old adverts.
How to Get to Albert Park
Two tram lines service the area and make it easy to get to no matter what part of the city you’re coming from. Grab the number 1 from Swanston St to get taken on a ride through the village or get the 96 from Bourke or Spencer St and get dropped off at the head of the main street.
For a pleasant walk follow the number 1 tram tracks from Flinders St train station in the city, which will take you past several major art galleries, another interesting shopping strip – Clarendon St in South Melbourne – and attractive residential areas.
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