http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25705
In a quiet suburb, south east of the city (better known for its majestic National Trust mansion), Attica is breaking the ground rules for dining in Melbourne and gaining a very good reputation and two or three hats in local dining guides.

Attica presents food that is challenging - their after mains course called 'Terroir' consists of beetroot, limes, berries and flowers and is a prelude to various desserts, one of which blows you away - a tumbler of sauternes custard berries and toffee.

The service is exemplary and professional beyond belief. Attica hands the diner a wine list of great length with a selection of wines, local and international.

The degustation menu (on Friday and Saturday evenings) presents diners with two entrees and seven mains and a dessert dish, presented and explained over three hours of dining.

An astonishing dining experience
not cheap but absolutely worth it]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25705 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25437 Just a nice place to stay in provincial Victoria.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25437 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25436 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25436 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25435 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25435 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25160 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25160 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25071 So Woodapple serves Sri Lankan cuisine and does so superbly. There is a reasonable list of entrees but for mains the best choice is the hoppers (bowlshaped rice flour pancakes) filled with your choice of whatever curries are on the constantly changing menus. These are fantastic and come with some amazing chutneys. The coconut roti (bread) is also great. One thing we noticed is that vegetarians are well catered for with a surprisingly good choice of authentic dishes. The service was good, done by the either the lady owner and/or the chef.
Best of all, the prices are very nice and there is no corkage if you bring your own drinks.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25071 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24964 'The Baths' encompasses a very swish restaurant upstairs with superb views across the bay, a lounge deck and a separate cafe and bar downstairs.
We dined at the newly renovated upstairs restaurant and came away impressed with a new a la carte menu, a very interesting wine list of local and imported wines, beers and liquers topped with very good service! Overall a very nice evening out.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24964 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24854 Mostly it involves keeping pace with the little Italian as she buzzes from one place of artistic interest to another, loaded with Melbourne’s best coffee. As one of the top six cities in the world for street art, there’s also plenty of high-end graffiti, which is tolerated (though not openly encouraged) by the local council. Less welcoming of the attentions of Banksy were local artists who doused one of his works with silver paint; you can see what’s left on this tour too. It’s breathless, brilliant and unlike any other art tour in the city.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24854 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24828 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24828 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24769 After golf, there is the superb dining room located upstairs overlooking the course. For the serious golfer and anyone wanting somewhere to stay, Victoria offers accommodation in the clubhouse, all rooms have views of the course and grounds.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24769 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24558
With a name like - Waterfront Fish Market, the emphasis is obviously on seafood and to that end, Waterfront provides an elegant dining experience as the seafood is sublime.

For those who prefer something different, a variety of steaks done by weight is offered; anything up to 900gms of ribeye is for the carnivores in us.

Side dishes of salads are for the vegetarians or the hungry and to finish, a nice choice of desserts is available including their famous Belgian Chocolate Fondant! Yum!

A very good beverage menu also provides diners with an excellent choice of Australian and mainly French wines (red, white and sparkling).

Waterfront should be visited and enjoyed. Not cheap but well worth it.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24558 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24276
The city's network of arcades is Australia's most extensive, with Block Arcade between Collins and Elizabeth streets, built in 1891, its crowning glory. Royal Arcade (between Bourke Street Mall and Little Collins Street), is Melbourne's oldest, built in 1869, and features Gaunt's clock and the two folklore giants of the ancient Britons, Gog and Magog, who strike the hour.

The various lanes and alleys in the city centre all hold their own interest and most have a specific history. The group of back alleys famous (or infamous) for having all Melbourne's brothels in the 1880s or the lanes either side of the Chinatown strip are a rich source of authentic Asian eateries. Hardware Lane, one of the first laneways to be restored in the 1980s, now has a fine collection of outdoor cafes and bars. The local interest in these lanes and alleys has recently seen one named in honour of one of our best known rock bands... AC/DC]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24276 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23123
Split in the middle by Middle Brighton Baths (see other Been There tips) and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Brighton beach runs from Brighton (obviously) to Brighton Beach - there is a place called that, with a pub and train station.

All along the way is a broad strip of bright yellow sand (NO stones here in Oz) with brightly coloured beach bathing boxes. Pics of these are in Melbourne's gallery.

Laze on the beach in the warmer weather or when it gets cooler in winter and the wind whips up the waves, join the surfers or windboarders on the waters of Port Phillip Bay. Watch out for the dolphins or penguins!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23123 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22973 What is it? It's a cross between a fun house, museum and a shop.
This place in Melbourne is full of collectables, fossils, old antiques, old scientific curios, natural history items (taxidermy anyone?) and even has a perfume library. Amazing, crazy, eclectic, eccentric ... that's Wunderkammer!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22973 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22972 The menu is mediterranean based and of course offers lots of fish choices.
The pastas were great as were the home made dips. Service was smart and efficient. BYO and also licenced, Vincents is just a nice place to go and have a meal]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22972 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22743
Olives' menu gave us a large number of choices for dinner, with most of the menu seafood/mediterranean based. Us meat eaters (and vegetarians) are also well catered for with special menu offerings.

A reasonably priced wine and drinks list is also offered for diners. Service was efficient and friendly with wait staff able to offer menu recommendations when asked. All in all, a nice evening out was had by all.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22743 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21967
The drive varies through scrub, desert, beaches and lush forest. Sleep in the car, watch amazing sunrises, look out for kangeroos and roadtrains and play spot the windmill.

The first real cafe you hit and the first food that you eat that isn't a cheese sandwich makes the drive seem even more alien. Another world entirely - beautiful empty and fulfilling.

Make sure your radio works, or you'll end up like us - doing endless crosswords and singing!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21967 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21771 It passes thru one of our states national parks and in the middle is the quaintly named, Mirboo North. Singed by the recent fires, Mirboo North is an ideal place to take a break while motoring along the Grand Ridge Road. A word of warning ... the views along the road are distracting but the road requires concentration from drivers and care and skill to navigate in parts.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21771 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21770 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21770 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21744 Murmur bar is a fine example of a truly hidden secret Melbourne bar. Tucked away at the back of an alley way, off a small side street, up a flight of stairs and you find an atmospheric cocktail bar where you can while away a pleasant evening sipping new and innovative cocktail creations.
Think dim lighting, jazz music and attractive thirty-somethings drinking quirky cocktails.
Bit on the expensive side, but worth it!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21744