Planning a staycation in Melbourne? Your choice of hotel matters: Avani Melbourne Central Residences

Avani Melbourne Hotel view

Melbourne is Australia’s city of culture. So when you plan a visit, you need to be sure of three things: you’ve planned a visit to a gallery, you know which restaurant you’re visiting and you’ve made sure you’re staying at a hotel that’s got your best interests at heart.

This is why you need to Google the Avani Melbourne Central Residences.

Avani Hotel pool

Set high amongst the cityscape with panoramic views to complete it all, the Avani is a stunning hotel tower of 55 storeys with a striking weave-like pattern and tinted exterior, beautifully crafted with a sense of style, offering a selection of one and two bedroom contemporary, fully furnished suites.  

If the location’s not reason enough to make these suites number one on your list, then maybe the 24-hour reception, games room, gymnasium, pool and spa and streamroom and sauna might be selling points enough.

And on top of that, Bourke Street, Melbourne Central, the Yarra River and Southbank are literally a walk – or tram – away, making your getting around that much easier.

See more and make a booking at the Avani Melbourne Central website

Here’s a list of some Melbourne restaurant favourites worth visiting while you’re in town:

Formaggio at Baby Pizza

PIzzas

Back by popular demand, Baby Pizza’s much-adored Formaggio menu is making a cheesy return! For the entire month of May, Baby favourites are made even better, oozing with cheesy goodness.

Available until 31 May, the special menu is filled with every type of cheese you can imagine! To start, dig into stracciatella finocchio featuring confit fennel, pickle, flatbread – finished off with a good drizzle of olive oil. Moving onto mains, there’s a linguine cacio e pepe with the option of adding a healthy dose of Golden Groves caviar to adorn it. If you’re after pizza, the quattro formaggi is Baby’s version of a four-cheese pizza, topped off with pear and walnuts, it’s what cheese dreams are made of. There’s even a cheese inspired dessert, the cassata siciliana: ricotta served with marsala, sponge and pistachio. Here’s more info

Greek feast at Stalactites

Stalactites Greek food

Owned and operated by the same Greek family since 1978, the long established restaurant is going back to its roots with an amass of Greek delicacies for all to enjoy. To start, in true tradition, share between house-made tzatziki, hummus, tamara and eggplant dip, warm pita bread, grilled saganaki and dolmadakia. More at the website

Mad Hatter’s G&Tea Party at State of Grace

State of Grace food

Wonderland is coming to Melbourne, with the State of Grace Rooftop hosting the Mad Hatter’s G&Tea Party on Saturdays from 21st May until 27th August.

The State of Grace rooftop will not only be serving up drinks and bites worthy of the Mad Hatter and his friends, there will be plenty of Instagram moments with Wonderland elements throughout including the Mad Hatter’s chair, floral arches and hanging tea cups.

Guests who venture down (or rather, up!) the rabbit hole will enjoy two hours of bottomless Gin & Tonics, sparkling wine or beer, matched with a selection of sweet and savoury bites. More online