Seeing the City Solo

If you don’t have a buddy to play with, don’t fret – Melbourne is a great city to explore alone. There is an abundance of amazing things to see and do flying solo, as well as plenty of fantastic places to eat and drink at a table for one. More than likely, you won’t be alone for long.

The moral of this story is … Don’t be lonely; the city is your friend!

See

Art and creativity is often a thing that is best experienced individually. We may go to galleries, exhibitions and art festivals with friends but, ultimately, we like to peruse, absorb, and analyse alone. So, therefore, cultural experiences are the ultimate spots to soak up the alone time.

Perfect places to get your fix of all things beautiful and thought-provoking:

• NGV
• Heide Museum of Modern Art 
• Street art on Hosier Lane (and around the entire city)
• Melbourne Museum
• Gertrude Contemporary

Do

Sometimes the Melbourne weather can be a little questionable but when it’s sunny, it’s joyful and so rewarding to be outside. And there’s nothing wrong with frolicking in the great outdoors solo! The green spaces and water wonderlands of Melbourne are to die for. Melbourne is not particularly known for being a ‘pretty city’ but, trust us, it truly is. Head to any or all of the following for some serious special time alone with nature.

• Yarra River – lined with shops, cafes restaurants and people watching opportunities
• St Kilda Sea Baths/Beach
• Brighton Beach – lined with brightly coloured original, old school bathing boxes that are a sight in themselves
• Elwood Beach
• Royal Botanic Gardens

Eat

Melbourne has a plethora of exotic, trendy, fun and fantastic eating establishments. We often feel awkward eating alone but you really just have to search out those places when you just breathe out and relax, regardless of company. Some of our top tips for where you will feel at home eating solo (while still feasting on pure deliciousness) are:

• Hu Tong – dumplings in Chinatown
• Supernormal – Asian fusion
• Cumulus Inc – Italian influenced
• Pastuso – Peruvian
• Queen Victoria Market – the perfect place to shop all things picnic or make at home

Drink

Drinking of the daytime variety (ie coffee) is essential for most hot-blooded homosapians. The coffee world is your oyster in Melbourne. Choose from many a fantastic café along Degraves Street in the city or explore other areas looking out for café gems such as:

• Auction Rooms
• Journeyman
• Dukes Coffee Roasters
• Bayano the Rebel
• Bonnie Coffee Co.

Night time drinking action is also always in full swing in Melbourne. Pull up a pew at the counter at any or all of these delightful drinking establishments. The bar people are so nice, you won’t feel alone for more than about 30 seconds. Many of these picks also double as a place for a tasty treat. Try out:

• Cumulus Up – the little sister upstairs of Cumulus Inc
• Joe’s Shoe Store
• City Wine Shop
• Ombra
• Nihonshu Shochu & Sake Bar

Day trips

Victoria is ripe with beautiful, inspiring and fulfilling day trips, and they are all quite different! You have the pick of a very broad bunch if you want to get out of the bustle of inner-city living. Our favourites include:

• Yarra Valley – about 1.5 hours from the city
• Phillip Island – 2.5 hours from the city

• The Grampians – 3.5 hours from the city
• Dandenong Ranges  – about one hour from the city
• Mornington Peninsula (make sure to visit McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery and Montalto Winery for fabulous sculptures) – about 1.5 hours from the city

There are multiple Day Tour operators visiting all these spots if you are not keen on navigating on your own.

Soak up Melbourne and its beautiful surrounds with the pleasure of your own company! ENJOY!

words by emily carstairs