I ran right past Riva a good few times while on my visit to melbourne, running along the esplanade…read morethere, the Marine Parade from Elwood beach up to St Kilda pier. This is a huge, tall, outstanding looking venue right on the marina. It's used for large events, there is a restaurant, and loads of boats around. Someone I know also happened to showcase some body art at said spot, and he reported it to be full of glitz and glamour...only the most gorgeous ones come out and enjoy the socializing on the water.i think it's *the* place to be seen. Two stories and this caramel-color, Riva is easily spottable along the parade. And as mentioned, the trail goes right by it. Can be confusing, because one needs to wrap around it, entering into the marina in order to pick back up the trail. Not flummoxed for too long (at least not long enough to keep the HR elevated). It sure can be muggy and humid around Riva. The name is catchy, dontcha think?!

I lunched here last weekend on the Saturday with 3 friends. Ocean views were spectacular from…read morebehind the glass in the restaurant. Service was excellent and very professional. The menu and diverse enough for my vegan friend to find something and everyone else indulged in seafood. Back to the wait staff for a moment, they were all very patient and super helpful in regard to my vegan friends questions around ingredients. Bonus points for then! Even more bonus points for their lovely accents. But wait, there's more. The lovely and attentive waiter saw that we were out of delicious morsels to dunk in our chocolate fondue and sneakily dropped off an extra bowl of strawberry's for our chocolatie delight! Does it get better than that?? Now to the food. The food was great. I initially checked this place out because I had an entertainment book voucher but I've been back a few times now and it's always great. The place also has a nice classy yet casual vibe. There's an enclosed restaurant with views of the marina on one side and the beach in the other. Plus and outdoor deck off the bar section for the warmer months. It was pretty quiet on Saturday but I've also been on a Sunday which is when it goes off. Can't wait to hit this place for a long Sunday lunch in summer.

Quality/Quantity - What a cool area, see pictures…read more Weather permitting, this could be a cool place to hang out, see the art, read the literature, history, etc. We spent a few days walking through here, as one day was not nearly enough to soak in all the sights and info. Plus, the views during the day and night are different, see pictures. Atmosphere -See above. Also plenty of public transportation - Train, tram, buses, trolleys, rideshare, etc (some free). Clear and easy parking directions, instructions, etc. Free public phone calls, don't we all have cell phones now...? Events, see website. Free wifi, I did not use it. Service - Self service, so great! Price - Free. Well, it depends what you do, eat, or drink. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1992. I know you have gone through many ownership changes. Cut and pasted from their website: "Southgate is jointly owned by Peninsula Investment Partners and Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust (Suntec REIT), and is managed by ESR Australia. APAC's largest real asset manager powered by the New Economy."

Southgate Precinct is a dining, shopping and entertainment destination. Find it sandwiched between…read morethe Crown Casino complex and the Art Centre by the Yarra river. This centre has something for everyone. Southgate is home to some of Melbourne's most popular restaurant, bars and cafes. Food choices range from takeaway food court fare to fine dining options. Although most cover the range in between. My personal favourites are PJ O'Brien Irish Pub, Blue Train Cafe and Bar and la Camera Italian Restaurant. Retailers range from fashion and beauty to home wares and gifts. Lots to choose from and many offer something different to your local shopping mall. Where else can you experience a riverside view of Melbourne from a shopping centre food court? You can get to Southgate by car (there is paid parking), train tram or boat. Plus there is plenty to do nearby. That's all really.

First up, I have a confession to make. I have never been to Cape Live without at least a couple of…read moredrinks under my belt. I also suspect that i am not the only one. So as I have no idea what this place is like completely sober, take this review with a grain of salt (and possibly a shot of tequila to you know, get in the mood!) The last time I found myself here a reggae band was playing which was perfect for the random mix of drinkers here after refusing to call it a night at their original location! Cape Live is not where you head to for a night out, its where you find yourself at the end. Cam E is right about the couches- perfect to wind down on or rest before getting your second wind. The bar prices are what you expect on Brunswick street, but not what you expect given the atmosphere. The Cape has a ram shackled messy vibe suited to the late/early hours of a great night out. What is it like during daylight hours? No idea, you will have to ask someone else!

While the biggest attraction to Cape Live may be the drummer that busks outside on the pavement…read moreevery weekend; there are some reasonable attractions to be had inside as well. Cape Live may not be Brunswick Street's hippest or most happening place. But with it's ideal location on the corner of Johnston Street it can see pack out some nights. Cape Live is an African themed bar that offers an array of comfy couches to relax upon and a good deal of live music to dance to - or a DJ at the very least. As such Cape Live is a great venue to go have a drink to sit down and chat to friends. And who knows you may just end up dancing your socks off all night long.

I have been to this pub a few times, but honestly, it really isn't one of my favourite places. Then…read moreagain that does have something to do with it being a pub that I visited for a meal, and I am not really a big fan of meals at pubs, at least in Victoria. Still, the pub itself is okay, even though it really isn't a true inner city pub, rather more one of those more suburban style pubs. Yet, in a way it was nice, and the service somewhat friendly.

I went to the end of the 96 tram line just to see how people commute out to the burbs. Stopped at…read morethis local bar for a steak sandwich and chips. Good sandwich with local clientele atmosphere.

Stunning views with plenty of seating, both covered and uncovered. We had a reservation and were…read moresat upstairs on the long balcony. It was so pleasant with the view overlooking the river and breeze blowing through. It was a warm day so I had an iced chocolate, which was extremely delicious and quite large! The only thing I would suggest is that they implement QR codes because currently you have to wait in line to order and then go to a different area(s) to pick up your items. It's not the most efficient method of ordering. All in all, I always have a great time at the boathouse!

You come here for the peaceful riverside setting and the historic charm, not really for the food or…read moreservice. It's well worth a visit -- I like to bring my out-of-town visitors here. (Just warn them in advance that the Yarra river is an ugly brown colour, lol). There are two boathouses in this area along the Yarra river: Studley Boathouse and Fairfield Boathouse. Of the two, I far prefer the ambiance here (Fairfield Boathouse). The building is just cuter, with wide verandahs where you can sit with a cup of coffee and lazily enjoy the view. The view is arguably more interesting too -- you look onto the pipe bridge that goes across the river, and it's fun to watch cyclists and joggers go over it. The multi-level building has a lot of interesting historical artefacts and photos inside, many about the catastrophic flood of the late 1800s. There are several quaint little outdoor seating areas too, including a picnic area with free public BBQs, so you really have your pick of nice places to sit. There's also a mini-amphitheatre nearby but I've never seen it used for anything. I've been to Fairfield Boathouse mostly on the weekend and it's never too crowded (unless they have an event on). The service has always been a bit poor but mostly we just get coffees, not full meals, so it doesn't really matter. At the ground level, there's a little window where you can pay to rent the little rowboats. I've never done this but it does look fun. Parking is up on the hill above the boathouse and can be a little sparse so just be aware of that. Otherwise, you can take the train to Fairfield Station and walk about 15 minutes. I think there's a bus that goes nearby too, but has odd hours from what I can remember. If you're energetic and feel like a bit of urban hiking, the walk connecting Fairfield Boathouse with Studley Boathouse is about 5k (one way). It's one of my favourite walks in Melbourne but it does involve a bit of trail-finding because there are a lot of paths branching off. Download the map of Studley Park/Yarra Bend Park before you set off. Be sure to check out the bat colony too! Too bad the Yarra is so mucky and brown, otherwise the scenery here would be really nice -- but for Melbourne, Fairfield Boathouse is a lovely little oasis anyway.

Such a special experience!! I'm so glad we got to come here on our last night in Melbourne. The…read moreinterior is artsy and very beautiful -- definitely an old-timey vibe. Each car holds about 15-20 people, with tables of 2 and 4. Our group was large, but able to fit into one car! I don't know if the menu changes regularly, but we were served an appetizer to share, a choice of two entrees, and then a dessert plate. The choices for the entrees were steak or chicken. I ordered the chicken which was cooked perfectly! It looked dry at first but it was so juicy and well seasoned. It was served on top of a soft potato and some spinach. The cream sauce wasn't as heavy as I thought it would be, but it was quite oily. The dessert was a date pudding cake and panna cotta. Both were delicious!! The date cake was a little sweet, but the panna cotta balanced it out well and wasn't too creamy either. The service was extremely friendly and really quick! The alcohol was endless and delicious ;). The tram pretty much just drove through the city, but I didn't really take the time to look outside. I could barely feel that we were moving, since it was driving pretty slow -- definitely a good thing! Again, I only have great things to say about this experience! I would have expected the food to be average, given that we're eating on a streetcar, but the food was great, the service was great, and the atmosphere was great! I don't know why more cities don't do this, since there wasn't anything particularly Melbourne-specific, but it was awesome! Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience worth trying!

What a perfect dining experience! We were visiting Melbourne in chilly July so we purchased the all…read moreinclusive Christmas in July lunch event. We were greeted at pickup location 125 by the Santa-hat-wearing station masters and were assigned to our car. (Two trams run for the Christmas event - it's so popular). Seating is assigned by family/party. The menu is all inclusive and let me add that they do not hold back on refilling those wine glasses! The decor was absolutely charming! Christmas bulbs dangling from the lights, presents at our places and a silver Christmas tree on each table. Festive music played throughout the three hour luncheon and we even had a visit from Santa! The food and service was excellent. There were four tables in our area of the car and we had one server attending to our drinks and another to our food. The appetizers were delicious: hummus dips followed by roast beef entree and a turkey and ham combo for the main! A brandy topped cake concluded the meal. Little gifts were given out periodically like chocolate covered raspberries. The tram took us through the city to St Kilda and back. It was scenic and fun and delicious! It was the perfect way to spend a July afternoon. When I am next in Melbourne, I will be sure to join another lunch or dinner on The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant!

After coming back to the Railway after a substandard steak I ended up there again on a first date…read more The menu had just been changed in the last few weeks. From the new menu, I ordered the steak with a side salad again and when it came out it was one of the best steaks I'd ever had. My well done steak was tender (hard to do to a well done steak I think), tasty and had a moreish peppercorn sauce. The fried potato accompaniment also left me wanting more. Hopefully the food coming from this kitchen will stay up to this quality. If so, I will keep coming back. Still love the Sunday sessions here.. The 'friends of dorothy' friendly venue cater for a sneaky sunday drink.

Yes, the 24 hour bottle shop is attached to the Railway Hotel, but the venue itself has a little…read moremore to offer than just easily accessible liquor. My favourite thing about the Railway Hotel is the alfresco dining space in their decked open air courtyard. It looks out over Chapel Street and Windsor and is really very comfortable and relaxing on a warm Summers day. Outdoor dining not your style? Never mind The Railway Hotel also have a great and slightly more intimate cocktail bar, for if your wishing to grab a quick drink and a chat after work. The Railway Hotel offer a range of Internationally inspired meals, as well as an express lunch menu from 12pm - 3pm Monday to Friday. I love the Thursday Pizza and Pasta night, you an choose from a selection of Pizza or Pasta dishes as well as a glass of wine for around $20.

This was a pleasant surprise! Such a cute spot under a bridge lol. These sandwiches were 5 Star!!!…read moreIf you're looking for a great sandwich and yummy pint consider coming here!

Well, this is another of those those places that you are pretty much only going to find in…read moreMelbourne, and that is a bar that happens to be located not just under a bridge, but under a bridge in the middle of the river. Pretty cool actually, and they also have some decent beers available as well, though they are generally not on tap. Mind you, it's pretty popular, so it does have a tendency to get pretty packed.