My Favourite Things: Melbourne VS Sydney
by Libby de Souza
So over the past two years I have had the opportunity to live to two great Australian cites: Sydney and Melbourne, the traditional powerhouses of the colony! I have lived in both cities for a year each, and wanted to share where you can find some of my favourite things from each one.
THE BEST MILKSHAKES
Sydney:
The Peanut Butter and Jelly shake from Milk Bar by Cafe Ish, 105 Regent St, Redfern. It’s got real crunchy peanut butter that’ll make your mouth explode. On a side note, these guys also do $5 organic cheeseburgers.
Melbourne:
Salted Caramel shake from Shop Ramen, 329 Smith St, Collingwood. This shake is one deluxe goodie, with the salted caramel featured on two different layers within the shake. Damn delicious.
MY FAVOURITE CLOTHES
Sydney:
The Collective Ensemble, 500 King St, Newtown. This is one great little find for those who like vintage or retro clothing that has already been altered to make it a little more modern. Owner, Jet, has a fantastic eye for extravagant prints, and his collection of crazy ladies’ shirts and bright, out-there prints for the fellas are a highlight. And even better, items range from around $35-$50 so you won’t have to break the bank.
Melbourne:
Dejour Jeans, 542 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. So get this: Dejour Jeans are made locally in a factory on Lygon St. They come in a huge array of different materials and styles. If they don’t fit quite right, the shop attendant will mark them up to be altered in-store, all included in the price. Sound like expensive jeans hey? Nope. Every set is $54. Incredible. Such a great business model means they can get quite busy, so get there first thing on a Saturday to ensure you’re not lining up down Sydney Road. Closed on Sundays.
MY GO-TO RESTAURANT
Sydney:
The Eathouse Diner, 306 Chalmers St, Redfern. The first time I ever went to Eathouse Diner was one week before I was moving to Melbourne. The meals were so good, I went back again four nights later. They also have a great bar. Be organised to get there early, as this place can get busy for good reason!
Melbourne:
Salamander Curry Cafe, 73 High St, Northcote. From the outside, this place looks like the worst. But step inside, and you’ll notice the modern menus, the warm, orange glow of the candles, and the fantastic, eclectic mix of coloured laminex tables. Oh, and the aromas of fresh Indian food will make you sit down and start scouring the menus at once! Best when you have a few people to dine and share with, but my favourites include the naan with raisins and nuts, and the rosewater lassi.
ENTERTAINMENT PLUS!
Sydney:
Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman. Seriously, this place is so beautiful. No wonder it’s such a huge Sydney attraction with views like that! If you haven’t been in many years, I assure you it’s just as wonderful going as an adult as it is a child. Taronga is very involved in animal conservation, and have great attitudes to teaching ways to help save animal habitats. Be sure to see the Seal Show and the Bird Show.
Melbourne:
Deja View Cinema, 27-29 Johnston St, Collingwood. “Movies you’ve met before” is the tagline, and Melbourne’s underground pop-up cinema is a friend you want to see again and again. Showing the likes of Cliffhanger, Boyz N the Hood and a Bill Murray Appreciation Night, this small venture also features home-made movie-themed choc-tops (The “Rocky Mountain Top”, The “Boyz’n’Berry N The Hood” and the “Bubble ‘O Bill Murray”). The new Winter season opens soon, and we’ll be lining up at the John Candy Bar ASAP!
BEST BURGERS & FRIES
Sydney:
A Southern Smoke pulled pork sandwich with salsa fries at Good God, 55 Liverpool St, Chinatown. I remember the first time I took a bite from a fresh, pulled-pork sambo at Good God like it was yesterday. Still an all-time favourite.
Melbourne:
A cheeseburger with fries from 1090 Burger Truck, often hanging around Ruckers Hill, Northcote. The unassuming 1090 Burger truck offers a bangin’ basic cheeseburger for $6 and some rad fries with mayo-ketchup sauce for 3 bucks. Talk about setting a fantastic price point, then blowing me away with, seriously, one of the best burgers in Melbourne. 1090 make their burgers based on a Japanese concept called ‘Umami’, literally meaning ‘delicious taste’. It is all about a fifth taste that follows after sweet, sour, bitter and salty.
DRINK UP, DRINK UP
Sydney:
A fresh apple juice with Kraken rum from Shady Pines Saloon, 4/256 Crown St, Darlinghurst. This suave saloon features many a stuffed animal and a great old-timer soundtrack. They juice fresh apples at the bar, and mixed with some Kraken rum it’ll blow ya socks off. Alternatively a visit to Shady Pines should also involve some kind of whisky on the rocks, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped straight into the Wild West.
Melbourne:
A local-made Dawnie Ginger Beer at Forgotten Worlds, 113 Johnston St, Collingwood. Melbourne’s own little bar-cade offers a range of original arcade machines, including Street Fighter and one really weird Michael Jackson game where you have to save all the children from men with guns while a chimpanzee runs around. Don’t forget to take as many 20c coins as you can, the machines are 40c, 60c and $1 plays.
Phew! We’ll thats a little taste of some of my fav spots around Sydney and Melbourne and I’ll be back soon to share part 2 of my favourite things but I’d love to hear some of your favourite places to drink, eat, shop and be merry!
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My Favourite Things: Melbourne VS Sydney
libbydesouza by Libby de Souza on 26.05.2014