A scenic drive to St. Andrews Market
With more than 100 galleries and a thriving alternative art scene, Melbourne has steadily and surely become Australia’s unofficial capital of culture. As if that wasn’t enough it also offers some of the best food in the country. Cleo Coppinger is a Melbourne native who documents her daily city adventures via an Instagram feed of mouth-watering meals and lazy afternoons in the park. Inviting us for a summertime tour around her coastal neighbourhood, Cleo cruised smoothly and stylishly in Volkswagen‘s new Polo GTI. On the way, she made sure to show us all of the yummy spots that frequently appear on her account.
Read below for Cleo’s tips on Melbourne’s tastiest gelato and Chai tea as well as our picks for the best places to cool down and look at contemporary art.
Salted coconut and mango gelato from Gelateria Messina
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
Cleo’s Picks:
1. St. Andrew’s Market – though it’s an hour away from Melbourne’s CBD, a scenic journey and the city’s best Chai tea latte make this pit stop worth the extra effort
2. Australian Centre for Contemporary Art – with a focus on commissioning works rather than collecting them, this Southbank institution is a must-see if you’re looking for contemporary pieces from world-renowned artists
3. Borsch, Vodka and Tears – given that Poland is roughly 16,000 km from the coastal city, head over to this Chapel Street establishment if you’re craving a pierogi or two
4. Messina – grab a seat on the patio while you enjoy a creamy treat from this artisanal gelateria
5. Tokyo Tina – a new Japanese-style concept from the Melbourne restauranteurs who opened Hanoi Hannah and Saigon Sally, Cleo ranks this spot as #1 among the trio
SLEEK’s Picks:
1. Blender Art Complex – consisting of artist studios as well as a lane-way street art project, this space also offers walking tours for those looking to view nearby murals and graffiti
2. Gertrude Contemporary – a nationally recognised arts centre housing exhibitions as well as residencies and programmes that foster young artists
3. Heide Museum of Modern Art – once the home of art-loving couple John and Sunday Reed, the architecturally stunning 16 acre estate holds an impressive collection of contemporary works
Tokyo Tina
Borsch, Vodka and Tears
More of Cleo Coppinger’s photography can be seen on her Instagram @cleocoppinger
All images by Cleo Coppinger