Cafe culture in Melbourne
Wednesday, 6 August 2008 12:00 AM
Melbourne's South Bank and Yarra River
Melbourne's famous cafe culture was born in and around Lygon Street as an influx of migrants from Europe brought quality espresso to Australia in the 1950s.
Coffee shops soon mushroomed in Melbourne's central business district and in the shopping strips of city-edge suburbs with the introduction of espresso coffee machines from Italy.
In fact the European flavour of the city is such that coffee giant Starbucks recently announced the immediate closure of 61 of its 84 Australian coffee shops.
Today, Melbourne's cafes are havens where you can sip a delicious cup and enjoy the passing parade.
Wander around the city and pop into some of Melbourne's famous coffee shops: Quists, Brunetti, Coffea, Icoco Cafe, Pellegrini's Espresso Bar, Mr Tulk, Laurent Patisserie and St Ali.
On the fringes of the city - Richmond, St Kilda, Fitzroy, South Melbourne and Prahran all boast great cafe strips, each with its own atmosphere.
Coffee enthusiasts can also follow the Historical Coffee Trek, an escorted tour through Melbourne's coffee history, while sampling some of the city's best coffee.
Watch this video to find out more about eating and drinking in Melbourne and the state of Victoria, including some of the city's world-class restaurants; vineyard wine tasting day trips from Melbourne; cooking schools; and cheeseries on the Mornington Peninsula.
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For more information about visiting Melbourne and Victoria see the official tourist website.
