Planning for Melbourne Trip

Friday week sees Dennis, Darren & myself down to Melbourne for a weekend of beer & footy.

We're gonna watch "the Pies go the Saints at the G" whatever that means.

But more importantly, I have a few venues to explore, analyse, and relay back to my loyal reader. That'd be the writer, of course.

I arrive before the other guys, so will have a couple of hours in the city to kill. Methinks Beer Deluxe and/or Transport at Federation Square will be the best start. I've been to the latter (and to the outstanding restaurant "Taxi" upstairs) but only somewhat satisfied. Good range, but awkward atmosphere and variable service. The as-yet-untried Beer Deluxe is around on the Flinders St side, and seems to attract the occasional single-barrel edition from various micro breweries, so must have some cred.

Once the boys arrive, I might suggest a tram trip to Richmond; both the Royston Hotel and Mountain Goat brewery are located on River St, near the bridge. Mountain Goat does pizzas and beers (including brewery-only offerings) on Friday evenings, so looks like a good start to the weekend.

Saturday will inevitably be geared around "the G"; I might try and sway the boys south-bound after the game, to the original Local Taphouse in East St Kilda. If anything like its younger sibling in Darlinghurst, NSW, this place will be outstanding. (I do hear similar reports about the Royston).

But.... if we decide to head back into the city, there are some other good alternatives. Hungry men demand lots of food, and no better beer/food combination can be found than Mrs Parma's on Little Bourke Street. Plate-sized schnitzels, and local (Victorian) craft brews on tap. A great place; a recent long weekend had me there on three occasions.

Also good in Melbourne is Cookie, the unusual combination of Thai cafeteria and boutique beer bar. My first trip (Jan 09 from memory) was remarkable; subsequent visits have not come up to the first's standard, as is so often the case. But anywhere with a hardcover beer menu is worth taking your mates to.

Also, there are Squires brewhouse, Belgian beer cafe, and the European Bier cafe. The first two of these are not unique to Melbourne. The last of these appears to be the bastard child of the Belgian beer cafes and a Dan Murphy. Probably give it a miss.

Comments are welcome; I know there are also some excellent beer shops, but carry-on luggage, and limited time, will preclude visits.