Bookmark these must-do foodie experiences to take you from early morning, cocktail o’clock to late night – all just a hop, step or a jump from Next Hotel Melbourne.

Linger at La Madonna Restaurant & Bar

No need to leave the hotel, one of the city’s coveted dining experiences is perched on Level 3 of Next. Good Food Guide listed, La Madonna Restaurant & Bar is swathed across an entire level where you can find a comfortable spot in the lounge overlooking Little Collins Street, take a seat at the bar, sink into a booth for dinner – or linger across all three. Seek out the signature barrel aged cocktails (negroni anyone?), graze over delectable snacks to get your bearings (touted to have ‘the best fritto this side of Rome…’) or let acclaimed chefs Adrian Li and Danny Natoli feed you with their intriguing Milan meets Hong Kong style twists on dishes via their Mangiare menu. Dinner bookings for this Melbourne CBD restaurant are a must.

Next tip: Enjoy aperitivo every afternoon from 5-7pm during Spring and Summer with a glass of Charles Collin champagne and half a dozen oysters, $29 per person

Global flavours at Queen Vic’s Summer Night Market

For a very Melbourne evening of eating, drinking, live music and sunset vibes, add a visit to the Summer Night Market at the iconic Queen Victoria Market to your itinerary.

Staged every Wednesday night from 23 November to March 15, expect the market to come alive from twilight with global street food stalls and festival bars to roam and graze, wares from local artisans to browse and a rotating line up of live music and roving entertainment to enjoy. Entry is free. Find out more here

Next tip: Head in from 5pm and be sure to go hungry.

Hit up 80 Collins hot spots

Next door neighbours don’t come any more delectable than the offerings within 80 Collins – ensuring you can check off more hospitality hot spots during a stay with ease. Select from fine dining powerhouse Society restaurant if you’re celebrating a special occasion, meander over to
Farmer’s Daughters for relaxed dining from street side to rooftop; or head to Yakimono, the neon charged, high energy Japanese-inspired eating house. Start or end an evening at Nick & Nora’s to toast your time in Melbourne at the city’s opulent new speakeasy. And the good news, it’s a one- minute-at-most stumble back to your hotel room… More on 80 Collins dining here

Next tip: Booking ahead is highly recommended

But first, coffee

Yes, Melburnians believe coffee can make or break your day – so knowing where to get a good brew is top of any gourmands check list. Make a bee line for Ingresso, the hotel’s street side out- post serving up coffee (plus sweet and savoury snacks) from early; other top picks from Next’s
head Concierge James Ridenour (link to View from the Concierge Desk too) are Patricia. “It’s standing room only, be sure to look up!” And for a quintessential Melbourne caffeine fuelled pit- stop, head to Pellegrini’s just around the corner for a quick espresso.

Next Tip: Check in with the hotel’s Concierge for more tips on where to find Melbourne’s best coffee

Dumplings to fine dining in China Town

Melbourne is home to the southern hemisphere’s oldest Chinatown, dating back to the gold rush, but Little Bourke Street and its tributaries are no yesteryear relic.

Covering the gamut of Cantonese to Uyghur, hole-in-the-wall dumpling bars to white-linen fine- diners, Chinatown is a vibrant food destination that’s always evolving – and right on Next Hotel’s doorstep.

Look out for Bamboo House for fine Northern Chinese and Cantonese cuisine; head to the bustling Supper Inn where the chefs and hospo workers of Melbourne eat when they’ve knocked off for the night; Shandong Ma Ma for no frills but epic dumplings at this bustling family run outfit;
try RuYi with its sleek fit out and classic Canto dishes given a modern twist; HuTong Dumpling Bar where chefs pleating precise xiao long bao behind glass are part-performance piece, part-visual stimulus at the flagship location of this growing restaurant empire. File under ‘fun’ Rising Embers, a sizzling addition to Chinatown with its DIY-barbeque and for a refined night out, reserve a coveted table at Flower Drum, hailed (deservedly) as Australia’s best Cantonese restaurant.

Next tip: Investigate the great value express lunch menu at fine diner Flower Drum if you’re worried about bill shock!