Melbourne is definitely one of those cities best experienced from a local's perspective. If a bar or restaurant is advertising in a tourism magazine or visitor's guide, you probably don't want to go there. The gridded central business district that Melburnians refer to as "The City" is the location of literally hundreds of both hole-in-the-wall and larger bars, each offering a unique insight into Melbourne's social, cultural and design aesthetic traditions. While you might be tempted to spend your evenings in seaside St. Kilda or waterside at the Docklands, give the City at least a night or so to show off her charms. Summer is certainly the season for enjoying a quiet drink or two on any night of the week in Melbourne.
