Last week, Pete and I enjoyed a couple of nights in Melbourne.
Inspired by Lorraine’s review, we stayed at the fabulous Olsen Art Hotel in South Yarra. Our room was a deluxe studio – small, but generously appointed. It offered proper coat hangers that came off the rack (a pet peeve of mine), decent shampoo, very reasonably priced internet access ($10 per day, less if you’re a member) and the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept on…
All the artwork in this boutique hotel is by Australian landscape artist John Olsen, and most of it is for sale, with the exception of the giraffes on our bathroom wall…
On our first night, we dined in South Bank with our old friends Andrew and Alex…
Melbourne at dusk is remarkably beautiful…
Having parked in the Crown Entertainment Complex, we had to walk past this aquarium on the way back to the car…
It was full of cheerful fish…
Every single fish in the aquarium was smiling! I thought they might be a nice addition to our fish tank at home, but Pete wasn’t convinced…
The following morning we had breakfast at Cumulus Inc. with David and Marie. I had the shakshouka – baked eggs with roasted peppers and shanklish..
Then we tried to master MyKi!
Melbourne has an integrated electronic public transport system based around a single key tag. As visitors, we only needed it for one day, but had to buy reusable cards nonetheless. Having said that, the tram system works brilliantly – much better than our Sydney buses. The only real problem with the trams is that they require passengers to walk across a lane of traffic to board, hence this advertising campaign…
I dragged Pete out to Kew to buy Naot shoes – an Israeli brand with removable cork innersoles. They’re the only sandals I’ve found that I can successfully use my orthotics with…
We ate old fashioned fish and chips at Hunky Dory in South Yarra…
…and had dinner at France-Soir with Pete’s brother Greg, his partner Michelle, and their cousin MJ. I had to try the duck à l’orange (it was very good!)…
On the way home, I took a photo inside the plane cabin with the new panoramic camera option that came with the latest iPhone software upgrade. It works really well…
And I checked for snakes on the wing, but didn’t see any!
It was a fun and much needed weekend away, and a great joy to be able to catch up with family and friends whom we hadn’t seen for years. If you’re planning a trip to Melbourne, I’d recommend the Olsen Hotel – it’s in a great location, the staff were cheerful, and the attention to detail really impressed us!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Quick comment from iPhone as We are in camping mode once more. ;-)
LOVED the giraffes, absolutely loved the painting!
I shall return to proper net-mode tomorrow and sleep in our nice bed. (Sigh )
Great post, Celia
Sally, the artwork was fabulous – and everywhere! In the hallways, in the lifts, and all by the same artist!
Melbourne is a great city. I’m glad you had a good time.
Thanks Deb! It was a nice couple of nights.
It’s such a wonderful break to get away with your husband and visit another city just a short plane ride away. I don’t know why I don’t do it more often, it’s so much fun. I would love to take a much longer plane ride and visit Australia too:D What wonderful food and I love boutique hotels, they’re so much more “artful” in decor. It’s very cool that the art is for sale, it must be local artists’ work they’re promoting? But those shoes.. that’s what caught my eye, they’re so pretty!! I love red shoes!!xx
Smidge, the artwork is all by the one artist – John Olsen – whom the hotel is named after! Certified prints are for sale, but they cost a fortune – $1430 each! Needless to say, we didn’t buy any.. :)
Love that artwork on the wall. Illustrations always make me smile.
All the art was great, Sally, but unfortunately I only had the iPhone camera, so I couldn’t really do them justice!
WOW! This is wonderful post… and postcards from Melbourne. Thank you dear Celia, love, nia
Thanks Nia, I’m glad you enjoyed it! x
Snakes on the wings? Snakes on the wings?!
Hehehe…did you watch the videoclip, Misky?
Yessssssss. :)
What a fabulous weekend away Celia.
My maiden surname is Olsen and haven’t come across the artist John Olsen while doing family tree research – oh well, sure there is another famous Olsen we are related to… ;-)
Have a super week ahead.
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, he’s very famous – if you ever come to Melbourne, you now know where you have to stay! :)
fantastic to see a little of melbourne, next time let me know and maybe you can pop in and see my daughter, she works at the European which is evidently a lovely restaurant with an exceptional wine list! c
Celi, I wish I’d known! We were looking for a place for dinner on the Saturday night!
What a Great Escape – love your captures – thanks for sharing! Happy Monday:)
Thanks Renee! :)
Fantastic shots. Looks like you had a great time. I love Melbourne and I really love your shoes.
Glenda, I really love my shoes too – I walked around in them all day and my knees didn’t hurt! Always a good sign.. :)
Welcome back from a great get away. You did have fun, and that’s a good way to start the new year.
Thanks Oz, it really was great fun!
John thought you did not like flying, so now you can definitely come up to Brisbane.
Or Tassie! :)
A weekend in Melbourne is just the ticket sometimes!
So true, Lizzy! :)
Looks like a lovely weekend Celia. Aren’t the fairy lights at Southbank beautiful at night? I wouldn’t mind a few of those smiley fish here. So happy!
Claire, that’s what I thought, but Pete figured we’d be creeped out by them after a while.. :)
What a great story! I love the art series hotels, they are so modern and comfortable! Like a trendy home away from home.
Sounds like you had a great weekend :)
Thank you, we really did! The art hotel was just fabulous!
What a great trip!
I like your shoes- and the smiling fish.
But the giraffes caught my attention and heart.
Lovely way to spend a weekend- sharing a room with original art and eating duck AND fish and chips!
Heidi, you’ve summed it up so well – it was a short but diverse and interesting weekend! :)
Isn’t it lovely when the boys are old enough that you can sneak away for a few days and have such great time! Love those smiling fish :)
Just so nice, Becca! Maybe next time we’ll nick down to Canberra!
Oh how wonderful; a weekend away.
I would be sold on the hotel just for all the John Olsen works.
Elaine, if you’re a fan, you really should go and stay there! There are documentaries on John Olsen, and books, and just so much artwork to admire!
Celia, I meant to say I bought a pair of Naot sandals a couple of years ago at Northbridge in Sydney………..they’re gorgeous.
Oh, that’s good to know, the shop I used to buy them from in Glebe has closed down. Thanks! I’ll go hunting on google now!
What a great few days. What a treat. I think my husband and I are long overdue for a few nights away on our own. I love the look of the duck and your new sandals are gorgeous. What airline were you flying? I haven’t seen individual screens for domestic flights EVER xx
I was so looking forward to showing off my sandals to you, Charlie! Next time! :) We were flying Virgin – individual screens were only on the flight back, not the one there.. x
What a delightful get away and the opportunity to visit family and reconnect with friends.
Norma, it really was, thank you! :)
Don’t care if my mathematics sounds wonky: one + one = about five, in this instance regarding your hotel: know which one in Melbourne I’ll be suggesting to friends about to go down!! Thank YOU and Lorraine! And, yes, DO love the look [and feel?] of those Naot shoes – have to do some homework!!
Eha, this is the first time in years that I’ve been able to wear open-toed sandals – I haven’t taken them off since I got home! :)
Glad you enjoyed the weekend,The pics are beautiful,love the pictures of girraffes,
Thanks Sponge! The giraffes were very cute…
I’m so glad that you enjoyed your stay there! And yes the bed is so temptingly comfortable indeed! :D
It was a great suggestion, thanks again! I don’t usually manage to sleep through the whole night in a different bed to my own, but on both nights in Melbourne I didn’t wake up until after 6!
What a wonderful weekend of food and fun. I lived in right downtown at Southgate and then later we moved to the Eastern suburbs and I loved it. When I lived downtown I’d walk to the Queen Vic market every day. We ate great food and I lost 10 kilos. :)
M, we thought about going to the Queen Vic markets, but half the retailers were still on holidays! Next time.. :)
What a great spot for a get-away! The city looks inviting and the food delicious. I regret not seeing Melbourne when I visited Oz. Maybe next time. And I so agree about removable hangars. Is it really too much to ask that I may easily hang up my clothes?
John, the coat hangers thing is important enough for me to mention it as one of the hotel’s positive features! :) I hadn’t been to Melbourne in a couple of years, so it was great to just wander around!
Celia I think everyone needs a smiling fish in their aquarium…how could you not?! :-)
Brydie, Pete kept saying, “remember that movie Chucky?” ;-)
Great to read that it was a nice weekend away…. I love the smiling fish – how cool! I’m trying to replace my Naot sandals so I was interested to read you found a good place there.
Craig, I’ve only just discovered the Naots, and they’re absolutely wonderful! I wish I’d known about them years ago!
What a fun trip – and a great hotel by the sounds of it (I relate to coat hangers not coming off as a serious peeve!).
Kari, I was really happy with the hotel, although on Lorraine’s advice we went for a slightly larger room, as the basic studio is apparently tiny!
Proper hangers to me are so much easier to use! Sounds like a great trip. We have reusable cards for London which we just lend out to who ever needs them :)
Tandy, the reusable MyKi cards would have been annoying if we were overseas travellers! It’s the only downfall to the system, I think…
Thanks for sharing your adventure, Celia! The shakshouka looked yummers. And Naot does make the prettiest shoes. I love the detail on them. Hugs, Maz
Maz, I’ve only just discovered Naot – I wish I’d found them years ago! You’d love this art hotel, darling! x
This looks like a lot of fun Celia! I have not spent any time in Melbourne since I was a child. I would love to return and you have given us some great recommendations!
Jane, I’d like to go back again too! It was great fun! x
Thanks for sharing your get away weekend! It looks that you had lots of fun, Celia! Melbourne looked great!
Thanks Sophie, it really was! :)
Oh, I love those giraffes – very sweet. I also love France Soir – we’ve eaten there a few times. We are off to Melbourne tomorrow and I’m still trying to decide where we should eat this trip!
A, there’s so much to choose from in Melbourne! It’s foodie heaven.. :)
Lucky you and I am going to Florida on Tuesday…I need the sunshine after this flu epidemic. One day Celia you will see me knocking on your door…LOL
What a great trip, so exciting to see you having such a fun time and thank you for sharing the sights and meals you had. I have enjoyed this post a lot xx
Love your new shoes gorgeous!