I love Melbourne. There's just something about its deeply-engrained coffee culture, boutique shops and open parkland that gets my heart a-fluttering. I lived there for 7 weeks before first visiting Sydney, eating my way around the bakeries and sipping on hot chocolates... but this time I'm doing it The Fit Foodie way. It's not easy to stay healthy away from home, but Melbs does it so well. Check out my healthy guide to this glorious city.
STAY
The Larwill Studios gets my vote as a the Healthiest Hotel. Hotel facilities are designed to help you achieve optimum health and wellbeing - even while you travel.
These include:
- in-room yoga mats + designated yoga TV channel
- meditation guides
- art supplies and books for inspired time out
- on-site gym access and free workout classes
- Lekker bike hire
- mini bar filled with healthy, local produce.
If only all hotels offered more like this. It's proving to be a popular concept...since it's launch just a few short months ago, The Larwill Studio has been voted the #1 hotel in Melbourne on Trip Advisor.
EAT
You have to go here for brekkie. The dishes are insanely pretty and tasty. Go for the hot cacao porridge made with almond milk and shelter from the Melbourne rain, or try the chia pudding in summer. The flavours are amazing, and your tummy will thank you of all that nourishing goodness. Who doesn't love flowers for breakfast?
An awesome concept cafe, that combines health food, exercise AND education. There's a gym attached to this beautiful space, and they run regular workshops. To work on your serotonin levels (happy chemicals), the cafe has swings in the window where you can enjoy your superfood bowls. Yep, you read that right. LOVE.
With its beautiful, relaxed interior and friendly service, this is the place to hang with friends. Get the cured trout and kick back with a house-made almond milk latte. Long brunches never looked so good.
Combi - if you haven't seen this place popping up on your Instagram feed, you've been living under a rock. It seems everyone has been but me! So of course, this was first on the list. The food is decidedly photo-worthy, and tasty to boot. It is a little on the expensive side, so just remember it's more expensive to rectify health issues than it is to keep it at optimum levels 😉
Laneway Greens - this new place just behind the uber-cool Degraves Street makes the king of (actually) healthy salads..screw you subway. There's not a lot of seating, so be prepared to grab and go. Try the miso salmon salad, or roast beetroot three ways...made fresh to order and bursting with flavour.
DRINK
Green Press - A gorgeous store dishing up cold pressed juices and delicious raw treats. I may have accidentally had two Krispy Kleans and a Kale juice...just to even it out.
Ace Cookies + Milk - the Chai Milk here is divine. The bottles and packaging are enough to swoon over here, but what's inside is even more divine. The house-made Chai Milk is the perfect size to have a little afternoon treat, without downing the usual 500ml of nut milk. Warming spices, it's perfect in the naff Melbourne weather.
1000 Pound Cafe - okay, so there's nothing healthy about this place, but it has awesome music and free wifi. A great pitt-stop for freelancers in the CBD looking for a pick-me-up while cracking down to emails.
SHOP
There's hundreds of awesome health food stores in Melbourne, but these are my top pics:
The Source Bulk Foods, Prahran
Wholefoods galore, literally by the bucketload. Grab a paper bag, and scoop whatever your heart so desires, then write the code on the bag. Be warned...you'll need an extra set of arms to help you carry all those goodies.
These guys also stock my range of DIY Protein Balls, Fit Mixes, so be sure grab a bag while you're there.
Perfect if you need a break from the indulgence and just grab some plain ol' fruit and veggies. Just make sure you walk promptly past the cheese counter...
PLAY
Grab a free bike and whiz around the CBD. Bike hire is also available from Larwill Studios.
Take a Yoga Class.
Strap on your sneakers and head for a morning run along the Yarra.
Pack up a healthy picnic and head to the Botanic Gardens with your besties. There's no better way to relax in this beautiful park.
Did you follow the full foodie-tour on Instagram? Share your top tips for a healthy trip to Melbourne below!
