Melbourne-Sober-Guide

If the perennial template for the ultimate girls’ trip, Sex And The City 2, is to be believed, each holiday will commence with two things: a glass of champagne on the tarmac quickly followed by a series of cosmopolitans in the plane’s bar.

The idea of a relaxing vacation—be it here or abroad—is one that is imbued with over-indulging in a melange of alcoholic beverages.

Looking through your itinerary with rosé-coloured glasses is a sensibility that many of us believe will enrich our journeys. For many, the paramount way to unwind when travelling is by spoiling yourself with pre-brunch mimosas, three-course meal and wine pairings and endless aperitivo hours—an epicurean and debaucherous odyssey only permitted when you’re away from home.

Until recently, this mode of travel was upheld as the ideal. Yet, with the unprecedented rise of sober curiosity, many intrepid voyages are forgoing their pre-dinner tipples and hangover-cure Bloody Marys for something far more meaningful: an alcohol-free reprive promising they’ll remember (and even have time for!) every stop on their journey.

To prove this sentiment for myself, I made the short, albeit satisfying pilgrimage from Sydney to Melbourne to re-discover the city through dry eyes. Indeed, there were no martinis at Gimlet, boozy karaoke nights at Supernormal or even impulse purchases at Fitzroy’s vintage stores spurred on by my tipsiness on this journey.

Instead, my alcohol-free voyage taught me the importance of imperviousness, not abstinence, in forging meaningful connections. Below, GRAZIA’s sober city guide to Melbourne, Australia’s cultural (and cocktail) capital

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Visit NON HQ, The Worlds First Ever Non-Alcoholic Cellar Door

The “Sofia Coppola” of wines is how NON’s founder Aaron Trotman described his brainchild, the world’s first premium non-alcoholic wine, to me vis-à-vis over an intimate dinner at the gourmet institution Nomad.

Over seven delicious flavour profiles, Trotman and the team at NON over a comprehensive range of alcohol alternatives that service any occasion. Unlike other zero per cent alcohol brands, NON doesn’t intend on replicating the unique body of a rich Bordeaux or crisp Chablis, instead curating a bespoke array of mouth-watering and layered tonics that focuses on unique flavour combinations.

Now, the likes of the sweetly-bitter No.1, a freeze-dried raspberry and chamomile combination, and the No. 3, a bright and tart tipple akin to a pét nat white, are becoming more accessible. In Melbourne’s inner suburbia lies NONHQ, the world’s inaugural 0.0% alcohol cellar door offering unconventional wine tastings and tours proving that a palatable, mouth-watering non-alch wine isn’t nonsense at all.

Offering monthly tours of the industrial facility, flavour workshops and curated food pairings, NONHQ is an immersive and innovative way of enjoying the wine occasion sans the hangover.

NONHQ is located at 79 Taunton Drive, Cheltenham, VIC, 3192. Book a visit NONHQ here.

Shop And Schmooze At Stable

As any born-and-bred Sydneysider, like myself, would know, a trip to Melbourne isn’t complete without sizing up the Victorian fashion scene to decide once and for all which city serves as the better fashion capital.

However, with the most notable sartorial haunts being those kept as an exclusive secret, I tapped bona fide Melbournite, communications consultant Genevieve Phelan, to guide me on the best locales worthy of visiting. The first on her list? Stable.

“A microcosm of cool, curated clothing labels that are hard to find elsewhere. This brick-and-mortar boutique revels in the romance of real-life shopping in a way that feels a bit forgotten in our modern transactional shopping routines,” Phelan divulged.

The ultimate visit to Stable starts with a pastry, a quintessential Melbourne beginning. “Grab a croissant and a coffee from Ned’s across the road, read a fresh glossy and swan across the chic Albert Park strip before delving into Stable,” explained Phelan.

“Inside you’ll find a jewellery ‘finery’ cabinet of jewels from lesser-known designers (near and far) and the likes of Beatrice B, Ganni, Rixo, By Far and the boutique’s very own in-house brand, On Parks.” 

Visit Stable at 130 Bridport St, Albert Park, VIC, 3206.

Indulge Your Vintage Fashion Fantasy At IRVRSBL

Continue getting your sartorial fix at pre-eminent vintage fashion boutique IRVRSBL.

Located on the stylish promenade of Prahan’s Greville Street, IRVRSBL is a treasure trove for one-of-one archival pieces ranging from Nicolas Ghesquière-era Balenciaga to Y2K Blumarine and 90s Jean Paul Gaultier.

This highly-curated melange of luxury designer must-haves is an elective watering hole for fashion fanatics looking to indulge in rare and hard-to-find pieces, including a chrome Loewe Aire bag from 2009 and indie sleaze staple the Phoebe Philo-designed Chloé Paddington bag.

Visit IRVRSBL at 116 Greville St, Prahran VIC 3181.

Eat

Treat Yourself To Melbourne’s Sensual Asian-Fusion Restaurant, Supernormal, Where Karaoke and Izakaya Co-Exist

Nestled in Melbourne’s Flinders Lane lies culinary haunt Supernormal, a sensual and slick Asian fusion restaurant slinging up sashYellowfin tuna with sansho pepper and orange oil alongside kombu Martinis.

Inside the high-octane fit-out, modern fare co-exists with rich and traditional flavours; just served up in a completely contemporary manner. Of course, like it is with anything in Melbourne, seating is never without a side of theatre. From the glass façade to the open kitchen and fluorescent-coated cocktails, the entire restaurant is an electrifying, transportive culinary experience.

Complete your night with a pilgrimage down the spiral staircase into the exhilarating karaoke room, with a glass of NON, of course..

Supernormal is located at 180 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, VIC, 3000.