Tag: lulo

Best places to eat, drink and have your caffeine hit around Melbourne

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Full disclosure, I am completely un-qualified to tell you the best places to eat in Melbourne. I have been to Melbourne once. BUT, I like food and therefore I went on an internet deep dive to find the best food spots to visit. I struggled. Melbourne is full of places to eat but I found the guides listed mostly really pretentious places. However, because there are so many places to eat though its easy to get a bit overwhelmed if you wing it. So you really need that guide.

So, I put a list together and then collected all the recommendations I could once I arrived in Melbourne and thought you lovely readers may appreciate a list of good food to check out – a guide to the ‘best’ restaurants from a casual foodie that likes a good cheap and cheerful meal out as much as any fine dining establishment (if not more). Oh and I HATE waiting in line so best be assured that although these places are popular you don’t have to wait long.

Before we jump into describing the YUM – if you are headed to Melbourne please use my booking.com affiliate link to book a stay at no cost to you. I receive a commission from them which helps me keep this blog running and booking.com has the best range of places to stay and almost consistently the best prices too!

Now without further ado….

Food

Meatballs: A meatball and wine bar located on Flinders Lane in the CBD. Amazing comfort food and great cocktails in a nice quiet intimate setting. A bit on the pricey side but you get large portions.

The Meatball and Wine Bar, Melbourne CBD
The Meatball and Wine Bar, Melbourne CBD

Vietstar: This is a cheap and cheerful eatery in Hawthorn. I recommend the Pho – big portions and as good as the Pho in Vietnam. Almost as cheap too!

Terror Twilight: Really tasty cafe food in Collingwood. Un-fussy but just a little bit different. A few strange combos or things you wouldn’t usually order that actually work really well.

Sonidoi: Wow. Just wow. I live in New Zealand where Arepas are almost impossible to find and Lulo juice doesn’t exist. If you are craving these – head straight to Sonidoi in Fitzroy. My tastebuds were in heaven.

Arepas and Lulo juice at Sonidoi, Fitzroy

Lulo: I have to admit I tried this place because of the name (Lulo is my favorite thing ever) but it didn’t disappoint (well except for there being no Lulo on the menu but i’ll forgive them). Their menu is South American style tapas and they do a great margarita. Again, this ones on the pricey side.

Old Palm Liqour: Located on Lygon street in Brunswick East – from the outside it looks like a small bar with a great vibe but you walk in and the place is huge. Lots of different areas all beautifully decorated and cosy. The food is pricey but tasty European fare and its a great place for large groups.

Old Palm Liqour, Brunswick East
Old Palm Liqour, Brunswick East

Fonda: Tacos to die for in such a cute spot with indoor-outdoor booth seating. A great lunch spot. Highly recommended.

Khabbay Restaurant: Amazing Pakistani food on Lygon Street. Also available on Uber Eats.

Frankie’s Torta’s and Tacos: Fitzroy’s best tacos in a cute little diner style location. I wasn’t so impressed with the spicy margarita though (It was salt and peppery rather than chilli) so just fill up on tacos and head elsewhere for a nightcap!

Frankies tortas and tacos
Frankies tortas and tacos

Drink

Loop Roof: A rooftop bar in the CBD covered in greenery.

Magic Mountain Saloon: Cute intimate bar with a quiet upstairs area

Degraves Espresso: On one of Melbourne’s laneways. Busy spot with lots of outdoor tables with plenty of heating. Great people watching spot.

Coffee

Axil: Axil Coffee is so good and the staff are super helpful! There are multiple locations around Melbourne.

Seven Seeds: I visited their location on Little Bourke Street ‘Brother baba Budan’. Their coffee is so smooth and creamy 10/10. Again, they have a few spots around Melbourne and multiple stockists.

Industry Beans in the CBD for Coffee
Industry Beans in the CBD for Coffee

Honourable mention for the Borek at Queen Victoria Market – it is so tasty, affordable and easy to eat on the go. There is lots of other great food at the market too so show up hungry.

Queen Victoria Market
Borek at Queen Victoria Market
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So what are you waiting for? Book a flight to explore Melbourne now!

Erika xx


Itinerary: 48 hours in Bogota

High above the Bogota sprawl on Monserrate


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My first time in Bogota was back in 2011 – to be honest not a lot has changed! I like a city that you can return to and feel comfortable that you still know your way around – I love wandering through neighbourhoods that feel vaguely familiar and trying to find places you once visited and don’t remember the name of. Just me? Ok..well anyway…

If you are flying to Colombia from anywhere in the world you are most likely going to arrive in Bogota. The majority of tourists will transfer directly to one of the warmer, beach areas (well…Cartagena mainly) but I highly recommend giving Bogota a chance (hey – you are already giving Colombia a chance so you are a step ahead already!). Bogota has a cool vibe and you won’t regret it!

Bogota is vibrant and colourful from all the street art

GENERAL INFO

Getting there and away:

From Bogota Airport (El Dorado). Take a yellow taxi from the airport into Candelaria (approx. 30,000 COP, maximum 40,000 COP). They should use their meter – check this. It will take 30-40 mins to get into Candelaria. 

You can also take a bus to/from the airport. To take the bus you need to purchase a transmilenio card but you may be able to just pay the attendant and they will use their card to get you on. We took a bus back to the airport as we were travelling during the day. Las Aguas/Universidades is the station closest to Candelaria. From here you can take From the K6 platform here you can transfer to a bus going to ‘Portal El Dorado’ (the last stop). The next bus leaves from the same platform you are dropped off at and you don’t need to pay again. It’s red, white and green, number K86 and says Aeropuerto on the front.

Bogota is connected everywhere in Colombia by bus. Just head to the station and find a bus that is going to where you want to go.

Accommodation:

Definitely stay in the Candelaria neighbourhood. I suggest Fatima Hostel Suites but there are so many good options on Booking.com in the Candelaria area.

Food:

See the below top tip for the best local delicacy to try in Bogota – there’s something you will have never heard of before in each region of Colombia.

The other crucial food to try is Lulo. This is the tastiest most refreshing fruit you have ever tried. As far as I know you don’t actually eat them…(please correct me if I’m wrong) but lulo juice should be a daily fixture of your Colombia diet.

La Puerta Falsa is a good restaurant for traditional warming food – its tiny so be prepared to snuggle up with the next table.

Getting around:

You can walk around most of the interesting places here if you are in the Candelaria neighbourhood. There is also a day of the week when the streets close to cars and everyone bikes around – a great time to get on a bike and explore.

Top Tip:

Bogota is a great place to try a Colombian delicacy – Hot chocolate with cheese. Yes that’s right – with cheese. As Bogota gets pretty cold at night (even in summer) – It makes sense to spend your evenings in a little restaurant packed with people sipping hot chocolate and melting your cheese in it. I like the idea – and its definitely worth giving it a try. I have to admit I’m not a big fan but it did warm me up enough to brave my walk back to my accomodation.

Finding the cute in Colombia

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

  1. The Gold Museum: The Bogota Gold Museum is fascinating. Head there and see some beautiful Gold treasures (34,000 to be exact). Its free on Sunday but get there early. Its popular! I would allow 3 hours. Theres a lot to see.
  2. Take a Graffiti tour: Bogota has some of the most interesting graffiti in South America and it’s EVERYWHERE. Graffiti is illegal but many people who own buildings give the street artists permission to create art on their walls. A walking tour is a great way to see the city and get an explanation of the art and the social and political statements being made from a local artist. The walking tour meets at Parque de los Periodistas (near the Statue of Simon Bolivar under the dome) and you can book in advance. Suggested tip 20,000 COP or whatever you think its worth.
  3. Walk up Monserrate: do like the locals do and walk up Monserrate. Its a tricky walk if you aren’t used to the altitude. Start the climb early in the morning and you will see locals running up doing their daily workout. The view at the top is spectacular! You can also take a cable car or funicular train up to the top. This is advisable if you are heading up for sunset or at night. There is a church, a small market and some food stalls up the top.
  4. Have a party in the Zona Rosa – a great place to hang with locals, drink and dance the night away.
  5. Explore Bogota’s historical centre – incl. Plazoleto Chorro de Quevado (thought to be where Bogota was founded) and Plaza de Bolivar.
  6. Visit the Bolero Museum – if you like art even a little bit you will love Bolero.

I hope you love Bogota as much as I do!

Erika xx