The Iglu Guide | Blog
Best student hangouts in Melbourne
A city that needs no introduction, Melbourne is simply packed with hangouts of the best kind. Whether you’re meandering through the lanes, chilling in the city or boating down the Yarra, it’s never short of opportunity. If you’re hanging with friends or want space for yourself, here’s 5 of the best that won’t disappoint.
1. Readings Book Store
Sit back, read, listen to some tunes and select your next movie title all under the one wonderful roof. Welcome to the independent retailer Readings, a centre of the local literary scene and currently operating across seven Melbourne shops including the State Library. Offering an exciting calendar of events, Readings is no ordinary bookstore. Oozing that comfy village bookstore vibe, you can quickly escape the monotony of life and lose yourself amongst a huge range of local and international books. Think ambient music, friendly smiles and the feel-good factor that comes with knowing 10% of all profits go towards the Reading Foundation, established to support individuals wishing to develop literacy, community and the arts. A regular winner of Independent Book Retailer of the Year, this is one hangout you won’t want to miss out on.
2. The Shaw Davey Slum
Known for good burgers and cheap beer, this roof top bar is not short of student support. Known affectionately to the locals as The Shaw, or Slums, this pub is almost exclusively for students – and is always bustling with familiar faces. It’s located in an iconic building just off Lygon Street, and is named after an old poverty report that recommended the whole Carlton area be demolished. Commissioners Shaw and Davey are now forever commemorated in this 1960s Australiana themed watering hole, complete with pub classics and good vibes. And with a live DJ to celebrate Uni Night every Wednesday, there’s nothing the Melbourne student community don’t love.
3. Royal Botanic Gardens
When the sun’s out in Melbourne, you simply have to get outside and enjoy it. Covering over 38 hectares and home to a vastly diverse collection of plants from around the world, Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens was established back in 1846 and is today one of the most peaceful spots to hang out in the city. Take a stroll through the cacti garden, rest in the Japanese inspired moss garden or take a punt on the lake. And if you’re feeling energetic, grab some friends and run the 3.8km popular Tan Track that circumnavigates the gardens. Once an equestrian track the name refers to the original bark surfacing. With plenty of space for picnics and barbeques, this is without doubt one of Melbourne’s greatest treasures.
4. National Gallery of Victoria
Australia’s oldest public art gallery, the NGV is a place you can visit time and time again, and never get bored. The famous wall of water welcomes you as you enter the gallery, and there is an immediate feeling of serenity as you browse the impressive works. With a large international collection that spans all the greats from Picasso and Pissarro through to Gainsborough and Turner, there is also a significant collection of Australian art that includes indigenous art as well as more contemporary pieces. A Picasso artwork was once famously stolen from the gallery, with the ransom to be an art prize for young artists. It was returned safely a week later!
5. St Kilda beach
At just 40 minutes from your Iglu front door, there’s nothing better than an ocean dip and an ice cream on a sunny Melbourne day. Known for its brightly coloured bathing boxes and white sands, St Kilda is a hive of waterfront activity when the weather is right. Try your hand at windsurfing, sailing, beach volleyball or ocean swimming. Or head to the promenade and get into some serious rollerblading. And if that feels all too hectic, just lie back and enjoy the fresh sea air as the waves wash in.
Image by Ain Raadik from National Gallery of Victoria
