Discover Melbourne's cultural heart this winter

Friday night

Check in at The Cullen, the first of the Art Series Hotels, showcasing the work of edgy Australian contemporary painter Adam Cullen in its guest rooms. In the city, follow the stairs down to the industrial-inspired Izakaya Den, where you can enjoy sharing plates of Japanese cuisine and sake. And afterwards? The unique Horse Bazaar is a bar with a 20m-long screen that wraps around the banquette seating to show digital art. Plus, there’s great music and drinks until the wee hours.

Saturday morning

The light is beautiful at 8.45am, which is why the Photography Made Easy walking tour meets in the city then. A professional snapper will help you get the best out of your digital camera – SLR or point-and-press – to take home some amazing Melbourne memories.

Saturday afternoon

After all that shooting, recharge batteries at tiny Roule Galette, where you can breakfast on savoury buckwheat pancakes, called galettes, or sweet crêpes. Laneways, basements and lofts hide Melbourne’s eclectic retailers. Take the steps down to the Degraves Street Subway, where the artist-run initiative, Platform, shows installations in glass cabinets. Also there is ’zine store, Sticky Institute, and Subject to Change, the retail home of local label Poochie-mama, which turns vintage fabrics into creative womenswear. Flinders Lane is home to Alphaville, the flagship store of innovative local label Alpha60. Stairs seem to be a common theme with edgy new stores: check out The Thousands Shop, Captains of Industry and Comeback Kid.

Saturday night

Head out for an early dinner. Since opening in February, Mamasita has been winning praise and fans for its authentic Mexican cuisine. Afterwards, take a stroll over the Yarra to the Malthouse Theatre in the Melbourne Arts Precinct. Productions including Threepenny Opera and Human Interest Story, choreographed by Lucy Guerin, are being performed during June and July. After the show, explore both sides of the formerly divided German city at Berlin Bar behind an unassuming door in a city laneway.

Sunday morning

Located on the edge of the city and close to the Queen Victoria Markets is specialist coffee roastery and cafe Seven Seeds, winner of best coffee in the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2010. While lovers of the bean will go a long way to find a cup near as good (real connoisseurs should order a single-origin prepared in the Clover press), there’s a great range of breakfast fare as well. One of the greatest filmmakers of our generation is in the spotlight at ACMI. Tim Burton: The Exhibition gets inside the mind of this amazing auteur to show how he came up with classics including Edward Scissorhands and Alice in Wonderland.

Sunday afternoon

The Fitzroy precinct is one of the coolest in Melbourne, its streets lined with unique boutiques, cafes, restaurants and bars. Linger over the special set-menu Sunday lunch at Cutler & Co. With a full belly, take in the indie fashion stores, vintage outlets and cool retro homewares shops of Gertrude and Brunswick Streets. In need of a little refreshment? Drop by Southpaw for a jug of New Holland-ade (Pimms, sloe gin, strawberries, lime and grapefruit juice).

Sunday night

Chances are you may only need a light meal after lunch, so drop by tapas restaurant MoVida and grab a seat at the bar. It might be on the roof but Palmz at the Carlton is hot even in winter. With its full-grown palms and thatched-hut bar, it’s a little bit tiki and a lot of fun.