A Stellar Saturday in Mentone
A pleasant 40-minute drive from the CBD…
The beauty of Mentone lies within the fact that you are still within the realms of inner-suburban Melbourne - yet as you breathe in that crisp ocean air, it certainly doesn’t feel like it.
Named after the French resort town of ‘Menton’, the ambience as you stroll around Mentone is effortlessly relaxed.
A fabulously diverse community, there is a something for everyone here. Youngsters love to immerse themselves in the impressively active local sports scene, while elderly folk find themselves at home at the Bowls Club or the RSL.
Here’s a snapshot of what a classic Mentone Saturday might look like.
9am - Stroll down to the magnificent Mentone foreshore, take your shoes off and walk along the beach or take in the views of Beaumaris Bay from the boardwalk. A favourite past time for locals and visitors alike, this is the sort of thing that never gets old.
10:30am - Post beach-walk, you’ve no doubt worked up a solid appetite. Come 10:30am, there’s usually one thing on the mind of every Melburnian. That’s right, brunch time. Stop by Sweet! Espresso on the Nepean Highway to indulge all your Smashed Avo fantasies. Allow time for a second coffee, trust us.
12pm - Sufficiently caffeinated with your stomach put to rest (for now), it’s time to treat yourself to some retail therapy. Best port of call is the Mentone Urban Shopping Village. Home to a wide range of clothing boutiques, craft and homewares stores - you’re bound to walk away with a slightly lighter purse, but never any regrets.
1pm - Walk around any suburb or township in Victoria - big or small, rich or not - you’re bound to notice a common theme underpinning the very fabric of the community. We love footy. We love watching it, we love talking about it and we love playing it.
St Bedes/Mentone Tigers Amateur Football Club is one of the oldest, proudest AFL clubs in Victoria and is a true Bayside institution. Get down to the Brindisi Street Oval to soak up the community vibe, enjoy a sausage sizzle and watch a fiercely competitive game of amateur football.
2.30pm - Formerly the one of the great Melbourne racecourses, Mentone Racecourse Reserve is now one of those parks that has garnered a pretty impressive reputation for itself. Kids will have a ball getting lost in mazes, digging through sandpits and climbing ropes courses. However, don’t be fooled: if you’re a bit past zooming down the slide, the park incorporates a peaceful lake perfect to read a book by.
4pm - If you’re feeling peckish after your day of high-octane Mentonian activities, head to one of the true gems in the growing Mentone foodie scene. The Grazery is a health-conscious eatery who define their mission as ‘empowering a social movement to better physical and mental health through food.’
5pm - Sunset, beach. Easy as that. Pack some cheese, grab some crackers and set up a dreamlike picnic as the sun sets over Beaumaris Bay.
6pm - Not ready to hit the hay just yet? We like your style. Lydford & Co. is a fantastic wine bar meets burger bar that offers a refined tapas menu, as well as a hearty Aussie burger. Need we say more?