A Local’s Guide To Melbourne With Clare

Working at Industry Beans, one of the top coffee shops and cafes in Melbourne, Clare Palmer might just be the best person to talk to for a local’s guide to Melbourne, including what to do and where to go. So we did! Here, she reveals her favourite hangouts, bars and more in Melbourne.

What’s your name and where are you originally from?
My Name is Clare Palmer; I am originally from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. I moved to Melbourne 5 years ago.

How long have you been working at Industry Beans?
I have been working for Industry Beans for two and a half years.

What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I mostly eat and drink in cafes, restaurants and bars in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs.

Where’s your favourite place to hang in Melbourne?
My favourite place to hang in Melbourne would have to be Edinburgh Gardens, North Fitzroy; I like to just relax and read a book or play some ping pong.

Where do you get the best coffee in Melbourne?
The best coffee in Melbourne is definitely Industry Beans in Fitzroy. I’m not just saying that because I work there, I’ve been a regular way before becoming a part of the team. I would usually order a pour over filter or if the weather is warmer they have an amazing cold drip and cold brew.
I also enjoy Patricia’s in the city, a busy little espresso bar hidden in an alleyway.

What’s your favourite restaurant in Melbourne?
My favourite restaurant would have to be Chin Chin in the CBD. It might take a while to get a table but it is well worth the wait.

Where can you get the best cocktails in Melbourne?
Two of my favourite cocktail bars in Melbourne are both in Fitzroy. The black pearl on Brunswick Street do an amazing Negroni and the Everleigh on Gertrude Street customize cocktails to suit your mood.

What’s your favourite item on the menu at Industry Beans?
Everything on the Industry Beans summer menu still blows my mind, but my all-time favourite dish would have to be the tamarind blue swimmer crab Thai style herb omelette, Crispy prawns, Lychees and green apple.

How do you spend a day off in Melbourne?
Usually I would walk or tram to a café that I’ve wanted to try and have some brunch and coffee. Then I’d go to Brunswick Street and walk the shops and stop into Industry Beans for a coffee and end my day at the Black Cat for a wine before heading into the city for dinner.

Where are the best places to visit heading outside of Melbourne?
The best places to visit outside of Melbourne would be the Dandenong ranges; it’s a lovely drive and there are a few places to stop and go for a walk in the forests. I also enjoy driving down the Great Ocean Road and stopping in the little beach towns.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
If I could travel to any place in the world other than Melbourne I would have to say Paris, mainly for the food, but I do also love the city but more from a local’s point of view. I found it’s a little bit like Melbourne with its hidden cafes and restaurants down little alleyways.

Get your coffee fix at www.industrybeans.com

Image courtesy of Katie Goodwin @klickher