The Interlude

Worth getting out of bed for

Now, this isn’t your usual prison experience…which is obvious from the get-go, when rather than having a jumpsuit handed to you, you’re settled by a crackling fire in the spectacular panopticon (one of only eight in the world), handed a glass of Victorian red (sparkling wine in summer) and local cheeses and are encouraged to share your hopes for your stay. This induction also covers the prison’s history (it held bushranger Ned Kelly, the last man to be hanged in Victoria, the original ‘Chopper’ Read, gangsters and murderers, and poets and artists alike); introduces you to local heroes (Brunswick Aces distillery, Koko Black chocolatiers); and takes you way back to when the Aboriginal Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung lived here. Then what follows is a bespoke itinerary you’ve curated with the hotel team in advance of your stay (some experiences involve an extra charge). This might include a hosted tea-blending experience with Coburg experts Impala & Peacock; a tour of the artworks on-site (Rachel Derum’s collages, Holly Gregory’s raw ceramics, Alison Willoughby’s colour planes, Hannah Nowlan’s minimalist works, and Leili Tehrani Walker’s ‘wave’ series), followed by a meet and greet with the artist and a charcoal-drawing session; sunrise meditation or mindful movements with a specialised practitioner in the hotel’s reflection garden; a time-travelling wine tasting with Olivine’s sommelier, comparing flavour profiles across eras; or pairing chocolates with distilled and fortified wines, such as ‘forgotten’ French apéritif Mistelle. And – like some of the more enterprising prisoners past – escape the hotel walls to bike along Merri Creek or meet Coburg’s makers and creators (Cut Throat Knives, Pink Ember Studio, Josephine Powell Ceramics) on a tour, and add on classes in coffee art, collaging, pottery, and gin-blending. Then have a local host whirl you through the ‘hood’s food scene or nightlife, or speed through the sky as you learn to fly a helicopter, or have a professional take the controls and chopper you out to Mount Macedon Winery.

Local restaurants

La Pinta is a lovely lo-fi wine bar and eatery with strong ties to local growers and makers, and small plates you’ll want to stack up: the blackboard menu changes frequently, but you might have the house-smoked kabana sausage, confit lamb belly, and custard tart with boozy prunes… And there’s plenty to wash those down with. Follow the pink glow to Dexter Melbourne, where meat is firmly on the menu; the brisket doughnuts in hot sauce, caramel short rib and dry-aged cheeseburger are the stand-outs here, and finish up with milk and cookies. For something more refined, the Post Office Hotel’s menu has modern Aussie eats and a top choice of steaks.

Local cafés

For your hit of strong Aussie java, head to family-run Genovese Coffee, and for photogenic (and tasty) lunches, try Grounds of Eden where the salads and fruit bowls are colourful and smoothies come topped with flowers.

Local bars

This lively suburb brims with oh-so-cool bars, including Oh Loretta with its courtyard and twists on classic cocktails (mandarin negronis, cherry old fashioneds); cosy cobblers turned drinkery Joe’s Shoe Store with its bocce court out back; and mate-y True North, which feels like a home hang with a round of ‘spiked lemmys’ (lemonade with your liquor of choice). And you’re surrounded by breweries: Inner North, Alchemy, Gales, Bridge Road – you’ll find a well-poured pint whichever direction you head in. For serious soundtracks to your night out, Ringo Barr doubles up as a record shop and Bahama Gold has a renowned vinyl collection.