Southgate Restaurant and Shopping Precinct

If you ask me one thing I will miss in the Southbank area along with Eureka, I will tell you it will be the Southgate arts and leisure precinct. Wheat her it is the pop up champagne or beer sections or the great eateries like Grill’d, the other food court places or even the small boutique stores on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
Additionally, the entertainment on the walk is good at times, with some cool performers catching my ear and interest.
Melbournians — take notice you have a fine river walk in your city. Yours beats many I have seen in the world and I must say even the one in my home town in Texas. Perhaps this means I have finally adopted this as my new ‘home town’? Something some of you have already done with me through your great comments and notes.
Southgate will always be the place I will remember when thinking about my time living at Eureka! Kew, here income!

Okay, I adore Southgate. There are no 2 ways of going about it.
Shopping: They do have a nice variety of stores, albeit not as much of a variety as Melbourne Central or other major shopping centres, but the selection is still decent.
Food: One of the main reasons why I love Southgate, the foodie I am. Southgate is the home to plenty of delicious restaurants and takeaways, you are bound to find something to be enjoyed. Grill’d, Lindt Chocolat Café, Trampoline… need I say more?
Venue: The place itself is really clean and spacious. It’s not as cramped and crowded as Melbourne Central and city-​centre shopping spots and not as loud either so you can even take a seat on one of the couches they have scattered throughout the centre and relax. Also, you have an electronic sliding door with a push of a button to the toilet. Never before seen to me and entertains me a lot more than it probably should!
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Southgate is in a great location as well, overlooking the Yarra and right across the river from the city. Great views with the beautiful cityscape, beautiful architecture, great atmosphere, you can’t go wrong with Southgate.

Southgate Arts and Leisure Precinct sits on the banks of the Yarra river overlooking Flinders st Station and the CBD. It is one of the most scenic locations in the city, and is the perfect spot for all of the bars restaurants and café’s it houses. Most overlook the river and the sidewalks where you will find shoppers, tourists and joggers gonig abotu their business in the area.
You’ll find all types of restaurants and bars here, from Modern Australian or Italian cuisine to Irish pubs. There are also stores filled with Australian art and unique gifts or clothes.
Make sure you take the time to walk through all the levels; there are some hidden gems here that are worth exploring,

Although I had tried to book a table at La Camera on their website they didn’t have any record of it at when I arrived at the restaurant at 6pm. Fortunately they had tables available inside and out on the balcony. It was a bit too cool a night for C and me to dine outside, so we had a table in between the bar and the kitchen. I don’t know if there really is a good table for two at La Camera, it is always so busy with people moving and the sounds from the partially open kitchen.
Apart from that the staff at La Camera were superb. Our waiter guessed that we were having an early dinner before a show at the Melbourne Festival and asked when we had to leave. And the rest of the service was very efficient — maybe that was the benefit of sitting between the bar and the kitchen.
The food was beautiful; we shared fried calamari for an entrée. C had the arancini entrée as for her main and a slice of my Roma style Gorgonzola pizza. It was a great pizza that came with its own pizza slicer — something that I greatly enjoyed cutting my own slices. C and me then shared a dark chocolate mouse for desert. And we had paid the bill at 7:30 exactly the time we needed to leave for the Melbourne Recital Centre.

Southgate Precinct is a dining, shopping and entertainment destination. Find it sandwiched between the Crown Casino complex and the Art Centre by the Yarra river. This centre has something for everyone.
Southgate is home to some of Melbourne’s most popular restaurant, bars and cafes. Food choices range from takeaway food court fare to fine dining options. Although most cover the range in between. My personal favourites are PJ O’Brien Irish Pub, Blue Train Café and Bar and la Camera Italian Restaurant.
Retailers range from fashion and beauty to home wares and gifts. Lots to choose from and many offer something different to your local shopping mall. Where else can you experience a riverside view of Melbourne from a shopping centre food court?
You can get to Southgate by car (there is paid parking), train tram or boat. Plus there is plenty to do nearby. That’s all really.