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Melbourne treats to ease your way into office life

three people in an office

Alice Piper

Posted March 03, 2022

Melbourne office workers are slowly returning to the workplace after lengthy work from home directives. Here are the best things to do and treats to share, to ease your way back into office life. 

People across Melbourne are returning to offices in the CBD and inner suburbs, some of whom haven’t set foot in their workplace for close to two years, making the office commute another ‘new’ thing to navigate.  

So, with the mid-week heartbeat of Melbourne reigniting, our beloved city isn’t short of things to see and do; from new restaurants to eat at, the best bars for an after work drink, and a few hidden gems you may not have tried, Melbourne really is a city that knows how to cater to a professional working crowd.  

In good news for those keen to experience the best of the CBD and the inner suburbs of East Melbourne, Carlton, Kensington and North Melbourne, Midweek Melbourne Money is returning from Monday 7 March, where you'll be able to claim 25 per cent back on your bill when you spend between $40 and $500 in eligible cafes, restaurants and bars.  

How to make your return to the office fun 

The morning coffee run  

One of the greatest joys in the working day is getting into the office and heading on a morning coffee run with a colleague.  

Set the tone for the return to work by hitting up Le Petite Gateau at 458 Little Collins Street and grab some cakes for morning tea while you’re there – those with dietary requirements will be looked after too, with flowerless orange cake and gluten free brownies on the menu.  

Even a cheeky croissant never goes astray, and whether you’re in the CBD or outer ‘burbs, this guide will help you find the best croissants on offer. 

Lunchtime window shopping  

With department stores and retail boutiques now open, it’s the perfect excuse to get out of the office at lunch and go and do some browsing.  

Head to David Jones or Myer in the Bourke Street Mall and make your way through the beauty bars, trying testers of makeup and perfume for your next event. Or maybe a new pair of shoes is what you’re eying off, or a new dress, shirt, or suit? Emporium Melbourne offers a variety of retail options to satisfy even the most discerning of shoppers.

The Melbourne CBD is your oyster and with sales at retailers such as Myer, who are offering 50 per cent off a range of categories, now is the perfect time to bag a bargain.  

two men drinking coffee

Grab a colleague and head for a morning coffee before the working day starts. Image: Getty

Satisfy your sweet tooth 

We all remember that period of the afternoon where energy is waning, and we could use a sugar hit – only now it doesn’t need to be just going to the pantry and hoping to find a chocolate bar, it can be an outing with colleagues and a chance to catch up. 

Lucky, Melbourne CBD and just beyond are bursting with amazing gelaterias to satisfy that sweet tooth, including Piccolina Gelateria on Hardware Lane in the CBD, Beku Gelato if you’re in Carlton, Gelato Messina in Fitzroy and 7 Apples if you’re in the Bayside area – just to name a few!

Pamper yourself 

It can be a lot to get back into the rhythm of commuting, when a lot of people have just had to travel to the lounge room or home office for the last two years. 

Take a load off at the end of the day and relax with a massage to unwind and reward yourself for getting back into the swing of office life.

people in in restaurant

Plan an after-work dinner or some drinks with colleagues to reconnect and have fun. Image: Getty

Get the gang together 

After-work drinks is a cherished pastime for many workplaces. It’s a chance to close out the day with colleagues and get to know each other beyond the office walls and away from the desk.  

Melbourne is not short of great bars and iconic restaurants to get the gang back together and celebrate being in each other’s company again, none more so than the green oasis that is Bourke Street Green, or the mouth-watering menu and rooftop bar at Sojourn, located at 501 Bourke Street, and 501 New Chancery Lane respectively.