abbotsford convent

Gardens are a great place to relax. There is a cafe bar there if you want a drink. Excellent wedding venue.

Nice iconic building, lovely grounds, peaceful.Went there with my wife and daughter, easy parking close by.We had lunch, nice choice, my daughter is vegetarian so there was something for all of us.We had a walk round the gardens afterwards and it was just a lovely 'time out' peaceful and so close to the city.

Abbotsford Convent is one of my favourite places to pass a lazy afternoon. Quiet, graceful and dignified. Spend a few hours walking around the gardens, eating at "Lentils as Anything" and just watching the kids run around. I love it. A wonderful retreat.

We attended a wedding here, wonderful abbey, gardens and reception centre, staff very friendly, and helpful. We had a great day would recommend to all thanks.

With wonderful gardens and cafes with leafy green courtyards - this is a great place to take the kids. While you sip your latte, you can watch the kids play and enjoy the exhibitions/ events that are on at the complex.There's a great selection of different food to eat from vegetarian to Bakery fare.

Attended a Yoga Seminar here in October and it is such a beautiful space. You can sit on the grass and enjoy your surroundings

I've been here several times and I would definitely go there again. Nice blend of nature, art, fun and architecture. Children enjoy of being here as well as any other age groups. Must see here. One of the best options for a lovely sunny day!

The bakery has coffee and great food. The sun warms the outside eating areaThis is a great spot to visit for either one of their events, one of the tenant businesses or like we did a great relaxing morningRight next to collingwood children's farm so go for a walk along the Yarra river

This place is worth a visit, great example of how a historical setting can be utilised well for both business and community purposes. When I visited for lunch during the week there was the Convent Bakery and Lentil As Anything offering food and drinks, but there was plenty of space to find for a picnic as well. Excellent setup for cyclists with a covered area to lock their bikes - this is how it should be done at many other sites!

Very close to the city yet it leaves you believing that you are in a rural setting. There are some very beautiful 1870+ buildings to explore which have been set aside for community and Arts use. There are at least two cafés for those that just want to come and hang out in a rural atmosphere. There is area where children can pat and feed the farm animals from goats, sheep, chickens etc. They can go into the paddocks and see baby lambs however there is a charge. A very relaxing environment. If coming to this location by car then there is ample parking area where the small fee charged is donated to the Convent foundation. This is also a great place to take your bike.

Australians are lucky that this fine old complex of buildings in riverside grounds was saved for public cultural use, thanks to the work and lobbying of some far-sighted people. Over the last few years the convent complex has become increasingly well-used and lively. The cold, grim feeling has been banished as more eating places and creative ventures have filled its spaces. A weekend visit on a sunny day is probably the best recommendation for the casual visitor with an interest in market stalls, arts and crafts, and alfresco eating. The interiors are worth seeing if you like the imposing Victorian style: timber panelling etc. It's also worth recalling what went on in less salubrious areas such as the laundries in which young women worked.

cycle from CBD out for breakfast & pick up something that has come in form regional outlying areas of melbourne - chocolate, olive oil, wine, produce, meats....

There is a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere here - and there's several things to see. The gardens are pretty and the convent architecture is attractive. Several artists have their studios here and towards the end of each week then over weekends you can watch the artists at their creative work. Several popular cafes and eateries are here and St. Heliers Chapel it beautiful. You could easily spend an hour wandering here. I enjoyed it.

I visited Abbotsford Convent during the recent Melbourne Now, Open Studio event and was surprised to see how much activity goes on in all the different wings of the building. It is full of artist studios, book illustrators, ceramicists even shoe makers. Some of the artist offer drawing classes. If you check the website there is an extensive list of things you can learn. There are tours available on Sundays for $15m they run for 2 hours and tell of the background of the founding of the building. It started life as a home for abandoned women when all their men were out at the goldfields in the 1860's. The building is in expansive grounds gently sloping down to the Collingwood Children's Farm and the Merri Creek. For a good budget feed go to Lentil as Anything, it's a veggie place and pay what you feel is right. During the summer months there is an open air cinema called the Shadow Electric, movies are just $10 on cult Mondays.

Dropped by for lunch on a rainy day and the quiet outside area gave way to a vibrant and totally alive inside space with a colourful and eclectic mix of staff and lunchers. 'Pay what you want', but don't skimp these people who serve up some of the tastiest vege fare I've had for a while (the baked potatoes smothered in rosemary were so delish!). Wish I lived in Melbourne - this would be a regular lunch destination.