The Ten Best Ways to Spend your Spring Racing Bounty

Overview

Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It stops a nation, it makes us spend ludicrous amounts on dresses, fascinators, suits, shoes, booze, you name it. Yet someone has to back a winner and to be honest we always think it's going to be us.

Whether you win $1000 or leave with only a few pennies left to rub together, Concrete Playground's here to suggest 10 ways to spend your Spring Racing bounty.

1. $4 Glass of Bubbles at Charlie's Bar

Charlie's Bar, a little bit swanky but nowhere near pretentious. Tasty snacks like mini burgers and secret alcoves for conversation make Charlie's a great spot for a drink or two. So you went to the races and are now left with no money. Don't worry, us too. But fear not, Charlie's Bar run cheap drink specials every night for those of us on a budget. Try a $4 glass of bubbles (no, it's not Champagne) on Friday nights between 5-8pm.

2. $8.50 Huxtaburger

Huxtaburger, from the lovely crew that brought us Huxtable and Bill's bar make some of the best burgers in Melbourne. Moondarra Wagyu beef served pink between two soft and slightly sweet buns is just the beginning. It may only have a handful of seats, but these burgers will do just fine as take away. For $8.50 you can get your hands on their 'Huxtaburger' which is a delicious beef pattie, mustard, mayo, tomato sauce, cheese, lettuce and pickles. Perhaps the perfect Spring Racing hangover cure.

3. $13.20 Plate of pan-fried dumplings from HuTong Dumpling Bar

It's no secret Melbourne loves dumplings. And HuTong, tucked away in a side street off Little Bourke Street, know a thing or two about the humble dumpling. You can get prawn dumplings and boiled pork dumplings, but it's hard to go by a plate of their famous pan-fried.

4. $20 Buckets of Coronas from Campari House

Campari House, on bustling Hardware Lane offers three levels of food and drink fun. On the ground floor the restaurant serves up Italian inspired dishes including a seriously good range of pizzas. On the middle level you'll find a cocktail lounge and if you keep going up the stairs you'll find the rooftop. For just $20 you can get yourself a bucket, yes a bucket of Coronas to enjoy with your friends.

5. $45 High Tea at Friends of Mine

Friends of Mine in Richmond, sister café to both Snow Pony and Porgie and Mr Jones is a brunching favourite for many. On Sunday afternoons, you can channel your inner socialite and partake in their High Tea. For $45 you will get both sweet and savoury delights along with a glass of bubbles on arrival.

6. $66 'Feed Me' menu at Chin Chin

If you've ever tried to eat at Chin Chin you will know they don't take reservations and the waiting time is often hours. Conveniently for us they have a great little bar downstairs, GoGo Bar. For $66 a head you can simply let them feed you. You might be treated to a salad of sticky pork belly with crispy fried barramundi, or a starter of roll your own rice paper rolls with lightly tempura tofu. A dry salmon curry or a moist beef massamum curry might follow. You will probably need to be rolled out of there, but it's worth it.

7. $90 Odyssey at The Understudy

The Understudy is the slightly kooky younger sister of cocktail bar 1806. Think Alice in Wonderland, a little confusing, but very intriguing. Cocktails are born here and they will surprise and delight. For $90 The Understudy guide you through a journey of the senses with a 5 course degustation with matched food ($75 a head for just the cocktails). It's a fun way to spend an evening and you'll be sure to taste something unlike anything you have before.

8. $199 Mixed Dozen from City Wine Shop

City Wine Shop is a wine lovers heaven. For $199 you can take away a mixed dozen from the wise wine lovers behind the City Wine Shop. They might push you out of your comfort zone with their choices, but where's the fun in sticking with what you know.

9. $500 Degustation for two at Vue de Monde

Vue de Monde, a Melbourne institution is an enchanting mix of culinary brilliance and theatre. While it is expensive, the degustation is an experience. It is more than simply food. Palate cleansers crushed at your table and dry ice add to the brilliant food. You will also be sent home with a bag of delights for the morning. It might include a tiny brioche loaf or some granola. It's like a grown up lolly bag. The experience of Vue de Monde will stay with you long after your last bite.

10. $1050 bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V at Eua De Vie

Eau de Vie may be almost impossible to find. It was once suggested by an out-of-towner that I was making this place up, but once you have found it you won't look back. As you step inside it's like you step into another world where all that matters is which Whiskey or cocktail you should order. For those cashed up after a Spring Racing win, we suggest you indulge a $1050 bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V to stash in your very own personal drinks cabinet. You even get a key, awesome.