The bloom boom: Your guide to spring in Elsternwick Village

Move along, Melbourne winter, your time is up.

The days are finally getting longer, colour is creeping back into the streets, and Melbourne is finally beginning to emerge from its winter hibernation.

Spring has arrived in Elsternwick Village, bringing that familiar urge to get outside, freshen things up, and make the most of the warmer months ahead.

If it’s adding a little colour to your home, refreshing your wardrobe, finding a sunny spot for coffee or gathering your favourite people around the table, there are so many ways to embrace the new season right here in wonderful Elsternwick Village.

Bring on the bloom

Nothing announces spring quite like flowers and greenery.

Bring some of the season home with a visit to Shady Hill Luxury Flowers, Green Envy or Greenlab Collective, where you can find plants, pots and plenty of inspiration for adding a little more green to your space.

Even a small addition can change a room’s mood, like a new plant on the windowsill, colourful pottery, or a fresh arrangement to welcome the season of blooms.

A little spring refresh

After months spent rugged up against the Melbourne cold, spring is a pretty good excuse for a refresh.

Book in a fresh cut or colour at local favourites including Hair Keen, Yan Rafael Hair & Beauty, Akro Studio, Ellevate Studio or Little Princess Hair & Skin.

For a little extra polish, there’s JA Nails, Sapphire Nails and Lovely Nails, while Ibrow and Lashes, Waxed, D’Amari X and Studio Elisabetta can help with the finishing touches.

Spring can even be an excuse to freshen up your everyday essentials. Give your phone a new-season makeover with a fresh case or accessories from Mobile Repair Junction, PhonoShop or Phone Care Clinic – and while you’re there, perhaps finally replace that cracked screen protector you’ve been ignoring all winter.

Wake up the wardrobe

Heavy coats, be gone!

As the temperature starts climbing, swap winter layers for lighter fabrics, brighter colours and pieces made for sunny days.

Explore youthful, on-trend styles at Urban Soul, discover something a little more eclectic at Tsalta, or find poplin shirts, tees and flowing dresses at EnergieSpirit.

Your feet deserve their own seasonal update too. Soul2Sole offers comfort-focused favourites including Birkenstock and ECCO, while Step Ahead Shoes is worth a visit for footwear with a little more statement.

And if your spring style leans towards one-of-a-kind finds, take a wander along Elsternwick Village’s op shop trail and see what treasures are waiting to be rediscovered.

Get back out there

One of the best things about spring? Suddenly sitting outside sounds appealing again.

Grab a coffee and one of Damm Good’s omelette wraps before claiming a sunny seat, or settle in at Rustica Cafe Deli with coffee and pastries for some prime Glen Huntly Road people-watching.

There are new places to discover too, including The Golden Fig, while Farang Farang and Pat Thai Food offer plenty of reasons to make your next Village wander a delicious one. At Mister Baker, an ice-cold frappe pairs particularly well with an authentic Hungarian pastry.

As afternoon rolls into evening, pull up a seat along Glen Huntly Road with wine or craft beer from Harold’s Food & Liquor or Leena’s Bar, tuck into Mexican fare and tequila at Tacos N’ Tequila, or make the most of the outdoor seating at Goat House.

And because this is Melbourne and spring doesn’t always get the weather memo, Copycat Bar & Restaurant and Antique Bar have the cocktails covered when a cooler evening inevitably sneaks back in.

Taste something fresh

Spring also brings a natural shift towards fresher flavours, colourful produce and lighter meals.

Fill the fruit bowl at Dirito’s Quality Fruits, explore the shelves filled with organic produce and wellness products at Glo Health, or satisfy the sweet tooth with something from Aviv Cakes or Glazed Gluten Free.

For something quick, fresh and packed with flavour, Elsternwick’s collection of Vietnamese favourites gives you plenty to choose from. Pick up a banh mi, rice paper rolls, pho and more from Moc Roll, Bread N Brews, Eva’s Banh Mi, PrePho or Pho in Love.

Give home a spring reset

Open the windows. Let the light in. And maybe address that corner of the house you’ve successfully ignored since June.

For an easy seasonal update, head to Linen House Outlet for new cushions, quilt covers and towels, or find colourful pottery at Green Envy.

Feeling creative? Make something completely your own at Ceramiques, paint a new piece for the wall at Sossy and Canvas, or browse Dalgarno’s of Elsternwick for an update to your dinnerware and kitchenware.

Party Bazaar can help with specialty decorating and cleaning supplies, while another wander through Elsternwick’s op shops might uncover the perfect pre-loved homeware piece to add a little personality to your space.

Gather around the table again

Spring is made for picnics, long lunches and those casual catch-ups that somehow stretch well into the afternoon.

Build your spread with European-inspired baked goods from Mister Baker, Aviv Cakes or Glazed Gluten Free, or head to Shoten Sushi & Grocery and Tokyo Deli for Japanese favourites perfect for sharing. Don’t overlook Tokyo Deli’s crispy chicken sushi either; they are already a firm favourite with Elsternwick’s littlest locals.

Many local food businesses also offer catering, making entertaining even easier when the group gets a little bigger.

Then, simply add something to drink. Browse craft beers at Harold’s Food & Liquor, specialty wines from Leena’s Bar, or take your time exploring the range at Bottlemart.

Move into the new season

If winter sent your exercise routine into hibernation too, warmer mornings and longer evenings make spring a great time to get moving again.

Whether your thing is strength, Pilates, yoga, group training or simply trying something new, you’ll find plenty of options around the Village, including BFT Elsternwick, Anytime Fitness, GlowFit, Joy in Movement, Strong Pilates and Yoga Tree.

Explore Elsternwick Village’s local fitness and wellness businesses and find something that gets you moving your way.

Find your little spring joy

Not every seasonal reset needs to be a big one.

Sometimes spring is an ice cream from Will’s Batch Ice Cream, something freshly baked from Elwood Sourdough, a treat from Luna Blu Gelato, or froyo from Acai Yo Affair.

Maybe it’s picking up a light read from Avenue Bookstore and finding somewhere sunny to start it. Or perhaps it’s arriving at a friend’s place with a little something from Ruby’s Gifts, Alessandro Luppolo Chocolate, Tonic Australia or Society of Merchants.

And for the little ones, Kidstuff and Perfect Gifts & Homewares have plenty of colourful finds and knick-knacks to explore.

Because after a long Melbourne winter, sometimes the best thing about spring is simply having an excuse to get out and enjoy your neighbourhood again.

See Elsternwick in bloom

However you like to welcome the season, spring is blooming across Elsternwick Village.

Take a wander down Glen Huntly Road, revisit an old favourite, discover somewhere new and see where the warmer days take you.