Communes are a great place for a cheap meal

When I heard the word 'convent' preceding where I was going to spend my day, I got a bit scared. Though the truth is I don’t know the proper dictionary definition of the word, I think it definitely has a religious context. Off initial reaction, I thought I would be spending my days with nuns, hiding my foul mouth and pretending to be a chaste individual. This, in fact, was a far cry from the actual destination.

Abbotsford Convent is a massive 6.8 hectare compound located just over two miles from the Melbourne Central Business District. Being placed on a bend in the Yarra River, the convent is made up of 11 historical buildings and surrounded by the Yarra Bend Park and the Collingwood Children’s Farm. The convent is known for being a hotbed for arts and creative lifestyles, offering training, education and employment for the creative community. 

While each building has its own purpose, the actual space of the convent is often filled with festivals, markets, and other small events for the community. When not hosting special events, the convent acts as a space for things like a school, a radio station, bakeries, cafes, restaurants and bars, as well as rehearsal space for music and dance. They also house creative space for designers and writers. Abbotsford Convent is a great place to explore the creative scene in the big city.

While all the creativity and fun is contagious, a person has to eat. One of the most visited areas in the Convent is a small pay-as-you-please restaurant known as Lentil as All. The restaurant offers an array of buffet style food, dependent on what is grown locally, and what people bring in. Dishes range from Indian to Australian, and the restaurant seems to always be booming. Make sure to come hungry, because food isn’t a scarcity.

If you find yourself on the Yarra Trail in need of some good grub and something to do, make sure to stop at the Abbotsford Convent. You won’t regret your decision.

Photo courtesy of Cooking Downunder