Zaishu Reviews

Really nice area to relax in, just has a good solid vibe.

Good place for a coffee, a tad expensice with food but nice location

One of the best spots right out of the city. Great chilled vibes, lots of grass to relax and such a nice set up.

Good place to hang out with friends. Coffee, food and cakes are great. Highly recommended.

A friend and I attended Five Rhythms dancing here and had a truly special time. The community in this place is beautiful.

Love this place. We sometimes cycle here via bike track that follows merry creek and on a sunny Sunday spend some time around the period buildings followed by coffee and lentil as anything vegetarian meal!

Peaceful . Nice gardens and old buildings. Charming

Cafe with Animal farm organic surroundings very friendly a lovely way to spend the day great walks also

Great food and a pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The only way to enjoy this place to the fullest is to take a cap or smoke a fat one in the gardens(bless). I've been here several times; for a video shoot, a wedding and to sun bake in the garden. It felt like a different place each time.
Enjoy food from what is arguably the best Lentil As Anything in Melbourne, but look out for the "woke" hippies and backpackers. You'll often find them here in droves, ruining the mood with positive vibes and unwashed dreadlocks(dry retch).

Vegan Market of Melbourne on every first Saturday of the month. Try the Cheeky Rascal Cider!! Vegan and gluten free

Awesome place for walking and sipping drinks with family and friends. And free!

Talk a walk around the gardens and explore the 19th century French architecture, you'd never know you were so close to the city.
A functioning and thriving arts hub of over 15 years, the open day is a great day to see what's available.... other times of the year it can seem a bit dead.
At least 4 food shop/cafe options.
The monthly farmers market here is also a must.

Loved the atmosphere of Lentils, the garden & buildings v special!

We stopped by the convent for a walk around the grounds after visiting the Collingwood Children s Farm next door.

My children ages 4 and 5 were fascinated with the old buildings and learning about what the convent was for. We went exploring and we read the plaques of what the different rooms were for.

There is also a lovely garden area that you can sit and relax and enjoy the sun or a lovely picnic. I definitely think this is a lovely place to come and see as it is filled with wonderful and interesting history.

A very special place providing the community with a place to engage in wellness and artistic/cultural pursuits amidst a backdrop of delightful gardens, cafes, historic buildings and a fascinating heritage. The nearby Collingwood Children s Farm is a wonderful place of farmyard animals nestled beside the Yarra River. So close to the city but feels like you re in the country. A must see!

The pasta at Cams Kiosk was so delicious. I'll be going back!

This is a great place for a lovely visit for the family. Nice place to have a walk and be with friends

Great space for the beer festival I went to a few weeks ago. Good public space for events

Very original place and amazing vegan food for lunch with a nice initiative from kind people

Hidden gem here. Loveley setting for picnics or functions. A lot of room to explore.
Great facilities.for business or special occasions.
The Convent Bakery is excellent and also olenty of eating options.

I love this place. I am usually there for their markets but there is so much else going on, the lentil as anything is quite an institution now, run by volunteers, the convent bakery serves the best breakfast and cakes, a must try is a brioche with spinach and egg! It s to die for! Plenary to see in the convent, go and explore! It s on the bike track along the river so you can safely cycle there!

Beautiful grounds to walk through. Relaxing place with places to eat.

This funky community was great to visit and explore. Recommend cycling here along the Yarra from the middle of Melbourne

Everything here is lovely. We've been coming here to relax, eat and shopping all the time. Such a great vibe!

Lifedrawing on Thursday nights is fab love the people and the fantastic art done there and great food and drink

Beautiful scenes, fantastic sights. The flora is really amazing. As you enter, there's a sign that let's you download the accompanying application on the app store. Super recommend you do. There's tons of activities to see.

We saw some horses too! Near the entrance flower garden.

If you reach before 5pm, there's a makers market that you'll love if you're into the local art scene. Super cute trinkets and items to get for souveniors.

10/10 would recommend anyone visiting Melbourne!

Beautiful historical convent and a great place for a wellness market!

One of my favorite part of the city. It almost seems to be back in the past. This place is perfect if you are looking for a nice walk and relaxing place. To lay down on the grass after a meal at Lentils as anything is a must.

Lovely oasis of calm in the middle of central Melbourne.

This is one of my favourite places in Melbourne. Ambience of rural-ality (I made up a word, pardon me) so close to the city. The beautiful walk along the Yarra and the Animals in the Urban Farm there. Then the Live music vibes at Lentil as Anything and them good feels of knowing you can pay a little more to help those that can't afford a plate. Mate. This is one of my favourite places in Melbourne. PS. Little known fact - they have spaces for hire and my girlfriend loved her surprise birthday in the hall we hired.

Interesting place. Beautiful gardens and a peaceful atmosphere. I always leave feeling energised. Looking forward to spending more time there and getting to know everything that is available and/or happening. Well worth a look

Lovely peaceful yet vibrant atmosphere, heaps of things to do and see, and plenty of great places to eat

A very important part of Melbourne's cultural scene. There are so much to do here from the Children's farm nearby to various artist residency to restaurants like Lentil as anything. Great Elsie surrounding this place. We send a lot of tourists who visit us on Bridge road as it is a very special location. If you are up for a walk, you can get to Fairfield boathouse and kayak in the Yarra River and then again plenty more to do. It needs a blog, not just a review!

Popular range of eating establishments with a social justice flavour in the historic setting of the ex Convent. Good grounds and close to the Collingwood Childrens Farm.

Beautiful setting and excellent staff. Visited Melbourne from Philadelphia for a wedding. Exceptional experience.

We had lunch there. Lunch is catered by volunteers who prepare meals. Money collected goes to help others. There was a booksale and a sorbet dessert sale. There was a petting zoo and bike and walking paths. Plenty of up and downhill paths provide for exercise. Beautiful scenery.

Really nice family atmosphere, comfortable garden, couple of solid food shops and it's right near the children's farm and on the capital city trail.

Cool funky old place ! Buildings are nice to look out, great food choices ! Very warm atmosphere

Nice place for a coffee stop. Lots of options for food too. Very eclectic mix of people. Some small shops. Some artists. Did I mention they have coffee here?

Former convent converted to artists' studos with lovely gardens, a few healthy eateries and a function centre. Note that most of the complex consists of working artist studios, not galleries, so you may not be able to enter all of them or see much art.

An oasis near the city.

Abbotsford convent is a gem of a place. It's full of life with a bakery, restaurants, a farm and some beautiful scenery, and best of all Cam's cafe. One of my favourite places in Melbourne.

Beautiful gardens and relaxed atmosphere for a wedding

History, architecture, cafe, resturant, art, boutique shops and nice gardens. Near Collingwood Children's Farm.

Great open spaces and community minded feel about the place.

The best!! Go for the atmosphere, food, setting or chill. Love getting a hot cross bun from bakery, or a delish veggie meal at lentils. Take the dog & a picnic blanket to relax on the grass in summer

Very nice.. has a good range of food options but is great for functions.

Lost prescription glasses in a red case between lower lawn and car park on Saturday. Has anyone found them by chance ?

This place has it all! It is natural haven in the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne. Beautiful architecture filled with historic stories to explore as you walk around the grounds. Casual and trendy places to eat and drink. Ride your bike or drive there is room for all.

This seems like such a cool place. I went for lunch at Lentils as Anything, they are open 9am-9pm and for Sunday lunch, the line was very long (and the food delicious). There is a parking in front of the convent, which is paid, and the convent had an art exhibition while I visited. There are big gardens behind the convent, perfect for relaxing, and it seemed like quite the community place with heaps of activities and regular events. Saw lots of dogs here and there was even a tap to give them water.

So relaxing. Gorgeous views. Great animals out the back.

What a gem so close to CBD. Enjoyed lunch at Lentil as anything and the gardens..

Attended a Q44 theatre show called Donating Felix. Once again top class drama, acting and story. Check it out.

Abbotsford convent is one of my favourite places in Melbourne! So close to the city yet it feels like you're a world away! The stunning convent architecture is set on beautiful, manicured gardens, bordering the Collingwood children's farm. Studded inside is the convent bakery, lentil as anything, the outdoor cinema (in summer), bars, galleries, artist spaces... And a whole lotta love!

Needs a lick of paint and some love. Felt a bit tired.

Very relaxing place. Go to Lentil as Anything for a nice lunch.

The convent has massive grounds with many old building's. The church and the convent are gorgeous. There a many shops cafe's and a vegetarian restaurant with a buffet lunch. Great beautiful place.

Beautiful place to get into nature while still being close to the city.

An amazing vintage location with tasteful cafes and a wonderful walking track

Rained massively, but the beer and good food fixed the problem! A great place for an event, beautiful.

Beautiful old building, gorgeous grounds, galleries, cafe and my personal favourite Lentil as Anything . Yummy food and you pay by donation

The artists that have re-activated this erstwhile convent have turned the place into a genuinely productive space for cultural pursuits. Loved interacting with a few of these artists during their open house.

Great meeting venue and catering. We had our corporate conference here and it was a great space and well catered function. Would highly recommend!!

Very nice little convent bakery, the garden was beautiful, but gift shop was actually quite pricey.

One of my favorite places in Melbourne to go to and also to show visitors.. there's no other place like it. The retention of the buildings gives it a warmth and classic vibe. The different spaces - gardens, galleries and eateries are beautiful and welcoming. The grounds are vast so you can spend a lot of time eating, relaxing and exploring.

I love to go there, people playing often music around and the little farm aside it s really cute. you have as well the restaurant lentil as anything it s vegetarian food ,so delicious and an amazing concept !

Always a great communal space to hang out, a number of cafes, bakery and of course the famous Lentils as anything pay as you feel restaurant serving a variety of seasonal plant based food. Surrounded by the Collingwood children's farm, the Sophia mundi school and lots of old convent buildings now being used as art spaces and events through the summer and the monthly farmers market. Enjoy a meal or drink and relax on the green in the afternoon sun

Feels like after a 15-20 minutes drive from CBD you end up in a totally different country in a different age. Everything here has a history. Beautiful churches, library and other constractions made of stone and surrounded by forest. Looks like a little kingdom far away from the modern cities.
Surprisingly but there is a lot to do here: from art galleries and church services to massage therapy and cafes. We enjoyed our time and will be happy to visit it more often.

A place full of serenity & calmness..the nature, old architecture, food, activities for kids & the mighty convent!! Quite a sight!

A beautiful spot. Most bucolic Sunday afternoon I've had in a while

Amazing place with lots of good food and things for the kids to do. Definitely going back!

Beautiful place to visit, explore and dine at for all ages.

I visit the convent 4 to 6 times per month for coffee and cake at Cam's Cafe or the Bakery Cafe. I also work as a volunteer at the CCF and think that the convent is one of Melbourne's gems. There are lovely walks along the river and you can cycle along the Yarra and Merri Creek all the way to Craigieburn (if you are keen) or wind around the Yarra into the city centre and Southbank.

Beautiful place for a walk with a chance of visiting some farm animals kept nearby

This is a wonderful place. There are a few restaurants within the grounds. Beautiful grounds with big old trees Bring a picnic or buy some food from one of the restaurants/bars. Then take the Kids to the Collingwood children s farm, which is right next door.

Wonderful friendly service with delicious vegetarian food at any price what you can afford accompanied by jazz music.

Wonderful to wonder through the gardens here, and introduce the kids to Lentil As Anything.

Favourite local place. Great food options. Fantastic art vibe and exhibitions. Great farmers market. So many new art studios opening all the time! A must visit

This rating is based purely on the beef pie , it was amazing , pastry was warm and buttery , meat was Chunky with great gravy

Beautiful surroundings relaxed atmosphere cheap eats

A fantastic maze of heritage buildings and quirky arts and cafe spaces. Some nice areas to sit down and have a picnic in the garden, as well as boutique gift stores and cafes to explore on an overcast day. The kids farm is not far where you can see pigs, chickens, horses and goats - but the public walking trail will take you right along the side of the farm where you can see almost all the animals from a little distance for free.

love it,
Food, scenery, peace

Lovely place to spend an afternoon. Galleries to explore, yummy eats on offer and very picturesque grounds to wonder through.

What a divine place! So grateful for the heritage listing and open to the public! The architecture and history!! It s jam packed and extremely hard to find car parking ((paid parking lot is shady and good size) on weekends!! Really pays to come early! We frequent there on our local hikes on the opposite side of the beautiful Yarra River- one needs to be careful as the terrain is not a stroll in the park! The Convent is also on the cycling route along the Yarra River.

The Children s Farm (need entrance tickets) and community farming is thriving so brightly with a bright future due to the high number of volunteers! Our lucky children can actually pat and see the animals in the farm! A great early learning indeed!! Good on you Melbourne!! Lentils As Anything is another big draw card on the honesty payment system. They serve only vegetarian. Coffee needs to be paid for before hand and is nice. It is in a lovely shady spot too with all the lovely old trees!! The bakery next door is very popular too!

I saw a few pictures before going there and I was expecting it to be nicer, I resulted a bit disappointed. I was not expecting to pay for the car park either

Nice place to visit in the morning. You can combine this with the farmer's market, have a coffee at the bakery, and walk the Yarra trail.

This is a beautiful place, there are a number of restaurants and bars to visit, not to mention the sheer space to to enjoy during summer to relax and soak up the sun

This place was saved from private development and although it has a dark past it is a bright shiny centre for diversity now with fabulous historic buildings. I've done bread making. Run a conference here and even seen a gender diverse and first nations drag show.