The greatest hump day treats in Melbourne

Hit the hump day blues in the guts with some fresh fruit and veg, pantry winners and a covetable borek. Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market is a must-visit for tourists, locals and anyone experiencing a bit of the midweek humdrums. Plus on Wednesday nights the whole place comes alive with glittering festoon lighting, food stalls and a bustling atmosphere that's bound to put a grin on your work-weary face. A midweek visit also means you'll experience more access to the goods without the crowds. Treat yourself to some fine cheeses, deli treats and feast-worthy meats and make yourself just that little bit happier.

It's extremely hard to maintain a bad mood when you're biting into a flaky and buttery croissant. Turn your hump day around with the best in the biz: a croissant from Lune. Run by brother-sister team Kate and Cameron Reid, Lune Croissanterie sees lines snaking out of the store nearly every day. Pre-order online to get your mitts on one of their mathematically perfect pastries and soothe whatever else ails you with a barista-made brew too. The Lune Instagram is as aesthetically pleasing as you may imagine – brighten your midweek with a scroll through their latest creations and gear up for a serotonin-boosting bite.

Wash away your woes with a good old fashioned primping and soothing. Awarded the world’s Best Beauty Salon at the World Spa Awards in 2019, Miss Fox was designed with glamourous intentions in mind. This Hollywood-esque day spa and beauty salon is located in the hustle and bustle of Melbourne’s CBD on Little Collins Street. Turn your mind off the working week and on to the inner workings of your own bod with one of Miss Fox's many self-care packages. They've got everything from facials and massages to hair styling and crystal healing. Recentre your soul and spend the rest of the week feeling fresh and fearless.

Nothing perks up a hump day quite like a daydream-worthy lunch. Make your break fantasies come true with a challah schnitzel  sanga from South Melbourne Israeli diner, The Left-Handed Chef. Gather your mates and split the jumbo – an entire challah loaf stuffed with chicken schnitzels matbucha sauce, roasted eggplant and pickles or savour some solo time over the smaller version. If you've still got room under your belt graze on some of The Left-Handed Chef's signature hummus plates laden with golden cauliflower florets, smoked mushroom, spicy schug and more. A full belly and those lingering spices on your tongue are bound to put a pep in your step for the rest of the day.

If your hump day is getting overwhelming take a break to get close to nature. Fitzroy Gardens is a relatively quiet oasis in the city that can give you a quick moment of peace and a balancing shot of green. Fitzroy Garden's star attraction? That's gotta be the conservatory. This Spanish Mission-style conservatory was opened way back in March 1930. It currently exhibits five floral displays annually, meaning it’s in full bloom all year round with a mix of hydrangeas, fuchsias, begonias, cyclamens and calceolarias all making an appearance at some point. Pro tip: make sure your nasal passages are clear – the smell is incredible.

Oysters are great, but they're even better when they only cost $2 a pop. Pair it with a $15 glass of Champagne and you're in business. Head to Hemingway's Wine Room for this opulent happy hour every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (5.30-6.30pm) and feel your midweek slump just melt away. The French brasserie and wine bar has a range of fizz for you to choose from, Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve Champagne NV, Imada Seaside sparkling sake or an affordable Continental Platter prosecco. And the brightest and briniest oysters to smash through too, all freshly-shucked to order. Finding a perch in the elegant surrounds will have you imagining you're a fancy rich person without a job.