Article Search

SBS are totally on our wavelength, so they are set to unleash a new documentary series tonight called ‘Kebab Kings’, that you are probably about to make a cameo in. #FMIF!

We’ve teamed up with the good folk at Saké Restaurant and Bar, who are the masters of all things Japanese eats, to bring you a series of Epic ‘How To’ videos. Take a look at this step-by-step guide to making delicious, inside-out sushi that’s totally dinner party worthy.

The Royal Croquet Club is set to kick off another summer season at Melbourne's Birrarung Marr this December! Starting on 10 December 2015 for a very brief 10 days only, you'll be able to knock a ball around with a drink in hand, as well as take in some great music, fun performing arts, and delicious food.

Melbourne is the land of awesome coffee, AFL, indecisive weather, and the dreaded Myki. While we may express the occasional frustration, on the whole this city is pretty awesome - so here are 50 things that we have uttered in and around Melbourne lately... and we're assuming you have too.

Pizza is a fine art: Burn the crust and you’re going to raise a few eyebrows, an under-cooked base and you’ve got a full-blown food disaster on your hands. When it comes to finding the best pizza in Australia, we tracked down the man behind a restaurant that’s become synonymous with the most authentic oven-cooked delights in the country.

Fine diving. It’s a thing. In fact – we’re calling it now – it’s going to be the next big restaurant trend. So what exactly is it? Well, it’s what happens when fine dining meets a dive bar, and has an ironic lovechild.

Global phenomenon, Diner en Blanc, will return to Melbourne in 2016 - and we have all the details on how to get your ticket to the secret dinner!

Here in Melbourne, we love our food trucks. And now we get to welcome another food truck park to the city with Hawthorn’s new Auburn Early Bird Brunch Truck Park!

Italians: infamous for their love of food and fiery passion for basically everything. From pizza to pasta, architecture and art, seasides and shopping, there isn’t a nook nor cranny of this beautiful country that doesn’t make you want to pack up your things and make La Dolce Vita en Italia. 

What if you could eat your way to a svelte, strong and toned bod’ (with a little light exercise) thrown in, with the added bonus of not even lifting a finger to make said food? That sounds like heaven to us.

Since we’ve heard quite enough about guys hating poo-catcher pants (so comfy) and gladiator sandals (they’re awesome), here are a few things about boys that us women love, ahem, a little less. 

Some things just go together, like PB and jelly, and Posh and Becks, so this year we’ve teamed up with MINI to bring you, our discerning readers and drivers, our fortnightly MINI Fave 5 series: The must-try guide to Melbourne, celebrating the launch of the new MINI 5-door hatch!

Summer is almost upon us, Melburnians - and that means outdoor cinema season! This year Melbourne’s laneway shopping precinct QV will welcome a cinema pop-up - so kick back and enjoy the flicks.

We’ve gotta give it to them. If there’s one thing Kiwis well and truly nail, it’s wine (and rugby apparently… but let’s not go there). New Zealand is home to some truly spectacular wine regions, and Marlborough, just outside Wellington, is one of our faves.

If you were a fan of Yoga 213's unique brand of hip hop yoga, originally in a small studio at the rear of South Yarra's Jam Factory, you're likely to love it even more now that they've moved to airy, spacious new digs on Richmond's Swan St.

Wine, step to the side. Cocktails are the new kid on the block as the drink du jour to pair with cheesy delights! 

It’s been 3 years since famed patissier Adriano Zumbo hosted Zumbaron Day but it’s back this week and we are ready for macaron overload! Saturday will see Zumbo patisserie South Yarra transform into macaron heaven with over 50 different Zumbarons created and sold exclusively at the store. 

Do you love your food trucks? Well you’ll love them even more now… If you're planning on buying lunch in the CBD next week, you can make a difference to Melbourne’s most vulnerable families.

A degustation dinner, make your own Kit Kat pop-up, Japanese Film Festival, food trucks for charity, and the city’s first ever gin festival – it’s time to get planning for your epic week! Here are our top 5 picks of things to do in Melbourne this week.

One part gin, one part Campari and one part vermouth combines to make one incredibly awesome cocktail; the Negroni. Here’s where you can get Melbourne’s best classics and recreations.

When you ask for the colour of the season, a shade that’s trending globally right now, you ask for bronde. 

Wait... nobody wants to date you? And you don’t know why? Let’s try and get to the bottom of this together. Here are 42 possible reasons why you’re still single.

Doughvember's epic bake sale is on this Sunday at Collingwood Town Hall. Get in quick, or miss out!

We all know a bartender who’s a total booze snob. You know the one, they wrinkle their nose every time you settle for a pint instead of some obscure imported spirit that’s been washed with angels’ wings and aged in a unicorn’s lung. Looking to throw the ultimate bar order smackdown? Here are six baller drinks you should be ordering to impress your bartender. Take that, you so-called ‘mixologist’.

Sephora will be (finally!) opening its first Melbourne store in the heart of the CBD at Melbourne Central on Saturday 28 November. We investigate the Aussie brands that will be on offer.

Whether you’re London-dreaming, or you want a taste of the British Isle before you fly, we've teamed up with Emirates to bring you the Australian restaurants doing British fare right.

Axil Coffee Roasters is one of our favourite Melbourne haunts - but who are we kidding, isn't it everyone's? So when TUL HQ got wind of a new store opening via their Instagram page, we decided to do a little investiagting... And we found out that not only are we getting one new store - we're getting two!

The team have now moved to Rose Street, Fitzroy where locals have warmly welcomed Lune 2.0 – a studio-like bakery boasting sharp design and nothing but the essentials for Lune’s artistry.

Hellooooooo summer! It’s that glorious time of the year when wearing less is more, everyone’s wayyy more chilled and day-drinking is not only totally acceptable, it’s encouraged. And nothing says “hey guys, it’s summer. I’m here and I’m ready for the good times,” like an Aperol Spritz.

If you've got a sweet tooth then we have the festival for you: Sweetfest is a two day festival celebrating all things baked, fried, whipped, iced, and generally covered in sugary goodness. Just don't tell your dentist...

Hold onto your Mickey Mouse ears, Brisbane, because there's talk of a Disneyland landing on our very own Gold Coast!

An easy flight from Australia’s capital cities with Emirates, there’s no reason not to make your next holiday one to London. Here are our top 50s things to eat, do and see in the Queen’s backyard.

An easy flight from Australia’s capital cities with Emirates, there’s no reason not to make your next holiday one to London. Here are our top 50s things to eat, do and see in the Queen’s backyard.

With just a couple of hero products and little tender love and care—your crowning glory of sun-kissed, golden locks will be the envy of many this summer.

It’s the sort of food that you can pick up, eat with your hands, make a mess and savour – no wonder Mexican is so damn popular. We’re suckers for a taco, and are constantly looking out for the best guacamole, so we figured we’d better update you on the best Mexican in Melbourne. 

Do you do it the Vietnamese way, or the Norwegian way? We’ve known about egg yolk coffee for a while now, but have noticed that it’s on the rise in foodie circles of late - so we did a bit more investigating.

Here at The Urban List, we don’t do summer by halves. Gather your summeriest playlist, as we present the top ten things we’re looking forward to this summer.

What a cracker of a weekend ahead, Melbourne! We’ve got cult movie screenings, French and Latin festivals, food and artisan markets, Prahran Market’s first Cherry Festival, and the 2015 Color Run just to name a few... Read on for our top picks of what to get up to this weekend in Melbourne.

When we stumbled upon this pair of hidden men’s barbers in Melbourne CBD, we couldn’t help but be bowled over by the style, service and unique special touches that come with a trim and a shave. Gents, meet Men + Co.

When news of Academy Kitchen and Bar dropped into our inbox, we were chomping at the bit to get to the Richmond venue. The latest project by Will Manning of Toorak’s Townhouse, Academy brings together low-key bar vibes and high-quality cooking under one roof on Bridge Road.

This is the stuff of chocolate dreams, people. In celebration of Nestle's Kit Kat reaching 80 years, The KIT KAT Studio is coming to Melbourne!

Prahran’s beloved Flying Duck Hotel is about to take triumphant flight again after changing hands and undergoing renovations. 

We’ve tracked down the best Japanese restaurants, shops and cafes in Melbourne - for those days when you feel like saying ‘Sayonara’ and taking an impromptu trip to Tokyo!

Logically speaking, because sweet potatoes are vegetables, and vegetables are healthy, eating sweet potato fries must be healthy. Well, vaguely healthy - in the same way consuming an entire bottle of red wine is. The cheat’s version of traditional deep-fried chips, here are Melbourne’s best sweet potato fries! (There’s no need to ruin the healthy illusion, Listers.)

After a knockout first year in 2015, Australia’s biggest night-time cycling event will return in January. Ride The Night will see thousands of people take to the streets on Saturday January 30th across Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart for an epic 70km bike route under the stars.

Planning your next vacay? Choosing the right destination can be tricky business. It’s no secret that we’re rather fond of Wellington, our Kiwi cousin’s capital city, and with good reason

There’s no use denying it any more – Christmas is well and truly upon us, and with it comes a spate of holiday parties. Here are the best and quirkiest venues in town to toast the spoils of the year - They’re good for drinks with work buddies or close friends. But remember... you’ll have to wear the consequences of making out with either.

Nothing beats two-wheeled freedom, and exploring Melbourne by bicycle is our top way to see new suburbs. So we've put together are our two ultimate Melbourne biking itineraries for the northside AND the southside! 

Snack time getting you down? Feel like you need a little somethin’ somethin’ to perk you up, but you don’t want to have to hit the gym for three hours just to work it all off? Cue the list of Melbourne’s Best Health Food Stores below - and get feasting. 

Hey there, Grinchy. I can already see your irritation levels rising as Christmas draws closer.

This week is packed full of events to suit a variety of tastes for the discerning Melburnian. From live music to bike pump track riding, shopping for fine leather goods to Friday night gin-inspired cocktails, or a Sunday afternoon Thai style BBQ – we’ve got the scoop on the top 5 things to do in Melbourne this week. 

Let’s face it, the day-to-day grind can be too much at times. All that 9-5 stress, trying to find time to see your friends, spend time with bae, eat healthy – it can really take its toll. That’s why you need to make time for YOU, time to really bliss out and escape… And if the Bahamas are out of the question, then at least for an hour or two.

Dear Instagram obsessed readers: Here are our top five Melbourne cafes you need to visit in order to achieve your #instaonfleek goals – and it doesn’t even include the over-Instagrammed Top Paddock or Kettle Black...

Rise and shine Melburnians, there is brunch to be had! We’ve picked 12 of the city’s most noteworthy noms to get you out of bed this weekend. No food in the fridge? Nursing a hangover or just looking for somewhere new to chow down? We’ve got you covered.

The new year is fast approaching, and with it we’re hoping to eventually achieve our “summer bod” goals (maybe) and new year’s resolutions (probably not). However, the good news is, there’s still time to indulge in all of the foods! We've put together all the things you have to eat in Melbourne before you ring in the new year so it's time to get cracking! Or is that crackling..?

Sometimes all we need in life is a bit of a heads up... Unfortunately real life doesn’t come with these alerts, but at least we can give you a heads up on some of the best things to do in Melbourne this month so  even if you’ve sat in gum or have frizzy hair, you can still have a good time regardless.

Described as a female version of cult movie Priscilla Queen of the Desert, All About E is Australian director Louise Wadley's first feature-length film.

When it comes to picking up the perfect on-the-go breakfast, it’s hard to beat a bowlful of epic granola. It keeps you feeling full until lunchtime, so you don’t end up maxing out on the snacks before midday, and includes heaps of delicious ingredients that give you that vitamin and mineral boost you need to start your day.

Guys, when it comes to discovering the best local labels, beers and barbers in Melbourne, we know that you’re keen as mustard to find out about the latest new drops. We’ve teamed up with no less than SIX epic dude-friendly brands to deliver you a who’s who of summer style. So, want to know who made the cut of Melbourne’s top go-to’s for socks, shaves and sipping. 

Beach adventures ahoy! Summer is nearly here, so that means you’re spending around 17% of your day dreaming about lazy trips to the nearest stretch of sand. We like to be prepared over here at TUL, so we’ve hunted down the best beach bags to accompany you on your upcoming costal jaunt. 

The Night Noodle Markets and Taste of Melbourne kick off this weekend! Melbourne also has some stellar films on show, a Tim Burton tribute party, a five-course pork and ale dinner at Belleville, gin pop-up bar, and a garden show for all those green thumbs out there. Grab your mates and start planning, there’s loads to get around this week!

As much as we dig our hole-in-the-wall and laneway hot spots across the city, there’s something to be said about a venue that offers a spacious setting and spectacular views. From rooftop bars to beachside hangs we’ve rounded up 8 of Melbourne’s best venues with a view. Summer, here we come!

In a city filled with some of the best menus from the most talented chefs in the world, why go through the unnecessary (and very real) pain of choosing a single dish?

Be honest: how many times have you got excited by the promise of a delicious take away, only to be let down by a soggy pizza, a greasy Chinese, or a dry burger and cold fries? It’s time to fight back! Dammit, Melbourne, with so many knock-your-socks off restaurants in our fair city, it’s simply unacceptable to sit on your couch in your PJs, watching trashy TV and not enjoy some quality food. 

From the team who’ve brought us Melbourne foodie favourites Chin Chin, Baby Pizzeria, and Kong BBQ comes new Melbourne restaurant Hawker Hall, a food and beer hall inspired by the lively hawker street food culture of Singapore and Malaysia.

This epic city at the bottom of New Zealand’s North Island has been dubbed as ‘the coolest little capital in the world’, and we couldn’t agree more.

There’s something about a hearty rotisserie meal that just hits the spot and boy has Melbourne got the goods when it comes to these mouthwatering carnivorous plates! Here are our 7 picks for Melbourne’s best rotisserie eateries. 

What better piece to help you get your head around the end of the short winter into the loooong summer transition? A sleeveless jacket retains a crisp, tailored style, minus the swelter factor, so it's the ultimate win-win! Here’s our 7 day/7 way take on the trend that’ll be sure to take you to all the coolest venues right now.

Summer is just about to hit, and with it comes a whole array of beauty and skincare switch-ups that you should be on top of. So, what are the beauty trends that you should be trying? Here are our top beauty hacks, from the best facials in Melbourne to must-have products that you should be trying right now. 

Some things just go together, like PB and jelly, and Posh and Becks, so this year we’ve teamed up with MINI to bring you, our discerning readers and drivers, our fortnightly MINI Fave 5 series: The must-try guide to Melbourne, celebrating the launch of the new MINI 5-door hatch!

Dining out alone. Some people do it with not a care in the world. Some would never dream of it. And some of us would love to eat out more but find ourselves in a strange city or surrounded by unenthusiastic, non-foodie friends (we hear rumours they do exist, kind of like those strange creatures who aren't into music). This list is for the latter folk. If we were in L.A. there would be an app for that: one that organises nightly dinners among strangers at communal tables. But here in Melbourne, we simply have to be content with places where you can feel at home alone or be suitably occupied in-between courses. For times when the thought of instant tom yum for one—again—is too much to bear, here are 8 of the best Melbourne eateries in which to go solo.

Just as you thought you had every contouring trick in the book down pat, here we are again… with yet another brand new trend for sculpting your face and chiseling your cheekbones.

The Johnston Street Latin-American Festival is back for its 37th year and is set to deliver some serious South American street partying! 

It’s a foodie’s dream this week, Melbourne. We’ve got 5 course dinners and Melbourne’s favourite foodie fest, Taste of Melbourne. Thrown in the mix is some Tim Burton style partying and, for the very determined, Australia’s biggest vertical race on Sunday.

From brand spanking new bars to the latest brunch spots, we are—yet again!—presented us with a cacophony of fantastic eats, drinks and things to do in Melbourne. If you’re looking for the hottest tickets in town, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything that’s on our radar for November. How many can you tick off?

A little away from the quirky, university student population of central Brunswick, we’re not going to pretend East Brunswick is an entirely different suburb. But perhaps a little more delicate, a touch more refined and a smidgen quieter, it’s more than worth the extra few blocks east. Here are the best East Brunswick cafes, shopping restaurants, bars, and things to do.

And all you have to do is buy some wine… Like you wouldn’t anyway.

Holy hell! Just when you thought The Urban List couldn't get any bigger, we’re coming to you with some pretty exciting news.

It’s no secret we’re absolute suckers for a decent happy hour, so we’re always on the look out for excellent bars with even better specials.

We all know the standard city spots to get a smashed avo on gluten free toast, so where do you head outside of that for something a little more adventurous? This list of 25 breakfast spots (and a few favourite dishes!) will be sure to make your mouth water, and encourage you to explore your gluten-free options a bit further this weekend.

Northsiders, get ready to welcome Melbourne’s new bar, Glamorama, to Brunswick street – an all night party venue with an electronica music focus and some whacky eats, which is set to open on Thursday 12th November. 

It's the little things in life that make a difference and, say what you like about socks, we all have to wear them so it’s time to flick the old three-pack of black socks and splash out on some bright and colourful pairs.

What a weekend ahead, Melbourne! This week is jam packed with film festivals, heartstopping exhibitions, theatre, summer partying and, of course, incredible food. Grab your pals and start planning the days ahead, it’s going to be a big one!

Melbourne's craft beer scene is on the up and up, and it's largely thanks to one small brewery in Melbourtne's bustling Brunswick East, making serious waves in the international beer market: Temple Brewery.

Regularly find yourself on the hunt for wine after a long day at work? Feeling like a beer after seven meetings in a row? Don’t worry, we get it: you’re a commuter who needs something to take the edge off, and who can argue with that? Whether you spilt coffee on your shirt at five past 9, sent an email about your boss TO your boss or endured so many meetings that you’d rather staple your fingers together, we’ve got your last tipple covered before you head home...and err change your shirt, right? Behold, Melbourne’s best bars near train stations! 

It’s a luxury trifecta: legendary harbour views, a wonderfully calming atmosphere, and a facial with caviar in it.  

If you know anything about eating and drinking in Melbourne, we’re sure that you’re already familiar with Richmond as a hub of food and drink trend-setters. One of 2015’s brightest names on the board is corner bar and eatery Botherambo, whose stylish stripped-back interior put it on our map before we’d even stepped through the door. So, after nearly a year spent perfecting its modern South-East Asian cuisine (and the best lunch in Richmond), just how good can this cocktail and bahn-mi haven get?

The weekend is fast approaching and you and your significant other need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big smoke. As tempting as it may be to escape reality on the big screen from the comfort of the couch (damn you, Netflix), there’s a whole world out there just waiting for you to Instagram it, so we have compiled this very bookable list of Melbourne’s best mini break destinations, guaranteed to score you more brownie points than the Flour Markets and Country Women’s Association combined.

Yep, we’re serious with the title of this article. In a world where, for better or worse, bathroom selfies reign supreme, we reckon you may as well take one in a space that doesn’t suck. It should come as no surprise that Melbourne’s best bars and restaurants have stylish facilities that’ll help you flush through the small talk (and may even induce verbal diarrhoea, they’re so darn gorgeous). So here’s our list of where to go when you need to go. Because nature calls considerably more often than the Grim Reaper, but just as commandingly. Pee in style, people.

Sometimes we’re just so darn proud of our city, and the growing number of socially aware cafes, restaurants, and foodie products in Melbourne fill us with happiness in more ways than one. Of course, social enterprise eateries are not something new to Melbourne, considering Feast of Merit, Streat and Lentil as Anything have been doing a lot of good for quite some time now. The number of businesses who are keen to give back socially is constantly on the rise in Melbourne, and we’re here to point you in the right direction to do the right thing.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned at The Urban List, it’s that Melbournians love being in on a good secret. However, what we seem to love even more is sharing these discoveries with our pals. Traipsing around Melbourne’s cobble-stoned laneways, wandering into unusual buildings, and taking the stairs that lead to god-knows-where, have lead us to some fantastic discoveries. In round one we brought you the best hidden restaurants, cafes and bars this city has to offer; today our adventuring continues with the greatest things to do outside of our wonderful foodie establishments, which just goes to show how kick-ass our city is.

With heaps of sunshine, brand spanking new venues and fantastic events, November is set to be a month to remember, folks. There's pop-up markets, floating bars, Latin American eateries and legendary gelaterias, all waiting for you to discover them, with a couple of sporting events thrown in for good measure. Hey, we've got to work off those burgers somehow.

We have a total girl crush on Laura Dundovic's beachy locks and we’re pretty sure we’re not alone. Not only is she massive babe, she’s also the new ambassador for Pantene and her Instagram makes us want to work out immediately.

Here are the only 10 contenders that are even worth mentioning, forget the rest.

It’s not all about Melbourne Cup this week, people! The Botanical is offering a gorgeous champagne breakfast; for the selfie-takers and proud feminists Cherchez la Femme are hosting an interesting talk on Wednesday night; plus we’ve got Spanish sherries, the most colourful festival in the world and some fancy bloom-filled dining.

Gelato Messina's Windsor store, situated at the southern end of Chapel Street, is open for business as of today!

Finally, summer’s here! And that can only mean one thing; time for a wardrobe update (we’ll take any excuse)!

Here's a round-up of our favourite Melbourne juices to guzzle as Summer approaches.

'Tis the season to be jolly. Unfortunately, due to an overabundance of jolliness, 'tis also the season to be seedy ("jolliness" means tequila). The morning after a big day out at the races, a cheeky session in the sunshine or a festive season soiree, can bring forth the wrath of hell. Or least that's what it feels like is happening between our war-ravaged temples and why all of sudden we feel like we have been gargling a dead possum. Certainly the best way to "cure" a hangover is to avoid one all together. But sometimes hangovers are sneaky little suckers. Below you'll find a range of suggested morning-after remedies: take them with a grain of salt, an aspirin and our sympathies.

There’s nothing like dressing up like your fave terror-inducing creature or childhood superhero to bring out the inner child in us all, especially at Halloween. To get in the spirit of All Hallows’ Eve, we brought the mega-talented face painting crew, Wowee Creations*, into TUL HQ to bring a bit of ghoulish cheer to the office, and to offer up a spot of inspiration if you’re stick for ideas!

Listen up Melbourne folk, we’ve got a string of Melbourne summer gigs that you neeeeed to check out (seriously, you’ll be kicking yourself so hard if you miss this lot). Tickets are now on sale for all 14 of the Zoo Twilights concerts, so get your skates on and book pronto, but first, some more info about all the best bits of Zoo Twilights.

Late last year, I was invited to a great little launch for a new restaurant opening in… my building. The Victoria Gardens end of Victoria Street is, how shall we say, rather bereft of decent dining options. Sure, I could take a 15-minute stroll up past Church Street for an acai bowl from LBSS or $3 banh mi from a Vietnamese bakery, but, you know, I’m lazy. So let’s just say I was pretty stoked about this impending opening.

Impress your colleagues, win friends, and pimp your wine cellar with this handy guide to negotiating even the most perilous wine list for something truly spectacular.

Thai food has gotta be one of the most delicious cuisines around. And it’s a total crowd-pleaser. Sure, some people split hairs about how Thai food is cooked in Australia versus how Thai food is cooked in Thailand, but we say pipe down in the back there. As long as it’s not completely spice-neutered, we’re happy to wolf down plate after plate. Which brings us to Melbourne’s best Thai restaurants. From spicy salads to creamy curries, from cheapskate to top-end, these places give the best Bangkok for your buck.

Melbourne, you’re beautiful, but boy, do you have your quirks. With a passion for food, fitness, footy and, um, financially unfeasible face creams, you’re a curious beast of a city that we simply can’t get enough of! Wondering what comes to mind when we consider the things that only Melburnians will understand? Whether they cause an eye-roll or a giggle, here are 34 of our favourite things that are totally, undeniably Melbourne.

Here are 8 of the most inventive, outlandish or just drop dead gorgeous cocktail garnishes from some of the best bars in Melbourne.

Bridesmaid dresses can be a hot-button issue when it comes to weddings—it is, after all, a strange concept to make a whole bunch of different people wear the same dress.

With Halloween right around the corner, this weekend in Melbourne is packed full of spooky events, from authentic Day of the Dead parties to, um, hip-hop Halloween. If that’s not your thing, you’ll find night markets, food festivals and even some fitness finds in this week’s round-up. Read on for the ultimate weekend itinerary…

Back bigger and better than ever before, the Night Noodle Markets will pop up along the Yarra at Birrarung Marr once more as part of The Age Good Food Month this November. With four food trucks on hand as well as 52 stalls, the punters will be squeezed in shoulder-to-shoulder once more as the balmy evenings set in and rumbling tummies demand a good feed washed down with a few chilled beers.

Stop the press, Melbourne: If you are a south-sider who lives in Elwood, you’re probably already in a state of panic about the reported man drought (ie. severe lack of men) that’s been shaking up your suburb’s testosterone equilibrium.

In life it’s best to play to one’s strength. For example, my fortes do not include basic mathematics, high levels of maturity, or anything involving the words ‘long distance’.

Each month, one member of The Urban List team shares their current obsessions, giving you Listers a little insight into what makes our brains tick.

Just in case you haven’t noticed by now, we’re pretty into our food at The Urban List HQ. And if there’s one thing better than food, it’s unlimited food. But not all buffets are created equal, so avoid the cheap and nasty all-you-can-eat spots with our round up of the best all-you-can-eat venues in Melbourne.

When the launch of new Melbourne restaurant, Lady Carolina, the latest addition to East Brunswick’s Lygon Street food-focused strip, was first announced back in April, news of the new venture rippled through foodie circles with much anticipation.

What better way to celebrate Melbourne food truck awesomeness than to hang with your crew in a new locale full of delicious eats that only the best Insta pics are made of! Whether you’re after an inner city hangout with juicy burgers or tacos, or you’re on the hunt for an all-out food truck congregation with a rotating roster and more cocktail jugs than you can handle­­, we’ve done the hard yards for you.

Australian craft spirits are really shaking up the booze industry, and one of the most exciting names in the industry has come straight outta Victoria. Four Pillars Gin—a fantastic gin distillery based in Healesville—is making waves around the world, and this weekend marks the launch of its brand new distillery and eatery, aka. Australia’s new gin mecca.

We’re suckers for a good smoothie, whether it’s chocolaty and decadent or a good clean greenie there’s something very satisfying about slurping your way through a delicious concoction that’s as filling as your average café meal.

Footscray favourite 8Bit is opening a new burger hot spot, this time in Melbourne CBD. The home of some of the best burgers in Melbourne is set to take over a cute corner restaurant space on Swanston and Little Bourke. Praise be to our double patty overlords!

In Melbourne’s ever-competitive brunch scene, finding something truly different can be tricky. St Kilda newcomer Nord Café is shaking up the token Aussie breakfast with Swedish style, serving everything from eggs and fish roe paste on home-baked bread to bona-fide Swedish meatballs in its petite Chapel Street space.

Vegans of Melbourne, we are happy to report that chefs all over the city have heard you loud and clear, and are creating dishes that aren’t only ethically sound, but also innovative. You’ve probably got your meat-and-animal-product free needs, but as you know by now, we at The Urban List are all about providing options and broadening your dining horizons.

This year’s Taste of Melbourne food festival is coming up, with the launch night scheduled for Thursday 12th November. The epic food and drink event is shaping up to be a good one, with everyone from Supernormal to Sake bringing their most delicious dishes to Albert Park for one weekend only.

Melbourne is jam-packed with epic events this week. From spooky parties to dinner parties and all things in between, we wrapped up our top five picks for things to do in Melbourne this week.

We caught up with Group Content Director for The Urban List, Kim Barnard over one busy weekend in Melbourne town as she educates us on the etiquette of track-side meat pies, getting fatter at Fatto, and the best Rueben, ever.

Just when you thought Melbourne couldn't get any cooler... someone goes and opens a floating bar in the middle of the Yarra River! Arbory Afloat, welcome to Melbourne.

 It appears that Melbourne’s love for fried chicken has only grown in numbers since we wrote Round 1, and we’re more than happy to go out and find more chicken shacks in the name of research.

Fresh off the plane from Paris Fashion Week, we caught up with Mac Cosmetic’s Senior Artist for Australia, the legendary Carol Mackie, to get some serious pro tips on all things face and insider advice on how to nail the latest trends. 

We’ve been doing some digging around and have discovered that the north-west of Melbourne (around the Moonee Ponds, Essendon and Ascot Vale area) is an absolute hive of foodie activity. So much so that we went on a bit of a binge to bring you this list of the 34 best places to eat at in Melbourne’s north-west.

Is it really over? It seems like only yesterday that a bright-eyed and bushy tailed Sam Frost (how young did she look back then?) walked back into our reality television lives.

Springtime means sunshine, long evenings and lots of lush, fresh produce, and what better way to bring all of these elements together than a picnic.

We’ve picked our top eight swimsuits—just to make your summer countdown feel all the more official…

It appears that Melbournians have a slight obsession with this Italian restaurant staple appetizer, and we’re thrilled it’s finally getting the credit it deserves. When we let the news slip earlier this month that there is going to be a Garlic Bread Appreciation Conference in 2016, it was met with welcome arms and salivating taste buds. Whether you like it traditional or cheesy, as a side dish or a late night snack, here is where you can find Melbourne’s best garlic bread.

For one day only, one of Melbourne's best fried chicken venues and Melbourne's best bakeries are teaming up to present the best lunch ever: Fried chicken in a croissant. Dear Lord, have mercy on our arteries. 

Melbourne, you are looking beautiful! From vintage fashion finds to drive-in cinema dates, world champagne day celebrations to cider and wine festivals, there’s heaps of things to do in Melbourne this weekend. Don’t believe us? Read on for our round-up of the best events…

Omnilux is LED Light Therapy which is clinically proven to work wonders on the skin. BUT HOW?!

In case you’ve been hiding under a fascinator-wearing rock, Listers, we feel it’s our duty to tell you that racing season is in full swing, and what a year it’s been so far!

It’s official—champagne is the drink of choice when it comes to a celebration. As soon as you hear the cork pop and witness those tiny bubbles cascade into your flute, you know there are good times ahead. There are a range of Melbourne bars that specialise in the most prized bottles of bubbly, but we’ve also added a few of our favourite Melbourne restaurants to this list, in case you’re looking for some champagne to accompany a special dinner. So, without further ado, here are Melbourne's best champagne bars and restaurants. 'Hic!

The Urban List has jumped the ditch and gone international. And my, my…don’t we feel cool.

Jazz bars are seeing a massive revival here in Melbourne, with hidden basement venues and laneway finds topping the charts of late-night drinking spots. Bird’s Basement, the latest jazz bar to be announced in Melbourne comes all the way from New York, bringing with it a legacy of talented musicians and all-round good times.

Remember when you were young, and you watched Back To The Future and Marty McFly travelled to that impossibly distant date far in the future that brought with it flying cars, flying skateboards and super-fly clothing? Well, that date is tomorrow. October 21 2015. Yes, you are old but you’re also a time traveller, so that’s kind of cool. Welcome to the future!

We might be preaching to the beauty-savvy choir, but lately we’ve been revisiting our skincare routine and have come to one conclusion: Prioritising your skin is one of the biggest beauty investments you can make. Yup, if you’re looking to focus on one area that will continue to pay off for years to come, tracking down the best facials in Melbourne and seeking out a skin clinic that’s science-led is the way to do it.

Not heading to Flemington on Cup day but still want in on the action? There are plenty of top-notch venues around Melbourne that’ll be celebrating in style—think big screens, sweep stakes and plenty of bubbles and beer.

We are just weeks away from Halloween so if you're looking for a little inspo, check out our list of Halloween costume ideaa.

We chatted to the Aussie beauty about The Base: her line of awesome bronzing and tanning products, her beauty must-haves, and how life has changed since becoming a mum.

Growing up in Mexico City, Alfredo Pimienta, co-owner of Bridge Road Richmond’s newest addition El Atino & Co, a golden temple of worship for all things Latin American, nurtured a passion for food that has never left him.

In the very best Monday news that we could possibly hope to hear, Carlton’s The Roving Marrow will soon be offering unlimited yum cha on Sundays!

In my experience, people who order pancakes (or similar) are committed to the sweet breakfast cause and ALWAYS order pancakes, hotcakes or waffles for breakfast. In fact, they refuse to dine at cafes that don’t have a sweet, fluffy, buttery offering. There are some pretty stellar pancake options in Melbourne, so we’ve rounded the best of the best, and slipped in a few savoury options for good measure.

Melbourne's favourite food festival, Taste of Melbourne in partnership with Electrolux is without a doubt one of our favourite summer events. There’s amazingly fresh food, delicious drinks, top local producers and even some world-class kitchen talent showing us how it’s done, all in the open air of the beautiful grounds of Albert Park.

It's a week for the foodies! From one-off fine dining dinners to food trucks and movies, we've got something for everyone that loves food even half as much as we do. 

There are two ways to watch Netflix. One is ‘Netflix and chill’ which means you put on a show then have sex with whoever is in the room with you. The second way is to simply ‘watch Netflix’, which means you choose a show or movie to watch then pay attention to it.

There’s one thing my 28 years on this planet have taught me: ‘Adulting’ is hard. Sure, you might want to eat cupcakes for dinner and ride a micro-scooter to work and glue feathers to your forehead and generally make-believe that you’re 3 years old forever, but sooner or later, adult life will require you to pull your (matching) socks up and take responsibility for yourself.

Real talk: is this new hair trend for men going to be gracing the heads of our male companions soon?

Francophiles, listen up: We’ve got just the event for you! Now in it’s sixth year, Paris To Provence, Melbourne’s annual French Festival is bigger and better than ever.

Our patented Bachelorette Power Rankings™ ladder is starting to look a bit sparse now as the show lurches into its final weeks: only three blokes remain.

Arms, like butts can be a a tricky old thing when it comes to working out.

One thing we love about spring: the sun. One thing we don’t love about spring: sunburn. We’re all for amping up the SPF routine as the weather heats up, but one thing we don’t dig so much is the telltale shiny face and extra step in our skincare regimen.

It’s a sad week for southside sippers, with the so-called closure of beloved South Yarra dive bar Sweetwater Inn scheduled for October 17. But fans of the quirky Australiana party shed need not cry into their tinnies for too long, with the owners scouring both sides of the river for a new location to unload their 40-foot container of Sweetwater goodness.

Window service is all the rage at Melbourne’s best cafés, and it’s not just coffee that you can get to go these days. For a range of sweet snacks and luscious lunch options to take away, as well as caffeine in a hurry, don’t waste time navigating your way through the tables, chairs and rogue children to get to the counter. Simply breeze up to the best express windows in Melbourne and place your order then and there. Because your time is precious.

So, by now every man, woman and possum in the three thousands knows that Sydney's gelato experts, Gelato Messina, are set to open a brand new store in Melbourne this summer. Yes, it's serving amazing flavours, as always. Yes, it's in Windsor. And yes, we've got the scoop (ha!) on the opening date for the latest addition to Melbourne's dessert-loving metropolis.

The weekend is upon us, Listers! This week we’ve got Melbourne’s biggest arts festival kicking along, the city’s 22nd Greek Film Fest, poetry slam, Salami Festa and loads of live music. Soak up the spring vibes - this weekend’s all about the outdoors.

Halloween is a month away and, in anticipation of the inevitable last-minute dash to one of Melbourne's best costume shops, madly searching for something other than a witch or a slutty nurse, we’ve cast our minds back over the year that was and come up with 50 Halloween costumes people will be wearing this year.

There’s a stack of Aussie jewellery designers doing their bit to keep you really well accessorised these days! From home studios to internationally renowned brands, there’s stunningly beautiful, intricately crafted and wonderfully wacky jewellery coming from all corners of our creative country.

For those who are looking for the best Day of the Dead parties in Melbourne, you’ve come to the right place.

Grab your diaries, folks, and draw a big, yellow sunshine on Saturday 19th December because the St Kilda Foreshore Slam Beach Festival has named the date for it’s epic summer party! If you’ve ever been to the St Kilda Foreshore Beach Festival before, you’ll know just how awesome this day in the sun is. Celebrating local music with party people Yolanda Be Cool headlining the all-dayer and a host of DJ talent keeping the music going long into the night, the event promises all the summer vibes you can handle.

I have a theory— good food tastes even better when it’s served on or eaten from a beautifully designed and hand-made plate or bowl. The sort that might not be exactly the same as the next one and might not be exactly symmetrical, but has had thought and care put into every aspect of its creation.  I daydream about having a kitchen full of ceramic or stone tableware that’s minimalist in design and maximalist in character.

Is your idea of a weekend well spent filled with gut-wrenching fear? If so, you’re going to want to book in for the incredible Horror Movie Campout, a camping festival for all things gore, paranormal and generally horrifically terrifying, held at Point Cook Homestead this summer.

In Melbourne’s diverse, eclectic, sometimes super confusing foodie scene, the word “artisan” gets flung around an awful lot. From describing fresh breads to the labels on store-bought cookies, you’d be forgiven for thinking that “artisan” simply meant, “officially wanker approved”.

A man in a second-hand bookshop once said to me, “Bookstores, they’re like little sanctuaries, aren’t they?” I remember beaming back at him and thinking good sir, you couldn’t be more right. It’s no doubt Melbourne kills it when it comes to food, drink and the arts, and we’d have to say the same about the city’s bookshops.

Springtime means a hell of a lot of changes: Changes in wardrobe (no more thermals under your jeans, lads), changes in style (winter neck-beard, be gone!) and changes in social calendar (can I get another beer garden sesh, my brothers?). To help Melbourne’s most stylish dudes find the best places to pick up some new garms and grooming tips, we’ve rounded up Melbourne’s best men’s shops and services. Because NOTHING impresses like a man who’s fresh-dressed and ready to step into spring.

One of the hottest names in Australia’s fast-moving restaurant scene, Andrew McConnell, is set to open his very first wine bar later this month. Called Marion, the brand new Gertrude Street venue is set to open its doors on Friday 23 October, when it will be serving up seasonal light bites, weekend brunch dishes and a fantastic selection of drinks to Melbourne’s food-loving finest. Excited much? Of course we are.

When it comes to race day beauty and fashion survival, it’s all about endurance, my punting friends.

Whether you’re a pizza lover, a ciabatta fiend or a fan of some new-age ‘artisanal’ garlic-laced loaf that we haven’t yet encountered here at The Urban List, it’s time to get ready to declare your love for one of the most divisive foods of all time. Yes, Melbourne is getting a Garlic Bread Appreciation Conference, and you’re all invited.

If you’ve invited friends round for dinner and end up having to order takeaway because you’ve run out of time/motivation to cook anything, hold the phone. You don’t have to resort to stodgy pizza or fluorescent Chinese food with a range of Melbourne’s best restaurants offering up some superb takeaway options. Here are our top picks for the best takeaway in Melbourne.

It’s set to be an epic week of activities, for the adventurous, the foodies, and the theatre goers. We’ve whittled down all of the best Melbourne events to our pick of the top five things to do in Melbourne this week.

Deep down, we all fancy ourselves as Patsy Stone or Bernard Black. Champagne for breakfast? A swig of beer to chase away the mid-morning blues? Fill us up. We take our breakfast and booze very seriously, and we like to be able to have both when and where we want them. That’s why we’re lucky to live in Melbourne, with so many licenced cafés only a stone’s throw (or a short stumble) away. Here are the best spots to get your hair-of-the-dog on.

Preparing for a Halloween party doesn’t have to be scary. Whether you’re looking for a full outfit (hello, Rubik’s Cube) or that perfect accessory to complete your look, we’ve done the hard work for you with this list of Melbourne’s best costume shops, ensuring you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for right in time for the big day.

Welcome back to another week of The Bachelorette Power Rankings ™, the world’s most loved weekly performance ladder based on Australia’s favourite dating death match show.

Coffee. Wine. Exceedingly lavish breakfasts. Australia is getting pretty good at a few things, and the latest accolade to add to the ever-growing list is cocktail bars.

As if Friday wasn’t exciting enough, we now have Stir Frydays to look forward to at Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market.

Melbourne, you’re a city of two halves: One half who’ll do anything for a deliciously fresh #cleaneating salad, and the other who are MAD for meat. If you fall into the second camp, you’d better have your credit card at the ready today because tickets for The Yaks Melbourne Barbecue Festival 2016 are on sale as of now!

Want to get your point across without saying a word? Enter the slogan tee.

Can you feel it? Summer is in the air which means a few glorious things—the beach, swimmers, and, of course, our old faithful Havaianas.

It’s party vibes and festival madness this weekend, Listers. We’ve got a couple of wine festivals, a new Friday night Asian street fest at the Queen Victoria Market and a few places to catch some great live music. How stoked are we for daylight savings?! Make the most of it and party long into the night. Here are our picks for the best things to do in Melbourne this weekend.

One of Melbourne’s biggest restaurant names, chef Andrew McConnell, has teamed up with butcher Troy Wheeler to bring a carnivore’s dream to Fitzroy next week.

When we first heard whisper of world-famous Japanese eatery Toko’s new Melbourne restaurant, the Japanophiles amongst us were scouring every source we could to track down a phone number and pre-book our table. Approximately 3.5 minutes of messages to our network of in-the-know Melburnians, and we’d identified the location as Prahran’s Greville Street—one of The Urban List’s favourite foodie hubs for a quick bite to eat (St Edmond’s, Oscar Cooper and Palate are all on the famous south-side stretch). Excited much? You betcha.

Decided it’s time to embrace the Halloween trend rather than fight it this year? We don’t blame you. And with Halloween falling on Saturday this lovely October, what further excuse do you need for getting all dressed up and playing tricks on your pals? Now before you rush out and get yourself a killer costume, cast your eyes of some of Melbourne best Halloween shindigs below. We think this year could be the best one yet! 

We dug a little deeper at South Melbourne Market and were blown away by some of the gems we unearthed - really excellent finds that we weren’t expecting. Here are our top 10 discoveries at South Melbourne Market.

There’s no denying that Melbourne loves its Chinese food, from the cheap and cheerful China Town offerings to the up-market David’s or Flower Drum. We may be spoilt for choice, but there is a gaping, Michelin star-sized hole in Melbourne’s Chinese food scene, and Tim Ho Wan is coming to fill it.  

There’s no denying we love the digital world—a magazine just doesn’t cut it when you’re Googling the latest café that’s just hit Melbourne’s coffee-obsessed streets—but sometimes, curling up with a cuppa and a good paper-bound read is just the ticket. That’s where magazines come in; the smell of freshly printed paper, the glossy pages, those long-reads that invite us to discover our new favourite obsession… Magazines are as perfect for idly leafing through while waiting for your Uber as they are delving into for three hours on a Sunday over a home-poured long black.

We’re here to help you out with a list of Melbourne’s best BYO restaurants. And they’re not all cheap-and-cheerful Asian joints (although a few of our favourites do score a mention). So read on and get ready to eat, drink and be merry!

Spring has finally sprung (hurrah!), and with it has come an influx of cocktail party invites. From carnival season to luxe picnics to anything that’s an excuse for a get-together, our calendars are filling up! But when it comes to getting party-ready, there’s a massive difference between looking good, and looking great. Here at The Urban List, we’ve wracked our brains and rounded up the best beauty salons in Melbourne for their hot tips and treatments for the season. Let the beautifying (and the partying) commence!

You’ve got mates coming from out-of-town, as in different state or country kinda out-of-town. Naturally, you want to show off glorious Melbourne, but you also want to flaunt her countryside charms too, she’s not just a one-trick-pony. Like wine. And nature. And wine. There are so many terrific day and weekend trips close to Melbourne, so we thought we’d give you a quick low-down on a few of them.

This November, Melbourne will play host to our first-ever festival dedicated to the wonders of gin. And just in time for the launch of summer!

As digital and in-store experiences blur into one, it’s undeniable that the way we find and purchase items has changed forever. Here are some of Australia’s best online retailers who are delivering the goods.

Live music, epic gin degustations and film nights - summer must be on its way! It was tough to wittle down the list to five this week, but we're confident you'll have a rollicking good time with the events we've chosen. The perfect combination of things to do in Melbourne.

Spring is finally here, and with it comes heaps of hot new things to do in Melbourne this season. From live music to pop-up food events, the must-try luxury ingredient to the must-book hottest restaurant, here are 10 things that are totally #trending right now in our glorious city.

South Melbourne is the little suburb that could. It’s quietly been squirrelling away, building its empire and acquiring a stack load of the coolest places to eat, drink, shop and things to do. We’ve put together our pick of the South Melbourne precinct for you to go adventuring and enjoy.

Emilia's menu is exactly as one might imagine at a traditional trattoria. The food is a magical blend of rich and light and you feel like you’re sitting down to a truly excellent meal that your nonna might’ve cooked. Only the presentation is sophisticated and you’re not force-fed!

November means Night Noodle Markets and we are pleased to say this baby is back for another year on the banks of the Yarra River at Melbourne’s Birrarung Marr.

After all the stress that Christmas gatherings bring, what better way is there to blow off some steam and get into your holiday groove than to dance, drink and relax in the magnificence that is a Melbourne summer festival?

What better way to up your dose of Vitamin D than at one of Melbourne’s best beer gardens?

October is upon us, dear Listers. This month you can expect to get fit at the city’s biggest fitness event, get fat from drinking waaaaay too many epic milkshakes, and get spooky at the best Hallowe’en party in the city. And, if that’s not enough, there’s an extra day off to do what you please, as well as heaps of new openings that you’re going to want to be checking out!

If you think you know what to expect from the Southern Grampians, think again. Forget that grim family holiday when your time on the Gameboy/iPad was strictly limited because, um, nature (thanks Mum), the Southern Grampians is redefining luxury in Victoria’s north-west, boasting HEAPS of hidden gems, including the award-winning Grampians hotel, the Royal Mail Hotel, the most incredible views and the ultimate chill-out activities. Read on for seven epic reasons why you should be getting your chill on in Dunkeld.

Every week we will rate the dudes according to each one’s chances are of winning the whole Bachelorette tournament, with the heroes at the top of the list and the zeros at the bottom.

Say goodbye conventional singlet tan lines and hello to weird shoulder stripes that make your regular clothes a little more difficult to wear—this spring and summer it’s all about off-the-shoulder tops!

AFL! Markets! Movies! If you’re looking for some awesome things to do in Melbourne this week, look no further. Everything you need is right here, folks, to have yourself an epic few days of relaxing, getting cultured, and—yes, that’s right—barracking for your top team in the final to end all finals.

Give us all of the baked goods! From classic French delights, to matcha-flavoured croissants, to a bagel lover’s dream – we’ve rounded up Melbourne’s best bakeries to sink your teeth into. 

If you’re a food fan (and we know that pretty much all of you are) Australian-Italians don’t get much more renowned than gelati maestro and all-round awesome guy, Nick Palumbo. Moving from Adelaide, where he grew up with his Italian parents, to Sydney back in 2002, Nick started Gelato Messina with one very simple aim—to run an amazing gelateria that celebrated traditional techniques and mouth-watering, rich flavours.

World Sake Day is tomorrow, folks! To celebrate this delicious Japanese drink, we’ve put together The Urban List’s Sake 101 — a quick-fire guide to the tasty rice beverage, along with the best sake bars in Melbourne. Not sure what you should be ordering? Read on for the essential know-how…

As Melbourne Festival director Josephine Ridge prepares to usher in the 30th anniversary of this vibrant cornerstone of the city’s cultural calendar, she took time out from her crazy schedule to tip off Urban Listers on the must-see shows and her grand ambitions for this year’s line-up. 

Spring cleaning your diet is a great way to create a healthy food environment and reset and reboot some healthy food habits as we start to peel off layers, get outdoors and get ready for a new season.

Earlier this month, the celeb-mad world went crazy—or should that be ‘krazy’— for the latest release from the Kardashian-Jenner sisters. Kim (the one who’s married to Kanye), Kendall (the catwalk model one), Kylie (the youngest one), and Khloe (the, er, one who is also a Kardashian? I don’t know…) have each released an independent app that promises ‘unprecedented and exclusive personal access’ to their day-to-day lives.

The rest of the nation already hates us for our public holiday on Melbourne Cup Day, but Premier Dan Andrew really stuck the knife in when he decided we should have yet another day off in celebration of the AFL Grand Final. Could we be the only city in the world that gets off work for two whole days for a couple of sporting events? Probably.

It’s almost that time of year, Listers! If you know anything about what’s on in Melbourne, you’ll be well aware that spring means a bevvy of race days, which are the perfect excuse to grab a few mates, don your fanciest frocks and suits, and book in a day of revelry at the trackside. This year's most fun racing events—Caulfield Guineas Day, which takes place on Saturday 10th October, and Caulfield Cup Day, on Saturday 17th October—are upping their foodie stakes with the addition of some of Melbourne’s best restaurants.

Second perhaps only to St. Patrick’s Day, Oktoberfest is the best globally recognized festival that gives patrons carte blanche to swig as many froffies as possible. And, like every other city around the world, we’ll be celebrating Oktoberfest in Melbourne with just as much gusto as if we were sipping Kolsh in Cologne, or downing biers in Berlin.

If you love slurping noodles while listening to phat beatz, you should clear your schedule on Wednesday, October 28, when Melbourne’s first RAMEN RAVE arrives at Supernormal.

Footy fans, rejoice! After an arduous six months of spear-tackling, eye-gouging and biting, the AFL grand final has arrived at long last. Pitting the highly-fancied Hawks against this year’s surprise-packet in the West Coast Eagles, Saturday’s clash has all the makings of a classic.

There’s something magic about Tasmania that us ‘mainlanders’ (that’s ‘Tasmanian’ for peeps from the rest of Australia) just can’t get without visiting. A vast roaring wilderness, the ghosts of a convict past and little fellas we call the Tassie Devil make up a place that is equally enthralling and quirky.

Parents are great for some things, and not so great for others. Sometimes their technology struggles are beyond frustrating, sometimes they’re LOL-worthy (that’s Laugh Out Loud, not Lots of Love, Mum). 

It’s the ultimate Food & Wine Festival in Australia: feasting in the forest, beachside drinks and seafood so fresh you basically eat it out of the water.

We’re calling it: The espresso martini is the perfect party-starter cocktail. Combining a caffeine hit with a smooth finish, the espresso martini will take you from exhausted after a big day at the office to dance floor-ready in just a few sweet sips. So here’s cheers to Melbourne’s finest espresso martinis, just in time to celebrate World Coffee Day.

We caught up with Renya to find out how she manages to look so good, even when she’s on the go, which, if you follow her on Instagram, is like ALL THE TIME.

Which fashion trends should you follow and which ones should you ditch? We've got you covered.

Roll up! Roll up, Listers! We've got an epic selection of food and culture for you. There's so much fun to be had in Melbourne this week!

Yeah you’ve moved on from school reports but guess what, you can still be graded. Don’t pretend you don’t wanna know how you’re going in the school of life!

As we prepare to come out of our winter hibernation for another year, it’s not uncommon to feel the sudden desire to swap your usual Saturday scrambled eggs for a fruit salad. We’ve got you covered, Melbourne, with this epic list of the best healthy breakfasts in our fair city. And it’s not all acai and kale (although they do get a few mentions). From sweet to savoury, pancakes to pudding, these are the best Melbourne breakfasts you can order without copping a heavy dose of #foodenvy. 

In the days of Nutribullet spun juices, spiralised veg and kale-ariddled everything, it can be easy to forget the benefits of a humble green smoothie. One that is beautiful to look at, great for your insides and an excellent way to turn over the inner sanctum of your crisper.

Full disclaimer: I snoop on other people’s shopping baskets. It’s a terrible habit and I always feel a smidge guilty when shoppers catch me starring at their 12 bottles of Diet Coke (seriously, if you love it that much, just get the real stuff). But it’s a fascinating insight into our inner worlds. Consider it anthropology, of sorts.

Spring is off to an excellent start here in Melbourne, with a slew of sunny days reinvigorating our cold bones after the frostiest winter in decades. With this newfound energy and desire to spend as much time as possible outdoors, we think now is the perfect time to purchase a bicycle. 

It’s nearly spring racing time! While you sort out the hat and the frock, we’ve taken one for the team and come up with our pick of hampers and catering options available for your big day out. From mini sandwiches and musk sticks through to full blown Japanese platters, here are seven of the best spring racing catering options in Melbourne.

Big news, you guys. Turns out Belinda Carlisle was right and heaven is a place on earth. At least it will be on Saturday, October 24 when the Prahran Market is hosting a CHEESE FESTIVAL.

As if the arrival of Friday wasn’t exciting enough, we’re here to tell you how you can spend your afternoon munching on FREE TACOS.

Listers, I’m going to show my age here. I remember listening to that Pulp song that talked about “Let’s all meet up in the year two thousand,” and thinking, “Woah, the year two thousand. THE FUTURE.” Well, y2k came and went, and suddenly we’re in 2015, looking back on the weird and wonderful trends of the noughties with a cringe-worthy eye-roll. Nokia mobile phones? Hipster demin? THAT double denim Justin and Britney look at the 2001 AMAs?!

To me, the buzzword ‘superfood’ conjures up images of a chia seed donning a mask and cape and quite possibly wearing its tiny undies on the outside.  It’s a favourite term among B-Grade celebrities spruiking their healthy lifestyles on TV ads, but what does ‘superfood’ really mean?

Because we are too damn old to mess with our bronze.

There is so much happening this weekend in Melbourne that you’ll have to set your alarms super-early to fit it all in! Whether it’s Melbourne Fringe Festival madness or drive-in films with food trucks, Chinese Moon Festival celebrations or a trip to Europe with the Italian Film Festival, there’s heaps of events in Melbourne this weekend. Read on for the full run-down…

Okay, so we all know that Australia isn’t exactly leading the way in many respects (looking after the environment is one, native race relations is another…). While there are some epic lessons we could learn from other countries around the world—siestas from the Spanish, sarcasm from the Brits, appropriate winter attire from the Russians—there are also some things that we, as a nation, are incredibly good at.

These days it’s so easy to catch a flight to NZ or Bali when we’re after a short holiday, but Melburnians have some pretty incredible places to explore virtually right on our doorstep.

It’s no secret that Melbourne is renowned for its excellence in hospitality. What people might not appreciate is that sometimes, we like to get a bit weird by taking on an offbeat theme or concept and really running with it. 

The toasted sandwich is the ultimate in hand-held tucker. When bread, butter and cheese come together, they create a symphony of flavour and texture that is, quite frankly, unbeatable at any time of the day or night. 

Wanting to gather your nearest and dearest for one helluva good time, but hate doing the dishes, don’t have the space and catering isn’t your thing? Great news, a stack of Melbourne’s best venues are all set up and ready to host your next celebration. Whether it’s an intimate dinner for 20 or a full-blown cocktail party for 200, we’ve got you covered with our hand-picked favourites.