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Seafood and cocktails from the guys behind Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina, San Telmo and Pastuso? Just take our freaking money.

Remember when you were a little kid and running around your backyard and having fun counted as exercise? Those were the days. The team at The FUNctional Project understand that not everybody is motivated by an end result—no matter how buff it might be. Instead they're striving to make your workout fun again by offering experience-based training that takes the “should” out of exercise.   

The team that brought you deep-fried Nutella balls has officially levelled-up in diabetes. Hailing from the sandy beachside area of Port Melbourne, D’Lish Fish is introducing their new menu item: The Deep Fried Nutella Ball Sundae, served with thick layers of Nutella and topped with deep-fried Nutella balls. You’d better start praying away these calories.

From the outside, Mr & Mrs Anderson looks like your regular Eastside haunt. A flat-white fortress with big bay windows, a few pendants lights hanging from the ceiling and hand painted Mexican tiles on the walls. But scratch beneath the surface and there’s some serious smarts going on in the kitchen.

If you’re looking for some Hunger Games-style survival training, or just a great way to have fun and let off steam, you’ve got to check out arrow tag. It's paintball’s badass older brother.

There’s a promising sign stuck to the front door of Vaporetto, Hawthorn’s Venetian restaurant and wine bar: ‘Come on in! It’s warm and cosy inside.’ We’re happy to report that this little sign is right on the money. With its washed-out pastel timber, old-school lettering and masquerade masks on the wall, Vaporetto has an excellent vibe: somehow chilled and bustling at the same time. A little slice of the Grand Canal, right here in Melbourne.

It finally happened: Mr Mister got a sister. Mazel tov! Mr Sister is the latest venture from coffee maestro Tyson Chambers, and it’s got a lot in common with its big bro. The two cafes are all about contemporary food done right, made with love and paired with some sleek minimalist design. But that’s where the sibling rivalry kicks in…

Hello José is the new kid on the Queen Vic Market block, and it's home to some of Melbourne’s best tacos. Don’t underestimate this miniature restaurant—their square-footage may be low, but their deliciousness is high. The menu is small and taco-heavy (they come in a limited range of meaty, limey, cheesy flavours) and you can chase it all down with a few glasses of the best tequila this side of Oaxaca.

Anyone who grew up in a decade that began with 19– got to experience something pretty magical: the humble, suburban milk bar. These places weren’t glamorous. They served cheap Paul’s milk, sketchy hot dog rotisseries and month-old Redskins that’d pop the braces right off your teeth. But they somehow became musty little community centres. People actually cared about them. So it’s kinda nice to walk into Karton, a modern-day spin on the now-defunct milk bar model, and feel that familiar old-school sugar rush.

There’s a new diner doing interesting things in Hampton, and its name is Canoe Canoe. The good vibes start the moment you walk in and see the Life Aquatic-style portraits on the walls. The old mid-century prints and photographs. The pulp mystery books that hold your bill. There’s a definite streak of Wes Anderson whimsy running through this place, like you’re going to push through into the beer garden and discover some pastel-coloured Narnia, a bizarro world where you and Bill Murray get into surreal yet melancholy adventures. It also does bloody good food.

The old Cricketer’s Arms was, frankly, an amazing place. A huge, historic hotel that pumped out parmas the size of dinner plates. Every Saturday night the courtyard was packed with Port Melbourne locals, yelling at umpires on the big screen, swigging Carlton on tap, and swapping stories beneath a canopy of twinkling fairy lights. So when it was sold off late last year, and re-opened as House Of Wine And Food (a fancy French bistro by hoteliers Deborah and Alan Giles) it’s fair to say there were some big, parma-sized shoes to fill.

One of our favourite brow bars is now open in Prahran! Say hello to lush lashes and perfectly curved brows all day everyday with the experts at Lash & Brow Boudoir. Boasting extravagant mirrors and lux chairs in a bright brow studio, getting your brows done just got a whole lot more fun ladies! Nestled just outside the Prahran market, the Lash & Brow Boudoir is the perfect pre or post-grocery pit-stop to give yourself a little lift.

Dukes Gym in Richmond is our latest favourite fitness find, and it ticks all of our ‘ideal gym’ boxes. It’s got a beautiful, high-ceilinged space (tick). It’s what we’d consider a ‘proper gym’, but not in the intimidating, body-builder-type way that swears you off carbs–and gyms–for life (tick). And there’s a female-only area, complete with funky tropical wallpaper (tick).

Last year, in a leafy Prahran side street, a suburban milk bar died. It’s a story that happens every other week in Melbourne, but for hospo power-couple India Gauci and Jeremy Gaschk (of Easey’s fame) it was a chance at a life-long dream: owning their very own milk bar…with a foodie twist.

If you’ve ever strolled through Pentridge Prison, you’ve probably seen people ‘gramming their breakfasts at The Glass Den, Coburg’s premo brunch spot. Well The Glass Den now has a sister, and it’s about as far from Coburg as you can get. Way down in sunny Elwood you’ll find The Butler’s Den, lapping bay waves on one side and whizzing Beach Rd cyclists on the other. This could be the beachside brekkie destination Elwood has been craving (no more schlepping to St Kilda for eggs with a sea view).  

It doesn’t look like much from the street, but wander up the stairs to Belinda Hughes’ new South Yarra skin clinic and you suddenly find yourself in a timber-floored Zen palace. The white-washed walls, leafy outlook windows, and a soothing meditation soundtrack massages its way into your brain.

Queensland Asian-fusion sensation Junk Boat has officially tip-toed out of the Sunshine State and set up shop in Melbourne’s CBD…and they couldn’t have picked a tougher spot. The restaurant is tucked down Punch Lane, a stone’s throw from Rice Papr Scrs and Ho Chi Mama, two of the city’s fusion kingpins. If Junk is going to succeed here, it’s going to have to bring its A-Game. Hawker-style fusion and overpriced parking are the two things the CBD does better than anyone.

There’s a new bistro and bottle shop in Fitzroy North, and we're happy to say it's nailing the food and wine game. ‘The Rec’, as the locals like to call it, is run by a team of experts in the food, wine and service industries, so you know every element is going to be top notch. You’ll be spoilt for choice with wine selections from around the world, including Aussie, French and Spanish bottles. The bistro is also BYO (a nice surprise), so you won’t have to sacrifice that special bottle just to enjoy their spectacular food.

Created by Bruno Matteo (the mastermind behind The Meatball & Wine Bar), Mister Macellaio’s Wonder Emporium Meat Shop is Bridge Road’s newest specialty butcher. Led by their Head Butcher, Johnny, the friendly team at Mr Macellaio’s have made it their mission to provide the good people of Richmond with some of the finest cuts in Australia.

Dribbles does two things well: basketball and burgers. This is the place you come in Essendon to watch the world’s greatest athletes…while eating a week’s carbs in a single sitting. It’s cute how Dribbles commits to the whole B-Ball theme too: the burgers are named after the game’s biggest stars (think Jordan Royale, Shaq Stack and the Birdman), slam-dunking silhouettes cover the walls, plus there’s a wall-mounted TV where you can watch the latest NBA showdown.

This hot little Bridge Road oasis is your one-stop-shop for everything Mexican (a.k.a. covered in cheese and salsa). And if you thought you’d had your avocado fix for the year, then you thought wrong because you won’t (and you shouldn’t) sleep until you’ve tried Paloma Cantina’s guacamole, a tortilla chip topping that’ll make even the biggest coriander-phobe weak at the knees.

Struggling to find a healthy option for your measly lunch hour? Tadka Boom! is serving up no fuss, fast and flavourful Indian cuisine in the CBD. It says a lot about Tadka Boom! that the food lives up to its epic name (gotta love that exclamation mark). Tadka is Hindi for seasoning, and that’s exactly what you’ll get here. Dishes inspired by home-cooking in Delhi that combine the bold flavours of India with modern Australia's love for anything a tad gourmet.

Skin is probably a really clever invention, but from a layperson’s perspective, there’s a lot of stuff that can go wrong. Ageing, pigmentation, acne, scarring, blocked pores, too oily, not oily enough–if skin was a new car, you wouldn’t buy it. The maintenance would put you off and you’d go buy a Prius instead. Enter James Vivian Dermal Therapies (JVDT for short), a boutique skin clinic in Prahran that’s getting a reputation for results (just check out their Facebook reviews).

Holey. Moley. Those might be the first two words that pass through your gobsmacked mind on seeing Melbourne’s new mini-golf bar for the first time.

Mr Griffith’s doesn’t mess about; its website smacks you between the eyes with the promise of ‘Beer. Burgers. Poutine’. In that order. And that’s pretty much what you get at this Kensington eatery on the buzzing Macauly Rd strip. Griffith’s is the up-beat brainchild of burger-obsessive Davydd Griffiths (go figure), the man responsible for transforming the Flemington & Kensington Bowls Club into a craft beer sanctuary, where white-bearded regulars rub shoulder with trendy-bearded hipsters. Now he’s turned his attention to cheese, meat, beer and all things fried to a crisp.

When dumpling sensation Tim Ho Wan opened in Hong Kong, it was a hole-in-the-wall with 20 seats. The Melbourne franchise is built on a slightly different scale: think 100+ diners, big open spaces, and buttons on every table that summon waiters, loaded down with steaming dim sum. It’s a good addition to Burke Street’s Chinatown scene, where you usually have to choose between quick and dirty dumplings (no judgement–they’re awesome) and yum cha-style trolleys, without a whole lot in-between.

When Lukumades owner Exarhos Sourligas was a boy, his mum would fry up a batch of Greek doughnuts, drizzle them with a little honey and cinnamon, then scream, “Hey! Come here! Eat these now!”

Australia’s biggest independent luxury retailer just got a little bit fancy. Harrolds has expanded its 101 Collins St HQ in the CBD, with a salivating ground floor line-up of store-in-stores: Tom Ford, Thom Browne, and (the ink’s still dry on the contract) Stella McCartney. Plus iconic brands like Manolo Blahnik and streetwear label, Off-White. Basically the names you can’t get anywhere else in Australia. Did we mention it was fancy?

Never go hungry in the city again: SPQR Pizzeria is here to serve you a slice of the good stuff. It's the new venture from David Mackintosh, one of the dudes behind MoVida, Pei Modern, Rosa’s Canteen and Lee Ho Fook. Close to the CBD theatre district, it's our new fav spot for a pre-show bite. Pick up a quick slice at the takeaway out front, or head inside for a full wheel of legit Italian pizza. The crowning jewel is Mackintosh's custom-built wood-fire oven, which can turn raw dough and hope into a crusty, oozy pizza in under 60 seconds flat. 

We’re the last ones to judge a late-night garlic naan (sometimes nothing else will hit the spot), but it’s nice to find a contemporary Indian restaurant that’s aiming a little higher. Introducing Piquancy, Hawthorn’s newest all-day spice shrine from the creators of Babu Ji. Just like Babu Ji, Piquancy is a sophisticated take on traditional Indian fare. Think less post-beer Rogan Josh and more date-night beetroot-cured paneer, or grilled tiger prawns with a saffron reduction and a nice bottle of Riesling.  

If your credit card debt is still in the ‘scary but deal-able’ phase, you probably haven’t yet discovered Harrolds, Melbourne’s addictive high-end retail outlet. Ladies should make a bee-line to their Collins St flagship store, which has just undergone a sexy revamp, including exclusive in-store partnerships with Manolo Blahnik and Stella McCartney (the only stockist in Australia, so far).

The best thing to happen in this city since the pho-volution is now on Collins St. Uncle has opened a second location, similar to their original St Kilda digs, but different enough to make it worth your while. All the favourites are still on the menu, the classics like crispy pig’s ears banh mi and their mini pho selection, but around 80% of the menu is brand spanking new. We can’t wait to try the Bo luc lac – shaking porterhouse cubes with confit pearl onion, smoked tomato salsa and watercress.

You’ve got to love a burger joint that just goes the whole hog. Monstrous stacks oozing cheese and aioli out the sides, an entire menu dedicated to pimped-out fries, and a shakes list that includes Nutella, Salted Carmel & Coconut and Milo & Tim Tam. Sweet Jesus, it can only be Nostimo & Co, Elsternwick’s newest burger bar. That sound you hear? That’s the sound of our self-discipline crumbling around us.

The experience begins at the nondescript front door, surrounded by peeling band posters and faded graffiti. Ring once and the heavy black wood swings back to reveal a green-lit wonderland: tulip lights hanging from the ceiling (a nod to Oscar Wilde), 19th century decanters on every table, low light and crystal glassware, a Prohibition-style courtyard and a ‘reverse bar’ with 36 bottles of French, Swiss and Australian absinthe on display. Welcome to AbsinthiA, Fitzroy’s latest night cap, a herb-infused Parisian salon with a double dose of Belle Époque elegance.

Things are a bit different at Black Gold, Lennox Street's newest resident: with wagyu beef, smoked duck and smoked salmon on the menu, you won’t be craving boring ol’ bacon for brekky.

When chef Emely Donegan returned to Melbourne from a stint in Portland USA, she saw a sandwich-shaped gap in the market. Enter Big Dog’s Deli, Richmond’s new shrine to all the good things that happen between two slices of bread.

If you haven’t met our friend Pablo Honey yet, sort yourself out and get there toot suit. 

Quick and dirty fish and chips by the beach is all well and good, but if you’re going to survive Chapel St’s cut-throat restaurant arena, you need to get a little fancy. Enter Tommy Ruff, Windsor’s new seafood bar and chippery.

A whisky-lover’s dream has opened its doors on Brunswick St. Taking inspiration from Japanese whisky bars, arguably the best in the world, The Elysian welcomes anyone new or old to the whisky game. Take a seat along the polished wooden bar and take your pick from the 300 rare and interesting bottles on the wall.

The Euro-centric restaurant group that brought you Spring Street’s  Gelateria Primavera, The European and City Wine Shop has scooped out the perfect three-in-one: Barbarella Gelato and Wine. Think of it as the Holy Trinity: a one-stop shop for all your café, wine bar and gelateria needs. Basically the perfect addition to the espresso-steam grandeur of The Block Arcade.

The 60s and 70s were very good to Jimi and Zoe Paul, the husband and wife team behind Bali-based label Mister Zimi. There’s a definite ‘groovy’ streak running through the brand, with playful florals and big block colours evoking a time when everyone looked effortlessly awesome and the avocado was the height of haute cuisine.

Whatever else you think about New York City, those guys know how to gym. And now a slice of that Big Apple, boutique fitness scene is getting its sweat on in the backstreets of Cremorne, near Swan St. It’s called Progression Fitness, a joint project from owners Scott Pendlebury (of Collingwood fame) and trainer Ben Scolyer, built on professional coaching and high intensity training (HIT). If you haven’t tried a HIT session before, you probably don’t know what a ‘workout’ really is.

On first glance, The A Life might look like your regular boutique yoga studio, but step inside and you’ll soon realise there’s a lot more on offer than just child’s pose and deep breathing. Run by fully qualified Osteopaths, this Carlton North clinic takes a holistic approach to healing, focusing on wellness from the inside out.

There’s a new yoga studio making waves in Hawthorn East. Jessica Dewar Yoga runs on a pretty unique system (aka the Lentil As Anything approach). They practice a range of yoga styles in their classes, and the cost is totally up to you. Yup, you read that right.

Describing themselves as a coastal concept store, FLOC is bringing modern beach homewares and fashion to Melbourne’s inner suburbs. 'Bout time, right?

Middle Park’s name is pretty apt—the South’s classic middle child: sandwiched between its Grand Prix park-brother, Albert, and the grunge and glam of St Kilda. The only people who know its foodie secrets are the canny locals who spend Sundays brunching near the Armstrong St roundabout. To everyone else, it’s a suburb that sort of fills in space. Until now, anyway, because Jack The Geezer just landed on Canterbury Rd.

Neuw Denim is Melbourne’s latest boot-cut, acid-washed temple to all things jeans. Founded back in 2009 by Swede Par Lundqvist and Aussies Richard Bell and Steve Little, Neuw’s flagship Melbourne store has landed in the CBD. And it’s already generated some serious blue buzz. 

Brighton is a suburb that brunches with the best of them. Cafes basically outnumber people here. But try searching Bay St for a classy cocktail and date-night dinner and you’re going to come up short. The suburb, heaving at 10am on a Sunday, kind of winds down after dark…until now anyway.

Need a quick bite? Grab takeaway at Kelso’s, cause you’ll be in and out in a flash. Some might call it Abbotsford’s missing piece, as people have been demanding a sandwich shop there since time began.

If you find yourself peckishly strolling along the beach at St Kilda West and you can’t take your eyes off the sea, here’s a perfect go-to brunch spot with alfresco dining. Good food, killer views and calming ocean air. Winner.

Sitting a stone’s throw from Flemington Racecourse, this horse-inspired burger bar is SPOT ON for a post-run refuel, and it’s neon pink interior is a stark contrast to its noodle legend of a neighbour, Laksa King (who still holds the title of best laksa in Melbourne, fifteen years after opening).

Say goodbye to unhealthy fast food. We’ve discovered a vegan joint down St Kilda Road that’s serving up 100% plant-based comfort food, 100% guilt free. Food won’t take longer than 10 minutes, and it’s cheaper than the standard $22 vegan meal you see on menus around town. Proof you can afford to eat well.

Drop what you’re doing, cancel your plans for the week and please take a seat—we’ve got some news. All-you-can-eat sushi and sashimi has hit Melbourne’s streets and workweek dining has never been soy awesome.  

Fitzroy’s early Christmas present of 2016 have gone full burger in April 2017 and let’s just say you NEED both hands to hold on to these bad boys. They've since added new burgers to the menu and have started dishing out heavenly modern Aussie classics like grilled chicken burgers and bacon rolls. Drooling yet? Here's a hot tip: They've got a burger bargain at $12 with a side of fries on weekdays till 7pm!

Burger connoisseurs in Melbourne needn’t take a break because Burger Project has just opened their third store in Melbourne.

Having earned their stripes at the famed Rockpool Group, two of Melbourne's best sommeliers have opened their own cellar and bar in the inner north gem of Collingwood. Comptoir, meaning counter in French is a new casual wine bar, serving up local and international names in a cosy venue seating only 45. 

Northwesties are spoilt for choice in terms of specialty coffee cafes and brunch spots, with new ones popping up at every turn. But we’ve found Essendon’s coziest brunch spot that’s perfect for families, with a couple of comfy bean bags and a great kids menu on board. Whether it’s lunch in the morning or brekkie in the afternoon, 88 Keys have got you covered.

Little balls, big balls; chicken balls and fish balls—Meatball & Wine Bar’s new Chapel Street venue is where the good (meatball) times roll. Championing only the finest quality ingredients (they even have their own old school butcher shop in Richmond), roll on in for decadently modern Italian dishes that rival (dare we say it) Sunday dinner at Nonna’s.

You can stop searching for Mr Right because we’ve found him and he’s the whole. God. Damn. Package. Axil Coffee Roasters is not just a specialty coffee roaster, it’s also a café and wholesaler, which means this hot little Hawthorn location is a real keeper (and also defs something to introduce the ‘rents to).

Death by chocolate? Sounds heavenly. With its fantastic location just a few happy skips from South Yarra station, you’ll instantly cure any bad day with a trip to the Baker’s Bench from 1-5pm. Surround yourself with good vibes and the therapeutic smell of baked goods at this bespoke boutique bakery where eggs are free range from the Mornington Peninsula and chocolate is nothing short of Belgian Couverture.