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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.

Queen of the South is here to show you what modern Mexican dining looks like. Head chef Malcolm Williams (from Touché Hombre, Rice Paper Scissors) aims to bring maturity to Mexican flavours. More than just your usual Mexican street food, this restaurant caters to every dining need. From small plates to larger sharing dishes, a dedicated vegan menu, bar snacks, desserts and wicked cocktails.

While Stepping Stone may be set back from the hustle and bustle of Chapel Street, that doesn’t mean this beautiful café hasn’t been making noise of its own.

Over the last 8,000 years, we’ve been gradually pumping more and more additives and preservatives to our bread to cater to the masses, but you won’t find anything artificial at Burnham Bakery.

Primo is your friendly local pizza joint if you’re fortunate enough to live in the beautiful suburb of Northcote, or it could be if you’re willing to move. With a menu jam-packed with delicious Italian dishes and desserts, and a reputation for affordable pizza, this is your one-stop shop for calamari, margherita pizza and chocolate avocado mousse.

We’ve discovered Melbourne’s latest addition to its middle-eastern dining scene, and you’ll find it right in the middle of the CBD.

Whether you’re buying them for a special occasion, or just to put a smile on somebody’s face, you’re always going to be in need of a magnificent bouquet of flowers.

Since its humble beginnings in menswear, Rag & Bone has made a name for itself as a leader in ready-to-wear men’s and women’s fashion, thanks to its combination of classic, high-quality tailoring and downtown New York edge.

Gelato lovers prepare your spoons because the Augustus Gloop Gelatery has your golden ticket. This shop hanging out in Melbourne’s North is an ever-changing delight of creamy gelato, cookie sandwiches and other dessert-like creations.

Nick Stanton's Ramblr is what we call a Venn Diagram restaurant. It sits in the middle of two worlds, where 'casual' meets 'fine dining' and Europe and Asia collide in some sort of delicious tectonic eruption. 

Need a new lunch spot? Look no further! The perfect Japanese takeout lies right on Fitzroy’s Smith Street.

So, you think you know Vietmanese food inside-out? Well foodies, leave your preconceived notions of Viet-style cooking at the door of Richmond newcomer—An Uong Eat. Drink. Vietnam. This cute, contemporary twist on traditional cooking styles and familiar flavours is transforming Viet cuisine into mouth-watering tapas-esque morsels that melt in your mouth, leaving your belly brimming with deliciousness!

Special diet? No worries. There’s something delicious for every allergic foodie at Market On Malvern.

This vegan restaurant is about to change your mind on where to get the best pizza. Red Sparrow is Melbourne’s newest wholly plant-based pizzeria in Collingwood. Whether you subscribe to veganism or not you can enjoy a delicious slice of Mushroom or Pepperoni pizza. Don’t be fooled by the ‘meat’ options either; everything is vegan from the pepperoni to the bratwurst and all the cheeses are dairy-free.

Bar’s popping up in unused spaces throughout the city of Melbourne are nothing new, but often they can appear haphazard and unfriendly. This is not the case for Whitehart.

A taste of French elegance has landed at Ladurée in Chadstone. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of shopping to enjoy a macaron and tea in their stunning tearoom or along the marble bar. Classic macarons are the order of the day from salted caramel to liquorice, rose petal and coffee. For those who prefer French delights of the non-macaron variety there is a selection of patisserie cakes available, ice creams, sorbets and even milkshakes.

Overlook is a bar and café next to the Astor Theatre that just screams ‘Here’s Johnny’. Disappear into an art deco dream (or nightmare as the case may be) named after the Overlook Hotel from Stephen King’s The Shining. Sip on carefully crafted cocktails, fine wines and craft beers or any of their selection of Australian spirits if the eerie surroundings leave you jittery.

All hail to the pizza gods because there’s a new faith in town. Sacrilege just came back into style at Holy Moly – an all-night pizza joint and sports bar downstairs in Hawthorn’s Untz Untz nightclub. Stop in for a Bloody Maria and a pizza hand crafted by the genius behind Lucky Coq and Bimbo Deluxe.

From the duo behind the highly popular Fitzrovia comes a new casual eatery in the heart of St Kilda’s bustling Acland St. Roxborough is all about Mediterranean flavours done right.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it should be no surprise to you that Melbourne is in the grips of an ongoing burger craze. But while the price of houses in our fair city grow ever higher, the price of burgers remains quite affordable.

Stop what you’re doing, get in the car and visit Clickon Furniture. Just take our word for it. If for some reason you’re still reading this because your car’s in the shop or there’s a Metro strike going on, here’s a little more info.

It may not look like much from the outside but this cafe in Brunswick is your next top brunch, lunch—any time of day spot. It wouldn’t be a Melbourne worthy café without stellar coffee and Rogue District has you sorted, sourcing theirs from local coffee roasters Reverence Coffee.

In a street saturated by Italian restaurants, this Korean BBQ venue is taking Lygon Street up a notch.

Millie Archer is the hot new brand in Melbourne-designed homewares, selling their stunning pieces exclusively online. Each item is unique with very few of each design produced. We hear your moans, but fear not because these designer goodies are affordable. You can actually get change out of $100! Millie Archer follows the simplicity of Scandinavian style and are always updating their collections to suit the seasons, so you can keep your home looking fab all year round.

The Firehouse is a 1929 Heritage listed metro fire station that has been lovingly restored into a comfortable and informal all-day dining and drinking establishment. This Ringwood restaurant features a simple Mediterranean inspired menu, entertaining bar nights and an extensive drinks list filled with carefully selected wines and craft beers.

With a menu packed with Japanese pancakes, dijon butter mushrooms, 'Breakfast Dogs' and ‘Yum Bowls', we can safely say that this west-side café puts the ‘cray’ in Footscray.

Frank’s is the latest café in a long line of amazing new eateries that trail down the east side of the bay. Launching in 2016, Frank’s is named after the founder and owner Harry’s late grandfather Frank McCann, and opens up a relaxed environment where you can grab some great food, coffee, and a catch up with your mates.

Curved pale wooden-panelled walls, a flecked sea green tiled floor and matching twin columns either side of the cake-laden service station greets you upon entry. The third endeavour from the team that transformed Bentleigh East’s Centre Road strip when they went in with Little Tommy Tucker and the hero’s behind Elsternwick’s Glovers Station, the St Martin’s name is announced in a bold new font designed specially by Work Art Life Studios. Pendant lights punctuate the tuck-pointed concrete block wall at the rear and hardwood tables and chairs dot the floor.

One of the most underrated cuisines in Melbourne has gotten a delicious, vibrant, kimchi-filled facelift. Specialising in modern South Korean flavours, Seoulja Boy’s menu explodes with chilli, fermented vegetables and addictively rich spicy sauce (but seriously, can we please have some to take home?).

Wild looking desserts and Instagram go hand in hand, and that’s why we’re super excited that Black Star Pastry has set up shop in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

Launching way back in 2013 with the help of a wildly successful crowd funding campaign—Melbourne Watch Company has been putting together beautiful timepieces since then.