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We think Fred Gets us. He 'gets' healthy eating and he 'gets' Melbourne’s takeaway needs for busy (cough, lazy) working bees. This particular Fred also gets how sometimes, mostly on our couch and Netflix days, we definitely need our food delivered.

Any sweet tooth will attest that the logistics of eating a waffle on the go is a lot like attempting to eat your Nonna’s spaghetti with chopsticks. One chopstick. A brilliant Melbourne, waffle-loving duo has the artery-clogging solution: Waffle Pops. Traditional crispy on-the-outside, chewy on-the-inside Belgium waffles are served on a stick and covered in 12 extravagantly sweet toppings. 

Brae has won every award imaginable—especially considering it's a restaurant with no set menu, a solid 130kms from Melbourne’s CBD, and placed happily aside a crumbling cemetery.

With 18 years of experience under his belt, Owner Darren Favretto and his team of dog-lovers can sure be trusted to take care of your pup. In fact, Darren only hires staff who have a dog of their own, which is important because, let’s be honest, dog owners and non-dog owners are completely different breeds.

Are you looking for the best chicken in Melbourne? Well, you're going to need to give Gami Chicken & Beer on Little Lonsdale Street a finger-licking try.

Now calling Melbourne her home, award winning Parisian Interior Designer, Nadia Aber-Griffith has set up her new showroom in Toorak Village. With 15 years experience under her belt, having worked on esteemed projects like the Hotel Duret in Paris, you know it’s going to be good. Nadia’s design philosophy centres on inspiring, motivating and empowering… amen to that!

Cornerstone & Co. in Hampton is everything that you could possibly wish for from a local cafe. Sitting pretty on the corner of Ludstone Street and Kingston Street, it sports a bright interior with comfortable modern furniture—and most importantly, a finger lickin' menu. 

Owners and siblings Charlotte and James Tizzard are keeping it real with their weekend dive bar operation, Hard Rubbish, in deepest Preston. On a shoestring budget, sourcing their retro chic décor from Gumtree and a bitta hard rubbish (of course), the pair have successfully converted the old massage parlour (yep, the kind you’re thinking of) into a bar where the locals flock to drink and snack.

The Bandroom Balcony at Prince of Wales has a new resident of the Southern Asian persuasion. Say hello to POW Kitchen, where executive Chef Daniel Hawkins and Head Chef Woosun Choi are bringing you flavour-packed bites and top shelf cocktails in abundance.

Melbourne's pizzeria scene is one that just keeps on giving, and the latest restaurant to toss a mozzarella-covered slice into the ring is Tutti I Sapori. With over seven years experience in the inner north, the Fitzroy North restaurant is the latest Melbourne venue to receive membership of the prestigeous Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN) in Naples—a mark of Italian quality and expertise that is overseen in Australia by 400 Gradi's head chef, Johnny di Francesco—for its Margherita Verace pizza, the traditional kitchen is about much, much more than dough and passata sauce.

The sister restaurant of Kin on Chapel Street, West of Kin focuses on modern Asian fusion. Headed by Alex Kim and Sam Pizone, the menu is a seasonal, beautifully fresh affair. Highlights include the Jiangxi style chicken bao, Yunnan style lamb ribs with sesame seeds, and sweet and sour soy lacquer, quail terrine and tart of beetroot. 

The drool worthy/life changing Doughnut Time team has finally opened the doors to a stand alone outlet to satiate hoards of doughnut-mad Melburnians.

Laneway Greens is nourishing the bellies of CBD workers and shoppers with their wholesome breakfast bowls, salads and smoothies. With so many healthy cafes cropping up in the ‘burbs, we are very excited to find this one right in the centre of the city. Pick up a blackberry and coconut chia pudding or macadamia and buckini granola bowl from these guys in your mad rush to the office. Or, if you feel like some liquid nutrition, their blended-on-the-spot smoothies are boasting out-of-this-world flavours including apple and cinnamon, and blueberry, banana and maple.

Following the (obsessive) demand of Royal Stack’s flagship store on Collins Street, the burger team have bought their addictively fresh burgers to Brunswick. Paying homage to Sydney Road’s heritage, the second Royal Stacks burger joint boasts halal-friendly options and middle-eastern inspired frozen custard. Think rosewater and pistachio, baklava, and kanafah from St Kilda-based 7 Apples. Tick, tick boom!

Saké, one of our favourite Japanese restaurants in Melbourne, has branched out to open a sibling venue in the city's gastronomic hotspot, Flinders Lane. Saké's new venue is definitely a crowd pleaser: split over two levels, the venue delivers standard dining on the top floor, a moody bar and open courtyard on the bottom floor—and even a dining room with a private garden. Think delicious Japanese fare paired with a sake degustation, and you're getting pretty close to the perfect private dining experience...

Surely, Melbourne is approaching its maximum capacity of gelato per capita? Well, not according to lines outside Prahran’s newest eatery Joylati! Run by the experienced Italian duo Cristino Vedovato and Fabrizio Locatelli, Joyalati only uses fresh fruit and organic milk and sugar to churn their creamy creations, so you can rest assured that your gelato is some of the finest dessert in Melbourne.

Tucked away in an alley arcade off Bourke Street, owners Ying Hou and Meiyan Wang (affectionately going by ‘mama’) are dishing up some of the freshest dumplings in town. Their infamous fillings, including a vegan zucchini mix and moussey mackerel, are unique and have their origins in Tantai, a little fishing town in the Chinese Shandong Peninsula. Dumplings are not the only specialty mama is servin’; be sure to also sample her handmade noodles. Pair these dishes with one of the tasty craft beers or ciders on offer and you’re laughing.  

A wet waddle away from St Kilda beach sits Pelican cafe-restaurant. Featuring an all day menu from breakfast to dinner, Pelican is ideal for everyone from hungry beach-lovers to your post-work crew.

Don’t waste your time feeling guilty at The Guilty Moose— with brunch dishes this good, calorie counting can be damned as far as we’re concerned! Expect flavour-packed meals, superb coffee and a get-up-and-go vibe at this Albert Park hot-spot.

It’s certainly not located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, but Spencer Street’s newly opened Caribbean grill and island bar, Pretty Mama, more than makes up for its lack of watery surrounds.

If you’ve ever wondered where you could find a smart, vintage hat for the gentleman in your life, we have the answer. Fitzroy’s Smart Alec not only sells, but specialises (we're serious) in unique, classical hats for the dapper gentleman.

If you ever need to measure Melbourne’s obsession with quality-baked goods, Baker D. Chirico’s Easter lines are a good indication. Brace yourselves for the moshpit-like lines inside this slim, Carlton shopfront. And yes, it’s worth it.

The latest venture from the team who brought us Brother Thomas (much love), Beer Wine and Calzone is a no-frills, laid-back pizzeria, ideal for a messy lunch or post-work pit stop.   

Essendon's booming cafe scene has welcomed many new additions lately, however if you're looking for a local legend that's been on the scene for more than a few months, you can't go wrong with family-friendly cafe, Friends Of Ours. Celebrating all that's good about cafe culture—great coffee, hearty and delicious food, and a relaxed vibe where anything goes—the buzzing venue is a hotspot for both locals and those passing through. 

Praise the Lord Brighton! Fantastically authentic Italian food has just landed smack bang on your doorstep.

Whoever said it was hard to shop for men clearly hasn’t visited The Windsor Annex. The space is as considered as the quality of clothing at this particular retail store—there’s no florescent lighting or worn-down fitting rooms here—and with fantastic gents and ladies labels, it's a must-visit for you fashion-savvy readers. 

This creatively named Carlton café boasts a simple menu which judging by its small, dedicated following of locals, is definitely hitting a sweet spot. The breakfast menu is dominated by baked eggs with a variety of fillings, including chorizo, tomato, black pudding and cheese.

OPENING LATE SEPTEMBER 2016

If you’re looking for Lemon, Middle and Orange and you think you’re heading the wrong way, go a little further. A former paint factory nestled between industrial warehouses and steaming factories, Lemon, Middle and Orange has stuck (somewhat) to its roots.

All you guys out there in your 20’s and 30’s are well acquainted with the struggle of finding a well-tailored suit at an affordable price. Thankfully, the 4-man crew behind the bespoke menswear lifestyle brand, Saibu no Akuma ('devil in details' in Japanese), are here to solve your problems.

The latest edition to Prahran’s growing boutique-store scene, the recently opened Collaborate Store is home to colourful homewares, unique jewellery and bold prints. The range is a collaboration (get it?) that includes a range of emerging local brands, showcasing some of the best Melbourne designers in a bright, airy interior.

The number of quality, experienced men’s barbers in Melbourne is so small, it could almost be a club. Richmond’s newly opened The Club Barbering has very nearly solved the problem singlehandedly.

Adjacent to Parkville’s Royal Children’s Hospital, Smith + Singleton gives Melburnians an exciting reason to visit the area. Featuring an all day, international menu that doesn’t suck for once, Smith + Singleton's menu is seamless, flavoursome and ready for the eating.

Prahran’s newest beauty salon is unashamedly feminine. From pure white appointment rooms to chandeliers and sleek black lounge chairs, Missie Coco’s space is relaxing, elegant and upmarket – a hint of what might be in store for your next visit.

There will never be enough tacos in Melbourne, at least according to the newest expansion of the Trippy Taco empire. Opening on the south side in St Kida, the second Trippy Taco store brings all your favourite meat-free Mexican food to the beachfront.

Moonee Ponds is fast becoming one of our favourite suburbs for a brunch crawl, and one of the brightest venues on our breakfast trail is District North. The suburban cafe is much, much more than a spot for some avo on toast. Boasting a large daylight-filled space, a menu that's got enough variety without reading like a phonebook, and a range of boozy options for those of you who are hankering after a spritz to get the weekend started, the newcomer has been rocking our socks with its savoury and sweet dishes. 

Clean and simple, just like their bagels. Fitzroy’s Mile End Bagel’s light interior ticks the basics: high-quality, pale timber, dilapidated white-washed walls and an extensive pile of flour stacked neatly in one corner, undoubtedly for tomorrow morning’s bake.

Rest House Float in Hampton East is the latest Melbourne float centre to send customers in to a dreamy, deeply relaxed state.

Matcha Mylkbar – a completely vegan-friendly café that refuses to ditch the poached eggs, or the bacon. Promised to serve breakfast and lunch from plant-based products (so vegan bacon and eggs if you missed that), as you may have guessed, a good portion of the menu will be dedicated to matcha-related dishes.

Burgers, ribs, salads, fries and all the trimmings are to be found at Hawthorn's Ribs & Burgers, which is tucked away on Glenferrie Road. Whether it's take-away or a dine-in feast, you'll find them both here. Their tasty locally sourced burgers come topped with veggies, salad and an extra helping of bacon or cheese, all crammed inside organic flour buns, ready to be devoured by Melbourne's hungriest meat lovers. 

Taking over one of Fitzroy's most prominent corners, She's Bar & Cafe has popped up in the space that was previously the G & T Gin Garden. Refitting the space with a handful of more luxurious details, the streetside bar and restaurant specialises in sharing plates and some of the freshest cocktails on the strip, making the most of the covetable location. 

One of Melbourne's sweet treat pioneers, Eat A Scroll is a firm staple on any sweet-tooth's go-to for some 3pm slump sustenance. Specialising in hand-made scrolls that come in just about every flavour you can think of, the Collingwood cafe-bakery serves up scrolls, cruffins and coffee to dine-in patrons, as well as offering takeaway options.

Reminiscent of a high school canteen—only leaps and bounds better—Miss Ruben is making waves in Ripponlea for its homely, unpretentious lunches which are ready-made and oh-so-easy to snag on the go.

Cafe, bakery and home of the doughnut waffle, The Left-Handed Chef in South Melbourne is a fantastic little cafe for a strong coffee and a good feed that can be as healthy or as indulgent as you like, even if you're a gluten-free foodie.

As soon as we think we've got a hold on HuTong's growing dumpling empire, the Chinese restaurant gurus go and open yet another dumpling hotspot in Melbourne. From their chilli wontons that we could eat by the bucket-load, to juicy prawn dumplings, to the perfectly steamed xiao long bao, this is one eatery that caters to just about every dim sum desire there is!

If you’re looking for a bit of pampering this week, A Little Company has the works without without the weird ingredients. With a focus on a sustainability, A Little Company takes on an integrated approach so you’ll leave feeling rested and happy inside and out.

Not another coffee shop in the inner north you say? Wrong! With eight years experience under his belt at D.O.C Espresso, Leon Dalle Nogare has realised his dream of recreating a traditional Italian espresso bar with his new café, Arno. The locals are already hooked, with a steady stream lining up for their daily insalata or chicken cotoletta panino.

Austin's has popped up quietly next to the Mt Erica Hotel, slowly replacing $15 parmas and steak specials with a surprisingly sophisticated tapas offering that speaks strongly of head chef Sunny Gilbert's time at Movida Next Door. The influence is obvious: but thankfully this tapas bar come casual restaurant is no mere copycat.

It’s easy to spot Mr Wednesday: positioned in a quiet street along the Hurstbridge line, Mr Wednesday’s rustic, relaxed shopfront stays busy through the morning rush.

Hallejuah! It's a Korean BBQ miracle. Mrs Kim's Grill is positioned on the killer Koornang Road shopping strip and it's a serious contender for Carnegie's best Korean BBQ restaurant.

Kuwaii is iconically Melbourne: that perfect combination of alternative and effortless; its sleek sillhouettes and trademark colourways translate across borders via a strong aesthetic that is instantly recognisable. They may even be solely responsible for getting a few black-loving Melburnians into colour... maybe.

Nestled on the intersection of Williams and Malvern road, Toorak’s favourite wine bar has morphed into its favourite craft beer mecca. 505 Cellars (formerly 505 Wine Room) is split into two distinct, modern spaces designed by Australian interior designer Ricky Smith. It's the beer temple Toorak desperately deserves.

Melbourne has fallen hook, line and sinker for US-inspired dive bars and BBQ joints in recent years, but Miss Katie’s aside, we haven’t really been swimming in authentic Southern-style seafood. Until now. Throwing open its doors this month, House of Crabs has side-scuttled into the underbelly of St Kilda’s Newmarket to bring the good people of Melbourne what is quite possibly the worst first date meal ever: the crab boil.

Are you looking for the best chicken in Melbourne? Well, you're going to need to give Gami Chicken & Beer in Fitzroy a finger-licking try.

Taking the pimped out gelatos of today and turning them on their heads, this Glenferrie Rd gelateria is taking gelato back to basics. Dripping in authenticity, Piccolina Gelateria is the place to go for your true Italian gelato hit.

The brilliant mind who delivered 8Bit to our salivating mouths has struck gold again in Footscray with his new BBQ joint, Up In Smoke.

If you haven’t discovered this Middle Eastern delight, it’s time to make a pit stop at Prahran Market. Walk into Abla’s Patisserie and the first thing you’ll spot are the trays of freshly baked Baklava and miniature Greek pastries. When you have questions (because you will), ask one of Abla’s knowledgeable and patient staff.

As soon as you set foot in Darling Style Merchants, you'll feel a warmth and positivity that is the signature of this brilliant lifestyle store. Founded by four inspiring women, Darling popped into our lives in 2014 and it's been kicking goals ever since.

The Tradesman started off as a quick in-n-out takeaway store (yep, mostly for tradies), but it's morphed into a chic, industrial style café serving up some bangin’ breakfast and lunch meals.  

Answering the prayers of every Melbournian, Feast Of Merit’s rooftop bar is an extension of the restaurant we know and love.