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Independent publishing love is what it's all about at Perimeter Books. The store focuses on small press titles, art and design books and zines. Boasting clean lines and loads of natural light, Perimeter is a dream for the book-lover meets minimalist meets design-enthusiast. 

From the artisan bakers at Rustica Sourdough comes Rustica Canteen, a cafe bringing together the talents of previous head chef at Ladro and Touchwood, Tristan White, and Tall Timber and Marquis of Lorne's Matt Vero. The cafe's fitout boasts a 'laneway feel' yet maintains a spacious interior and the menu is a true testament to its team, offering a range of healthy dishes without compromising on flavour. Get ready to dig in deep!

Featuring a range of in-house products, The Craft and Co. is a Melbourne restaurant with a difference. It’s all about keeping things in-house here! Occupying a mega warehouse at the north end of Smith Street, this Melbourne café will roast its own coffee, bake its own breads and pastries, smoke its own meat, make its own cheese and brew its own beer and spirits. These delectable housemade products will be featured across the breakfast, lunch and dinner menu and showcased in the upstairs cocktail bar. Something special is building here guys, stay tuned! 

The Brownie Bar we know and love from Prahran Market has expanded and can now be found in the CBD, with more than 20 different flavours of brownies on a rotating basis, as well as a range of brownie desserts, including shakes, gelato and sundaes. For your next chocolate hit, look no further than the "Brownie Mess", featuring layered chocolate brownie, meringue, choc hazelnut sauce and toasted hazelnuts. Um yum.

Southsiders, rejoice! Equipped with six state-of-the-art floatation tanks, the Water Temple wellness centre is a fantastic place to unwind, giving both the body and mind an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate.

Oakleigh residents, rejoice! Melbourne’s ultimate #burgerporn joint, Mick Adams Burger Bar, is just a stone’s throw away from Oakleigh Station. A tribute to the founder of Australia’s milk bars, Mick Adams, the restaurant focuses on no-fuss quality burgers, like the Cheeky Charlie, featuring soft-shell crab, coriander, pickled cucumber, chilli jam and aoli.

Located in the heart of Richmond, new Melbourne bar The Ugly Duckling is adding to the sophistication of Swan Street. The intimate wine and cocktail hot-spot offers an extensive wine list, a bespoke cocktail menu and both local and international beers, as well as classic bar food, including black truffle potato chips. They're also serving up a delicious cheese selection, featuring favourites like Manchego or Bleu d’Auvergne blue. Swing by on Sundays for a free cheese plate with any bottle of wine; our pick's the Debussy ‘Reverie’ Rose. 

Praise be to the pizza gods! A25, famously South Yarra’s most delicious pizza restaurant, has finally opened its CBD location serving morning coffees, lunch and dinner, and boy, is it blowing our foodie minds. With an all too convenient location situated on the corner of Lonsdale Street, right next to Hardware Lane, this epic day-to-night venue is all about serving fresh, innovative food that doesn’t scrimp on quality or flavour. From chilli prawn and truffle creations to rocky road dessert pizzas, as well as home-made gnocchi and wagyu lasagne, you’ll find so many drool-worthy menu options that you could happily visit A25 for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If you're after some funky, wearable and stylish shoes, Lost In Seasons is well worth a visit. Stocking the full range of Rollie shoes, Lost In Seasons is in the SO:ME Space section of South Melbourne Market. There's a huge array of patterns and styles and if you're a sucker for metallics, you'll be in heaven.

Frankie's Story is a unique children's store with a strong focus on sustainable and organic materials. The designs and materials used are all top-notch and it's a fantastic place to find some stylish threads for the little one in your life.

Tea Drop is a beautiful tea shop that can be found in the South Melbourne Market. Stocking every kind of tea that you can imagine, you can sit down for a relaxing cuppa or, for something a bit different, they serve a micro, cold brewed nitrogen iced tea! You can shop for wholesale tea, smaller packages, or dine in for a single cup of the good stuff. 

Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant Tim Ho Wan has finally opened its Bourke Street doors, bringing Melbourne dumpling fans a chance to try the parcels of deliciousness that have won awards across Asia. Famed for their epic dim sum, this Hong Kong favourite has been hugely popular in Sydney since its launch in May. 

A stunning florist on the outer edge of South Melbourne Market, Azalea specialises in native and exotic blooms. Owner / operator Michael Pavlou is passionate about creating quality arrangements for any occasion. 

A bookshop that combines a love for the written word and a penchant for sharp design and beautiful homewares - there's nothing to be grumpy about here. Despite its small size, The Grumpy Swimmer customers return time and time again for the carefully curated range of titles and friendly staff. Having built a warm community of book-lovers through their book club, poetry readings and storytelling nights, the store is a delight for regulars and newcomers alike. 

It’s a funny thing, but all good nights in the CBD tend to end at The Mill House. Like Heartbreaker and The Carlton Club, this place has its own gravity—it calls to you at about 10:30pm, when your dinner’s worn off and you’re looking to kick on for a big one.

African food is hot on our culinary radar right now, and if you’re looking for a venue that’s packed full of mouth-watering plates and African vibes, you can’t go wrong with CBD restaurant—polēpolē. This daylight-filled Little Collins Street bar-restaurant is all about serving up incredible flavours, whether creative cocktails, game meat or vegetarian dishes are your bag.

If you're a fan of Japanese food in Melbourne, you'll love hidden gem, Wasshoi. The petite Japanese kitchen, which is based on the small kitchens found in many Japanese cities, is tucked inside Prahran Market and serves up some delicious rice bowls, skewers, pork buns, chicken soup and sweet treats. Do yourself a favour and pick up an express lunch from here sometime this week!

New Melbourne bar and restaurant Hunter & Barrel will open its doors in late October as part of the town square redevelopment at Eastland Shopping Centre in Ringwood. Celebrating world-class meats and produce, the menu features warm, hearty dishes such as slow-roasted beef rib and pork belly cooked expertly over a signature coal grill. To wash it down, guests can expect barrel-aged cocktails, fat-washed spirits along with refreshing craft beers and boutique wines on tap. We can't wait to celebrate the warmer months at Hunter & Barrel.

Sitting on a quiet suburban street in Glen Iris, Baba Sus is everything you’re looking for in a local café. Cosy yet spacious, with an interesting menu that still offers the regular favourites with a few twists, this Asian-inspired gem ticks all the boxes.

Agathé Pâtisserie is a pastry lover's dream. With a steady stream of freshly baked goods being served, you're guaranteed to always find something that takes your fancy. Specialising in the quirky, there are always some interesting options available - think turmeric and caraway, café au lait, brie and sour cherry and goat’s cheese, walnut and honey croissants. Yum!

Emerald Hill Deli stocks every type of small good, cheese and dips that you could dream of. There's also a great selection of macarons and other cakes and desserts, not to mention ready-made pizzas and breads. You'll be in antipasti heaven!

Opened in the 1920s, Hill of Content is Melbourne’s oldest bookstore. The ground floor is largely filled with new releases and fiction titles while upstairs delves into classic literature, art, philosophy and travel. Stocking a range of gifts and reading accessories, Hill of Content boasts as much charm as it does quality reads and is a Melbourne-must for book lovers. 

Whether you’re a culinary star in the making, or someone who doesn’t know their cumin from their chorizo, Meatsmith has you covered. The part-deli, part-butcher, part-kitchenwares supplier is a one-stop shop for organic and rare breed meats, and pre-cooked cuts (hold the phone because they sell the Cumulus 8-hour lamb shoulder to go!). 

As a welcome new addition to Melbourne's already vibrant food truck scene, Super Taco is here to bring some bite back into our Mexican food. Offering a range of tacos with crazy ingredients (including cactus), Super Taco is also serving up a range of tasty sides like charred corn, hand-fried corn chips and chipotle beans. Yes please!

It’s refreshing to find somewhere in the heart of Melbourne that oozes relaxed sophistication, but won’t empty your wallet. [Stoke] Bar + Kitchen— not to be confused with its big sister upstairs, Stokehouse City—is keeping patrons watered and entertained with its laidback vibe and excellent menu.

Miss Nail Bar is the perfect place to get an express mani. It's a fresh and funky space within the South Melbourne Market and the team is cheery, committed to delivering fantastic service to the whole family. They make their own scrubs, too! 

Sitting pretty on the main strip in Glen Waverley, YOMG has become a legitimate destination for serious burger and fries lovers, locals and non-locals alike.

Lucy Lockett in Brunswick is one of the cutest new cafes to hit Melbourne's breakfast scene. The single-room venue has a beautiful outdoor porch area and its incredible dishes—think smoothie bowls, chilli scrambled eggs, kingfish with beetroot, snowpeas and poached eggs, and a mouth-watering butter chicken and slaw burger—make it a favourite with locals, especially at the weekend. Open 7 days, including public holidays, and boasting an all day breakfast (the kitchen is open from 8am to 3pm), this adorable little cafe is our pick for a lazy north-side brunch. 

Sister to Giddiup, Wynyard is nestled on Wynyard Street in South Melbourne, and adjoined with Japanese homewares store Made In Japan - a perfect match with Wynyard's interiors and minimalist aesthetic. Some of the menu delights include a 5 & Dime bagel with either smoked ham and cheddar or smoked salmon, caper berry and cream cheese, lavendar pancakes, and a rosemary and bacon omelette. Ummm, salivating! Perfect for lovers of fine flavours and sharp design (and who isn't in Melbourne?), Wynyard is our new South Melbourne go-to. 

You know those days when all you need is a hug? If no one's around/able/willing to take part in a comforting embrace, pop into Melbourne's Jaffle Jaffle for a tasty, tasty toasted sandwich, i.e. bread's answer to the cuddle. You can start your day with a Wakey Wakey (egg, bacon, cheese, spinach, relish)  or if you're really down and out, The Mama has got your back (spaghetti bolognese, parmesan). For something on the side, try an order of chips, a shake, or one of Jaffle Jaffle's lipsmacking desserts. We couldn't go past Clay's apple pie for an extra dose of love.

You'll fall in love with the selection of homewares, jewellery, skin care and many, many other types of knick-knacks that are available at Klopper. Situated inside the South Melbourne Market, there is a beautifully curated selection of goods. Klopper is the perfect place to head if you're after gifts for that hard-to-buy-for female in your life!

Designer women's clothing meets artisan-style deli in this gorgeous little store in Hawthorn East. Mallalieu stocks a range of threads, accessories, homewares and vintage pieces and will ensure your tastebuds are also delighted by their sweet and savoury bites. Pull up a seat in the leafy courtyard or wander through for a browse with your coffee in hand (in a takeaway cup of course!).

Spruced up in 2015, The Metropolitan Hotel is looking rather schmick. Lunch includes a variety of plates for sharing and they also offer a set $18 lunch menu which comes with a pot of Two Birds Golden Ale, a glass of Cape Vine white or red, or a soft drink. You can also drop in for a $10 wood-fired pizza on a Friday night.

Collingwood's Two Birds has got their cafe game down. These guys offer an all-day breakfast menu with vegan, gluten free and vegetarian options and serve Code Black coffee, Capi sparkling water and fruit sodas. The interiors are a classic blend of stone, wood and brick which leaves a clean yet rustic feel to the space. Perfect for a Sunday feed or even a breakfast date, Two Birds is a welcome addition to Collingwood's cafe hub. 

The home of Holgate beer—one of the best craft beers in Melbourne and its surrounds—Holgate Brewhouse is a fantastic brewery, pub and guest house in Woodend. The unique venue combines the brewery, a bar that's perfect for ordering a tasting paddle or two, tapped fresh from the keg, and some mouth-watering food, whether you need a light snack or the full three courses. If you're after top-notch beer that's a stone's throw from the city, lock in a visit to Holgate Brewhouse and get ready for some sipping! 

House of Maxx is a welcome addition to the boutiques along High Street, Armadale. The focus here is a love of nourishment and fostering healthy skin with customised facials and health coaching for customers. Visit House of Maxx for a specialised consult, treatment or further information on their exquisite skin products. 

Keeping cafe culture simple is Essendon's Form Cafe, a humble little venue on tucked up on Albion Street. Take our advice and order the cheese and onion square i.e. leek and onion braised in white wine on toast, covered in grilled cheddar. Ummm, yes. And for something sweet, we loved the brioche with ricotta, honey and pistachios. These guys serve up coffee by Campo's and are a must for your heartier meat-based dishes. 

Hearty burgers, sandwich stacks, and Spanish influences make St Martha's a solid choice for northsiders. With spacious interiors, this Essendon cafe is great for groups, while those just after a coffee can swing past the takeaway window out front for a quick brew by Axil Coffee Roasters. The cafe also stocks a number of products on-site, including Axil Coffee beans, KeepCup resusable coffee cups and Good Brew Kombucha flavours. 

Ooh la la! Cupcakes, tarts, macarons, donuts and puffed pastries, our eyes are popping with the French delights at Essendon's Parisian Patisserie Boulangerie. This cafe completes the look with classic Paris-chic interiors and friendly staff who take pride in the art of French baking. Savoury bites are also on offer but let's be real, we're in this for the sweets. 

The folk at this quaint Moonee Ponds cafe know how to serve up a pretty plate. A few of our favourite mouthwatering dishes include the potato and preserved lemon pancakes, buttermilk fried chicken wings, and black forest waffles with cookies and cream ice cream. Oh, and they also do bite-sized delights like cake pops (yep, that's cake on a stick). Why are you still reading this? Get on over to Darling Steet Espresso stat.

The name alone will be enough to pique your interest, but it doesn't capture everything that Melbourne cafe, Grey Gardens in Fitzroy has to offer. A mixed-use project space, you can expect to find a picture theatre, gallery, cafe and concept store at any one time. Serving Three Thousand Thieves coffee and fancy tea infusions, drop in to this Melbourne cafe for a smørrebrød (open sandwich) or a jar of hot, nourishing soup.

Serving all-day breakfast, taking us to bagel and burger heaven for lunch, and through to Italian flavours for dinner, Pepper Cafe is the go-to in Flemington. Across the road from Newmarket Station and inside the old 'Hygienic Library', Pepper is a great spot for anything from business meetings, to family get-togethers, to brunch catch-ups with your pal. 

Brunch plates, cheese platters, Japanese bites, and vintage cocktails. St Kilda's Love&Dysfunction are doing their own thing, and we dig it. Crafting a menu that defies strict tastes, they are combining what they love and serving it up with some stellar brews. A bar that really does have something to offer all who walk through its doors, Love&Dysfunction is a welcome addition to Melbourne's southside. 

Phat Milk in Travancore is bringing the Middle East to Melbourne, serving breakfast, lunch and sweet treats with an Arabian twist. For something different, try the shish barak (think Lebanese dumplings) and do not leave without ordering dessert. The maple bacon and strawberry smuffin (not quite a sandwich, not quite a muffin) will keep you coming back to this cool little Melbourne cafe.

If you're looking for an urban escape, Melbourne cafe Second Home is calling your name. Nestled among the gumtrees in north-eastern suburb Eltham, the latest project by Jason Jones is a cafe, bakery and art gallery all at once, housed in an iconic Alastair Knox built warehouse. The menu will surprise and delight, with old favourites like bircher muesli listed alongside healthy acai bowls and Mr Jones' famous "golden folded eggs". Don't forget to pick up a pastry on your way out!

Somewhat of a hidden gem, Eddy's cafe in Collingwood makes some of the best sandwiches in the city. Think bourbon chicken, chipotle mayo and rocket sandwiches, amazing veggie wraps, epic scrolls and delicious gluten-free cakes and you're only half way there! A week-day only affair, Eddy's cafe is the perfect place to pick up a coffee and a hearty bite to eat...Just make sure you arrive hungry!

Housed inside of Melbourne’s most luxurious, historical CBD hotel–InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, Market Lane Bar is one of our top picks for an indulgent high tea that doesn’t scrimp on the luxuries!

Trophy Wife in Richmond is your one-stop shop for some of Melbourne's best nails, hair and beauty services. Whether it's a crazy set of talons, a new 'do or a fresh face, Chelsea Bagan has you covered.

Lygon Street may be renowned as Melbourne's Italian food mecca, but just one block away, Scopri is serving up some of the finest food and wine from Italy, using incredible local products from artisan producers. Don't leave this establishment without trying their house-made pasta which has to be tasted to be believed (our favourite was the pappardelle with partridge). Best of all, if you have a bottle of wine that you've been saving for a special occasion, bring it along and let the staff at Scorpi take care of the rest.

A Middle Eastern gem tucked away in Moonee Ponds, Nabiha is dishing up excellent coffee and a tightly curated menu of tradtitional dishes with a twist. Between paninis, pastries and vivid flavours, we're confident that you'll find something that'll hit the spot. You'll be able to enjoy all of this in a small, industrial fit out that still manages to convey the character of the family that owns it. 

The chequered history of Dogs Bar only adds to the intrigue of this Melbourne venue which could arguably claim to be the city’s first wine bar. With a new team running the St Kilda staple, Dogs has been given a new lease of life and the menu reflects this injection of energy. If you’re feeling virtuous, order the kingfish ceviche with grapefruit, avocado and cucumber... If you’re anything like us, get ready for the pinot-glazed whole roast duck. Whatever takes your fancy, you’ll find something lovely to sip on from the all-Australian wine list, with some interesting cocktails also on offer. It’s great to see the old Dog performing some new tricks!

Light and breezy, Short Round is a Melbourne breakfast destination with a difference. Located on High Street in Thornbury, this local hot-spot is serving up some seriously special brunch options, including house-made date and orange waffles, with vanilla mascarpone, toffee pecans and butterscotch, and sriracha scrambled eggs with feta and spring onions. Um yum. Feeling festive? Select something sneaky from their wine and cocktail list, like a glass of Pimms or a rip-roaring Bloody Mary. 

For your modern Middle Eastern flavour hit, you can't go past Melbourne restaurant Rumi, which has become an institution in East Brunswick. Renowned for their epic banquets, Rumi's menu is designed to share, and features spiced Lebanese lamb shoulder, freekeh salad and — our personal favourite — sigara boregi (pastry stuffed with haloumi and kasseri). Best of all, Rumi does takeaway, so you can enjoy an Arabian night from the comfort of your own couch.

Sharp lines and wood, wood, wood is the main feature of this teeny Melbourne CBD cafe, next to the coffee of course! Tucked in the shop-front window of Brolly Studios (designers of the cafe) and Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Flipboard is a neat spot to grab your caffeine hit. Headed up by a small team of three, service is kept tailored and consistent. Sidle up in the outdoor booths or take a seat upstairs where you'll still be able to enjoy the sunshine thanks to the cafe's clever design.

While we love our hole-in-the-wall cafes, we can't go past a really open space to tuck in to brunch. Let Me Be Frank is wonderful for kicking back with friends or family, offering several communal tables and couches. Outdoor seating is also available, while extra high ceilings and arched windows will ensure plenty of natural light and an airy feel to dining inside. The menu speaks to the Melburnian cafe favourites of baked eggs, smashed avo, fresh salads and clean sweets, so let us be frank and say this is a South Melbourne delight. 

Emilia is the trattoria that has opened where Gill's Diner used to be. The team behind Emilia aimed to provide quality Italian food that was true to their heritage and the reregions that they hail from; we can safely say that they've succeeded.

Capitalising on Melbourne's newfound love for beer paired with cheese, Two Row Bar on Smith Street boasts some top-quality rotating craft beer on tap and a menu of ridiculous grilled cheese sandwiches, epic cheese boards and salty bar snacks. Not in the mood for beer? Never fear, Two Row also stocks an excellent range of cider, wine, whisky, bourbon, gin, vodka, rum... Need we go on?

Hole-in-the-wall, underground hub Code Black Coffee is a no brainer for your morning cup. These guys take their blending craft seriously and while most won't drop in for the whole cafe shebang, they will for a stellar brew. Perfect for the corporate folk to get through the day or those who just happen to wander by, Code Black on Collins is a city must for coffee lovers. 

Not only a home to live jazz, The Uptown Jazz cafe also champions improvisational styles from international musicians. Offering a full food Japenese menu, this place is great for teeing up live music with some Tokyo style flavours. The mood is warm, the glasses are full and the vibe is perfect for some weekend groovin'. 

Cordwainer and leather goods brand Wootten is a petite Prahran-based business that makes some of the best shoes in Melbourne. The styles are classic and the craftsmanship is of a world-class quality, making for a footwear or satchel investment that just keeps on giving. The customisation is seriously incredible too: Order from this amazing Melbourne fashion brand and you can choose everything down to the stitch detail of the shoe. A must for our more sartorial Listers!