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Designer Marietta Marlow's ability to forsee trends and create looks that highlight feminimity make her Crossley Street boutique, Blonde Venus, a house of collector's items. Using her love of both new and vintage patterns, her clothes are all at once contemporary and timeless. At Blonde Venus, Marlow's love of craftsmanship shows right down to the perfect lines and cinched waists. A girlie girl's little slice of heaven.

Located in Ascot Vale, Reverence Specialty Coffee & Tea are well known for their house-roasted coffee and seasonal, organic teas. Using the very best of local produce, the food here is just as good - think sautéed kipflers, braised red cabbage, spinach purée, poached eggs and aged cheddar. The menu rotates seasonally and, with their coffee roasted weekly on-site, you'll be eating and drinking only the very best.  

Hopetoun Tea Rooms has been serving the civilised folk of Melbourne since way back in 1892, making it the city's oldest remaining tea room. Located in The Block Arcade, Hopetoun Tea Rooms dishes up much-needed respite from the urban jungle, as well as some of the most mouth-watering sponges, slices, pies and tarts, plus soul-soothing pots of tea. Full of old-fashioned charm, it's the perfect place to take visiting parents for some light refreshments, or high tea. Just watch them swoon over that sugar-laden counter display.

Riverland is a popular Melbourne bar and cafe that is about as riverside as it can get. Hidden in the Federation Wharf vaults on the edge of Federation Square, this venue is a great place to relax with a beer and watch the world float by. There's nothing like a barbeque on the Yarra, and an organic bratwurst with sauerkraut from Riverland is sure to hit the spot after a few pints. 

The Kingston Hotel is a comfy old pub in a quiet section of Highett Street in Richmond. A real locals haunt, this gastropub dishes up great food to a fairly well-behaved (read: older patrons welcome) crowd in a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere. There are several dining/drinking options, with a front bar area that's great for groups, the main restaurant section, and a beer garden for the warmer months. The staff are very friendly and always try and accommodate you, even on Wednesday nights when the hungry hordes descend for  – we're calling it – one of the best steak nights in town. Make sure you book in advance!

One Hot Yoga is a sleek, stylish, architect-designed hot yoga studio in South Yarra that offers a modern, powerful, om-light practice. The studio is warmed to a comfortable 37 degrees, or your core body temperature – the ideal temperature to gain maximum benefit, without the added stress on the body of thermo regulation. Every element of the studio has been designed for health, comfort, and aesthetic benefit. Namaste.

Named for the fashionable 4th arrondissement in Paris, Marais boutique lies in Royal Arcade, in the heart of the city. The racks are heavy with the wares of Givenchy, Balmain, Balenciaga, Celine, Lanvin, Helmut Lang and Mugler, among others, creating a high end boutique that offers the best of old world and modern chic. It's no surprise the best of the French designers have found their way to this exquisite Melbourne boutique. When only the best will do.

Look no further than Meizai, Richmond, when furnishing your home or business. Synonymous with quality and innovation, Meizai's broad range of furniture and decoratives covers a variety of styles, and exclusively houses a number of international designers, giving you choice like no other for interior decoration. Featuring the likes of d-bodi, Asiatides Paris home décor, Camerich and Halcyon Lake carpets and rugs, Meizai sets the benchmark in modern design.

Located in Curtin House, on Swanston Street, Metropolis Bookshop is something of a Melbourne institution. Carrying a large variety of specialist books covering art, architecture, fashion, graphic design, photography, film, music and drama, Melbourne's creatives can often be seen leaving the store, arms laden with material for information, entertainment, inspiration, or just a little bedtime reading.

Cinderella is proof a pair of shoes can change your life, and Miss Louise – up the Paris end of Collins Street – is changing lives everyday. A shoe and accessory store that is every girl's dream, the shelves of Miss Louise are adorned with heels and handbags from the highest end labels, sourced all over the world – Alexander McQueen, Chloe, Givenchy, Jil Sander, Saint Laurent and Valentino, just to name a few. Be the belle of the ball.

Cosy inside and cool outside, I Know a Place, close to the corner of Alexandra Parade and Brunswick Street, is the secret of locals and those who venture across the river to visit them. Hidden behind a non-descript Fitzroy fence and with some amazing graphic art covering the walls, those who dwell here enjoy live music, open mike sessions, signature cocktails and hot dogs (with all the trimmings). A perfect sunny afternoon can be spent in the courtyard, knowing the world is passing by just over the fence.

Hailed as Melbourne's only Bourbon Bar, The Kodiak Club on Brunswick Street Fitzroy brings out those in need of hard liquor and a decent bite. Inspired by local American neighbourhood bars, the cocktail list includes ingredients like bacon-infused bourbon, so you know you've come to the right place. Enjoy with Mac 'n' Cheese or some buffalo wings; this little slice of the USA is open seven days 'til very late.

Tradition is important at Tempura Hajime, in South Melbourne's Park Street, and this cosy restaurant only seats twelve in the fashion of Japanese tempura restaurants. Proud owners of a Good Food Guide chef's hat since 2008, the lunch and dinner menus at Tempura Hajime are short in length but big on flavours and variety. Take a group and enjoy the hospitality.

Melbourne’s lucky enough to be blessed with a handful of the best seafood restaurants in Australia, but no where does fresh fish, perfectly seasoned scallops and to-die-for oysters quite like southbank institution, The Atlantic, and its Oyster Bar & Grill.

With a US-meets-Aussie approach to baked goods, Candied Bakery in Spotswood offers doughy delights that will have you seeing stars and stripes - all it will take is one sip of an Apple Pie milkshake. The duo from Brunswick favourite, Sugardough, are behind this baked brilliance, and they are dishing up cakes, doughnuts, flaky pies, nutella-stuffed croissants and even soft serve icecream, with flavours that rotate weekly. Candied does far more than the basic bakery items and is well worth the trip across town.

With kooky colour schemes, a tropical rooftop bar and stuffed animals at every turn, The Carlton is a favourite of city slickers and suburbanites alike. Grab a beer, wine, or cocktail and munch on bar snacks, or opt for a full blooded meal in a cosy booth. If you're more of an outdoors type, there's a huge wooden deck that overlooks the city streets, where you can smoke, drink and mingle. The Carlton is absolutely overflowing on a Friday and Saturday night, so if you're not a fan of the crowds, come on a fairweather night and climb on up to the Palmz rooftop.

People forget that North Melbourne is actually really cool - Prudence Bar defines this statement. Prudence rocks the well-worn aesthetic, including lots of trinkets, dim lighting and friendly smiles from behind the bar. Most of the drinks are under ten bucks (including cocktails) and they also serve tea, coffee and hot chocolate. If you didn't already want to visit this cosy nook, there's a record player spinning your Dad's favourites, a whole heap of sink-into-me chairs and some great little nibbles on offer. Stumbling across (or out of) this bar makes you feel at home.

The Beautfort is a nautical themed bar residing on Rathdowne Street, Carlton. Specialising in craft booze, as well as old favourites, the real winner here is the huge range of specialty burgers ranging from the conventional (meat, cheese and sauce) to the heart attack worthy (Philly Cheese Steak burger) and the exotic (the NYC Banh Mi). Grab a pint and a bun and enjoy the boaty interior. Aye Aye me hearties!

Fifty Acres in Richmond is a quintessential Melbourne cafe - sleek interior design, great brunch menu and speciality coffee. Focusing on locally sourced ingredients and brewing Dukes coffee, Fifty Acres is the perfect place to stop by for some balsamic mushrooms on brioche or a bircher muesli, whilst you're navigating the many shops of Bridge Road. 

Tucked away in an alley in South Melbourne, Chez Dré is a bustling hub of rustic breads and baked delights. Open for all-day breakfast and lunch, Chez Dré's freshly baked goods are delicious and come pared with their housemade jams and chutneys, which are now available for take-away pucchase too. They're also using beans from acclaimed boutique roastery, The Maling Room, on the espresso machines. And if it's decadent cakes you're looking for, just head to Bibelot, their patisserie counterpart, next-door. 

Coffee obsessed is the only way to describe South Melbourne Market espresso connoisseurs, Clement Coffee Roasters. Offering special daily blends sourced from all over the world, their knowledge and passion for coffee will astound you, as well as tantalise your tastebuds. Whether you want to take home their beans and a sweet treat from Matt Forbes, or just grab a quick latte, make sure you pop over to their stall when you're at the South Melbourne Market next - you can't miss their cute little wooden alcove lined with pot plants. 

Visit Coffeehead in Camberwell and be wrapped up in their world of reclaimed furniture, foosball tables and in-house roasters. Coffeehead stocks a wide variety of freshly roasted coffee beans from highly respected roasting houses around Australia  – ready for you to purchase and brew at home. They also serve a rotation of five of these coffee varieties for you to taste in store. With great brekkie and lunch menu, you won't leave hungry. 

Feeding hungry Melburnians for over 15 years, award-winning Donovans in St Kilda is one of Melbourne's most iconic restaurants. Famous for the beautiful food, relaxed vibe and beachside location, best enjoyed via the floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor terrace. Owners Kevin and Gail Donovan, along with Head chefs, Adam Draper and Emma D'Alessandro, clearly have the recipe for success. The menu is extensive with a modern mix of favourite dishes, emphasising the best local produce. Donovans also offers an extensive wine list of Australian and imported wines and an eclectic mix of cocktails. A winner for any occasion.

Hidden behind a crimson door on Flinders Lane, Christine is the go-to shopping destination for Melbourne's well-heeled. Oozing sophistication and sex appeal, this underground boudoir is renowned for it's hand-picked selection of extravagant accessories sourced from around the globe. Also featuring an impressive selection of designer shoes and 'it' bags from the very best, you're sure to find something that tickles your fancy.  

Located in Manchester Lane, Claude Maus is a Melbourne institution that has been dressing the city's über-stylish since 2000. Rob Maniscalco's label is based on a slim, dark silhouette—think layered jersey, stretch denim, perforated leather and glossy furs. The result is a grungy elegance that is effortlessly cool and very, very Melbourne. 

Hidden down Rankins Lane, Comeback Kid is a boutique that should be on every Melbourne lad's hit-list. The store specialises in designer menswear, stocking the latest lines from Does Not Equal, Limedrop and Romance Was Born (just to name a few) along with their own in-house label Comeback Kid. The impressive range will definitely have you coming back for more!    

Pay a visit to Crumpler's Little Bourke Street store and see for yourself why their colourful, durable bags are so popular. Originally designed to carry a slab of beer while cycling, these bags are guaranteed to keep all of your precious cargo (not just beer) safe while you go about your day. Each one comes with a 'Til Death Do Us Part' warranty so you're destined to love your Crumpler for a lifetime! 

Stepping into Design Dispensary on Gertrude Street you'll swear you'll have died and gone to homewares heaven. This shop sources it's products from boutique companies around the world, ensuring you have the most weird and wonderful homewares at your fingertips. It's a great place to pick up quirky gifts, or a little something to brighten up your own place! 

Housing an eclectic range of books and gifts, Eltham Bookshop is said to be one of the best independent bookstores Melbourne has to offer. Having nurtured hundreds of writers, poets and illustrators throughout the years, this store's popularity is largely due to its community involvement; its weekly author events, three annual literary festivals, and book clubs drawing a large crowd of locals and visitors alike. A must-go for all bookworms.   

Whoever said the bookshop was dead certainly hasn't been to Embiggen Books. Located on Little Lonsdale Street, this independent bookshop boasts the largest collection of popular science titles under the sun, as well as a huge selection of literature, art and design, poetry, DVD documentaries and fun science gifts. Also hosting lectures and signings from visiting and local stars of literature, science and the arts, there's no logical reason why you wouldn't want to head to Embiggen Books.