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The hardest bars to find are often the best, and it will take some looking to discover Ferdydurke, located up some stairs and around the corner off Tattersalls Lane. On arrival, take a look at the impressive list of cocktails (ask for help, there are many!) or chow down on some Eastern European bar snacks, or a hot dog. A seeming mash up of a range of cultures, eras and diversity, Ferdydurke will keep you guessing.

The Royal Saxon on Church Street in Richmond makes for a lovely lunch spot, or an ideal place to dine and drink, seven days a week. A lengthy list of beverages is available, and food has a distinctly Italian flavour, with pizzas a fave with punters. With two floors of indoor/outdoor spaces to enjoy, it's a great spot for a date, or Sunday session with your best mates.

A cocktail bar and restaurant, Seamstress is named for the old textile warehouse it inhabits and the décor of dresses and coat hangers that adorn the walls. As with all good Melbourne bars, Seamstress can be found up a few flights of stairs, with the restaurant on one, and the cocktail bar on two. Shared dining is key and with a few mixed drinks, you can try and test all manor of flavours. Cocktail Nirvana.

Located in St Kilda East, The Local Taphouse is a neighbourhood tavern that should be at the top of every beer lover's hit list. Boasting a stellar selection of craft brews, it's little wonder The Local was labelled 'best beer bar in the land' by renowned beer journo and author of The Beer Bible, Willie Simpson. The tasty pub grub is cooked – and matched – with what's on tap, so plant yourself in the rooftop beer garden and spend the day (and night) celebrating all things beer. 

If fairytales and fables are your things, visit Goldilocks on Swanston Street and be whisked away to another world where cocktails are the star. Inventive and clever, the staff experiment with old classics and new methods to create drinks that are sure to impress. With a recently opened rooftop bar, Goldilocks is set for summer, providing a place to hide from the big bad wolf. Small bar bites are also available.

For ten years, Peony Haute Parfumerie in Hawthorn has been Melbourne's sweet-smelling home of artisan fragrances, and purveyor of beautiful home, bath, body products, and luxurious gifts. Stocking beautiful fragrances from all over the world, including Keico Mecheri, Miller Harris and Robert Piguet, Peony is a delight to the senses, where you'll be sure to find the perfect scent for even the most fickle nose. Also offering specialist services for weddings and corporate.

For the young, and young at heart, Chapel Street's quirky Pawn & Co, with their all night licence, is sure to please.  A dimly lit establishment serving the usual suspects plus absinthe cocktails, Pawn & Co also lives up to its name – everything in the bar is for sale. Make them an offer, 1920s style.

Just down the coast in Brighton, The Little Ox is a local favourite for coffee, catch-ups and cake. The café is all things bright and beautiful with a gorgeous space perfect for meeting a mate or working away on your laptop in a corner. The menu includes the best of brunch and lunch fare, with a few fancy ingredients to spice things up. Fresh and fun.

On the foodie strip that is Flinders Lane, The Meatball & Wine Bar is one of the most popular options, offering specialty meatballs and a great list of wines that will satisfy those in need of a snack and drink, or a meal and several drinks. All meats are sourced locally and the team recommend letting them guide you when making your choice. May we recommend the most excellent meatball sliders?! Oh and make sure you save room for the Whoopie Mac dessert! For the earlybirds, The Meatball & Wine Bar on Flinders Lane also serve brekkie - yum!

Located on Market Lane and open every day for lunch and dinner, Shoya Japanese is spread over six levels, creating that rare mix of fine dining and casual sharing.

Palmz hosts one of the finest rooftop environments that Melbourne has to offer, occupying the top level of The Carlton Hotel on Bourke Street. One simply cannot surpass this location on a fine summer's evening. Adorned with tropical palm trees and those iconic plastic pink flamingos, one may approach the bamboo Tiki bar with the knowledge that Palmz is a true oasis of the Melbourne metropolis.

Located on Flinders Lane lies the original Barre Body studio, where the female population of Melbourne flock in their lycra to get their downward dogs and arabesques on. Fusing yoga, pilates and ballet barre and developed by Melbourne-born fitness guru (and founder of Urban Remedy), Emma Seibold, Barre Body classes are designed to give you a full body workout, creating a long, lean, dancer's physique. Classes are fun and dynamic - choose from Barre Body, Barre Moves or traditional yoga.

The ballet barre trend shows no sign of slowing down in Melbourne, if the dedicated following of Barre Body in Windsor is anything to go by. One of four studios in Melbourne, Windsor is a beautiful, clean and tranquil space where classes combine barre, yoga and pilates for an intense and fun top to toe workout. With a variety of classes on offer, there is no chance of boredom.

The Rowena Parade Corner Store is a casually charming cafe and old school milk bar in Richmond, with a decidedly Greek flavour. Serving the local community for awhile now, the store is full of retro signage, tinned tomato-lined shelves, and homely furniture. Grab the family and drop in for some spanakopita or a BLT, enjoy the sunshine in the courtyard, and pick up some milk and provisions on your way out.

Located opposite the Carlton Gardens on Rathdowne Street, Epocha restaurant and bar is only a stone's throw from Melbourne's CBD. The stunning 1884 Victorian terrace home setting is a testament to the meaning of Epocha as 'a measure of time'. The food follows suit with an array of European sharing dishes complemented by regional wines. The staff at Epocha will invite you to feel right at home, and if you feel like settling in, make sure you pop upstairs for a nightcap at Hannah's Bar.

Housed in an old shoemaker's shop, Carolina in Brunswick East is your serious go-to destination on Nicholson Street for all things breakfast & lunch, with an impressive cocktail list to boot. With it's very own fully fledged beer garden/courtyard out back, who could possibly resist a few cold ones on a sunny afternoon?

Ocha has been impressing Melburnians for over 16 years, with the Japanese favourite outgrowing its first premises to move into the Bee Hive building on Church Street in Hawthorn. Their impeccable combination of seasonal Australian cuisine with traditional Japanese techniques has seen them winning fans and awards. Our pick? On the last Monday of every month, Ocha hosts an epic 10-course degustation evening in their modern yet understated restaurant.

Ora Specialty Coffee brings great coffee to Pakington Street in Kew. The small, intimate, corner cafe packs a punch with some of Melbourne's best breakfasts on the menu. Grab a newspaper and soak up the sun on the streetside benches.

Another caffeinated derivative from the Brunswick East Project, the South Melbourne Market offshoot of Padre coffee serves the southern shoppers well. This corner aisle outlet supplies take-home bags of single origin roasted beans, many being trade aid and organic. It's also a nice pit stop for a cuppa with a sweet or savoury snack to break up the harried hustle between stalls.

Padre coffee has sprouted across Melbourne over the years – you may have sipped at their original HQ, The Brunswick East Project on Lygon Street, in the CBD or at their two market locations. In 2012, they opened at the Queen Victoria Markets on aptly coined 'String Bean Alley' and have been keeping market goers perculated ever since. This Padre shipping container will fulfill all your coffee supply/addiction needs with the usual ever changing seasonal single origin menu and various coffee geek gadgets.

Among the Vietnamese mile of Victoria Street in Richmond is a subtle grey building that houses all manner of hidden wonders within. The National Hotel, or 'the nash' to those in the know, is a cool and casual modern pub, dishing up the usual tipples, plus a delicious array of Asian-inspired bites and meals. The best part is the open air beer garden, great for gathering a group for a sunny Sunday session. At night it's strung with lanterns, adding to the oriental infused charm.

New and improved, the Marquis of Lorne sits proudly on the corner of George and Kerr Streets in Fitzroy. With a renovated interior, the iconic Melbourne pub has maintained a uniquely classical look and feel. The guys behind some of Melbourne's best cafes – Touchwood and Tall Timber – are in charge, so you know you're in great hands. With the Head Chef hailing from Epocha and the Builders Arms, the approachable bar and grazing menu offers tasty treats such as Pacific oysters, raw snapper, and a classic cheeseburger! Enjoy your Sunday session sitting on their sunny rooftop, or organise a special event in their 12-seater private dining room. 

The Royston is a true-blue Melbourne pub. Located down in the Industrial estate of Richmond, this relatively hidden local has won the hearts of many across the city for its charmingly clandestine feel. Inside, you're greeted with a dimly lit centred bar with a whole raft of classics on tap including; Balter Hazy IPA, Stone & Wood's Pacific Ale. 

Located on Brunswick Street, where the iconic Gypsy Bar once stood, The Rum Diary Bar is an ode to (you guessed it) rum. From Cuba to Venezuela, this bar is stocked with over 125 rums sourced from far and wide. Sample a cocktail from the impressive list – their Dark and Stormy, mixed with a house-made syrup of fresh ginger, coriander and chilli, is an absolute knockout. Not a fan of the gold stuff? Don't dismay – they have a stellar selection of Australian craft beers, wines and non-rum spirits available to keep all tastes happy. What's more, they've recently upgraded their courtyard and are now dishing up delicious street food with Spanish, South American and Carribean influences. Did someone say char-grilled corn with chipotle butter and manchego...?

Located in Kew, Oscar & Wild has brought a much-needed dose of sartorial style to Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Known for its impressive range of Australian and international designers, this boutique stocks cult brands alongside more unique, harder-to-find labels. A must-go for any woman worth her J Brands.  

Hidden behind a somewhat austere exterior, The Standard Hotel is a charming Fitzroy pub with one of the best beer gardens in Melbourne. Complete with a leafy canopy, their rambling backyard is the perfect spot for a beer and traditional pub fare with mates. Head there on Wednesday or Sunday nights for free live music from local talent. The Standard really does set the standard!

If you know your Chanel from your Courreges and your Missoni from your Moschino, Hawkeye Vintage is the online store for you. Danielle Goodwin has been an avid collector of high end vintage for many years and, being a caring and savvy soul, is now selling off some of the very best pieces. With accessories, clothing and jewellery galore, we dare you to leave with an empty cart. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for pop ups around town. 

Located in the cafe strip of Degraves Street for over 20 years, UNICO Hair is a CBD institution that has recently been given a stunning new makeover. The small space has been redesigned with a nod to its surrounds and the new look is a study in urban, gritty glamour. The best local talents in design and interiors were behind the transformation, which has a tendency to stop shoppers in their tracks. With late night trading and a friendly, talented team, the original UNICO Hair salon is your go-to for cut, colour and blow wave. 

The third Melbourne studio for Barre Body is located on Fitzroy's busy Brunswick Street. With classes that combine ballet barre work with yoga and pilates, Barre Body is gathering a cult-like following. With celebs like Drew Barrymore and Natalie Portman on the barre bandwagon, it's no wonder locals are flocking to the gorgeous Fitzroy space. Your fast track to long, lean muscles and a fun workout in one.

Following on from the epic success of their Greville Street store, Signed & Numbered have opened the doors of a second location in the heart of Melbourne CBD on Degraves Street. Both spaces provide a platform for over 40 Australian and international artists to showcase their limited edition prints. There is something on offer for everyone in this clean and unpretentious space, from art collectors to impoverished uni students. S&N is open seven days a week, but don't forget that the online store never sleeps.

Ladies and gentlemen, say goodbye to your hairy limbs and say helloooo to smooth, fuzz-free skin...all thanks to Waxed, Melbourne's waxing specialists!

If you're looking for the very best waxing in Melbourne, look no further than Waxed in Elsternwick! Offering male and female waxing for the face and body, including the quickest Brazilian we've ever experienced, Waxed make it their mission to have you walking out hair-free and as smooth as possible - trust us, your body hair doesn't stand a chance when it comes to these waxing specialists!

As you can imagine, with a name like Black Pearl, this Bar on Brunswick street in Fitzroy is a rare and valuable find. A true haven for the cocktail connoisseur, where you can banter with the bartender and sip on something that might indeed knock your socks off. The vibe is cozy and welcoming, with comfy seating and rich colours and textures that invite you to settle in and enjoy a martini or five.

Where is the best place to find a flurry of fashion from great independent, local, Australian designers? Design A Space on Chapel Street in Windsor is your answer. If you are looking for that unique item to spruce up the wardrobe or a gift for a friend, Design a Space has an impressive, eclectic mix of shoes, clothing, jewellery and accessories for him and for her.

Design A Space showcases the best of local, independent fashion, stocking bags, shoes, jewellery and clothing all in one unique store on Manchester Lane in the CBD. With curated collections from each featured designer, at Design A Space you will be spoilt for quality and choice, with a very affordable price tag.

Affordable, unique local designer clothing has never been more accessible as when you step through the door of Design a Space on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. The premise? Give local, top quality fashion designers the freedom to create what they want, display in a creative space, and give customers the ability to try and buy what catches your eye.

Located in Port Melbourne, the Railway Club Hotel sure knows how to grill a mean steak. This premiere steakhouse and old school pub serves up quality, pasture-fed beef from Australia's best suppliers, all of which is aged onsite to ensure maximum tenderness and flavour. Pick your cut from the display fridge and watch the chefs cook it to perfection on a traditional chargrill. Mouthwateringly good. Come by for a carnivorous lunch or dinner, or just grab a pot in the front bar with the regulars.