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Ike's Rack Shack, out the back of The Beaufort on Rathdowne Street in Carlton, is your go-to for ribs and burgers, with a side of traditional cocktails and desserts. Get pork, beef or lamb ribs, or try the Vegan style ribs (really) before hoeing into apple pie. Don't wear white; Ike's Rack Shack doesn't do things clean. Ribs and bibs is the name of the game.

The quaint Café Bü inhabits an old milk bar site in Carlton North, far from the hustle and bustle of the main strips of the north. Small and sweet, Café Bü does 5 senses coffee and cake, together with the best of brunch. From coffee at the street window to the rooftop nook perfect for watching the world go by, Café Bü has the cafe game covered.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Jock's Ice Cream! This Albert Park institution, run by Jock Main, is frequented in both warmer and cooler seasons, providing the perfect treat for a summer's day, or something to finish off a winter meal. Chocolate and Hokey Pokey are the fast favourites, but the strange and experimental are always a hit. Jock's Ice cream is located just up from Albert Park beach, and is a sublime end to your day. 

More than 30 years ago, Marios Cafe in Brunswick was established, and the legendary eatery was etched into history. Created by Mario Maccarone and Mario De Pasquale, two Italian-Australian waiters who met working together and formed a partnership that would last decades, Marios serves food all day via old-fashioned, crisp white linen table service.

Recently opened on Collins Street, Amy Jean Eye Couture is the first Melbourne signature salon of celebrity brow stylist, Amy Jean Linnehan. With high profile clientele and a loyal client base, Amy Jean has built solid reputation as the go-to girl for beautiful brows and lashes. Venture to her parlour for a brow sculpt and tint, Feather Touch Brow Tattoo – a semi-permanent technique that mimics the natural hair growth – or a Lash Lift.  Lie back, relax and know your brows and lashes are in good hands (the hands that are trusted by Naomi Campbell, no less!). Opening hours vary, please call to enquire about an appointment.

Housed in a beautiful Victorian mansion on Williams Road in Prahran, Woodland House is the culinary collaboration between chefs Thomas Woods and Hayden McFarland. Arguably one of Melbourne's best restaurants, Woodland House has a huge focus on using local, seasonal and sustainable produce, making for a truly unique dining experience – quite often there are new dishes making an appearance each day!

Riverside at Crown, No. 8 not only offers superb Modern Australian cuisine but also stunning water views and exceptional quality. Traditional preparation techniques are used with painstakingly selected local produce, creating a dining experience second to none.

The SpinStar warehouse in Prahran is a dedicated indoor cycling studio that also offers rowing classes. A spin class here is unlike any gym you've attended – admire the forest mural as you sweat it out and be less distracted by the humdrum of your day by the neutral colour palette, and then tone your core to the max with an epic rowing sesh. With new machinery that measures everything from your heart rate to calories burned, owner and founder Pam strives to provide an environment at SpinStar that offers only the best, and we'd have to agree that they've hit the mark!

In the heart of Prahran is Wicked Bliss, a beauty and skincare clinic established over ten years ago. With friendly staff who really know their stuff, Wicked Bliss specialises in all types of waxing, facials and cosmetic procedures. Pop in for a manicure for a quick pick me up, or book a session to get red carpet ready with nails, tanning and massage. Relax and enjoy some wicked Bliss!

Recently renovated and refurbished, Hyde Street Hotel in Yarraville is arguably one of Melbourne’s best gastropubs. There are two key areas to this open plan venue – Hyde St. Kitchen, the dining room area with a delicious modern Australian menu (think pub grub with a twist), and Hyde and Seek Lounge Bar, one of our favourite spots in town to kick back with friends for a drink. The Hyde Street Hotel team have a passion for craft beers and ciders – in fact, there’s 14 varieties on tap! If you appreciate a good local drop, trust us, you’ll love what’s on offer at Hyde Street.

From the crew behind The Black Toro in Glen Waverley, Sezar is a contemporary Armenian restaurant tucked down Melbourne Place in the CBD. Inspired by traditional Armenian flavours, along with the influences of neighbouring countries, Sezar dishes up mouth-watering share plates and charcoal meats, along with flavoursome sides, sweet treats, and a very well-stocked drinks list that can all be enjoyed over two levels of dining. Take a seat at the bar, order one of their inventive cocktails (we adore the Kardashian Fling) and dig into their moreish Middle Eastern-inspired food, which is available until 3am on the weekends!

Located on Glen Waverley's bustling Kingsway strip, The Black Toro is a restaurant that takes a fresh approach to Hispanic cuisine. Opened in 2012, their seasonal menu features 'poco plates' perfect for nibbling, 'grande plates' for those after a heartier feed and a dessert menu that'll please the sweetest of tooths (hello deconstructed peanut butter cheesecake). All this, plus a killer cocktail list that mixes the classics with Latin American flavours. Can anyone say 'arrrrriba!'?

Humdinger by name, humdinger by nature. Right next to the Frankston Arts Centre is our favourite bayside spot for hardcore, no-holds-barred dude food. We're talking the cult burger bar, Humdinger.

There's nothing illegal about Speakeasy Kitchen Bar on Chapel Street in South Yarra, but the cobbled back alley entrance from Commercial Road to the courtyard bar may indicate otherwise. The Chapel Street frontage is a welcoming admission to a light and airy space for eating and drinking the day (and night) away. The sizable terrace out the back reinforces the secretive prohibition era theme and the impressive cocktail accompanies an all-day menu which means you have every reason to stay for the long haul. Now option fro breakfast too!

No trip to Bay Street in Port Melbourne is complete without visiting Noisette, a traditional French bakery serving some of the best pastries in town. From fresh bread and cakes, to pastries and the most amazing nutella filled doughnuts EVER, Noisette's commitment to quality is unparalleled. They also have a yummy breakfast and lunch menu, perfect for refueling before a big day ahead.

Opposite the Regent Theatre, up the Paris end of Collins Street, Bistrot d'Orsay is one of Melbourne's chicest French restaurants. Serving top-notch bistro classics for almost 20 years now, the bistro's lunch and dinner menus are full of provincial French fare, featuring classics such as bouillabaisse and a silky crème brûlée, as well as Mediterranean-inspired seafood linguini and risotto.

Smack bang in heart of the CBD (at the foot of the 530 Collins Street Building) is Mr Mason, a modern French-inspired bistro and bar.

Translating to 'to romp – to lark about', Aux Batifolles is perhaps an appropriate description of this Fitzroy North brassiere, serving up delicious, authentic French fare without the pomp. Head to Aux Batifolles for a oozy croque monsieur, or stick around to get a big bowl of moules frites and a glass of vin for lunch. Dinner doesn't disappoint either, with a menu of rustic French favourites, like eye fillet tartare, steak frites and a tasty cassoulet. 

Lazerpig is the latest Collingwood restaurant to make the crowds go wild and once you visit, you’ll know why. The cozy pizza parlour on Peel Street, right near The Grace Darling Hotel, is one of our favourite all-rounder venues – it’s great for drinks with friends at the bar, a casual pizza dinner, or even date night in the dimly lit dining area.

Fresh, healthy and affordable lunches in the CBD can be hard to find, which is why we’re huge fans of Crisp. The Southern Cross Lane store is centrally located between Bourke, Little Collins and Exhibition Streets and offers a variety of delicious salads that not only taste great but are good for you too. Crisp are not just big on great quality ingredients, they’re also big on giving the customer the choice – you can pick from one of 10 Chef’s Cut salads (we love the spicy Chicken Chipotle and the super yummy Protein Powerhouse salads) or become the chef yourself and create your own salad – great if you want to exclude certain things (ahem, gluten…we’re looking at you).

Let’s face it – a glowing tan and face-framing brows are two things that instantly make a girl look and feel better. So when we’re in need of either, we head straight to Maxitan in Prahran – the place to go for one of the best spray tans in Melbourne plus picture perfect arches.

Holding court on Lygon Street for almost 9 years, Biba is arguably the best hair salon in Carlton. The bustling salon is full of energy; a modern space where you can sit back and let the expert hairstylists tend to your locks.

Making people happy one nail at a time, Blonde Tiger on Smith Street in Collingwood is a boutique nail salon by Erin Margrethe. Whether your style is long red talons, or short, nude and square, Erin believes all nail art is beauty and the sky is the limit. With a subtle love of glitter and a no rules philosophy, anything goes at Blonde Tiger.

Tucked into a warm, vintage suite on the first floor above Wilson Street, The Eyebrow Queen isn’t exactly easy to find. But despite the location, this boutique salon boasts A-list clients including Delta Goodrem, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Margot Robbie.

Offering the ultimate in spa treatments, the Chuan Spa at the Langham Hotel is a luxury experience for those who like the finer things in life. Tranquility and harmony are key here, providing a haven amidst inner city Melbourne. 

The hottest name in nail art, I Scream Nails have a salon in Collingwood but are best known for their attendance at parties and events all over Melbourne. There is nothing quite like sipping champagne while someone expertly paints your nails with delicate stokes and painstaking accuracy. As beautiful as a work of art, the work of I Scream Nails is a sight to behold.

Melbourne's premier spa destination, the Isika Day Spa at Crown offers a tranquil escape where peace is paramount and luxury is a necessity. Choose from body treatments, massage, facials or a full package and let your worries be soothed away in this urban paradise. 

Located in the heart of Carlton, Clinica-Lase is an advanced skin and laser clinic that offers a range of cosmetic and aesthetic services for both men and women, including laser hair removal, anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers, along with a host of other treatments. All therapists hold government accredited laser safety qualifications, boasting an impressive 35 years of experience in cosmetic and dermal therapies. Clinica-Lase also use the most reputable products and latest technologies, ensuring your skin gets the very best treatment out there. 

Looking for a quick, easy and healthy lunchtime solution? Our go-to for lunch in the CBD is Crisp on Goldsbrough Lane, right near the corner of Bourke and William Streets – their salads are fresh, healthy and delicious! The beauty of Crisp is that YOU have the choice – you can either choose one of the 10 Chef's Cut salads (think Superfood Detox, Asian Slaw and more) or create one yourself. There's also plenty of gluten-free options available, plus 'Man Salads' for the fellas who like a bit of extra protein in their meals. Crisp not only create some of Melbourne's best salads, they also do a yummy breakfast menu – the Healthy Tub (a mixture of yogurt, fruit and muesli), the Breakfast Wrap (BLT and egg in a wholemeal wrap) and our personal fave the Hot Creamy Porridge (delicious porridge with your choice of toppings). So forget the soggy sandwich for lunch – head to Crisp on Goldsbrough Lane instead. Oh and don't think the whole "I'm too busy to duck out" excuse will fly – Crisp have online ordering too!

Commercial Road Prahran is home to the À Bloc bicycle store, that doubles as a café and gallery space. First and foremost, they sell bikes and accessories from around the world, servicing your wheels with TLC and skill. Second, they serve coffee and encourage cyclists to enjoy their biking by sharing the experience with others. A unique offering for the inner city cycling set.

The smell of fresh bread in the morning is second to none, and if the crowds at Baker D. Chirico in St Kilda are anything to go by, the breads from this establishment are the best. Warm and fresh, the whole wheat breads baked on site are adored by the locals and the high end restaurants who order the products in bulk. Best warm with jam by the fire.

Wander down ACDC Lane and you'll find Pastuso, a Peruvian grill, cevicheria and pisco bar. headed up in the kitchen by Chef Samuel Rivas and the talented team behind San Telmo, Pastuso is the place to go for Peruvian street food, delicate ceviche, smoked meats and exotic Latin-inspired cocktails. Perch yourself at the bar, order a pisco sour and dig into a plate of alpaca backstrap tartare.

The grand old dame of Abbotsford, the Terminus Hotel has thrown open the doors to her luminous green facade after a flash makeover by Techne Architects. Now part of the Sand Hill Road stable (Richmond Club Hotel, Prahran Hotel, The Bridge Hotel), the Termi has had a touch of the tropics added to her interior, with palm-print wallpaper and an internal beer garden full of palms. Speaking of beer, they've taken advantage of their proximity to the Carlton brewery and installed six giant beer vats.

Located in the picturesque Yarra Valley, Healesville’s White Rabbit is arguably one of the best breweries in Victoria. The White Rabbit team are a quirky bunch (just how we like ‘em!) and pride themselves on their unique ingredients, imagination, and creativity during the fermentation process. This out-of-the-box approach to beer has led to three stellar ales – White Ale, Dark Ale, and the brand spankin’ new Belgian-style Pale Ale – which you can enjoy 7 days a week, 364 days a year (alas they’re closed on Christmas Day) at White Rabbit.