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This place might be 15 minutes from Tullamarine, but 'airport hotel' doesn't really seem appropriate. This is a $35m four-star regional estate, featuring a historic homestead, 250-person event space, 250-seat restaurant, vineyard and farmers' market, set on 1,100 beautiful acres.

INT. THE AMBITIOUS CAFE – MORNING

Melbourne's porchetta specialists have done it again...

Rustica is like the Roman Empire these days—it’s in a constant state of border expansion, bringing on new venues, conquering new worlds. And the latest spot to get a dose of mango double-stack cronuts is—drumroll guys—Melbourne Central.

Just when you think Melbourne might be getting over its doughnut obsession...

We’ll admit to some low-key Melbourne snobbery when it comes to Blackwork.

Ryder may have moved, but the brand hasn’t lost its Australian accent. On the front doorstep, picked out in tiny hexagonal tiles, are two protea flowers and the word “G’day”. It’s a beautiful touch. We’re seriously considering one for the office...

We get it—you love to show off your Smoke on the Water intro on acoustic guitar. You’ve often thought you could be an actual rock legend if you ever learnt the rest of the song...but who has the time?

You’re in Gembrook and you’ve ridden Puffing Billy (with your arms and legs safely inside the carriage, thank you very much). Now what?

There’s some interesting little things happening on High St, Armadale. It’s not just for bridal dresses, fishing tackle and overpriced handbags anymore.

It happens in offices across the world every day. Twelve o’clock arrives and the chorus goes up: “So...what’s for lunch today?”

We never thought we’d see the day...Mocha Jo’s is opening a second burger bar outside Glen Waverley. What a world we live in...

A beauty treatment on your lunch break? Yep, that’s a thing now in the CBD, thanks to new skincare clinic St. Skin, which just popped up on Flinders Lane.

Tea lovers, feast your eyes on this one. We’ve found a place that’s taking tea brewing to a whole new level. In the hustle and bustle of Springvale’s Buckingham Avenue, you'll find the brand-spankin' new Cha Cha Tea.

Winter has come, guys. It’s bloody freezing out there. And with all this cold, comes all this eating. And with all this cold and eating comes zero exercise. I mean really, who the heck wants to go for a run outside in the pouring rain? And the dark? Not us. 

If you haven't heard the news, Kappo in the CBD is no more. The Japanese restaurant at the top of Flinders Lane has packed up its bags for the final time.

Let’s just get this out of the way: there is no dainty way to eat Rocomamas. That’s not the idea. The idea is to attack these burgers (and dinosaur-sized rib racks) with hands, mouth and face. You will get sauce on your nose and fingers. You might even get it in your hair.

There’s definitely a trend going on here...

When you hear ‘British food’, what comes to mind? Jamie Oliver and some lovely jubbly? Yorkshire puds and Beef Wellington? It’s a cuisine you don’t see heaps in Melbourne, which is strange given the fact we’ve got the Queen on our money and all that jazz.

When you think Mornington Peninsula, chances are three things spring to mind: beaches, spas and wineries. But thanks to Bass & Flinders, it’s time to add a fourth: delicious gin distilleries.

High St Armadale does a few things well, including flat whites, wedding dresses and handbags that cost two weeks’ wages.

Shiloh’s goal is pretty simple: to be the best restaurant in town. The fact that it’s 100% kosher is really just a bonus.

Occupying a former dodgy fish & chip shop opposite Caulfield Town Hall—Tuck Shop Take Away has been slinging burgers, jaffles, and shakes to hungry locals for more than 3 years.

Fun fact: 15,807 is the number of kilometres between Melbourne and Naples, Italy’s best-known pizza city.

Usually it’s phoenixes that rise from the ashes, not peacocks. But we’re not gonna get picky. Presenting Mt Waverley’s new-look Proud Peacock, in all its beefy, salty, noodle soup glory.

There are a lot of good reasons to live in Northcote, but number one with a bullet is Tahina—an Israeli street food restaurant run by Natalie Powell and Tel Aviv-born chef Ray Sassonkin.

Ubuntu Vegan Cafe is quite an achievement. Everything single thing here is vegan. Like...everything. The triple cheeseburger—vegan. The halloumi—vegan. The French Toast, the lemon curd tarts, the Croque Madame and the Nutella—yep, all vegan.

Magnum + Queens has quickly become one of our favourite online brands.

The guys from Easeys are taking over Melbourne, one kitchen at a time. And we’re pretty bloody happy about it. Now you can get a Rowdy Double Cheeseburger at Easeys in Collingwood, Two Wrongs in South Yarra...and Little Jax in the CBD.

We know it’s only June, and there’s a lot of 2018 to go. But we feel pretty confident in labelling Brunswick’s Project 281 this year’s Most Ambitious Cafe (last year the honour went to AU79, in case you were wondering).

Vegetarian American barbeque has hit Melbourne streets and dining will never be the same again. An Urban List favourite, the appropriately named Gem Bar is serving up smoky, soul-enriching veggies, along with their usual authentic American fare.

Do these guys ever sleep? Fresh from the opening of Clubhouse in Malvern, the team behind Bentwood, Penta, Legacy and about a billion other venues are at it again, this time in Mount Waverley. They’ve opened up what might just be the prettiest cafe of the bunch. It’s called Stanley, and it’s popped up on Stanley St (go figure).

If there’s one studio in Melbourne that’ll help you get ripped abs, it’s this place. They’ve got ‘Core’ in the name FFS.

Next time you’re walking along Domain Rd in South Yarra, cast your gaze up a couple of floors. You’ll notice a modernist, brushed concrete building above the new Matilda. They look like high-end apartments, but they’re actually the city’s newest boutique hotel. Twelve spiffing suites with personal butlers, designer furnishings, and some of the best damn views in the city.

Cornerstone Of Northcote is a light, airy café with polished concrete floors, pretty aqua-tiled tables and lots of hanging greenery. It’s the type of place that instantly feels like your local, even if you’re coming from across town.

It’s hot inside Scott Pickett’s new restaurant on Domain Rd. Really hot. And not just in a Hansel-so-hot-right-now kind of way. You can feel the crackling heat licking off the two fire pits and the wood-fired Josper oven. This is Scott’s first southside venture, and he’s decided to go Old Testament: full smoke and brimstone.

People always say things like ‘Oh, the Queen Vic Market has been there forever.’ But we often take it for granted: there has been a market at the top of Queen St for over 140 years. Since 20 March 1878 in fact.

When you think of takeaway, putting your health first doesn’t come to mind. But the team at Laneway Greens are here to explode your preconceptions about food that comes in bowls. 

Sweet nectar of the gods, why do you tempt us so? Like we didn’t have enough trouble running the delicious snack gauntlet on our way home from work, now they’re opening a PAFU at Southern Cross Station.

This is what the future of Melbourne’s cafe scene should be: something that benefits both the people eating, and the people working. Guys, say hello to Moon Rabbit, Preston’s new social enterprise cafe.

Cancel that trip to Paris immediately, sure there are sights to see like the Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe, but we know you’re really heading over there for pastries and desserts aplenty.

It’s a tough gig, opening a dessert bar. Petit gateaux and decadent nibbles might sound like a no-brainer, but think about it: how often are you really craving pistachio and strawberry tarts? 

If you haven’t been to Hobart lately, or at the very least planned a trip down there to see the sights, what’s exactly are you waiting for?

So you want the LA look? That toned and tanned greyhound bod that looks like a fusion between Elle MacPherson and Olivia Newton John circa Let’s Get Physical? We know a good place...

Coté Terra in Oakleigh makes us think of those old Al Pacino coffee ads. You know, where he’s sitting there sipping espresso, then he taps the table and goes, ‘This is good coffee.’

A gorgeous bank-themed cocktail bar set inside the heritage Swan Street State Bank, Fargo & Co in Richmond is a must-visit for anyone who loves a good time (and even better food and drinks).

Amazing how the time flies. Blackhearts & Sparrows started up back in 2006 with one store. The idea being: let’s show Melbourne that good wine doesn’t have to be a) expensive, or b) wanky. That model clearly works, because there’s seven of them around town now, dispensing quality vino, spirits and craft beer.

Forget everything you thought you knew about burgers...and Indian food. Because Burger Shurger is here to check your burger privilege.

There’s a lot of misconceptions floating around about yoga. First, that it’s expensive. Something you do before hopping in your Jag and brunching in South Ra Ra. The other is that yoga has become a ‘scene’ thing: that people are more concerned with 'gramming and #blessing each other than actually tuning out and enjoying the moment.

Melbourne’s coffee scene is getting so good you don’t even need to leave your car anymore. People will now bring perfectly extracted, specialty grade coffee to your driver’s window while you try to guess the Secret Sound on breakfast radio. And it’s all happening at DC Coffee Roasters in Preston.

Percy’s Aeroplane is one of those cafes you pray opens up ‘round the corner from your house. A proper neighbourhood watering hole, where frazzled mums, busy corporate types and sleepy students can all come and chill in perfect, caffeinated harmony.

Pickings & Parry is one of those stores that makes you feel 10% more manly just by standing in it. As if, with enough passive exposure, you could arm wrestle a grizzly bear and mix an Old Fashioned at the same time.

Don’t let the crumbling exterior fool you—Prince Patrick Hotel is a step above your average corner pub.

If you’re wearing socks, prepare to have them blown clean off. Port Melbourne classic Ciao Cielo has moved into brand new digs, and even opened a cheeky sister bar, Ciao Cucina.

You’ve heard porky rumblings for months. But now we’re happy to announce Mr Crackles is finally (finally) serving in Melbourne.

If you’re driving along Gilbert Rd in Preston, don’t be surprised if a pop of pink and Ministry-Of-Magic-green tiling catches your eye. This is Pinky’s—a pastel design and homewares wonderland from local artist Emily Green and stylist Beckie Littler. AKA your new happy place.

There’s something smashed on the Hiatus menu. But it’s not avocado. In fact, nothing at this Zen-like Kew cafe is quite what you think. From the street it looks like a cosy little white-washed coffee nook...but there’s also a sunny timber-lined courtyard out back. They do smoothies...but the smoothies include things like ‘feijoa’, tonka beans and peppermint.

The Wayside Inn has seen a few iterations over its 100-odd year run. This is the latest of them. The old girl re-opened in early April (after a brief rest) with a new team, new booze and a new-look menu.

Clocks at Flinders St is part of the city's fabric...the city's slightly sticky, pokies, ca-ching ca-ching jackpot fabric. But now we're happy to say they've achieved something miraculous. Clocks is officially cool.