The World Loves Melbourne Blog

Two Birds One Stone is a fabulous modern chic cafe in elegant South Yarra. This cafe is brought to us by the same people as Three Bags Full, APTE etc who understand how a great cafe works. And yet they inject a fresh concept with Two Birds One Stone a standout cafe. 

Claremont street is becoming an awesome gourmet destination, of course just off sublime Toorak Road.

I love the concept of the name. Killing two birds with one stone is a great saying and a great achievement if you can do it. I felt my visit was like a stone that killed the coffee bird and the gourmet breakfast bird. Then again it also killed the connection bird as I met with my old school friend. In fact that was the highlight. Then I guess it also killed the blogging bird. So I killed 4 birds with a single visit. Man I feel good.

DonToo is a tremendous Japanese restaurant on Little Lonsdale. It's great because it gives you fantastic quality for a reasonable price. Is there a better way to spend $8 on lunch? 

DonToo is related to the ever popular student haunt Don Don on Swanston. It doesn't get the limelight of its cousin. But DonToo should get recognition as an excellent restaurant in its own right.

For a start there is more room here than than Don Don. With two rooms you can usually find a chair somewhere at a table. While at Don Don you often have to wait for a seat to open up among the throngs of students and officeworkers.

Ora Cafe is a popular funky cafe in Kew that brings the love. For those of us in the Eastern suburbs it's just a hop skip and jump off the Eastern. Ora exudes funk and charm being in a wonderful pocket of Kew and is a winner with the locals. It has a homely and welcoming feel altogether enhanced by the more than friendly staff.

The building has its own charm and the large windows bring in welcome natural light. The ambience is accentuated by the quirky artwork, naked bulbs, the thatched roofing material above, a mother of a communal table, and the retro tiles.

Initially it was hard to get a table for the three of us. Saturday morning peak hour is about taking your chances. A couple graciously move3d from a table of four to allow us to have the table. (Sometimes customers resist such as the time a guy refused to budge from a table of eight to make way for our large group in Richmond despite the fact he was flying solo).

Nama Nama is a brilliant new Japanese restaurant on Spring St next to Flinders Lane. It delivers in terms of cuisine but the location is so brilliant on Spring St with views to the gardens across the road as well as the vibe of Flinders Lane. Nama Nama is run by the owners of Izakaya Den, an extremely popular Japanese restaurant on Russell St.

Nama Nama is cool, modern and spacious and run by enthusiastic young staff. They get it so right as reflected in the lunch time crowds, as well as a steady stream of breakfast devotees.

The only thing cooler than the vibe and fit out is the fact these guys kneed udon noodles with their feet. Apparently they do wear socks and its all very hygenic. 

A standout Melbourne cafe is 65 Degrees. We all know why it's called 65 degrees - no need for explanation in a coffee crazy city... Having said that I’m prepared to launch out to 70 degrees on my espresso machine at home (living dangerously).

65 Degrees is one of my Melbourne favourites. I can't explain it but it feels very Melbourne. This is a great place to meet people, not just grab a take away coffee. You're embraced here. I find it a wonderfully personable café. Embracing and skilful is a great combination.

Home of the world champion barista after all. (Says it on the window...) Now, there's a talking point. The men behind the vision are Jim, Con and Peter Haralambopoulos. And 65 Degrees has delivered high standard coffee for years now and deserves respect accordingly.

LuxBite in South Yarra is a superb place to meet people in a modern chic cafe. This is no grungy Melbourne cafe with hipsters but a sleek elegant classy offering that fits the Toorak scene.

The owners are experienced pastry chefs who love to try the latest techniques and bring amazing creativity and passion to their craft. They love the culinary scene in Melbourne and certainly bring much creativity and finesse to the table. 

OMG! Straight to the Meringue Monster. This is a famous creation which features greentea sponge, pistachio, watermelon yoghurt, sour strawberry mousse and meringue. It is so delectable. Even filling. The meringue is treated slightly and delicately with a blow torch to get that colour and taste. The flavour combination and balance of this dessert is amazing. The crunch and flavours of the pistachio combine so well with the softer elements. The inclusion of watermelon along with the stawberry is genius. In fact the stawberry mousse is sour. That green tea sponge is also amazing. Together it is a cacophony of flavour. So much going on here and so brilliant.

The Bottom End is a venue with great burgers and a great vibe. This place hums on a Friday night. It's like a nightclub atmosphere with rock and roll tunes pulsating through the speakers in the dimly lit room (in fact two large rooms). Figurines and quirky pieces are displayed through the room.

I visited with a friend to grab a burger before an AFL blockbuster at Etihad. And so it was with great anticipation that we ordered a burger and chips and a beer.

Grab yourself a booth or a table. There is a kind of vintage theme here.

Akachochin is a top class modern authentic Japanese izakaya dining experience in impressive South Wharf. Even on a week night the restaurant is packed. Walk in to the modern chic room and enjoy seating in the main dining area at tables or settle in at the bar in proximity to the chefs.

A chic fit out includes high ceilings, timber paneling and soft lighting, original timber floors, eclectic naked hanging bulbs, an elevated bar area with marble bar, open kitchen and a Japanese minimalist theme.

Outpost Cafe is a top notch cafe just off Toorak Road in a classy mall. Easy access by taking the train to South Yarra then a short distance to Outpost Cafe.

As a self confessed coffee junkie I was determined to try out Outpost cafe and check out their coffee. Outpost Cafe has been a stalwart in South Yarra for some time. And is a coffee specialist.

I was impressed by the friendly baristas and the service. Lucy the owner is a gun barista and will look after you with a single origin or blend.The main section just off the mini mall has a great vibe with cakes and other treats on display (in the middle of the room).

Plantation provides a serious coffee destination in one of Australia's iconic shopping centres. To have the St Ali connection and such great quality in Melbourne Central is huge. In fact speaking with the baristas here they are very much part of the St Ali team.

Having wanted coffee in Melbourne Central and not fancying the food court it seemed Plantation is the answer. Coffee specialists. It's a stylish cafe with attractive intimate booths and a larger seating area outside.

Enjoy the red and cream tiled floor, booths with fabulous flower arrangements, and the palms adorning the stylish display areas.

South of Johnston, the dream of Fitzroy resident Stuart McKenzie, is a cool if not chic cafe in Collingwood that beckons you to visit. With great cuisine, excellent service and a hot fit out (in an old valve repackaging warehouse), South of Johnston is a standout cafe in a highly competitive precinct. 

The name is interesting. South of Johnston is a clever variation to the famous SOHO area of New York (South of Houston). Of course it's south of Johnston St and just off the main strip of Smith St. SOHO in New York is a place of artists lofts and galleries. And South of Johnston cetainly has that eclectic feel.

Darac Grill and Bar is a fabulous Korean restaurant in A’Beckett St CBD and a class above many others. This is a place that visits the fine dining realm with great ambience and smart service.

The great vibe is as decent as the superb food and service. This place is full of quirky items from suspended aeroplanes to old sewing machines. Funky music plays while loud conversation fills the room. Someone planned this place well because everything hums nicely.

Little Mule is one of Melbourne's gem cafes. Slightly hidden away this is a cafe you'll want to come back to. Located in Somerset Lane you could say Little Mule is part of the coffee triangle with amazing cafes nearby... This one is unique and up there with the best of them...

I love the diversity of Melbourne cafes. Little Mule has a great combination of cycling and cafe. I met my cycling friend there for breakfast and the conversation turned to making bicycles. He pointed his finger at the fine bikes hanging on the walls and gave me a lesson in bike frames, while acknowledging these are high quality bikes. In fact the bikes here are custom made.

The cycling is as serious as the coffee. The founders and co-founders are bike enthusiasts.  These bikes aren't just for decoration but the real thing.  They are fair dinkum, custom made and for sale. Not just for vibe but for the road! Lifted the tag on one and it was $1300 - so more for the serious rider than mon ami.

Porgie and Mr Jones is a popular cafe in Hawthorn that has broad appeal. From the same stable as Friends of Mine, Snow Pony and others, it is a welcoming haven for foodies. A wait of 5 minutes was acceptable for a late Saturday morning. What I enjoyed was they called me by name when our table was ready.

The fit out is attractive with large dining areas, distressed dark timber tables, palms against exposed brick, old bookcase and retro lighting. And the retro ceiling fans are very cool. I enjoyed nice little touches like cactus on the tables and the eclectic artwork on the walls. Outdoors there is a funky courtyard area.

We visited during the brunch v lunch twilight zone. It was tempting to order the Parma or Steak Sandwich but we went for brunch options.

Movida Aqui is a sublime Spanish restaurant that continues to captivate. With its warm and convivial atmosphere, incredible cuisine, engaging service and overall charm, it is a standout dining experience in Melbourne. As a hatted restaurant it ticks many boxes. As a relative to the high profile Movida in Hosier Lane, Movida Aqui keeps the same standard of excellence. 

Movida Aqui is a modern spacious restaurant in the heart of the CBD. (The people that work around here have some awesome culinary options.) It has large windows and is light and airy but at night there is a different intimate atmosphere.

The kitchen/bar with colourful upturned milk crates holds centre stage and the ambience is also driven by a busy restaurant with loud conversation and the charm of Spanish posters/artwork.

Bottega, the legendary Italian restaurant on Bourke is presenting an exciting dining experience in August which involves a pasta making class with chef Gabriele. A few of us were fortunate to experience something of a premiere one evening.

The Bottega pasta making class will be held on Saturday 4th August and Saturday 11th August from 11am to 1pm.

The class will be followed by a two course lunch selection from Gabriele's winter menu with matching wine. The cost per ticket is $70.

Burch and Purchase is a stunning store on Chapel Street that will excite most visitors. This is the place to take the people you want to impress. Even for those who aren't sweet tooths Burch and Purchese impresses with its visual appeal and artistic approach to its creations.

Burch and Purchese assaults or even seduces your senses. You find yourself in a kind of fantasy land with treats at every turn, heavy pink of the branding, and then the sea of creativity and colour of the masterful creations. Texture and touch. Taste. The sight spectacular. The sound in many ways comes from the staff who are warm, friendly and engaging.

The Burger Lounge rocks. Are these the best gourmet burgers in Melbourne? Many of my friends think so.

Burger Lounge ticks so many boxes and in fact redefines the gourmet burger. The burgers are large, made with healthy ingredients, and the flavour combinations are amazing. These guys were voted ib Nova radio competition as the best burgers in Melbourne.

I’ve driven for an hour through Melbourne peak hour traffic just to get the family burgers here. In fact turning around and coming back down the main street of Eltham can be tricky in peak hour. The place itself has a great vibe and is colourful and modern. A great option is to actually eat in, even for groups. 

Section 8 has an amazing ambience and reminds me of the set from Mad Max. It's a grungy and artistic space with wire and artwork and large barrels and benches. It's a bar that offers much including impressive Vietnamese cuisine from the restaurant next door.

It seems of late there's been a renaissance of hot dogs for "adult" tastes. 

Little does much of Melbourne know that Section 8 presents one of Melbourne's finest hot dogs every Friday from 12-3pm. This is the ultimate "adult" hot dog. It's just so so good!

Dognation is part of a wave of hot dog mania taking Melbourne. The humble hot dog has gone gourmet with creative fillings which have some bite. Dognation presents a united nations look at the hot dog with 5 offerings from various nations. With these combinations there is sure to be some favourites for just about everyone.

With the success of their small outlet in The Causeway, Dognation have branched out into Russell Street and Southbank. I stumbled across the Russell Street outlet on its second day of opening and felt compelled to try a hot dog as part of my pilgrimage to find Melbourne's best hot dog.

The Tokyo Dog looked great with pork and beef sausage wrapped in 'nori' seaweed, miso-infused mushrooms, wasabi, japanses mayo, okonomiyaki sauce, and 'nori' flakes.