restaurants and cafes

HOT: Noisette, 84 Bay St, Port Melbourne

February 2, 2011 ⋅ One comment

Noisette is reknowned for its French-style cakes and pastries and no doubt you would have eaten its products at many of Melbourne’s restaurants and cafes (such as Coin Laundry and Hausfrau). Their cafe and retail store is located in villagey Bay Street and attracts a steady clientele of pastry fanciers and coffee drinkers. By the [...]

HOT: Jock’s Ice Cream and Sorbet, 83 Victoria Ave, Albert Park

January 31, 2011 ⋅ 4 comments

Given the far-reaching reputation of Jock’s Ice Cream and Sorbet, I was surprised to discover that it occupied such a small space on Victoria Avenue. But the unassuming storefront belies the high quality icecream made daily (by Jock!) offered inside. Anyway, there’s no way you can miss the store, as the heat of summer brings [...]

HOT: Mixed Business, 486 Queens Pde, Clifton Hill

January 27, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments

After what seemed like endless weeks of packing, I’ve finally moved into a new house. As we boxed up our worldly goods, I cursed RM’s penchant for book-buying and RM banned me from buying any more kitchen gadgets. So even though I spotted a waffle maker for $20 recently, I resisted temptation. Which is a [...]

HOT: Yum Cha Dragon, Shop 14, 427 Docklands Drive, Waterfront City, Docklands

January 24, 2011 ⋅ 4 comments

Sigh. The eternal conundrum of Docklands. Every time I visit the area I think to myself that on paper, it should work. There are restaurants, shops, markets, free events, lots of space for people to rest, stroll and ride their bikes, public transport access, heaps of parking, pleasant water and city views and close proximity [...]

HOT: Babycino’s Garden Cafe, Northampton Place, South Yarra

January 18, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments

While I don’t yet have kids, there is a baby boom happening with my friends and acquaintances such that I increasingly have to consider whether or not a venue is kid-friendly when I suggest meeting up. If you’re in a similar situation, then I highly recommend Babycino’s. Nestled in the back streets of South Yarra [...]

HOT: Arcadia, 193 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

January 13, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments

With so many great cafes on Gertrude Street, both old and new, it can be difficult to choose where to go. My advice? Just start from one end and work your way down :–) That way, at some stage you’ll make your way to the pine-tree stencilled windows of the excellent Arcadia. Arcadia ticks all [...]

HOT: Penny Farthing Espresso, 206 High St, Northcote

January 12, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments

Penny Farthing Espresso is a cute combination of the bygone era of top hats and handlebar moustaches with insouciant Northcote coolness. The cafe first caught my eye because of the fabulous steampunk bicycle in the window. Apparently it’s a working apparatus, although the penny farthing enthusiast who built it has only ridden it twice…and fallen off [...]

HOT: De Clieu, 187 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

January 10, 2011 ⋅ 8 comments

De Clieu is the hottest cafe on the Gertrude Street strip at the moment and it was one of the reasons I’d avoided it till now. The crowd overspilling into the footpath tables and lounging in the frame of the large street-facing windows seemed too cool for school (or at least too cool for me) [...]

HOT: Hooked, 384 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

January 6, 2011 ⋅ 5 comments

“A chain fish-and-chippery is HOT?” I hear you think dubiously. I too had my doubts until my friends recommended that I give Hooked a try. For health reasons I really need to eat more fish at the moment and with a lack of fishmongers around my home (I’m going to test-run a seafood delivery service [...]

HOT: Chez Olivier, 121 Greville St, Prahran

January 4, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments

I am an unabashed Francophile so I can’t quite believe that I’d never been to, let alone heard of, Chez Olivier till now. And Mon Dieu what have I been missing?? The door to Chez Olivier is small and unassuming but as soon as you walk in you’re transported to another time and place. (Cute) [...]