North
Grumpys Green
Most bars I know look a little seedy during the day what with the light picking up the spilt beer and split chair fabric and whatnot. So it’s interesting that Grumpys Green is not only open for dinner and bar snacks, but also breakfast from 10. Having only visited for dinner, I can’t actually tell you how Grumpys fairs in the daylight but perhaps they’re going on the fact that the food is just that good that people don’t care. Or that they’re too hung-over too notice. Both are distinct possibilities.
Provenance
Provenance is a beautiful little restaurant on Smith Street. There is so much to like about the place, not the least of which is the fact that it is such an anomaly. It is not over-designed and pretentious, nor is it under-designed and dull. It is just simple, warm and inviting. Refreshingly, its focus is on great food, wine and coffee.
Los Amates
Some of my friends and I have a bit of a habit. It’s not a drug habit, or an alco- okay, maybe we sometimes have an alcohol habit, but that’s not what this is about. This habit involves gorging ourselves at as many Mexican restaurants as possible. Now, here’s the thing: we don’t mind Tex Mex food. We love it for what it is, and it’s easy to find. Finding a good Mexican restaurant that serves authentic Mexican food, though, is a far more difficult task. Through the grapevine, we’d heard about Los Amates (we heard ‘great food, crappy service’) but with open minds and empty bellies we decided to give it a shot because good food will often override the crappy service.
Mario’s Pizza
In my humble opinion, Mario’s Pizza, serves the best pizza in Melbourne. It is amazing. The restaurant also represents so many of the things I love about Melbourne. Allow me to elaborate.
Mario’s Pizza is run by Mario, who is one of the loveliest older men you are ever likely meet. He has an amazing mustache and a wonderful sense of old-fashioned Italian charm. He also happens to make fantastic pizza.
Proud Mary
Collingwood leads a double life – for sure its a bit dero, for sure there are things you wouldn’t want your child to see. But on the other hand – sometimes there great shops, great food and the best of Melbourne’s cultural scene. Tucked away (of course) in the back streets of Collingwood is Proud Mary, a lovely cafe dedicated to great food, loud music and perfect coffee. It is most definitely something good about the suburb
Cafe Rosamond
There is one thing that marks the difference between a good cafe and an amazing one – attention to detail. Cafe Rosamond has this vital element down to a fine art, not to mention the kind of barrista and culinary skills to make your mouth water and your tortoiseshell specs fog up.
Tucked around a corner, behind a shop and down a step, Cafe Rosamond is a shining example of why chain store coffee just doesn’t cut it in Melbourne.
Mixed Business
Mixed Business in Clifton Hill is the cafe that all others in Melbourne can be judged by (though I‘m sure they would like to think they are far cooler, far more hip and definitely not-trying-too-hard enough to be anywhere near the mainstream). As such, I will use them to prove that there is a formula to creating The Perfect Melbourne Brunch Spot®.
Hello Sailor Vintage Fair
Ask any Melbournian to describe their beloved city and they’ll probably tell you about the great coffee, fashion and the unpredictable weather. True to form, just a week after golf-ball hailstones besieged half of Victoria, I’m sweltering on the rooftop of the Carlton Hotel, trying on a jewel encrusted, black batwing knit. And it’s amazing.
Marios
Mario’s is the benchmark by which all other cafes are judged. It is the ultimate cafe experience in Melbourne, yet more demure in appearance than others, striking a wonderful balance between simplicity and casual elegance. It’s a much-hyped cafe that exists without the cool theatrics that sour many establishments along Brunswick Street.