This convenience store in Collins Street was my saving grace and office escape in the corporate…read moreworld prior to working for myself as a freelance writer. One used to feel a little like a kid walking into a candy store at the time, and there would be some days where they would have items for purchase for only $1 to celebrate a particular time of day, and most recently their birthday. Cherry Ripe here I come. The staff always seem to be so glad to see you, it isn't stock standard chain based convenience store service. You would feel kind of special. The Freddo frogs (although simple) was a big deal at the time, like my office survival kit: especially during the last three months of my corporate career. They would always have specials for buying four Freddo frogs of different varieties at any given moment, and this convenience store would run the occasional competition where a pre-paid Visa card was up for grabs to entice you into buying more chocolate which stocked up my survival kit when one needed it stocked up the most. The ambience was inviting, especially the owl and inside (although a bit of tight space at times) allured that welcoming feeling for the tired office worker.

There are much smaller versions of 7-11 stores located conveniently on several main streets in…read moredowntown Melbourne. Even though they are small, they have what most people are looking for such as small convienent snacks, sandwiches, drinks, and pastries. I was looking for a quick freshly handmade snacks and found daily made sandwiches with lots of varieties and price ranges. A picked up flavored bottled water that was also reasonably priced. They will not provide a bag for you and many people bring their own bags or use existing carry-ons to transport their purchases. I will probably stop by this store again before leaving Melbourne at the end of the week.

Everytime I step into this IGA I am always greated with a friendly hello!…read more They normally have specials on selected items and I love the fact you can just walk in and get what you need, then walk straight out. I give this place 2 thumbs up and 4 stars.

This super friendly place gets an extra star for the warm service. They struggle to get stock…read morelevels right, and have always run out of many things I need, however you forgive them because they are just so nice. So handy, so friendly, but a work in progress.

The whole point of a convenience store is that you expect a quick get-in-get-out deal. The 7-Eleven…read morestores are small, so there's no much browsing you need to do. You probably already know what you want straight away. Unfortunately, since this particular 7-Eleven is located smack dab in the middle of Melbourne's CBD, everybody and their mothers want a piece of it. Sometimes at night when everyone's out and about, it can get as crowded as Coles. And I'm not exaggerating. I queued up for about 10 minutes before it was finally my shot at the counter. How unfortunate for 7-Eleven because its popularity isn't its fault. In fact, I suppose being bustling with business is a positive. Still, if you can, avoid.

Some of the friendliest 7-eleven staff (especially the slightly older bloke) I've ever encountered.read more

This is the neighborhood IGA express store in Southbank where I got my immediate grocery needs…read morewhile visiting Melbourne last spring. It is not a huge store but just have enough products. However price might be slightly higher than other grocery stores, but I guess it is fine since it is in prime area in Southbank and open late til midnight. I am not sure where to park if you drive there but tram or walk is much better and easy option.

It is convenient to have one of these below my apartment. Becomes very handy…read more Open everyday until Midnight. Good for those last minute things, its a little pricey, but its what youll expect it to be at a express store. Liquor store is also good awel, no need to worry about those people that come to your house empty handed, just send them down stairs to the bottolo.

Gertrude Street Minimart is open at odd hours, often late, which is really handy, particularly…read morebecause it has a bottle shop section. Don't bother shopping here for fresh produce, though, as there is only a fridge stocked with some rather sad looking and overpriced vegetables. It does have an okay Asian produce section, with a variety of good sauces and marinades. Otherwise, it's all pretty standard 7-Eleven type stock.

The local Milk Bar, good for last minute items or if you cannot be bothered with the extra 500m to…read moreWoolies. I've been in here a few times and just really shocked by the pricing in here. My housemate had fallen ill and needed some Soda Water, so instead of venturing a few more minutes down the road to Woolworths, i stopped in here and my god i left just as soon as i entered. I looked in the fridge and saw that a 2L Soda Water was around $4. This is something that the local Woolies stocks for 80c - $1. I understand that this small independent business is something of a dying sort but i'm not comfortable paying twice or three times as much for something i can get a few hundred meters down the road.

The name of this place suggests that this small family-run store, which has been here for over 30…read moreyears or more, is an in fact a convenience store. Phooey! I totally disagree with that and therefore refer to it as a milkbar, because that's exactly what it is. After all, milkbars are a dying rapidly and only a few now remain, like this one, and I'll be damned if I start referring to it as a convenience store. I don't know how many times I'd be on my way to work and completely forget to bring some change for the ticket machine on the tram. And, like a mirage in the desert, this little milkbar would come to my aid. It also looks after me on all those days when nothing can take away your troubles like an impulse buy of ice cream or chocolate on the way home. The prices can be a little higher than other places but for the people situated around this milkbar, and forgetful little me, the convince it provides more than outweighs the extra few dollars. Plus I quite enjoy the friendless and familiarity you get from regularly coming to a small place like this which you'd never get from a supermarket no matter times you go there or how much you spend. I applaud these guys for keeping the legacy of suburban milkbars alive.