The creep of cool continues further north, with Cult of the Vine serving up a delicious and…read moreinteresting array of wines and a smattering of craft beer. Hidden at the end of Florence Street near the train station exit (genius maneuver to capture all those suited souls on their way home) you can pop in and take a bottle home, or crack it open right there and then to enjoy with proper glassware, ambient tunes and a plate of something to nibble on. The food options are limited, but they're really all I need when I want something simple and tasty to match with a good bottle. Charcuterie, cured fish, cheese and oddly enough whole boiled eggs which you can crack and peel while sipping on some vino. Apparently a boiled egg goes with any kind of wine but they'd run out when I visited so I couldn't put this to the test. Instead we ate truffled infused Spanish sausage, smoked almonds and loads of cheese along with some very good crackers. Service was relaxed and generous from owner Brad Lucas, who was happy to nerd out a little with us and offered samples of new and different drops. We left warm, full and contented... with two bottles of vino tucked under my arm.

Go here... Spectacularly curated 'natural' wine list…read more Some craft beers Ask the host for an egg. Take the train to Anstey station. Take the train home.

I really love everything about this place, the atmosphere the service and wine. It's a great place…read moreto go of an evening and chill out with friends

Fine wine, sneakily good beer selection and a casual atmosphere makes Strange Loves Bar a good…read morefriend of mine. With 3 areas to seat yourself, I've never had any issues finding room to relax here. If with friends I like to sneak upstairs for a comfy seat. In a more intimate situation or when I'm by myself I tend to enjoy front row seats and people watch. Typical of the area there is no real food served here. If you need some fine dining to go with a fine wine you'll be handed a book with local restaurants who will deliver to your table. And even bring an eftpos machine if needed. The staff here had reasonably honest and broad knowledge of wines and beers. The beer selection varies more often than the wine. For a wine bar there isn't a huge variety by the glass and some of the bottles are rather overpriced. Considering that there is fair competition within walking distance with other venues offering similar service. Still a great spot for post dinner drinks or two.

Ventured to Yarraville on a Sunday arvo to catch an alternate screening at the Sun Theatre, looked…read morefor a quiet place to have a bite to eat and a drink before hand. Now this is actually a hard thing to in Yarraville on a Sunday as it is a hive of activity and nothing is quiet! Had read a few reviews on Barkley Johnson Deli, so that was the choice. BJ is a tiny shop, with an intimate court yard at the rear, which is where we sat. There is a huge array of wines and a beautiful selection of antipasti. As there were four of us, we opted for a bottle of red wine from the specials board and the Antipasto platter to share. The waitresses were very helpful and quick to attend. The wine was delish and the platter abundant with a variety of olives, cured meats, marinated mushrooms, eggplant, capsicum, pesto, dip and bread. Was a lovely quiet place to sit and relax with good wine and great company.

I like to come here for a glass of pinot and peruse their glossy, new issues of The New Yorker…read moreafter a hard day's work. They also whip up a mean cup of joe; very strong, dark, and to the point. A variety of European style snacks are on offer, including a stunning plate of cured meats and Italian style sammies. This tiny place gets packed on Friday and Saturday nights so get there early or come by on a more sedate weeknight. A civilized and sophisticated little spot.

Kensington has a great variety of food options, and Kensington Food Hall has proven to be a great…read moreaddition. It is exactly the type of place you want within walking distance of your house. The food has a Spanish influence, and is designed to share. This week a friend and I each had the 3 course "feed me" menu which at $30 is amazing value. We started with a selection of tapas - pumpkin chickpea dip, saganaki, spicy chicken ribs, croquettes and calamari. Then a paella to share which had a great mix of pipis, prawns, chicken and chorizo and great smokey flavours. Finally some churros with a creamy vanilla ice cream and chocolate. Add in a jug of sangria and it was a perfect dinner.

Extremely poor food and service. Although the popcorn cauliflower was tasty, everything else was…read morebland. Spanish doughnuts were raw in the middle, so we asked for them to be cooked some more. A fresh batch arrived and they were also uncooked and slimy in the middle. In spite of this we gave this restaurant another go. This time they chose to accept a private function after I had booked a table for 5 people on a Friday night. Even worse, they didn't bother to contact me and let me know. My friend noticed "closed for private function on their website" one hour before we were due to arrive. I rang and asked to speak to the manager and was told he would return my call. Guess what? He still hasn't called.

I didn't want to review this club, because I didn't want to share the best kept secret in…read moreMelbourne. But I will because it's just too awesome. It's hip, urban underground and smooth. Classy yet it doesn't even appear they are trying. Open from Wednesday through Sunday, each night the Mango Bar comes alive with different sounds and genres of music. They've certainly got their pulse on the hottest up and coming local acts, as well as playing host to a range of renowned international DJ's. Each night there's something diff; electro funk, deep house, jazz and blues - there's something for everyone at Mango. The drinks menu deserves a rave as well. Spirits, beer and wine, as well as a sensational selection of martini's, cocktails and the signature Mango Daiquiri. It's like an oasis away from home. Somewhere you feel totally comfortable, totally chilled out and completed entertained by the music and live acts. There. The secrets out. Now go and enjoy!

Another Hall st gem!…read more Great selection of drinks, from $5 Friday happy hour, to cocktails & top shelf whisky's Mango is the perfect amount of chilled tunes & chatty crowd, with a small dance floor to carve up listening to resident & guest DJ's later in the night if the mood so grabs you, or enjoy the outdoor seating & perhaps throw in a game of jenga. BYO food (pretzels / crisps / nuts onsite for sale), and drop in for a quiet one, or settle in for an awesome night with the staff, old friends & new! PS- word is the espresso martini is the bomb (I don't drink coffee myself. Yes, we do exist)

Whilst appearing to be a small premium wine bottle shop, Seddon Wine Store is best experienced as a…read morecasual 'wine by the glass' meeting point. The venue, with seating at high tables of 4, is quiet and intimate which is refreshing after noisy restaurants and bars - conversation flows easily whilst your eyes wander over the wall of fine wine imagining all the possibilities. The knowledgeable advice is also a highlight as staff here really do know their product whether it's Presecco or Piedmont they're quick to offer valuable advice to help you with your selection. A delicious selection of cold tasting plates are also on offer. Cheeses, olives, pates, cold meats and white anchovies are presented skillfully to complement the wine. Give it a try!

It probably says something about the area, but the strip that Seddon Wine Store is located on…read morecontains 4 bottle shops. The others are those chain store everything-but-nothing kind of places with cask wine, a lot of beer and premade shooters. Seddon Wine Store is to alcohol what a gallery is to art. Basically, it's small but thoughtful. They cover a range of price points, but they don't have mainstream over-advertised hangovers in a bottle. The owner, Simon, is often in the store and knows his stuff. He's always available for a chat and to dish some advice but isn't a vino snob. Most pleasantly of all, Seddon Wine Store now has an itty bitty wine bar located inside. Just a few tables, but goodness knows they have a great wine list to choose from, and some fabulous little things to munch on (think wagyu salami and nuts and whatnot). The biggest problem I can think of in fact, is that Seddon Wine Store is located directly between my house and the newsagent.

Excellent boutique wine bar. Great selection of beers in…read morethe fridge with 2 on tap regularly rotating. Owner is eager to please and has a great knowledge of wines so there's a good bet he will have something you like in stock. No kitchen (they concentrate on beer and wine!) but that's not a problem as food is available from the nearby restaurants.

When we booked, we choose to be seated along the bar table where we could watch Stefan work his…read moremagic pumping out the Charuterie and Cheese, Entrees, Mains and dessert by himself in such a small space. Food was delicious and so satisfying and meals were perfectly timed between each serve. Dat and I shared each meal with each other so we ordered most dishes and can't wait to go again to try what we couldn't fit it. * Entree* Perfectly cooked scallops. Escargot with a mushroom sauce and bread to soak up the sauce. *Mains* Salmon in a puff pastry filled with rice and egg and a lemony white sauce. Special of the Day was Steak with Duck fat potatoes, salad and Pate *Dessert* Vanilla Creme Brûlée Poached Pear with a house made chocolate sauce topped with Vanilla ice cream and Almonds for a nutty Crunch I've never had steak and pate together so this blew my mind, I will never make it without it again. We made a booking online and dinner was prepaid at time of booking. Make sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment. Thanks for being a lovely host Stefan, can't wait to visit you again

We had just finished trawling the bars and restaurants of Footscray when we spontaneously popped in…read morehere for a desert. It was fantastic. As they take reservations we will book for a return visit very soon!

This place is an absolute charm and I love coming here! A must go if you're in the area and want to…read morehave some chill down time. But be warned once you're in there its very hard to peel yourself away from the place! I spent an hour sipping on pinots and playing connect 4 (they have some board games you can play) and would have happily stayed there all night! This place is verrrry popular so if you wanna come here with a group of mates make sure you call in and book. Shout out to their pizzas. My god - the prosciutto pizza is the bomb! These guys make brilliant pizzas. Theres also a vietnamese and a Japanese restaurant thats a few doors down that allows you took order and then they deliver to your table at the wine bar. Very cool!

Valley Cellardoor is one of those uber cool, sophisticated looking places - it's so superb in fact…read moresitting back from the street in its California bungalow design it looks as though it may be VIP invitation only. But no siree, everybody is welcome here, the staff and owners make sure of that!! The ambience here is cruisy, it's dark but stylish; I prefer sitting outside behind the fenced area. With a plentiful wine selection and almost every other alcohol, the Cellardoor also frequently offer free wine sampling - for weeks on end!! A short stroll from the train station or to the junction for trams, next to the shopping centre and a stones throw from cafes, restaurants, hotels and bars, its a perfect place to start your evening, get tipsy for free or to just chillax and enjoy the atmosphere of Moonee Ponds in a secluded oasis after work.

Hidden gem - a little off the beaten track but well worth the effort…read more Great selection of wines with full bar available should you need it. Lots of excellent small plates.

Oui Oui! Kirk's is a lovely escape in the centre of Melbourne. If you're longing for your next…read moreEuropean holiday, then a visit here for glasses of wine and shared plates of cheese, charcuterie and other wine-friendly foods, will help tie you over until you purchase that plane fare. Forget the fact that the menus are written in English and the waiters have that Aussie twang, if you squint hard enough you could be on a Parisian street corner watching the world go by as you drink glasses of Chablis. A lovely spot for a date or a catch up with a friend, but probably not the place for a large gathering as seating is minimal. Service is efficient and non-obtrusive. They're happy to load up your table with eats and then drift past when your glass is looking low. There's always some daily specials that are a little more substantial if you want to stick around for dinner, but my pick is to come here for a few nibbles and a glass or two before moving on to another venue.