By far my favorite place that I've found in Melbourne, possibly in Aus! I can't speak highly enough…read moreof every aspect of this bar. Intimate setting, yet quite comfortable. Always an excellent music selection, with footy on the tv if that's what you're lookin for. The staff is WONDERFUL. so personable, quite willing to give their recommendations if you ask (and you should- they haven't steered me wrong yet!). The nachos, add beef, are easily the best nachos I've ever had- loaded with toppings, seasoned chips, absolutely delicious. Quite a diverse menu, with plenty of options depending on your hunger level. Great wine and beer selection, and a solid cocktail list too!

Food is awesome - Baked mushrooms - I could just have a plate of them on their own…read more The staff are easy to chat with and service was well timed.

What else would you do in the country but drink wine? I…read moredon't know the answer to that but I do know this modern wine bar is the place you will spend most of your early afternoons in Daylesford if you have any leaning towards grapes. Ridiculously cheap produce platters full of cheese, paté and local oil and a glass of wine from their huge selection of sparkling, white, red, rose and more is a great way to start an evening. If you visit over the weekend then get there early as the spots available to sit are fairly limited. The young ex-Melbourne couple that run the place are totally cool and make me want to leave "city life" and resign in the hills to do the same. Their knowledge of every product (from food to wine and gifts) they have in store is spectacular, and you won't be able to walk out without buying something - they have a knack of conveying the passion of the producer to the consumer. I'm in the country and in love.

I love the name of Wine and the Country because it so accurately sums up what lays inside - wine,…read moreand bits of the country. When I say wine, I mean A LOT OF WINE. There must be well over 100 wines to choose, from all over Victoria, Australia and the world. On my most recent visit I indulged in (one too many) natural wines, which were absolutely outstanding. If you have no clue about wine (like me) the ridiculously helpful staff will help. Seriously, just tell them your favourites colours/flavours/price range and they'll pick something out for you to take home or drink in store - YES, it's a bar too! When I say country, I mean delicious, locally sourced produce from the nearby country-land - Daylesford and beyond. Cured meats, small goods and freshly baked breads - they'll make you a platter to accompany your wine likes nobodies business. If you went to Daylesford, you would honestly be a complete fool to not go to Wine and the Country.

It's rare to find a sophisticated bar outside of the CBD these days, and it's even rarer to find…read moreone that won't break your weekly drinking budget in one night. Hawker Beer and Wine Bar is located in the suburb of Highett just 30mins from Melbourne CBD. The bar is named after Harry Hawker, a local of the area. Harry George Hawker, was an Australian aviation pioneer. He was the chief test pilot for Sopwith and was also involved in the design of many of their aircraft. After World War One he co-founded Hawker Aircraft, the firm that would later be responsible for a long series of successful military aircraft. The bar itself is small and is directly across the road from the Highett train station, which seems to have some type of train passing through every 15mins. The fit-out is minimalistic, with large windows that give you a great view of the comings and goings in the area. What is great about this bar is the large cocktail list. With mostly original cocktails with a few traditional with a modern twist. The service is friendly and attentive, and I get the feeling if I lived in the area this would be my local. Apart from the great cocktails it has a good selection of beers and wines. It also had a pretty awesome snack menu, being provided by Typhoon, the Vietnamese restaurant next door. If you live in the area chances are you have either visited Hawker or know of it. If you haven't been do yourself a favour and pay them a visit, it won't disappoint.

The Gallery at Craig's Royal Hotel at 10 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat was indeed worth the drive…read morefrom Melbourne for lunch. Chef Shannon Easton and Executive Consultant Chef Ian Curley have developed an imaginative menu and decisions and choices are hard. I chose the award-winning duck and mushroom pie with orange, prune and watercress sauce - a signature dish! My wife chose the Cypriot Haloumi with fresh figs - outstanding. Service was exemplary and Suzanne welcomed us warmly to this delightful venue, redolent of the colourful history of the hotel and Ballarat itself. A comprehensive wine list featuring a good representation of local wines is excellent. We'll be back, next time with friends, to enjoy The Gallery and the plethora of interesting activities and sights that Ballarat and environs boast of.

YES. Yes it is worth the 3 hour drive from Melbourne to go to this place…read more Two things affect how a steak tastes: the quality of the steak, and the way it is cooked. Here, the good quality steak is cooked on a hot rock. They sear the edges, and serve to you to let you cook it as long or as short as you want (unless you asked them to cook it for you). The taste is amazing, like no other steak I've had. This cooking process really seals in the flavours like no other steak I've had (yes I've had 9+ Wagyu with a 3 digit price tag in Crown Melbourne. Also great service. Had a (two) really amazing glasses of red wine. Wasn't sure which of their two ports to have with desert, so the owner poured me generous amounts of both so I could decide, and we talked for about 20 minutes about the world of wine.

I've only been here once, but it as a great experience. The staff is extremely friendly and full of…read moreknowledge. The wines are absolutely delicious Sam well. This place would be a great place to stop by and have a nice cozy drink on an afternoon just to relax.

Just what Ballarat needed. Awesome selection of local wines with some great international options…read moretoo. This places oozes with ambiance - a must visit if you a wine lover visiting the region!

Maurocco's is a great cafe and bar. Love it here as Mauro is very friendly and serves great coffee…read more Love the Middle East music. It's like walking into into a casbah . In summer you can sit in the beautiful garden. Such a great venue for Castlemaine.

From the owner: Specializing in local wines and classic cocktails.read more

Fine dining at its best. We were able to get a table but, suggest you book!!…read more I honestly wasn't sure when I first saw the menu but, that quickly all went away after the first bite of the eggplant chips with raw beef!!! You could tell the chips were made with care and precision. I was wanting to order another plate. The first of our mains was the 1/2 baby chicken which was a large cut for one. I tend to eat the items on my plate singularly (I'm weird) but, this dish forced you to combine and I simply loved it!! The balance is obviously the main strength. The second main was the duck. I have NEVER had cooked at this high standard and the quince dressing was perfect with it. We were full after all this but we wanted to continue eating because the food was so delicious. I loved the chilli pineapple (with a one-punch) and ice cream sandwich, and the house made apple sorbet was very fresh.

Very sweet interior with mixed pattern antique porcelain plates and cozy environment. My friend and…read moreI started with the fennel salad which was crisp and flavorful. I had a seared piece of barramundi in a crab broth with greens and coconut rice, so satisfying and the broth was spectacular. My friend had the lamb ribs which were well prepared, and a very large portion. The only thing that was a miss for us was her charred kale and purple sweet potato salad which had a dressing too sweet for our palates. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive, would highly recommend!!

The Wine Bank is exactly that - a wine bar set in an old bank (on view street). The building is…read moreimpressive both inside and out, with high ceilings and loads of wines. It appears that Wine Bank is targeted to two crowds - those who want to buy a bottle and go through the full list, and a very casual crowd who want to stop in for a cheap drink. Perhaps price sensitivity is an issue for the area, but the wines on pour were nothing special at all. The tacky paper menu and unimpressive by the glass list stop this from being a classy affair or place worth seeking out if you're a wine buff. I'm all for individual expression, but I think the place could really benefit from a work uniform or even just a dress code - another notch that really works against this being some place special. A good spot for a casual drink of sauvignon blanc or cheap champagne, but definitely not somewhere I would recommend to visitors unless you were settling in for a full bottle.

Nice atmosphere. Good beer on tap. Bar meals at good prices. Restaurant meals ridiculously…read moreoverpriced.

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.