Little Cupcakes makes me so happy…read more So do big cupcakes. I am flexible that way. It's always reassuring to know that if you are having a bad day at work and need some comfort food, Little Cupcakes is right there. Had a bad day? Had a good day? Got news to share? Something to celebrate? A team meeting perhaps? A birthday? Little Cupcakes is the answer. Serving a mouth watering selection of the most amazing flavours including lamington, jaffa, pistachio, teddy bear and every kind of chocolate you could ask for. Sure they may be a little pricey $2.20 (mini) to $4.50 (standard) but it is worth the indulgence. The icing on the cupcakes is my favourite. The hot chocolate is pretty good too. The indoor seating is a little awkward as people are always queuing up around you. Trust me, at morning and afternoon tea times (10am and 3pm) you will wait in line. A better option is to savour your cupcake(s) at the outdoor tables which are conveniently undercover in Goldsborough Lane. Go on, treat yourself. You deserve it.

A friendly cafe specialising in cupcakes with simple decor…read more You can get a mini cupcake here with a morning coffee!

They say Globalisation is bad but I say it's great! Who would have thought that in 2011 you'd be…read moreable to buy just about any type of Japanese snack, drink or grocery right in your neighbourhood. Gone are the days when Japanese migrants or travellers to Japan would stuff their bags with food and drink so they could relive or share their experience with loved ones. No more having to wait in line at Quarantine only to have your food confiscated because the ingredients were all in Japanese. Fuji Mart near Prahran Market has it all. Fresh, frozen, preserved, pickled, pasteurised, bottled, canned, boxed, shrunk wrapped, bubble wrapped, perfumed etc - whatever your Japanese grocery need, this power packed store will be able to deliver. Try your hand at cooking up a Sukiyaki meal or learn the art of sushi rolling. Indulge in some Japanese sweets - try the frozen Mochi or taste the weird but wonderful Choya (plum wine) I absolutely adore this store and since my first visit, I haven't been able to stop. They also carry a range of Japanese crockery, household items, homeware and decorative items so you no longer have to fly miles across the equator to say Domo Arigato Mr Roboto!

I love Fuji Mart. When I am looking for something different to cook for dinner, I can always come…read moreup with a delicious dish with ingredients bought from here. 2015 has been a year of Japanese cooking for me and Fuji Mart is fully stocked with authentic Japanese ingredients, whether it be tempura batter, panko breadcrumbs, soba noodles, speciality sauces or different meats to cook with. I especially love their Sake range too. Staff are really friendly and smiley and have been known to help me with the Japanese language too!

Raw Materials is a fantastic one stop shop for groceries of any kind for countless food lovers…read moreAustralia wide. This place is undoubtedly full flavored traditional food made the way it used to be. It sells the stuff that helps you think outside the square when cooking. Make all you culinary creations come true with a wide selection of the freshest and the most sort after dairy, seafood, condiments, sweets and new products which are constantly being outsourced from family owned and grown business. Raw materials distributes to many merchants but also allows you to shop online and create your own shopping adventure.

If you're into gourmet foodie items like wagyu salami and spanish olives, you need to know about…read moreRaw Materials. The bummer is that it's not generally open to the public. The trick is to get yourself on their mailing list and eagerly await notification of one of their open days. With tastings of everything, huge communal paella pans on the go and things like those olives available by the palette, it's my kind of happy. PS. They supply to Vue De Monde. Just saying.

Update: I've had more and this is now my favorite bakery in Melbourne by a good margin. Delicious…read moreand pricey, but so worth it! The Hazelnut Yuzu, Cherry Ripe, and Honey, Mango and Macadamia are to die for. And so beautiful.

If you are hankering for some sweetness in your life, Bibelot is a place you shouldn't miss. A high…read moreend dessert boutique that offers beautiful arrays of sweet creations; macarons, gelato, chocolate, cakes and even coffee. Not only they made one of the most dazzling cake artistry I've ever seen, happy to say, they taste beyond looks. Some things to look forward to here is their plum and hojicha cake. Airy light texture paired with one-of-a-kind sweet flavor. Exquisite!

It's a 3.4. Quick coffee stop today. My long black was superb. Gorgeously silky, great length…read more Couldn't fault it. The world's most beautiful woman's flat white wasn't strong enough though - maybe didn't get her requested double shot - and was also too cool, as in not warm enough, unfortunately. We liked the location and feel of the place though and note the buoyant rating. So we'll return at some point and try the food which looked good.

NIce place to simply relax and enjoy a good coffee. The cafe has what you'd normally expect at any…read moreother normal cafe: coffee, wraps, but also some much loved dim sims and potato cakes. Baristas are nice and friendly, and coffee tastes great. Food - 7/10 Service - 6/10 Price - 7/10

Location: Enter into University of Melbourne via Gate 10 and you will see a sign directing you to…read morethis streetcar. It is right behind John Medley West Building. First of all, how could I not support a student-run business? I feel your pain, struggling university students. First thing I have to note is the really really friendly service. Unlike a lot of businesses, this spot truly loves their customers. They greet you with a smile and are very polite and courteous. You should definitely look around their website and/or Facebook page where they explain the history of their bold and youthful entrepreneurship. I will always support them just because they are great people! The crepes are not bad either and at affordable prices as well, starting with a basic butter and sugar crepe at 3.50 (delicious!). Next, I got a banana, honey, and cinnamon crepe with whipped cream and it was delicious as well. Fair warning though! They put their crepes in little carboard cone containers that have a tiny hole at the bottom so if your crepe can potentially drip (for example, honey), watch out! Cover it with a napkin! Ways they can improve: ~ They could upgrade on the variety of crepes they offer. They have a lot of basic fillings, but nothing that really stands out as amazing. I'm a huge fan of this business. The crepes are fantastic, the customer service is fantastic, what more can you want? Even if you are not a student, or staff member, or affiliated with University of Melbourne at all, this place rocks and you most definitely stop by!

Carte crepes is the perfect uni food venue. Doing just a few things very well. Good coffee,…read moreexcellent crepes made right in front of you. I personally like the simple lemon and sugar best, but can also recommend the snickers crepe if you need a full on sugar kick. The crepes are mostly all sweet but they do have a few savoury ones with ham and/or cheese and relish.

Wonderful small quaint courtyard in a quite neighborhood. Good variety breakfast and lunch itemsread more

Red the colour of passion and love. Well I am both passionate and love the Red Door Corner Store!…read more If there was ever a cafe worth going out of your way to check out, it is this place. The coffee is superb - with ever changing options of single origin blends to choose from, as well as the usual house blends that most cafes have, which are always extremely tasty. Their menu is on the unique and very very yummy side of the cafe spectrum. And their many baked goods are all superbly crafted. In fact there is little that the Red Door Corner Store doesn't do well. Their staff are all knowledgeable, friendly, happy and attentive. And they sell a range of home made jams, conserves, chutneys and sauces that you can buy to take home with you. They also sell take-away freshly baked bread, if you are still feeling a little peckish are a veritable feast of Corner Store delights. I really can't recommend this place enough. I even like the fact that it is situated in a back streets of Northcote - not another shop in sight.