It is really starting to feel as it people are looking for any excuse to cross two style of shops…read moretogether. Okay, the idea of having a coffee shop tacked onto the back of a larger store has been around for a while, particularly with some of the major chains (I still remember having lunch at one of the major department stores, despite the cafeteria, and the store, being pretty tacky), however these days it seems as if many of these places are converting themselves into bars that happen to sell other things, such as records as is the case with this bar. Pretty cool I reckon because it means that you can enjoy the atmosphere of the bar, but you can also browse the collection of records as well. Also, they have a couple of pretty decent lounge areas, and also beer garden out the bar.

Long suffering partner of vinyl record fanatic? This is the place for you! Drinks, food, plenty of…read moreseating and good music. The biggest let down is that it doesn't have more records to keep him busy. :-D Serious though if I lived here I'd come here just for the garden, it's really relaxing.

Head over to Kensington to hang with the locals on Friday nights at Henry St Brewhouse. Like all…read moregood things in Melbourne, this brewery bar is not an obvious stop on the High Street. In fact, I had to inform my friend that lived in the neighbourhood that it existed. He went there immediately and declared he was never leaving. The brewhouse's décor is DIY- with planks of wood fastened together to create benches and a small outdoor 'patio' that pulls into the brewery at the end of the night. (For beer drinkers in the know - if you like Hop Nation, then you'll also love Henry Street.) For the undecided, or the unfamiliar, the bar offers tasting paddles with five samples of your choice of beer for $20. Sadly on the night we visited they had run out of at least three of the beers I was hoping try. But we managed to try everything else on the list, which provided a good intro to the range. (We declared the Monsieur Gray IPA the winner that night.) Local beer is the focus at this bar. So if you're feeling peckish, pull out the phone and order delivery. The drawbacks are that it's only open on a Friday. Plus, like every brewery, it's open and draughty, so dress for the weather. The beer bar (also serving a selection of spirits) is a laid back, unpretentious place to hang with friends. It's not my 'hood, but it was worth the trip to visit friends that do live there. It's a great addition to the Melbourne brewery bar scene.

From the owner: Microbrewery and bar serving up to 10 craft beers all brewed on site. A place for the community to…read morecome together over a refreshing and lovingly brewed Ale.

I wouldn't necessarily say that this was a random pub that I visited, namely because I knew that it…read morewas here, and I intentionally got off the train to go and check it out. Well, I guess it was a good thing that I did so since I found this place to be quite nice. Actually, they had a pretty large outdoor area as well, though their selection of beers wasn't all that great. Still, it was quite a nice pub.

An inner city pub that hasn't been touched with the wand of gentrification is as rare as hens…read moreteeth. I usually enjoy these dive pubs and can happily sink cheap beer for a few hours. Not so much at Hardimans. I almost immediately screwed up my nose and began to mentally refurbish the decor, which didnt include the ingrained regulars. This place is just a touch too bogan, I get they have their clientele but im just not a fan of footy on the big screen above my mains. Anyway a friend and I were resolute to get the Thursday $12 parma/pot special. The service was fine, cant complain for $12. The parma was massive with a wee side salad and chips, look it was pretty dry but satisfied a baser carnivorous instinct. Theres the front bar/pub/dining space which also has live music occasionally. Out the back is a "fancier" dining space open for lunch and dinner. I cant comment on the other food besides the parma but I would stick to the pub basics. Not rushing back in a hurry.

This is a cool place to hang out and drink, go with a bunch of people, enjoy the vibe. The food can…read morebe a bit hit and miss, but the atmosphere makes up for any of this. Not recommended for first dates or intimate evenings.

Back Alley Sally's has that whole industrial-warehouse-turned-trendy-bar-and-pizza-joint vibe down…read morepat. It IS trendy, in a hipster/Westside way -- it sort of seems like it's trying to be a seedy dive bar, but it's too popular for that (and the decor is too cool for a dive bar). They have good beer on tap, plenty of pizza options from Slice Girls downstairs, and good tunes. It's dark in here, and it's LOUD, so don't go here if you want to have a meaningful debate about the merits of Fauvist painting with your friend the art student. DO go here if you want a few bevvies with laid-back friends in a cool environment. I've been here a few times, mostly for drinking, but have also had the food. They have a couple of vegan options including a vegan pizza and a vegan share platter with breads and dips, all clearly marked on the menu. I had the vegan pizza ("Livin It Vegan It") with olives and mushrooms and basil. It was alright, but not super memorable. Mostly you're coming here for the vibe -- typical Melbourne warehouse-hidden-off-a-main-street setting, where the ground floor is a pizza place and you take the stairs to the actual bar area, which is a giant dimly-lit room, with lots of different seating areas available. Definitely come check it out for drinks if you're in the area, but don't come here necessarily for the food or ability to converse ;)

Tried this place for a few sneaky beers prior to a concert at Festival Hall…read more Love the set up of this place. Sufficient room to bring a pram(next time) and let the little ones roam and also have a dog sit comfortably. Plenty of beer on offer. We tied the burgers and dim Sims - I loved it all. My new local favourite.

I simply love this pub, even if it is only for the beers. Well, not quite because I have given a…read morelot of pubs much lower ratings that have had much better selection of beers on tap. No, I'll say this place is awesome because of the atmosphere, or more specifically, the interior decoration. Any pub that goes the Sistine chapel on the roof is a pub that I'm going to love. Yeah, paintings on the cealing of the main bar - awesome. That certainly takes some effort, though probably not Micheangelo levels of effort, considering when we live. Okay, no beer garden, but I guess I can't have everything, though they do have seating out the front.

The Doutta Galla was sold to me as Flemington's 'good' pub. While it is certainly popular,…read moreattracting a young crowd up for a good time, there is nothing particularly great about this venue. It's on Racecourse Road right near Newmarket station, so it's easily accessed by locals and visitors alike. Sitting outside is not the most relaxing experience, with constant traffic, trams and the occasional beggar asking for spare change, although it beats the dark interior. But the real reason I'm not a fan of the Doutta was the service - I had the chicken burger, and while they were quick to charge me an extra dollar to swap the side of chips for a salad, they forgot to deliver on this and I had to send it back. Also on the wine list, they just had the grape and the brand, which is not very useful if you're not familiar with the brand, so I had to ask which region the bottles were from. The staff were clueless and had to pull each bottle from the fridge to check. The food was fine, but I get the feeling the Doutta is more about striving to be a nightclub than a local pub.

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.

Okay, this place wasn't the easiest of places to get to, but once I managed to negotiate the maze…read morethat was the industrial estate I found myself at a place that was truly magnificent - a craft beer brewery. Actually, this was probably better than the bars because it is in here that you will discover beers that you simply will not find elsewhere, and that was certainly what happened to me. Yes, the beers were pretty awesome, though this place isn't all that big, and does get a little crowded. Still, I come here for the beers.

I'm so beyond happy that I finally made it to Hop Nation…read more This place is in a pickle to find, even with the help of Google Maps. The turn to get here is very sudden, leaving no room for error. It's a good thing that U-turns are an easy fix. Hop Nation is located in a very industrial plot. It's a quaint, little, chill, no fuss set-up. Set amongst the warehouses, there's an open roller door which leads way to a craft brewery. Hop Nation defines all of the indie expectations that come with craft beer and it's nestled into Footscray. There's a few standing cocktail tables with high seats, then your eyes meet a quaint little bar. They have a few beers on tap, and popcorn for the munchies. Load up with your choices and find a seat, I'm sure you won't be in a hurry to get out of this brew bar. The best thing is that Hop Nation welcome outside food. That's a huge plus for a venue. And you will want food, cause you will be snuggling yourself in, trying out their beers. You have the option of bringing your own, or getting UberEats delivered. It's a cool spot perfect for a midday session. And the beers are spot on too.

Nice addition to the Footscray scene. This place is part pub, part barbershop. It's got quite a bit…read moreof the Melbourne grungy-hip vibe going on, with a dingy atmosphere and tasty food and drinks. Plus it's fun to watch random dudes getting their hair cut while you drink. This place is hidden up a narrow staircase and it's easy to miss the main door outside if you're not careful. The food is a step up from typical pub grub, with some inventive vegan options that are clearly marked on the menu. The vegan Halal Snack Pack (HSP) is awesome. I will say there doesn't seem to be much air circulation here -- both times I've been here, it's been hot outside and the place is stifling. Something they could probably work on. Service has been friendly but slowwww both times I've been here.

This place is very cool and funky. Free WiFi, free pool, yum and filling food and nice cocktails!read more