I was going to reserve my review for my second visit here, but the fact that I am absolutely…read morebusting for the weekend so I can visit the Knafeh boys in Coburg shows just how bloody excited I am. Yes, I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth in to the sweet creamy delectableness that is the dessert itself, but the experience of visiting this incredible pop up is really something special and worth looking forward to. Our first visit here was really special, with families from all kinds of cultures represented. It was so nice to see a space absolutely pumping, not filled with hipsters lining up for the latest hot thing in town, but filled with young and old from various religious backgrounds and areas in town all there for a happy time. The vibe was really great as people lined up, waited for their hot and steamy knafeh, chatted with strangers, laughed at kids dancing up front in front of the container and watched the shenanigans of the bearded bakers who spent equal amounts of time cooking and dancing. So good. Pro tip: the boys move around Melbourne every weekend popping up somewhere new between Thursday and Sunday night. Keep an eye on theie instagram feed for details.

Kanafeh is middle Eastern dessert made with (salt reduced) cheese. I'm no kanafeh expert but I know…read morethat these bad boys are served warm, melted and topped with pistachios and rose syrup. Kanafeh can be served as dessert, snack or breakfast. I am guilty of doing all three. I have to be honest, I've had what I thought was some pretty good kanafeh before, but enter The bearded bakers and their cool set up. Selling love, entertainment, laugh and some damn good kanafehs, and I am in love. Delicious and delicate, and just the right serving size. They probably cost a couple dollars more than what you would get at the pastry shop but well worth the trip and extra change. If you haven't seen them in action, I strongly recommend you make a night out of it. Grab some friends and go out for some kanafehs and mint tea and have a laugh and dance with these guys. Currently at Preston market on weekend ( evening), but I believe these guys are Sydney based and probably are not gonna be there for long. Check out where they are set up and check them out if they are near by!

Another case of trusting the locals - this place is often crowded with peoples having a gander and…read morethe goods. If you hang around long enough, you may just get to sample the wonders. All manner of pastries and sugars - almond, baklava and more. The smell coming out of this place early Friday and Saturday mornings is to die for. Upon entering your eyes light up at the sight of rows and rows and glazed and sticky sweet goodies.

Brunetti is always a fan favorite, it has cases of pastries and endless cakes/treats when you first…read moreenter the cafe. You take a number then order, you'll be given your pastries there but if you order coffee you will wait at the coffee bar just next to the bakery. It was lovely summer evening so I opted to sit outside. I wish the outdoor tables had napkins and condiments on them, they were bare so I had to walk all the way back in to grab stuff I needed. It's a bit pricey for what you get but it's the environment you pay for.

Melbourne institution We always visit Brunetti when we come…read moreto Melbourne and we feel that this is the best outlet! We love the old style service, marble counters and displays!

Very very busy, lackluster service, but tasty Lebanese treats. Very popular in the Middle Eastern…read morecommunity, especially the pre-packaged platters and things to take to Eid and other celebrations. My partner (who is Middle Eastern) has been coming here for several years, but I was never able to eat anything from here until recently (he asked several times in Arabic and they previously always confirmed that the desserts contained dairy, usually in the form of ghee). UNTIL NOW!! Now they have vegan dessert packs!!!! Be still my heart. I've tried a couple and they are pretty good. Not amazing, and I'd still rather support the 100% vegan Lebanese sweet shoppe called "Al Nada" up the road, but it's nice to know I have choices here now :) (and that my boyfriend no longer has an excuse to eat all the sweets himself!!) One major downside is they have a lot of staff but they seem pretty disorganised. Long queues and lots of staff members blatantly ignoring you. It can get a bit frustrating to go on the weekend, especially before any big Middle Eastern holiday.

Well, this is problematic. I discovered Balha's on Saturday and now I am not quite sure how I'll be…read moreable to stop myself from going in every single day. Lebanese eats, sweets and treats - I was like a kid in a candy store (or in this case, an adult in a pastry store.) I popped in hoping to find some baklava to take to my baklava-loving family for the long weekend and winner, winner, chicken dinner - I found some! And, OH MY it was good. A thick, crunchy pastry, not too sweet but very, very sticky. Absolute baklava perfection. If knafeh is more your jam they've got that too, as well as tamarah and namoura. Don't know what any of that is? No worries! I don't either, but I plan to spend a decent hour or so with a coffee sampling the goods in the coming weeks.

I'm sorry but when it comes to gelato, this didn't quite do it for me. I wanted it to be more…read morecreamy consistency. I thought it was more like ice cream, even also grainy. I tried the white strawberry chocolate and the meringue. The servings are generous. But I didn't like the texture. Maybe it was a bad batch? The highlight for me was seeing my foodie dreams come true with Nutella and dark chocolate on tap. The dark chocolate hardens, just like Ice Magic. The scoops were towering over my little cone making it a challenge to eat before it melted all over my hands while the heater was blazing inside.

I am about so say something quite controversial so take a deep breath and brace yourself... Zero…read moreGradi is possibly better than Messina. THERE I SAID IT. I had a unquenchable hankering for chocolate last night and after a few complimentary tastings, I went for chocolate, creme brulee and strawberry in a cup (three flavours = seven clams). The strawberry was MIND-BLOWING and easily the standout of the three. Alos, I must say, they have done a helluva job on the fitout. It is slick, shiny and almost futuristic in appearance. Behind the gelato bar are beautifully laid out cones and wafers in glass boxes and two chocolate fountains (yes you read correctly. Chocolate fountains.) It certainly has wow factor. Each serve comes with a wafer and the option to have it covered in white or dark chocolate from the fountains, which then goes hard. Yes! Like Ice Magic! Sure. It doesn't have the chunky bits or crazy flavours we've come to know and love at Messina, but for top notch gelati that will quench your sweet tooth, Zero Gradi ticks the boxes.

Our waitress was so patient while we celebrated my daughter's 9th birthday. They even brought a…read moreslice of cake out ! I will be forever grateful for such a lovely experience and nothing was too hard for her ! I wish I got her name but I'll be going back to celebrate my own birthday there

Small little tea house hidden amongst the Bridal stores in the Brunswick end of Sydney Rd…read more The light filled venue is a quiet spot perfect for a catch up with friends or as a space of reflection while you sip on their extensive tea range. Vegan desserts sit pretty in the glass cabinet begging to be eaten. After battling Dejour Jeans a few doors down on a Saturday this was the perfect spot to try a Kombucha (tea-based fermented probiotic beverage) and try a Hazelnut and Cranberry Meringue Cupcake.

Milkshakes and Poke, only in Melbourne!…read more I made sure I dropped by Naughty Boy during my trip down under, and boy was it naughty (and SO worth it!!) Tried the Berry Cheesecake Instashake, and their Poke Bowl. The shake kinda scared me at first sight, and I wasn't sure I would be able to finish it, but it was love at first sip! The cheesecake on top was light but delicious. The poke was visually appealing but a little too salty for my taste. The shake evened it out though. Ambience: very minimalistic and millennial Location: easily accessible by public transportation (which I took). Didn't see much parking though. Customer Service: Delightful.

Naughty Boy, doesn't it sounds like a convincing place to have your breakfast?…read more Located on the quiet end of Lygon Street, away from the more bustling cafe scenes of Melbourne CBD, you will find humble nook that shook Instagram feed. The interior inside the cafe is rather spacious but felt a little more budget, industrial and rustic thanks to the major applications of " ripped" wall and exposed bricks. Their menu is quite impressive, listing typical big Australian brunch menu (e.g: brekkie roll, fancy toast and hotcakes) as well as their "not-so naughty" menu (e.g: oatmeals, acai bowl, etc.). No matter what you ordered here, you can always count on the pretty presentation! For my first visit, I ordered: * Pavlova Instashake: They have about 3 "Freakshakes" flavors to choose from (the other two options are Chocolate Nutella fudge and Salted Caramel). The presentation was just as naughty as I had hoped - kiwis, berries, meringue and fairy floss on top of coconut and almond milk. Taste-wise, I was expecting it to be a jar load of sugar, basically a diabetes in a jar... as an art form, but it actually was very subtle and tasted healthy! I was almost disappointed that it doesn't taste as sweet as it looks, lol. * Red Velvet hotcakes: The presentation was orgasmic to the eye; brightly red color, decorated with vanilla mascarpone, berries and sprinkle with popping candy. Almost crazy, but yet still delicious, with the hot cake being mildly sweet and fluffy and the popping candy adds an interesting sensation with each bite. I must say, Naughty boy is as naughty as the name suggest. The food is utterly gorgeous and whimsical. The prices were a little steep with the Instashake costing $12 and the hotcakes $18 but I guess it was worth every dime just to be on the naughty side... once in a while :)

You can't go to Melbourne without trying Koko Black. Not unless you hate chocolate. Do you hate…read morechocolate? No? Then Koko it up

TO DIE FOR! ALL DESSERTS were impressive!!!!!!!! Excellent…read moreatmosphere, in the heart of Lygon street and all the action. Inside seating is very coffee house style; outside is so relaxing and enjoyable. My order was the chocolate walnut brownie- HEAVENLY. With a side of ganache and vanilla ice cream OMG. I was thoroughly pleased and impressed with this place- it stood out in my mind.

This eatery is a stand out. Why?…read moreBecause all the dishes are made with excellent ingredients and from first bite you know a whole lot of love goes into it. You can't got past their potato rosti. The deserts are superb and are guilt free. Although this eatery caters for vegan/gluten intolerant people (in which I am not) doesn't mean it's scream boring. It's full delicious treats for everyone. Coffee is consistent and done very well. I return here every weekend to start it right. Customer service is outstanding and you get a full explanation of what they are about and their purpose as well as what your about to order. One word - amazing.

Fantastic gelato and visually beautiful servings. Tried the belgian waffle with nutella. Highly…read morerecommended!