Serves two of my favourite things in awesome amounts of excess. Platters of fried chicken (the best one is coated in chilli sauce) accompanied with barrels of house beer.
A specialist bookshop that stocks a vast range of books relating to graphic design, photography and architecture, to name a few. Many hours (and dollars) can easily be spent here.
My favourite commercial gallery in Melbourne, Utopian Slumps represents a group of early to mid career Australian and New Zealand artists. Exhibitions are always intriguing and the opening nights are great for people watching.
The Astor always makes going to see a film feel special. The art-deco building itself is beautiful and the program of cults and classics are always well curated. There's no comparison to seeing a film in it's original format - 35mm and the rare 70mm.
Melbourne is renowned for its Street Art and Graffiti. It's rare to see a lane way in the city with blank walls. Stencils, paste ups, stickers, grafs, little sculptures, anything goes really. I like walking through the city lane ways discovering new pieces. Especially where I least expect to find something. Occasionally I add something of my own.
Melbourne is one of the coffee capitals of the world so the standard is very high. There are heaps of good cafes around, but sitting on top of the pile is at Brother Baba Budan. Specialists in single origin coffee from quality international coffee beans. When ever I’m in the city, this is where I get my caffeine fix. Usually it’s a smooth silky Caffe latte that goes down way too easily. The quirky ceiling made from chairs is worth a look too.