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.

Free lectures held in a cosy bars around Melbourne's inner north. This wonderful organisation runs weekly courses on a range of topics, purely for the pursuit of knowledge. The perfect antidote for a post-grad like myself who often misses lectures and class discussions. Uni with a glass of red wine - yes please.

This Hare Krishna restaurant has a rotating menu of delicious, inexpensive vegetarian food. The atmosphere is always peaceful and the perfect place to sit is by the window overlooking Swanston St. I recommend the eggplant lasagne if you see it in the window display!

The Everleigh is a sumptuous bar hidden above a busy shopping street. A perfect place to share a leather booth with friends, while drinking gin cocktails from old-fashioned crystal glasses.

Mr Kitly is a shop and gallery specialising in ceramics, books, plants and textiles. Much of the stock is from Japan, and everything makes you want to weep because it's so charming and pretty. The hanging plants are amazingly affordable too.