La Paloma is my local, my regular stop for coffee and tortilla. The atmosphere is unpretentious and the handwritten menu is simple, fresh and delicious, featuring Argentinian empanadas, shakshuka, beans and churros.

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!

Each evening at dusk, thousands of bats fly from the park to feed on fruit trees all over Melbourne, in what seems like an endless stream. It's an incredible display by nature in a city environment.

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 Vodka Bar is a surprising spot for a good coffee during the day. But when the sun goes down, it transforms into a place where pierogi and absinthe are plentiful.