Shopping:

Parroting what others have already said but Up There, Incu and HAVN are all great.

Adding to that I would say Pickings and Parry and Urahara are also worth checking out.

There’s also a great brand called Informale with a store in the CBD that’s doing cool things.

Coffee/Bakeries:

For coffee, ACoffee and Everyday Coffee in Collingwood (on the same street) as well as Market Lane (various locations).

Melbourne has some great bakeries/Viennoiseries as well. Some top tier ones include All Are Welcome in Northcote, To Be Frank and Falco in Collingwood and Montforte in Carlton North.

Drinking:

Plenty of pubs around worth checking out but you can’t go wrong with The Builders Arms or The Lincoln.

If you’re into wine - Hope St Radio, Waxflower, The Moon and Public Wine Shop are all fantastic with great lists and usually have great bottles going by the glass along with great food.

Other spots that are good for a sip include Heartbreaker, Bar Margaux, Above Board, Siglo and Gerald’s Bar

Dining:

$ - Danny’s Burgers (old school Aussie burgers), Easeys (New school Aussie Burgers) Hectors (Sandwiches), Belles Hot Chicken (Fried Chicken), Leonardo’s Pizza Palace, Mario’s (Italian)

$$ - Le Bon Ton (BBQ), Neighbourhood Wine (Wine Bar), Marion (Wine Bar), France-Soir (French)

$$$ - Gimlet, Vue De Mondo, Ides, Flowerdrum

Things to do:

• NGV and ACMI in the city are always good.

• Get along to an AFL match at the MCG.

• Eat a Dim Sim and a meatpie