While it’s always been easy to find yourself amongst the bustle of Lygon or Chapel St, the lights of the MCG, or the corridors of the National Gallery, there are now a number of online tools that have unlocked the hidden gems of Melbourne’s underground.

Whether you are planning a night out or a solo tour to catch up on some culture, here are a few of the best websites showcase the best of what Melbourne has to offer.

Threethousand.com.au

Threethousand is a hipster’s guide to the arts scene of Melbourne (postcode 3000) and its surrounds. Operating as an online magazine with a small team of editorial staff and photographers this looks to filter the very best of Melbourne’s local arts culture. Split into categories such as “eat” “play” “stray” “watch” “make” the Thousands (they also operate in Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney) offer an often cheeky view on experiences such as how to make a frozen banana or build your own “herb fortress”, as well as a great range of book, music and theatre reviews.

The cultural calendar on the site is the most useful feature with great events every day of the year.

Thatsmelbourne.com.au

This is a slightly more mainstream and family oriented site that is run by the City of Melbourne. It offers thousands of events and ideas for trips in and around the city as well as links to longer weekend trips around Victoria. The ‘What’s on’ section is the most useful if you are looking to fill your day. This one is perfect for the upcoming school holidays.

Urbanspoon.com.au

Part of the global Urban Spoon network this harnesses the networked potential of bloggers across the city to give a citizens guide of the best places to eat in town. You can filter your search by location and price and then go on to read the experiences of hundreds of diners. After you’ve chosen a place to eat you can return and place your own voice on the site! On the whole it is a fairly reliable indicator of a good feed, but unless you have booked, steer clear of any restaurants in the top 10 as they will almost certainly be full!

Also Check out

BROADSHEET MELBOURNE – Food/Drink and Culture

BAR ENGINE – Nightlife

BEAT MAGAZINE – Melbourne Music Guide

But, even better than any of these sites will be your friendly guide at reception who will be able to point you in the right direction for a great Melbourne experience.

• Arcadia – so close to our South Yarra property (this means you can stumble home!)
• Bridie O’Reilly’s – On Chapel St, it’s an Irish pub and lots of fun. An afternoon session is a must here. The perfect location for people watching, just grab a table out fron!
• The College Lawn - On Greville St. Sunday afternoons are the go for this place.
• Fog – Also on Greville St, you can get some nice cocktails here and the food menu is great.

• Borche Vodka and Tears – A polish restaurant and they have the most extensive AND DELICIOUS vodka drinks list! It’s a small place and if you want to go for dinner I would make a booking. The evenings usually see an older couple dressed in traditional Polish gear playing an accordion, very cute!
• Hoo Haa – You can grab a great Pizza or a casual dinner, after about 9pm the bar kicks off on Thursday through to Sunday. Hoo Haa has a great Vibe and is always a good place to start the night!
• Lucky Coq – Great any night of the week. They have $4 pizzas!! Woo! The décor has that ‘I found it so I’m going to use’ feel, but very chilled and its buzzing here most nights of the week.

• Orange Bar – A small, very chilled out bar/café. The vibe is often set by the person behind the bar. He plays whatever music he feels like listening too. Nice for a quiet sit-down drink.
• Railway Hotel – Has that pub feel with a bit of class attached to it. The upstairs area is great, and the best bit about it is that attached to the hotel is a 24 hour bottle-o!!!
• The Social – The crowd tends to be a little older (I suppose), a small bar with booths set up outside, couches along the wall and a dance floor towards the back. Decent music.
• The Windsor Castle – Friday nights are packed in the beer garden with an eclectic mix of drinkers. Decor is rainbow fantasia meets the tropics, with hurricane lanterns and straw umbrellas and palm trees. I would say one of the most popular drinking holes in the area.
• Bable – Next to the Coles car park. Great for breakfast or a hot or cold drink.

• Is It Café – Go just for the tagine breakfast…Oh so tasty!
• Mother’s Milk – Great for a quiet drink during the week, or a place to start the shenanigans of a Saturday night!

• Killing Time – Great music and a very cool crowd. A small bar which feels like your own backyard. I would recommend Saturday night. Start here then head to 161.

• One Six One – Go for the music and stay for the retro dance-floor. Thursday nights have live music.

• Electric Land Land – Again, great for a quiet drink during the week, or, Friday and Saturday nights here get very busy. More of a sit down kind of place with heaps of cosy corners to tuck yourself away in.

Please feel free to add anymore to the list! We are always looking for new places to go and to recommend to our guests!

Melbourne Cafés

So you may have noticed lately that there have been a few lists for the ‘top cafes’ in Melbourne. After trying out a few of them myself, I think I can justify putting one out there for you guys too! After all, Melbourne is famous for the coffee it resides! Feel free to add a few more as I’m sure there are infinite ‘top’ cafes in Melbourne.

Coin Laundry Café

Definitely a Melbourne café you cannot miss. Its quirky style shows us all what the essence of Melbourne is: fun, interesting and great coffee!

Conveniently located minutes away [by foot] from Armadale Station, Coin Laundry presents a beautiful and simply furnished café, in a quiet inner south eastern suburb locale, without the snotty attitude (No offence Armadale!). It was previously a real coin laundry but the boys have done a great job of fixing it up with some snazzy décor!
It is run and owned by a group of local ex-school mates, who work excellently together and you can really see their teamwork shine through.

Having recently gone for breakfast, I would strongly recommend the ‘Coin Laundry Breakkie’ but there are so many yummy things on the menu, it may take a while to choose! However, be prepared to wait to be seated, it’s no secret!

61 Armadale St, Armadale, 3143 * 9500 1888

Monk Bodhi Dharma.

Looking for the perfect coffee? One suggestion: Monk Bodhi Dharma. Hard name to remember? Yes. Hard coffee to remember? No. Fashionably hard to find? Yes.

Tucked away in the depths of Carlisle St, this little gem of a café lies awaiting to show off its house roasted coffee beans. Yep, they roast their own coffee beans in the café itself. They let the beans speak for themselves.

If you’re going in for a meal, meat lovers be wary, it’s a fully vegetarian menu.

You may have to search a bit for it, but, trust me, it’s worth it. Balaclava station is on the Sandringham Line (same as Middle Brighton) and it will take all of 15 minutes to get to Carlisle St, from Caroline Serviced Apartments Brighton.

202 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183* 9534 7250 * Weekdays 6:30am to 5pm * Weekends 8am to 5pm

Bossy Boots

What a gorgeous little café! In a world of high-end (and high priced) gastronomy, there’s something refreshing, almost quaint, about a cafe that labels its fare as homemade. And when it’s in a location that’s renowned for its ostentatious displays of affluence, it’s even nicer to know that you can schmooze with Melbourne’s finest and still greet the morning with a breakfast that gives you change out of $10.
Bossy Boots jostles for a slice of the seaside action on Bay Street and offers the aforementioned homemade provisions in a distinctly non-threatening environment. With understated decor that’s very, well, beige, there’s something about Bossy Boots that makes it endearingly homely, like you’ve just thrown open your pantry and the team at Bossy Boots have set up shop and made an ambrosial meal from your bare shelves.

You MUST try the orange cake, the most divine cake I have ever tasted!! Yes, you can hold me to that!
106 Bay St, Brighton * 9596 6825 * Mon-Thu 7am-7pm, Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 7:30am-5pm

Three Bags Full

No one has a bad thing to say about this thoroughbred café. This 2010 café is a brilliant addition to the industrial chic café scene that Melbourne does so well, this is attributable to the buildings history, it was previously the Denton Mills Hat Factory.

It’s quirky interior certainly adds to the husband and wife team’s successful café. With old street signs as seats, and cups and saucers as light fittings it (serious style), they’ve taken a gamble, and are now rolling in the winnings.

Like most Melbourne cafés, their coffee is one of brilliance. Accompanying the coffee is an incredible breakfast menu of at least 20 options on a fabulously bright yellow menu. Their lunch menu won’t be outshone by breakfast though, with beautiful salads and pastas and so much more. And check out their display cabinet! Full of yummy things like HUMONGOUS cookies and delicious muffins, you won’t be able to resist to grab something to take away!

This Melbourne café will not abuse your budget with most mains staying around the $15 mark. Go immediately.

60 Nicholson St, Abbotsford * 9421 2732 * www.threebagsfullcafe.com * Open Weekdays 7am-4pm, Weekends 8am-4pm

Miss Jackson Café

Wedged down an alley between halfway houses, backpacker travel agents and a few seedy nightclubs, Miss Jackson is a shining beacon of class in an otherwise classless (apologies to the Melbourne Wine Room, none such to the ever-so-trashy George lane-way bar) area. The café itself is a converted house that may be likened to more of a rabbit warren than a café. Yep, it looks a bit disorganised, but don’t fret yet!

The menu is brilliant. While not being terribly exciting, the execution of the food is incredible. You might think you could cook everything that’s on the menu, but it simply won’t be as good (that’s a challenge). The food looks amazing, the portions are perfect and it tastes spot on.

Venture out of our Brighton bubble and give Miss Jackson a go.
2/19 Grey St, St Kilda 3182 * 9534 8415

Grumpy’s Green

Who’s a vegetarian? Who’s not a vegie and is keen to eat some mouth watering food??

Grumpy’s Green is an all-in-one deal. It’s a bar, a restaurant and a café. The extensive menu encourages over-ordering, and you are guaranteed to experience massive order envy for anything you don’t get to try.

Foodies you won’t be disappointed, the food is seriously spectacular. Oh, the presentation, the service, the taste!

I would suggest to go as a group of 5 or less, just to ensure a comfortable dining experience and to increase the likelihood of actually finding a table! With an incredibly relaxed ambience, the set out reminds me of a pub than anything else. Despite all of the ingredients being sourced from Victoria and most of them organic, Grumpy’s Green is not only kind to the planet, but to your bank balance too as the prices are between $8 and $12.

Everyone’s welcome at Grumpy’s, including gluten and lactose intolerant foodies.

Grumpy’s seedy exterior may discourage you from entering, but go on, I dare you…

125 Smith Street, Fitzroy VIC * (03) 9416 1944

Las Chicas

A veteran in Balaclava. Open nearly every day of the year. Superbly crafted coffee, good service and consistent, fresh food. Breakfast all day and plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Excellent.

Las Chicas pumps all throughout the week but the friendly staff stay composed when the going gets hectic, delivering generous breakfasts from a menu split into healthy, vegetarian and non-veg.

Definitely a winner, give it a go.

203 Carlisle St, Balaclava *9531 3699

Big Mouth

What an all-rounder! With a mouth watering breakkie (The Big Ben Breakkie is a personal fav- think eggs Benedict) and lunch menu, delicious cocktails, and that buzz that is so St Kilda, Big Mouth hasn’t put a foot wrong.

It’s become a bit of an icon in St Kilda that does both winter and summer perfectly. Picture yourself after a perfect day on the beach in the hot Aussie sun, then strolling up to Big Mouth for that hard earned drink. Ahhhh, bliss! Or if you find yourself in the throws of winter (as we are very much in the middle of now), get cosy in the warmth (temperature and atmospheric) of the upstairs room.

Oh, and also, of course, brilliant coffee. The electricity of both the clientèle and the actual café is palpable. Take a peek.

Monday 9am-12am   Tuesday 9am-12am  Wednesday 9am-12am   Thursday  9am-12am   Friday 9am-3am   Saturday 9am-3am   Sunday 9am-3am

168 Acland St, St Kilda VIC 3182

Which ones have I missed??

“C’mon! Wake up; we’re going out for breakfast!”

‘Urgh…Just five more minutes…’ I thought!

Rolling out of bed, a little unimpressed I must admit, I hastily got dressed and ready to go.

We took the 10 minute drive down to Abbotsford, where tucked away amidst all the traffic and busy streets, lies a beautiful national park (The Yarra Bend Park) in which you can find the Yarra River lazily flowing through AND The Collingwood Children’s Farm.

There are huge arrays of nature walks you can choose from and joining the many other baby-strollers, joggers, bird watchers and fisherman we made our way around the park, taking in the crisp, fresh morning air. I couldn’t believe that this quiet little sanctuary existed right under our noses and I had never visited before!

Continuing our stroll we diverted into The Farm Cafe to feed our grumbling bellies, and there we sat amongst the cows, chickens, sheep, peacocks and fascinated little children while we sipped our delicious coffee and ate one of the tastiest breakies I have ever had (all produce comes directly from the farm and you can really taste the freshness!).

As if the animal distractions weren’t enough, it is even possible to hire a canoe for a few hours and drift your way down stream (or paddle up if you’re feeling that energetic!).

All in all, if you’re visiting Melbourne, or have just relocated to our beautiful city, be sure to check out this hidden little gem, right in the heart of the city (and fun for young and old alike!)!

It’s getting cold and gloomy and we all want to reach for our comfort foods!!!
When it’s cold outside comfort foods are often on the menu. The problem is that while they’re keeping us warm, they’re also expanding our waistline.
During winter we naturally burn more body fat because our body temperature is forced to adjust to the change in temperature (however, don’t use this as an excuse not to exercise because our body doesn’t burn enough on its own!)!

Winter is one of the hardest times to keep motivated and therefore many of us become lazy and our physical activity drops. This is why we need to be careful not to overindulge on the wrong foods.
To keep you headed in the ‘right healthy direction’, choose foods based on vegetables, meats, fruits, whole grains and dairy.

Planning meals in advance means we are less likely to snack on junk foods, however if you can’t resist the temptation I recommend having a low-fat hot chocolate or a small portion of your favourite treat.
During winter most of us want to snuggle up on the sofa and watch our favourite television programs. Instead try to organise time out to enjoy the company of friends and family, together you can motivate each other on starting a new exercise program rather than sitting at home.

Winter forces us to take exercise inside, and it is easy to find activities that will keep you fit whilst protecting you from the elements. Activities like yoga, dancing, boxing and the gym are all great winter warmers that you can do with your friends to keep you healthy.

In saying that, I’m going to give you my winter super foods that will keep you warm and healthy this winter:
• Green tea for antioxidants
• Vegetables, they are low in calories
• Citrus fruits are nutritious and a great source of vitamin C that will help fight infection
• Vegetable based soups (add some chilli to increase fat burning)
• Eating more meat and vegetables then over indulging in pasta, bread & rice
• Adding garlic & ginger to your diet as both have an antibacterial and warming effect, also a great support to your immune system.
• Limit high-fat treats such as pizza or dessert to once a week
• Focus on eating more good fats like nuts, oily fish, dairy and avocado

Come on and beat the winter blues with me! Get motivated with a new exercise program and a new and improved diet to keep warm and healthy!

“Wow! I’ve always wanted pink bed socks!”

As mothers Day creeps up on us yet again, I ponder what my mum thinks every time she opens her gifts. Each year mum is lucky enough to spend the second Sunday of every May opening boxes of chocolate and fluffy warm bed socks.  But does she really need another pair this year? I think not!

So, for all you fluffy sock buyers out there, I’ve given you the easy way out and done some extensive research on what to get my mum this year. Now, I promise to share my ideas, if only you promise to share yours!

Now there is nothing wrong with giving mum a bunch of flowers, but what about a bunch of flowers she can eat!? Edible Blooms provide gourmet chocolate bouquets, home baked cookie blooms, fresh fruit flowers and hampers including French champagne and specialty beers. They are based in Adelaide with stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Australia-wide delivery is available for most items, score!

Get something that will make even the daggiest of mums say “That’s cool!” Check out Cool Things’ online store for some quirky gift ideas. The Piggy Door Stop and Body Stroker are two of my favourites!

I often think that an experience is worth a thousand gifts…

Deals offers great deals in Melbourne with many businesses offering discounts on services, dining, great products and more.

With daily updates of discounts of up to 90% off the normal price, Deals.com.au is a great way to find gifts for mum. Daily deals include day spa treatments, Dining Packages, and great getaway deals.

Or alternatively (this is my favourite!!!), for the extreme Mummy, Red Balloon has everything from Rally Car driving, Helicopter rides, Barista courses, hot air ballooning and shopping (with champagne of course!) tours.

So when your mum opens her gift this Sunday, I’ll know who you (or she!) will be thanking – ME!

Do you have any other great Mothers Day ideas? I would love to hear them. Who knows, maybe I’ll be thanking you next year!

Our lovely neighbours at the Half Moon hotel have finally re-opened after an

extensive year-long renovation, and let me tell you, it was worth the wait!

On the 1^st of March, Alison and I were lucky enough to be invited the guest list only Grand Opening of the Half Moon Hotel. In attendance were all of the who’s who in Brighton, not naming any names, and us! We were wined and dined, literally, with beautiful cocktails, wine and bubbly, as well as gourmet finger food! Yum!

Lychee Martini's

The venue itself is beautiful, boasting six new drinking and dining spaces over 2 levels, the mix of indoor and outdoor areas are all interconnected by a stunning new timber staircase and an open walkway. The front open area is perfect for a relaxing drink or casual meal, while the indoor dining room provides a relaxed environment to enjoy their fantastic pub food.  Next to the main restaurant is the Molina Room, a private dining seating 12 people, is perfect for your intimate dinners or functions, or can also be used to corporate presentations!

Upstairs is the ultra-cool cocktail bar with adjoining balcony looking out over Church St, where we were treated                                          to these tasty beauties!

So far, Brighton’s favourite pub, has been exceedingly popular for old and young alike, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or casual drink any night of the week! I highly recommend you all visit – and tell them Caroline sent you!

Or watched in amazement as a pizza chef throws and catches their freshly rolled dough like a frisby?

If you’re between 6 and 12 years old and you’re a fan of pizza, have an interest in cooking, or you have an aspiring cook in your family, who’s addicted to shows like Master Chef and My Kitchen Rules the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is the place to be this March.

For all you young foodies out there, The White Rabbit restaurant located at 118 Church St Brighton is hosting a how to session on pizza making, to teach your children how to make delicious restaurant standard pizza. This intensive two hour course runs from 3-5pm on the 6^th March at $35 per child and goes through the entire process of quality pizza making. With instructions to guide you through everything, from learning how to roll the perfect dough and apply a delicious array of toppings, to finally warming and crisping your masterpiece in a traditional wood fire oven, creating a tasty take-home treat for everyone to enjoy.

For the parents, there’s not only the advantage of training up your little ones to lend a hand in the kitchen, but there’s also the added benefit of being a healthy, restaurant standard alternative that can be prepared without having to leave the comfort of your own home. So if you’re looking for something to do this coming Sunday afternoon, why not accompany your child to the White Rabbit for a fun filled lesson in pizza making.

Check our the rest of the food and wine festival for more fun things to do and taste!

I noticed that Caroline Apartments have many repeat guests that come to stay with us on a yearly, monthly or weekly basis. Each guest has a different reason as to why they are staying in our fabulous apartments, from business meetings to holiday getaways or attending special events. I wondered to myself what makes our guests come back for more, so I decided to become a guest myself and experience the Caroline difference.

As I checked in to a lovely two bedroom premium apartment, I see two very spacious bedrooms, two large bathrooms and a great open plan kitchen and living room, and to top it all off, a large balcony. As I started to settle in I noticed how luxurious and furnished to perfection this gorgeous apartment was. It had a very tranquil and peaceful feel that made me relax instantly.

I started to understand just why our guests keep coming back for more, after only a few minutes the apartment started to feel like home and I decided to explore and find out what makes South Yarra tick. My first walk took me to the spectacular Royal Botanic Gardens. Here you can enjoy a leisurely stroll inside the garden and see many different types of plants, trees and find peace overlooking the beautiful scenery of the lake. The Royal Botanic Gardens run a range of activities throughout the year so be sure to check out their website. For the athletes that enjoy a good run, there is a great running track that is approximately 3.8km, give this track a go and who knows, you may meet a fellow running buddy. Be warned it’s not for the faint hearted!

My second stop of the day was the famous shopping strip Chapel Street, visiting here is a must! The minute you set foot on this street, you instantly get a vibrant and funky feel from the amazing shops, cafes and restaurants. You are sure to get a great bargain and a great feed! Once you have experienced Chapel Street, its time to explore a little further and detour to Greville street just off Chapel Street in Prahran. Here you will find offbeat retro clothing and eclectic gifts, jewellery and record stores. If you’re in the area on a Sunday afternoon, wander through Greville Street Market!

I also discovered some classy boutique stores further along Toorak road in the Toorak village. To wrap up my day I drove through the Albert Park Lake, where the Grand Prix is held each year, secretly feeling like a race car driver! This led me to The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, MSAC as its known to the locals is the perfect mix of family fun with a wave pool for the kids and an olympic size lap pool for the adults. If you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of one of our famous athletes.

Melbourne has been awarded “Most Livable City” and South Yarra is one of the best parts!

Melbourne is full of diversity, in every possible way; food, entertainment, people!

The vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere of this historic site has endeared the Market to Melburnians for 130 years. The Market is probably best known for its huge variety of fresh produce. Almost 50% of the Market area is dedicated to the sale of fresh produce, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, chicken, seafood and delicatessen products.

The remainder of the Market is used for variety and speciality goods, with Sundays being the most popular day for this category. On Sundays, the hustle and bustle of the weekday Market gives way to a more relaxed and leisurely family day. Queen Street is closed and converted into an outdoor cafe area, with children’s rides and other activities.

The Market is divided into Market Precincts; Deli Hall, Elizabeth Street Shops, F shed laneway, Vic Market Place Food Court, Fruit & Vegetables, The Meat Hall, Organics, General Merchandise, Victoria Street Shops & the Wine Market.

My personal favourite thing about the  ’Queen Vic Market’ is the ‘Suzuki Night Market!‘ Every Wednesday night from 5:30pm ’til late the market is filled with people gathered to watch a variety of live entertainment, and enjoy the fully licensed bars where you can select from a range of Victoria’s regional vineyards. Taste their best vintages by the glass or bottle on the night or take some home for the cellar. If your looking to relax there is an area dedicated to mind, body and spirit - enjoy massage therapists, visit tarot and aura readers, reflexology and iridology practitioners.

Wednesday's Night Market