Located in the busy Acland Street in St.Kilda, next to many down-to-earth eateries and shops, small dark, lively & authentic Italian restaurant; Italian dishes; Melbourne institution, no reservation possible, therefore come early or wait in the bar around the alleyway; toilets are the backyard - ask for the key! If you prefer a more upscale Italian go to refurbished "CIRCA" at the "Prince of Wales Hotel" (Acland Street 2); other alternatives around the corner of the "Prince of Wales Hotel" in St.Kilda are the small and cozy "LAUS FAMILY KITCHEN" for Cantonese food and "IL FORNAIO" next door for the best breakfast in town

Cool and stylish new bar and restaurant in the CBD basement space of "MINI " and from the makers of the save bets "LONGRAIN",  "MOVIDA" and "TAXI"; the restaurant opened in June 2009, young Chef Adam D'Sylva (formerly of "PEARL" and "LONGRAIN"), offers a great fare of modern European and Asian tapas-style bites,  served on share plates; try "Hanoi style crispy rice paper roll with lettuce ", "spiced cuttlefish", "yellow duck curry with lotus root" or the signature dish "sugarcane prawns"

Located in an old metal factory in Fitzroy; in this sleek, casual and always packed restaurant you get the whole package: Great atmosphere, cool bar for a drink, amazing food and a very innovative chef and owner Andrew McConnell; he's also responsible for the cheaper "CUMULUS INC." (+61 3 9650 1445, 45 Finders Lane in CBD)

Melbournians love their "LONGRAIN" in Little Bourke Street on the corner of Punch Lane; Martin Boetz's modern Thai place serves great dishes like "betel leaves with smoked trout"; please note: Only open for lunch on Fridays! Other safe bets in CBD are "MOVIDA" (www.movida.com.au) hidden in an alley at 1 Hosier Lane serving tapas, "EZARD" in 187 Flinders Lane (www.ezard.com.au) offering Australian freestyle fare or the newly opened fine dining restaurant "MOMO" located in the Grand Hyatt Melbourne (www.momorestaurant.com.au)

The Botanical offers a wide selection of organic and Australian dishes; all vegetables, fish and meat comes from local suppliers; have the "oysters from the pristine water of Australian premium growing regions" or the "char grilled O'Connor's pasture fed sirloin vine ripened cherry tomatoes potato gratin green onion and Madeira sauce"; check out the bar in the back or have a glass of wine with some cheeses in the wine shop; located near the media "Hotel Como" and the shopping streets Chapel Street and Toorak Street; for a lunch stop at Chapel St. try local favorite "CAFFE SIENNA" (Chapel St./Simmons St., www.caffesienna.com.au) before you buy the real Australian UGG boots at Urban UGG (Bond Street)

Located right at the beach in St.Kilda; casual meals downstairs and sophisticated fare upstairs; perfect for the sundowner drink on the beach - kind of Santa Monica feeling in Melbourne - even with the joggers and occasional photo shoots; pizzas and focaccias from the wood fire oven are delicious; similar style beach house but more upscale and with fireplace is "DONOVAN'S" next door (40 Jacka Boulevard, St.Kilda, www.donovanshouse.com.au)

Located in the historic "Normanby Chambers building" in the heart of CBD Melbourne; classical fine dining; open for lunch and dinner but please note the restaurant is closed on Monday & Sunday; other fine dining tip:  "JACQUES REYMOND"(+61 3 9525 2178, www.jacquesreymond.com.au) in 78 Williams Road in South Yarra