Great traditionally made pizzas that are made in front of you so you can see that its a clean, hygienic work space and that your pizza is being made fresh. The only flaw this little family pizza place has is being too popular on the weekend which make it a bit of a wait for a pizza whether your getting home delivery or you order in-store.

Approximate cost: $12-15

Melbourne's quirkiest night spot is Madam Brussels. A outside on the inside theme draws fake grass and tacky wallpaper while the waiters fanny around in country club attire all being perfect at their jobs. The waiters are very knowledgeable about cocktails etc and provide service to you while you sit under the stars atop the rooftop balcony. And even if you get the chills while outside you can grab one of the many blankets to keep warm! It's great for groups as jugs of cocktails become cheap and tasty options when shared between friends.

I'm a huge fan of this service. My mum registered our family with it months ago when she was offered a free two month trial and we've never gone back. There are always new dvds to watch so its great because we always get bored of our own dvd collection. Shipping time is quick as and the quality of the dvds are always good. I'll admit though new releases take a bit of time but we tend to pick older films anyway so it makes no difference. Best plus is the MASSIVE range of anime that is available through them.

Approximate cost: $9.95

Glue is just a simple funky clothing store and I usually go here to shop for my boyfriend to buy a pair of sneakers or a new shirt. The store is well stocked with a variety of great brands that makes finding an edgy outfit for the weekend easy. The price is expected and usually the staff just let you do your own thing.

This is my favourite Borders store and it is full of all the latest new releases in books, dvds and music. Sometimes I find myself wondering around just perusing the shelves. With late opening hours its the perfect spot to have a coffee while pouring over all the latest overseas magazine. The only flaw this store has is the parking but I usually am down Lygon st way by public transport so don't find this too much of an issue.

I'm a local at this place anytime me and my friends feel like venturing out of our hometown of Ivanhoe. Its home to friendly staff, fresh yummy food and GREAT coffees. Perfect for sitting outside sipping a latte and enjoying an afternoon. Last time I was there, my waiter kept refreshing our orders and bringing us fresh water constantly which was lovely cos we never had to get up once!

This is my favourite store in Melbourne. Everytime I walk past I have to go in. It's like walking into Florence. The walls are filled with leather bound journals, inks, personalized seals and fantastic glass pens all handmade from Italy. Its a haven for a writer like me and anyone who keeps a journal or still clings to the art of letter writing should have a look. It is quite expensive but I find that its worth every dollar for quality items that last forever.

This little boutique is heading in the toward the right target but I don't know if it'll ever quite make it. Home to this little local brand, I find this store to be overpriced and filled with poor quality imitations of last seasons looks. Sometimes it has cheap funky jewelery but thats as far as I go. However I'm always susceptible to go in and see if anything worth it has appeared as I walk past it everyday.

This fancy restaurant appears over priced and snobby at first glance but it did win herald sun restaurant of the year in 06 and with reason. I've eaten in both the restaurant and bistro and found the food delicious and the service satisfactory. It is a lovely setting to have a celebratory dinner and the staff are happy to help in any way. Just dress nicely if you're eating in the restaurant section! Hah. Since when did Ivanhoe get like this?

Ah I love this little ice creamery. You walk in on a weekday afternoon and its flooded with school kids and boys and girls sharing sundaes out the front. They have a huge range of flavours and even the staff know everyone. I love sitting out the front watching the people walk past as I enjoy my lemon sorbet on a sunny afternoon. If only it were a bit cheaper!