New Day Rising (named after the Husker Du song) is tiny but great. It can only really hold about 12 people indoors, however the staff are friendly and willing to have a chat. The Valoumi Bagel is the pick of the menu - a bagel with a slab of haloumi, rocket, tomato, chilli jam, mayo and avocado. It's delicious and I seem to order it every time! The coffee is the best in the area and everything is relatively cheap too (valoumi bagel $12), I can't recommend this place enough.

The pizza here is incredible! It is all organic and made by the one cook/owner. I have had the Albero (signature pizza) and roast vegie pizza and both were great, however I think I prefer the Albero. The base is what makes the pizza, it's thick and doughy and only a few slices will have you in a food coma.
The owner however is quite eccentric and I have heard reports of him being quite harsh/unstable however if you go in with a positive attitude it should all be fine (and the pizza is worth it). There are also often barrels of fresh fruit that are all free to take!

Cheap, authentic, quick dumplings. Service can be pretty average but it is still far better than Camy Shanghai Dumpling House just down the road. I usually get 15 fried vegetarian dumplings which are always value for money. The place is BYO too and the decor is cute.

The Mercat is a staple in Melbourne's underground electronic music scene. Upstairs is the hotel which includes a huge balcony and lots of couches, whilst downstairs is the basement which plays host to many different electronic music events. The basement is dark, dingy and has a Funktion One sound system. Drinks are cheap and everyone is friendly, however the toilets can get pretty gross as the night goes on and there need to be more - expect to wait a while if you're female. It also gets very hot inside so bring a towel. Highly recommend the parties here.

This place was a regular haunt during my uni days (right next door!). $4 pizzas and hotdogs from 12-4pm and after 7pm, and a nice relaxed vibe. The bianca al pomodoro is great for cheese lovers and there is always nice chilled out house and disco music being played. The only let down is the drinks - expensive (I assume to compensate for the cheap food) and they don't do pints - only pots or schooners - for tap beer and cider.

The renovations here have really picked the place up! I used to come here often for work lunches, and the Parma is huge for the price. The upstairs area is really airey and has a great atmosphere. Wish I still worked in the area!

The coffee isn't too bad here, better coffee can be found around the corner at New Day Rising though. The mushrooms here are probably some of the best mushrooms I've had, and the ricotta pancakes are super sweet to the point of not being able to come even close to finishing. The decor is cute and the homemade treats are great.

I really enjoy this venue - particularly Saturday nights at The House De Frost where Andee Frost djs and plays a wide range of house and disco. The crowd is always quite eclectic and the night is very gay friendly. Drinks are pricey and it can get hot in there but it's all worth it!

The design and decor is really unlike many other bars in Melbourne, complete with a reproduction of Picasso's 'Guernica' on a wall. The place has a 'Hansel and Gretel acid trip' feel to it and they consistently book high quality djs. Bar prices are a bit steep but I guess they are everywhere these days! Because of the size of the club it can get pretty packed very quickly and the dancefloor is quite small. Good ventilation though (which is hard to find at a club!)

I've been here many many times, and I don't think Gasometer is as good as it used to be. The menu has been changed several times, and a new one will be launched in February. When there's a show on the place is super full and service is very slow. The current menu is pretty good though, the vegan fried chicken burger and nachos are both huge and the chips are delicious. There don't seem to be many beers on offer anymore, not too sure what's happened there. Good range of food, however.