The man who helped define the city’s dining scene in the 2000s, gave it edge with The Smith, and heat with Lucy Liu has returned after a few quiet years up north, and he’s not here to warm the bench.

Perched beside the ghostly bones of the former Pentridge Prison, The Glass Den is part greenhouse and part minimalist fever dream. There are so many hanging plants it’s unclear whether they’re decorating or plotting something. Either way, they frame what might be the best brunch in the north

It may or may not be a rumour that I once mulled red wine in a hotel kettle and I don't regret a thing. It is turning cold, especially in the Southern states of Australia and while we reach for the slippers and the Oodie to keep us warm after a hard day's slog down the mines, we also need to think about the drink.

If wines were people, Harriet would be that enigmatic aunt who arrives unannounced, bearing tales of Tuscan lovers and a suitcase full of exotic spices.

Don’t bother arriving with a posse because this place isn’t built for brunch mobs or laptop loiterers, nor is it the haven of the pouty lipped influencer. It’s for those who appreciate the fine art of sitting still with a soft-boiled egg, anchovy-laced toast and something chilled in a stemmed glass.

From the buttery horrors of the early 2000s to the don’t call me Chardonnay era of overcompensation which left them thin and insipid. Chardonnay had more identity crises than a Melbourne uni student on exchange in Berlin.

Rhône roots, Yarra swagger. If you want to taste what modern Aussie Syrah should be doing, not trying to win arm-wrestling matches with Barossa Shiraz, this is it. No jammy bombast, no oak overkill and no need to shout.

Madam Pommy stands out as an affordable option for those who like their bubbles French and expensive. Lets face it, this cost of living crisis bites and occasionally, we have to ditch the posh stuff for something a little more fiscally approachable.

Taste on the Gold Coast is like sunscreen on a British backpacker. It is rarely seen and usually applied too late. This is a bar lounge hybrid, almost part Hemingway and part Hamptons. And somehow it works.

So next time someone offers you a neat pour of something special, ask if it has been fat-washed? If not, it’s just regular booze and you, my friend, deserve much better.

Elements of whitewashed walls, shell motifs, blonde wood and enough rattan to start your own Bali boutique. Dried natives here, palm leaves there and just in case you forget you’re by the ocean, soft greys and washed-out blues whisper coastal luxe like a particularly well moisturised meditation coach.

Margaret is a sleek, $5 million ode to fine dining complete with blush banquettes and taupe tiles. But it begs a question? Does it live up to the hype or is it just another overpriced meat parade?

Venture past the Instagram clichés and you’ll find something much juicier simmering away in the regions. There is a grassroots food and drink culture quietly, gloriously redefining what it means to eat and drink well. Forget the cities. The real culinary revolution is happening in the bush, and it’s packing more flavour than your favourite wine bar in Fitzroy

In a city where wine bars often lean heavily on mood lighting and playlists but forget the wine part, 40Res steps in as a refreshing anomaly.

Lanson Place seamlessly merges the heritage charm of the original building with the sleek sophistication of the new structure. It’s thoughtfully done, giving the property a distinct character that reflects Melbourne’s own unique blend of old and new, with the 14-storey glass tower rising behind the building's façade, itself a nod to Melbourne's storied history.

But every once in a while, a bottle comes along that walks the tightrope between vegetal and vivacious with all the poise of a French acrobat who microdoses acid. Rarer than rocking horse poo, Domain Simha Sauvignon Blanc from Louise Radman and Nav Singh is a Tasmanian temptress

This 2021 Tarrawarra Estate Barbera is the kind of wine that sidles up to you at a dinner party, whispers something naughty and then proceeds to charm the pants off everyone in the room. 

In a city where you can find a rooftop beekeeping workshop, a bar hidden inside a laundromat and a seven course degustation served on a tram, it was only a matter of time before someone decided to make wine in the middle of the CBD.

The soft pink colour is giving sunset on a beach vibes and it kinda makes you feel fancy without even trying.

But I'll be darned if they are not making a quality drop here. Each of their gins pictured are medal winners, and for a small business, they are going great guns. This is also a labour of love and legacy for their kids.