How I Learned to Stop Feeling Guilty About Not Taking Public Transport
Ask any Melbournian what makes our city so unique and no doubt you will get a response that involves food, coffee, shopping, the arts, Brendon Fevola’s interviewing skills, and of course, public transport.
Suffice to say, most denizens of our fair city have a lengthy and intense love-hate relationship with our public transport system.  In fact, not a day goes by where I am not privy to a facebook update or a tweet hurling abuse in the general direction …

Melbourne’s multicultural heritage is one of her shining stars when it comes to food and drink. While it’s led to some unexpected evolutions in flavour and theme, it’s also given us some incredible experiences. As we continue to expose Melbourne’s private parts to the general populace, we’ve found peacocks, hummingbirds, and now a Golden Monkey.

Golden Monkey is a surprisingly complete experience. It manages to walk the thin line between themed and kitsch beautifully, and there’s a sense that the theme isn’t a gimmick, but a philosophy. The interior is sparingly lit, but the architecture supports the lack of light, and serves to create an intimacy of experience that survives any size group. It’s also an exercise in near-flawless service, and harmony between the drinks, the atmosphere and the food.

By Jared Woods
Melbourne’s love of the hidden bar can sometimes yield absolute gems for the committed seeker. There’s the street-cred of Section 8, the hidden delights of Lily Black’s, or the now sadly defunct uber-chilled essence of St Jerome’s. In fact, there’s almost a correlation between how difficult a place is to find, and the level to which it carries a thematic bent. Despite its “I-need-a GPS-to-find-this” difficult location, Manchuria offers up a themed experience that matches its Chinatown location and heritage.
Up the stairs and through the enormous and imperial …

Finding the Peacock isn’t easy if you don’t know where to look, but once you have, prepare for a visual feast. The violently-coloured fireplace meets you as you enter, and ascend the timber-patchwork stairs to the welcoming open space of the bar itself. To your left, intimate tables for dining, to your right Cocktail bar, and the softly-lit Peacock Lounge directly ahead. The design and detail-oriented will notice the natural and recycled materials within, and the repeated motif of the eponymous bird across the décor. Well-furnished and plush, each space beckons with retro styling and lighting that invites conversation and a little indulgence.

With summer fast approaching, Melbourne’s evening culture of indoor culture of cocktails, plush red wines and hearty feasts begins to fade. In its place, our suddenly rekindled love for barbecues, beer gardens, beach-side grazing and balconies emerges. Suddenly everyone remembers how to find The Deck above the Waterside Hotel, street cafes are full of bare-skinned limbs and chille whites, and our nights turn to long, languid afternoons. Now, with the addition of Left Bank to the Southbank pantheon of places to eat and drink, summer’s looking decidedly glamorous.

Walking into ChopHouse gives one the feeling of walking into a sepia photograph. There’s a lot of subtle lighting and earthy tones, comforting timber and the occasional flash of steel. The staff are attentive (without being oppressively solicitous) and know plenty about the wines, the meals and about what combines well as a series of courses. The style is a nice hybrid between Melbourne’s flashier, one-quail-and-some-Asian-greens restaurants and the overly masculine steak houses elsewhere in the city. It’s hard not to feel comfortable and well looked after.

Like most first-world cities, there’s no shortage of places to find Indian food in Melbourne. The cultural diversity of our city has long been a driving force in increasing the pantheon of culinary delights. Within this galaxy of saffron stars sits The Bengal Tiger in South Melbourne – a remarkable exercise in powerful flavour and unobtrusive, friendly service. Oh, and tremendously good value.