The alfresco space takes its cues from coastal France rather than suburban Australia, served up with a ‘hair down, shoes off’ St Bart’s twist in the form of palm trees and pineapple plants.

But you don’t need a private plane to escape to this slice of the French Caribbean — just head downstairs from the fresh-faced The Sailors Club’s. And nor do you need a Beyoncé and Jay-Z sized income. 

The Sailors’ younger sibling is all about making French pleasures accessible. We’re talking dessert and booze for breakfast in the form of Crepes Suzette with vanilla marscapone and Campari, or for the savoury-toothed there’s the Ocean Trout with avocado salsa, carby rye toast and creamed corn. And since it’s served all day, there’s no chance of missing the breakfast boat.

Lunch keeps things seasonal, with daily specials available as a salad or sandwich. At the moment they’re doing pork shoulder and fennel or smoked chicken and avocado.

Pretending it’s not winter just got a whole easier. 

The Swimmers Club
594 New South Head Road, Rose Bay, NSW 2029
T: 02 9327 6561
Mon – Sun 8am – 3pm

If you double back along Flinders Lane just to walk past Dukes, then we’ve got the perfect afternoon adventure for you.  

The InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto is following in its Sydney sister hotel’s footsteps with the launch of High Coffee in its Market Lane bar.

Forget Earl Grey and English Breakfast, this caffeine-packed version of High Tea showcases Espresso di Manfredi by Piazza D’Oro coffee alongside the sweet treats.

The first sip of our espresso martini is an icy-cold caffeine hit. Sip and savour, don’t gulp this one or you’ll be bouncing off the walls and have brain freeze.

Starting off with savouries, we’re instantly won over by the salmon-filled baby bagels. So cute!

Ok maybe it’s the caffeine kicking in, but there’s cuteness all over the place.

Forget boring cucumber sandwiches, the InterContinental Melbourne has sandwiched wagyu and cucumber onto mini baguettes. There’s bite sized beef and burgundy pies, a creamy pancetta and asparagus tartlet and even an olive mini muffin.

We’ve ploughed onto sweets by the time the Cafe Freddo arrives with a palate cleansing raspberry sorbet. They’re served in matching Bodum espresso glasses, a clever move and again, it has the cute factor.

The menu matches coffee with sweets but seriously, no one is going to pick just one dessert. We stick to the Café Freddo and indulge in Raspberry pannacotta, a couveture chocolate slice, a puff of pavlova and a pistachio macaron that’s thankfully full size. We savour every mouthful.

At this point the signature Café Cornetto, Stefano’s blend with a shot of grappa, keeps us going. All the way through to bite sized scones.

The InterContinental Melbourne has done us a favour.  High Coffee puts the beans on show but has the sweets to back it up.

High Coffee at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto
2-5pm Daily
$55 per person
495 Collins St Melbourne
T: 138 388
Twitter: @InterConMelb 

Those involved could be anyone. They could be members of military units or tactical operations teams. They could be Gladys from accounts, and they could even be your mother-in-law.

Though it’s usually pretty easy to tell who’s been initiated into this strength and conditioning cult. They travel in packs, they speak in WOs, WODs and AMRAPs, and their muscles grow faster than their fingernails.

The secret to CrossFit’s appeal? Despite having the sweat-inducing intensity of Sichuan peppercorns dipped in wasabi, it’s a workout that’s suitable for everyone. That means you’ll be doing the same basic workout as a martial artist or cage fighter, minus a few barbells or reps.

It also keeps your body guessing – A typical WOD (that’s Workout of the Day, for the uninitiated) is only 30 minutes long, but might include a combination of power clean pull-ups, burpees, power snatches, deadlifts and push presses. Try zoning out to your iPod while doing that. 

A word of caution: These workouts are highly addictive. And, yes, burpees are just as tough as they were in high school.  

Reebok CrossFit CGS
1/32 Lilian Fowler Place, Marrickville, NSW 2204
1800 211 906

After taking a punt and striding down the bare lane, you’ll find one lonely hole-in-the-wall in the shell of what was once Honky Tonks. Follow the exposed concrete right up to Tonka’s bar tables, where the open kitchen is a beacon of light in the mood-lit restaurant.

Tonka is the younger sibling to Coda, and the team has clearly put a lot of time and energy into capturing the same culinary kudos Codas has built up. Adam D’Sylva and Mykal and Kate Bartholomew seem to have found the magic formula. 

Sidle into the sommelier’s tasting table, only because it’s the last seat in the house on a Tuesday night. Overhead hangs Naomi Troski’s dramatic installation, it weaves its way across the ceiling to the tables in the back. 

Finish gawking at the art and move on to the food. Tonka’s modern Indian inspired dishes have all the theatrics of a Bollywood movie. Whole trout comes out crispy-skinned and curled up, looking ready to swim off your plate. The burrata salad is a big, beautiful bun of fresh cheese sitting on coriander salsa, an entire sack we burst open and scoop up with fresh roti.

Tandoor chicken fresh from the wood fire oven, lamb curry, sliced wagyu – dishes are designed to be shared and they’ve got some bite so balance it with a cocktail mango lassi too.

Tonka Restaurant
20 Duckboard Place Melbourne 3000
T: (03) 9650 3155
Twitter: @TONKAMelbourne 

Image Credits:

All images by Stefani Driscoll

It’s thanks to street artist Alex Lehours. His mural dominates the personality of the café with the advice ‘Don’t die wondering’.

Little encouragement is needed to try a Mount Gay Rum Mojito, backed up by a silky Mandala Pinot. It would be rude not to find out what the New York fries consist of; (oven roasted kipflers all cracked n crispy), though the tomato prawns and a divine watermelon salad with Meredith goats cheese feta are all outshone by warm Madura wildflower honey walnuts which’ll have you naughtily licking your fingers to taste the last drip of sticky goodness.

Go during the day to check out ever changing specials with one thing constant – great coffee thanks to Di Gabriel roasters.

The Renegades Cafe Wine Bar
230 Coward Street, Mascot,  2020
Mon – Fri 6am – 5pm
Sat 7.30am – 3pm
Wine Bar: Thurs & Fri 5 – 7pm

None of us like to be that superficial about attraction but when you meet Hudson, it’s so darn beautiful, with its star-like single-bulb pendant lights, over sized chandeliers, pinched chocolate sofas for those snuggle n’ cocktail moments, balcony and fine dining sections – it’s hard not to be smitten.

Fine dining here is a Manhattan-style molecular delight thanks to Ricky Keeley (ex IVY, Pilu, Buon Ricordo). If you love textural dining, combining sous vide with pan fried elements, foams, sands and gels this is your kind of place. Go-to dishes include calamari with lime aioli, quinoa, squid foam, and charred scampi with jamon crumble.

Don’t miss the sugar cured duck, chorizo and smoked chickpeas or kelp fed beef fillet with pedro ximénez braised beef short rib which is so succulent it melts on touch. For dessert, be prepared for a few surprises from pumpkin to chocolate … just not as you know it.

Start spreading the news. You’ll want to be a part of it.

The Hudson
49 Lime St, King Street Wharf (yep it’s the old wagamama site – you wont recognise it)
Sun – Thurs: 12pm – Midnight
Fri & Sat: 12pm – till late.
Closed Saturday lunch and Sunday dinner

Steve is everyman. He’s the modern man, the one trying to figure out which cocktail to order on his next date, or even better, wondering how he can make a cocktail and really impress his other half.

The Festival of Steve is a one-day event at The Kelvin Club. The members-only club is throwing open its doors all in the name of helping out the modern man.

And to help educate today’s men, they’ve enlisted some of our most dapper gentlemen. Or at least a few highly skilled professionals.

Bar Americano’s master mixologist Hayden Lambert will be running demos and classes ($40) for the cocktail challenged, while pro billard player Kelvin Small will be on hand to pass on tips and tricks to help master the pool table.

Expect the Presidents Room to be packed when Comedian Simon Taylor, aka Beat Magazine’s Moral Man takes to the stage. This Melbourne man about town also writes for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

He’ll add a humorous helping hand. You’re sure to learn something and with all proceeds from his show (donation-on-entry) going to Beyond Blue, it’s a good cause.

Keep an eye out for Embiggen Books from Lonsdale St. They’ve hand picked some tomes for the discerning man’s library. Or your library. Don’t worry, this isn’t a boys club. Partners are welcome too!

The Festival of Steve
Sat 25 May 2013,  11am- 6pm
The Kelvin Club, Melbourne Place
Twitter: @FestivalofSteve

So when you find a store that’s been in the same place for more than a decade, on one of our trendiest laneways, you’ve found something special.

Fokus has sat at 18 Centre Place, right between Blu Fish and Jungle Juice, for 13 years. Owner Lynette Clucas has seen Centre Place go gangbusters and she’s managed to hold on tight to her little spot.

Fokus makes a huge commitment to independent Melbourne designers, it’s a treasure trove of everything from soft leather belts and hand crocheted beanies to tiny bird skull necklaces and woven felt pashminas.

Lynette’s own brand, Agenda, is adorable. The chocolate-coloured leather bags, pouches and purses are as soft as your favourite puppy. They’re designed for “the man or woman who has an agenda” and are hand cut and hand stitched here in the city.

Fokus doesn’t take itself too seriously. We love the old school manikins with their floppy hats and bright red lips.

Don’t leave without trying on a pair of the almost too-trendy Fritz Frames. The handmade timber retro reading glasses made us drool and the bright red sunglasses are just as much fun. The store isn’t going anywhere, but those frames will.

Fokus
18 Centre Place, Melbourne CBD
T: 03 9650 8454
Mon – Fri: 10:30am – 6pm
Sat: 10:30am – 5.30pm
Sun: 11am – 5pm

French etiquette involves some very formal rules. If a friend invites you over for tea, asking to buy the chair you’re sitting on probably falls into the ‘faux pas’ category.

Luckily us Aussies are a bit more chill, and at this chic Parisian pad you can leave with whatever you can carry. Or, in the case of heavy furniture, anything your removal guy can.

You don’t need a formal invite either – just wander down ivy’s coveted laneway and stumble upon a treasure trove of effortlessly luxe fashion and equally plush furnishings.

Raid the wardrobes for sleek dresses and jersey basics from Tighttigers (by The AparTTment’s own style-savvy propriétaire Claire Coppins), plus silk scarves by Yassin Lahmar and leather jackets by Paris-based Nour Hammour. Who said you can’t put a (very accessible) price on je ne sais quoi?

On the furniture front you’ll find key pieces from online purveyor Max Sparrow, handwoven rugs by Cadrys and artsy lighting installations by Zaffero. And in the way of refreshments, T2 tea plus pastries by Lorraine’s Patisserie offer the ultimate hemisphere/Hemmesphere mélange.

Just remember to leave some things for the rest of us. 

The AparTTment
Shop 320C, ivy, 320 George Street, Sydney 2000
T: 0412 338 975
Mon – Wed 11am – 7pm, Thurs – Fri 11am – 9pm, Sat 11am – 4pm 

Hey, when they’re a mix of lychee, elderflower and Tequila Tromba, as well as being served in a jar glass, you’re right on trend.

And yes, this is another Melbourne Mexican restaurant but Fonda Winsdor is the younger sibling of hugely popular Fonda Mexican in Richmond, only better, because there’s more options on the menu and there’s a bar upstairs.

Mi Casa, Su Casa is the motto, everyone is welcome. Even when the tables are all full, you just head upstairs to Atica.

As the name suggests, this bite-sized bar in the rafters has a den vibe but it’s a cosy space to wait for the text message from downstairs.

Back in the dining hall, chef Ravi Presser and Mexican mastermind Lupita Manzo have kept the focus on fresh, traditional Mexican food that’s packed with flavour.

Pick your meal, order at the counter and watch the chefs prepare your burrito while you wait. We love to see a chef’s station brimming with fresh cabbage, corn, pumpkin, feta and peas.

We munch on the obligatory guac and tortilla crisps while watching plate after plate of quesadillas go by, very glad we’ve ordered a moreish chorizo, sweet potato, queso fresco, jalapeno and Fonda Salsa version.

A healthier option might have been the quinoa chicken salad, studded with black beans, smoked corn and baby peas, or a lean kangaroo fillet burrito with pumpkin, feta and salsa roja but we’ll save those for next time…

Fonda Windsor
144 Chapel St, Windsor VIC
T: (03) 9521 2660
Sun – Thurs: 12pm -10:30pm
Fri, Sat: 12pm to midnight
Twitter: @FondaMexican

Image Credits:

Image 1: Healthy burritos, image by Tom Blachford 
Image 2: Chefs at work, image by Tom Blachford