Chef Matt Wilkinson and business partner Ben Foster raised a few eyebrows when they opened their cafe Pope Joan on an industrial stretch of Nicholson Street. Now, with that powering along, they’ve taken over the space behind the neighbouring roller door.

The Bishop of Ostia is a relaxed bar focussing on local drops and produce. They’ve done a great job transforming the industrial bones of the building, leaving some of the decaying bricks exposed and giving them a contemporary makeover with layers of mirrors and dark timber panelling.

You can sit up at the bar (a gorgeous cherry blossom mosaic behind you), on milk stools around small tables or on wide wooden benches in the window. The Bishop also cleverly shares Pope Joan’s courtyard space.

The generous drinks list consists of well-priced Victorian wines and local beers (including the Brunswick-brewed Thunder Road Full Steam Lager on tap) and ciders. There are even two Australian whiskies on offer. The cocktail menu is short but oh-so sweet, with the Brunswick mule, a combination of bourbon, organic ginger beer, lime, mint and sour cherries, worth crossing town for.

Bar snacks come from Joan’s kitchen. Start with the moreish pork scratchings, then move on to the chef’s snack of sashimi tuna, soy and ginger, the smoked garlic bagna caudal with crudités of heirloom vegetables, and the spice-crumbed Moreton Bay bugs.

Those living in the area are truly blessed.

The Bishop of Ostia
77–79 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East
(03) 9388 8858
Thursday to Sunday, 4pm–late (kitchen opens at 5.30pm)

Calling all lovers, secret admirers, husbands, wives and friends with benefits – Valentine’s Day is around the corner and it’s time to get gushy, pucker up and turn your romanticism ‘on’.

Here’s our hand picked gift guide to spoil your Valentine this year. 

For all the lovers

If your stars cross in Sydney: pull up a patch of grass and celebrate Picnic-style with a bespoke Sydney Picnic Co hamper and experience the ‘Amorous Asparagus of Aphrodite’ with the Valentine’s Day hamper ($210 to be shared between two) or indulge in a sparkling afternoon tea at the QVB Tea Rooms ( But if fine dining is more your style, indulge in a seven course degustation at Guillaume at Bennelong ($295pp) or soak up some live jazz and a three course set menu at The Pavilion in the Domain ($85pp). And to set the endorphins running wild, get all four of your hands dirty at the Sydney Chocolate School’schocolatier course ($150pp half day class / $290pp full day class includes lunch).

If you’re loved up in Melbourne: The Fitzrovia team can pack you both a fine foods picnic to enjoy in Albert Park ($75 each) or go all out with a five course set menu designed by Philippe Mouchel at PM24 ($150 five course set menu or a la carte including a glass of Champagne). Better still, hole yourselves up in inner-city hide-out The Prince via the boutique hotel specialists.

Everywhere else: let’s hope you end up here. Where else can you package up dinner and a movie, champagne (wait there’s more), a dolphin cruise, breakfast in bed (heart shaped pancakes included) and have a Star named after you in the Observatory?

From your secret admirer

Send your secret Valentine a handmade card spotted with ink from a Kiki.K My Valentine Wooden Stamp Kit ($24.95) and a box of ‘Aphrodisiac Collection’ chocolates from Coco Chocolate ($35 large / $19.50 small).

For the hubbys

Treat the hubby with a vintage pair of Blue Caravan Typewriter Cufflinks ($27.50) and for the man who appreciates grooming, a classic Taylor’s of Old Bond Street since 1854 Shaving Set ($365).

For the wifeys

One ring finger may be permanently taken, but that leaves nine others begging for some sparkle. Decorate your wife’s hand with a gorgeous Karen Walker Red Pansy Ring with garnet stone ($349 NZD). Or shoot an arrow her way with Vera Wang Lovestruck ($69 Eau de Parfum 50ml, available at David Jones).

Friends, with benefits

If “it’s complicated” best describes your friends with benefits relationship and a gushy Valentine’s gift doesn’t fit the brief, how about a set of hand made, hand blown Shotoku Usuhari glasses ($50 each) or pair of slim line Urbanears Tanto headphones ($80 in various colours).

Join the Opera Bites crew as they put a different slant on the great works of Gilbert & Sullivan with a delicious three-course dinner and show. 

France is the city of romance, so put a French spin on your Valentine’s Day with a delicious three-course French menu and live jazz. 

Just when you thought nothing could knock Eau de Vie off its best cocktail bar block, along comes The Roosevelt – an even more impressive (is that possible?) restaurant and cocktail bar by the same small bar mastermind, Sven Almenning.

With a nod to yesteryear, this place oozes old Hollywood glamour. Imagine the charm of Humphrey Bogart and grace of Ginger Rogers, add them together, give ‘em a good shake, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to expect.

An ode to all things art deco, the decor is nothing short of suave. There’s imported European bar stools and a display cabinet housing vintage cocktail shakers and glassware from the 20s. Look out for the mobile cocktail trolley fitted with a liquid nitrogen hose. Nitro Colada anyone?

But the buck doesn’t stop at liquor – they’re serious about food too. Book a spot in the private dining room at one of the communal tables and indulge in a five-course cocktail (wine was so 2011) degustation dinner [keep an eye on our perks page for an awesome invitation].

Order the Dead End and sip from a hip flask, or try Al Capone’s Smugglers Crate and have it jimmied at the table.

You’ll go for the theatre. You’ll go back for everything else. 

The Roosevelt
32 Orwell Street, Potts Point 2011
T: 0422 263 226 

Meet the BRAND:
Re-Boot is team-based group training run by a fit and furiously dedicated bunch – the folks to take away the intimidation and replace it with your determination. In Red Team’s December Re-Boot team mates recorded an average increase of 100% in their cardiovascular output, a 35% increase in lower body muscular strength and a 37% increase in upper body strength. Using functional training as its core discipline Re-boot is about kick starting your fitness, variating your current training, or adding additional training to your regime. Have fun annihilating those unwanted calories with your team mates.

www.red-team.com.au

The PERK:
As if a fitter, leaner, healthier you isn’t enough you’ll get 8 Re-boot one hour sessions (4 week bootcamp, 2 sessions per week), Red Team singlet and a Red Team BPA approved healthy drink bottle (valued at over $65), 4 weeks of D.I.Y workouts, Red Team music beats, nutritional info and workout equipment.

The latest in a line of launches by the Masterchef judge is Mama Baba. Taking inspiration from his Greek Cypriot mama and half-Italian baba, Calombaris – along with head chef Dominic Pipicelli – has created a menu that is essentially two halves, both featuring pasta but with influences from either side of the family tree. For instance, there’s tortellini with prawn saganaki, roasted tomatoes and feta or an updated take on the classic carbonara: bucatini with calamari, crispy maple pork, pumpkin parmesan and saffron brodo. (Although it is wise to order one of the grilled scallops with garlic skordalia and a crumb top – previously scoffed at Hellenic Republic – from the starters.)

All the pasta is made on site in the open kitchen (using a $45,000 extruder that caused some controversy when Calombaris spoke out against penalty rates for hospitality staff), making for a nice bit of theatre.

The space itself is relaxed: polished concrete floors, bar and kitchen facing off across the space, paper placemats that flip over to reveal the menu, dressed-in-black staff members sporting fetching red-and-white polka dot scarves or pocket squares.

Make sure you leave room for dessert. There are bombolini (donuts) stuffed with nutella, the Italian mess (a drool-inducing reinterpretation of Eton mess featuring sour cherries and raspberry meringue), and gelato and ice-cream in flavours like homemade lemonade and Milo and milk.

Best of all, for those tired of long lines for a table at some establishments, Mama Baba takes bookings.

Mama Baba
21 Daly Street, South Yarra
(03) 9207 7421
Monday–Thursday and Saturday: 5pm–late. Friday and Sunday: 12pm–late

Let us introduce you to the high-end vintage treasure trove that is Parisian Street Society. One visit to the online store and you’ll never look at your local Vinnies the same way again.

Owner and self-confessed vintage-aholic Shannyn Alexene has trawled every market, back alley, laneway and granny’s garage in France to curate a rare collection of high-end luxury European finds.

Mostly jewels, handbags and sunglasses, you’ll find hand-picked goodies from Chanel, YSL, Christian Lacroix, Balenciaga, Hermes and Givenchy, and rare finds from designers like Isabel Canovas, Inna Cytrine, Dominique Aurientis and Edouard Rambaud.

Fancy a Chanel gold plated crown medallion cuff (circa 1986) or a classic Chanel quilted lambskin bag from the 90s? And if that’s not doing it for you, how about a Hermes gold plated horse bangle or a pair of Givenchy shades from the 70s?

Whatever your flavour, there’s bound to be something that floats your vintage boat.

Parisian Street Society

Spice up your lunch break with a bite-sized demonstration of sushi and the art of Japanese cooking, led by master sushi chef Hideo Dekura. 

Head to Victoria Park and celebrate Mardi Gras by browsing stalls, tasting delicacies and watching the fabulous canines at Dulchie’s Dog Show.