Vin

Vin is a little bit different. Vin is a wine bar, wine store and unique wine clad restaurant in the one space. They offer an a la carte menu seven days a week, and serve weekend breakfasts. Vin’s dining room is set inside the wine cellar: the tables are dressed with fine linen and glassware. The cosy atmosphere is enhanced by the use of low lighting and extensive use of candle light. Vin’s facilities include an open fire with lounge area, outside seating and an upstairs wine room which can cater for corporate and private functions. With over 1300 wines to choose from, Vin has wines to suit every palate and budget and they have a staff of trained sommeliers that can assist in the selection of wine for any occasion.

Vin : 212 High Street, Prahran
Website : www.vincellar.com.au
Phone : (03) 9510 2820

Luscious Affairs

Luscious Affairs is a Melbourne boutique food business that means business. They continuously seek, and find, the best available produce and people to create and deliver consistently luscious food.

Luscious Affairs : 494 Tooronga Road, Hawthorn East
Website : www.lusciousaffairs.com.au
Phone : (03) 9813 3303

Melbourne Observation Deck

The Melbourne Observation Deck is located on level 55 of the Rialto Towers building - offering breathtaking 360-degree bird’s-eye-views of fabulous Melbourne. Discover another side to “the worlds most livable city”!

Melbourne Observation Deck : 525 Collins St, Melbourne
Website : www.melbournedeck.com.au
Phone : (03) 9629 8222

Rialto Hotel Melbourne

The Rialto Hotel Melbourne is a 19th Century Venetian style National Trust classified building that originally operated as offices and wool stores in the 1890s. The hotel has been tastefully modernized yet retains links with the past - still featuring the original stainded glass windows and cobblestone laneways. The Rialto Hotel Melbourne is adjacent to the spectacular Rialto Towers Observation Deck, and withing walking distance to the Regent Theater, Museum of Australian Art, and Melbourne Aquarium. All rooms feature satellite TV, in-room movies, minibars, coffeemakers, hairdryers, high-speed Internet access, individual climate control, irons and ironing boards, voicemail, and work desks.

Note: The iconic Rialto Hotel on Collins, following its closure and complete transformation, will reopen as an InterContinental hotel by late 2008.

Rialto Hotel Melbourne : 495 Collins St, Melbourne
Website : www.rialtohotel.com.au
Phone : (03) 9620 9111

Fragile

Fragile’s maternity collection is Australian made and designed, and includes modern stretch cotton lingerie and their own swimwear label ‘2swim’. Fragile also carry a wide selection of exquisite babywear and toddler gear including collections from Anne Kurris, Max and Lola, Garcon, Diesel, Inge Van Den Broeck, Maan, Quincy, Marni and Paul Smith. Fragile stock 100% water repellent polyester Allerhand bags including backpacks, maternity bags and kids bags.

Fragile : 285-287 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
Website : www.fragile.com.au
Phone : (03) 9686 4111

Keshett

Store owners and operators Eugene and Paula Keshett have traveled the world for over 20 years buying exquisite pieces of antique and contemporary jewellery. Their impressive collection includes the latest designer fashion styles from countries including Europe, England and South America.

Keshett : 323-325 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Website : www.keshett.com.au
Phone : (03) 9654 1514

Preston Zly

For over 10 years, we at Preston Zly have been creating designer shoes and boots. Preston Zly shoes are custom made, crafted by hand and come in many different sizes, colour and styles.

Preston Zly : 219 Smith Street, Fitzroy
Website : www.prestonzlydesign.com
Phone : (03) 9417 2176

Souk

Recently opened in the heart of Chapel Street, Prahran, Soük is a restaurant with a difference, providing dishes, drinks, delights and decadence. Behind the stoves, a dynamic young chef holds the reigns of this large establishment, owning his first restaurant and coming from a great pedigree in the ‘culinary world’. Chef George Bilionis is a quiet achiever, having trained and worked with some of the best in Melbourne and overseas. Time spent on the Greek Islands has also provided much inspiration for Soük, offering diners a modern Greek approach, with a difference. Dishes also include Middle Eastern influences, yet their construction is anything but ordinary. a Mediterranean eating room, providing culinary inspiration and tastes that delight the senses.

Souk : 267 Chapel Street, Prahran
Website : www.souk.com.au
Phone : (03) 9533 7022

The Astor

The Astor Theatre is a cinema in the grand, old manner. The theatre’s proud boast is Fine Films and Atmosphere and the varied programme and “old-world” charm reflect this. The cinema was built in the 1930s and still retains the art-deco charm of that period. You are greeted by soft lighting and gentle music - you can relax in the somewhat-overstuffed chairs and enjoy some of The Astor’s famous cake. The Astor Theatre is a classic, single-screen cinema with stalls and a dress circle - the overall seating capacity of 1,150 is reduced from the original 1,700 - and the auditorium has the same, soft ambience that you will have enjoyed in the foyers. Beautiful curtains cover the screen - there are no jarring, advertising slides to greet you! But there is nothing “old-fashioned” about The Astor’s facilities. The fully-air-conditioned cinema boasts a state-of-the-art sound system and a new, giant screen. The Astor specialises in 70mm presentations but the general programming is for a different double feature on most evenings of the week with extra matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. There are also some special, single-feature sessions. The Astor Theatre presents a mix of older films and recent releases along with special seasons of major re-releases such as Ben-Hur and Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window. The aim of everybody at The Astor is to give you a movie-going experience that is second-to-none!

The Astor : 1 Chapel Street, St. Kilda
Website : www.astor-theatre.com
Phone : (03) 9510 1414

Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle

The Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle stops at key tourist destinations in and around the city, with a round trip taking apx 45 minutes. You don’t need a ticket (it’s free!) and there’s even an on board commentary. The bus operates between 10am and 4pm, 7 days a week, and leaves around every 15 minutes from the following locations:

1. Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens
2. Lygon Street at Elgin Street
3. Royal Parade
4. Melbourne University
5. Queen Victoria Market
6. Flagstaff
7. Law Courts
8. Immigration Museum
9. Southbank
10. Arts Precinct
11. Shrine of Remembrance
12. Sports and Entertainment Precinct
13. Flinders Quarter
14. Chinatown and Theatres
15. Exhibition Street at La Trobe Street

Riding the Tourist Shuttle is an excellent way to see Melbourne’s main tourist sites - you can spend 15 or 30 minutes at each location and then jump on the next bus.

Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle
Website : www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au