At a glance - Sweetwater Inn

Away from the glitz of Chapel Street, the Sweetwater in is an atmospheric venue with a distinct personality - think rustic, country Australian bar complete with farm equipment and taxidermy scattered generously throughout. We recently popped in for pre-dinner drinks and found the service warm and the dim space inviting. Definitely worth a look if you feel like getting back to your roots. 

At a glance - Meat Market

Lining the banks of the Yarra and part of the South Wharf precinct, the Meat Market serves up well prepared fare. We popped in on a weekend for lunch and were impressed by the range of reasonably priced and delicious lunch options on offer. The mushroom gnocchi in particular stood out - fresh, pillows of deliciousness with perfectly cooked, tender chicken breast.

Degani

After an excruciating wait for our food there was one inescapable conclusion – the food certainly was not worth it. The spaghetti marinara was bland and made using cheap frozen seafood and the lamb skewer was mediocre and served with chopped up pieces of toast rather than Turkish bread as described on the menu. With many far more compelling options surrounding it, Degani will need to lift its game to survive in the area.

Kinship & Co

Tucked away just off Little Collins Street, Kinship & Co is very easy to miss - which seems to be a prerequisite for trendy coffee shops in Melbourne. Really great coffee, friendly staff, hard to find and a wide assortment of jaffles - I think they might be on to a winner.