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ARGI, Kensington

Paul
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ARGI, Kensington

MELBOURNE | The variety of quality vegan options in Melbourne has never been greater. As the years go by, more places are opening that challenge outdated preconceptions about what vegan food can be. Kensington cafe, ARGI, is one of these spots. I popped in the other day to get some photos for What’s On Melbourne.

The cafe has been around for a few years, and always had a large vegan menu. When current owner Gloria took over in 2020, however, she changed things up a bit. Today, ARGI is 100% vegan, with a menu that riffs on Melbourne brunch favourites.

ARGI is the kind of spot that you could visit as a meat eater, and not realise that what you were eating was vegan, except for a few obvious things (i.e. vegan bacon which perhaps one day will come close to the real thing). Nachos, topped with rice, mixed beans, “cheese”, “beef”, “sour cream”, slaw, and spinach, are fantastic. So too, the zesty Thai salad with your choice of tofu, or crumbed “chicken”.

The ARGI signature, one of the most popular items on the menu, is another winner. It’s an open croissant with scrambled tofu, chilli, beans, “cheese”, capsicum, and corn, with a house sauce. Be sure to add the optional hash brown to your order.

There’s a selection of cakes and treats to eat in or take home, plus coffee (with a full range of alternative milks), juices, and sodas.

ARGI

512 Macaulay Road
Kensington
Victoria 3031
Australia

Telephone: 0412 468 669
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Sun – Sat: 8:00am to 3:00pm
Mon, Wed – Fri: 8:00am to 2:30pm

Daddy Bar, Brunswick

Paul
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0
Daddy Bar, Brunswick

MELBOURNE | Daddy Bar is a small local’s bar housed in a former bank vault just off Sydney Road in Brunswick. It’s owned by sisters Ellie Hunt and Shellinda King, and their friend Nicholas Limberis, who wanted to create a venue that anyone could feel welcome in, and that reflected them.

At the front, there’s a few seats on the footpath and a semi-covered outdoor space wit ha few more seats. Inside, its an eclectic, retro vibe. Think kitsch lounge room meets dive bar meets artist space. It’s a cosy, unpretentious space, fitted out with upcycled salvaged furniture and an assortment of nick knacks.

On the drinks menu, you’ll find a few beers on tap and in the fridges, a small but diverse wine list, and a selection of house and classic cocktails. It’s all locally sourced, quality stuff. There’s also a few snacks like Pocky sticks, pie and tart slices, and toasties.

Happy hours and daily specials are generous, and the space also doubles as a gallery for local artists. Check out the walls on any given day and you’ll see featured artist’s works, which are available to purchase.

Daddy Bar

528B Sydney Road
Brunswick
Victoria 3056
Australia

Telephone: n/a
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Mon – Wed: 4:00pm to 11:00pm
Thu: 4:00pm to 12:00am
Fri – Sat: 4:00pm to 1:00am

Just Coconut, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
Just Coconut, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | Just Coconut launched in Brisbane in 2021, with the aim of inspiring healthier lifestyles by providing fresh, premium coconut-based drinks and desserts to customers. They’ve built a reputation in Brisbane, expanding to three locations over there. Earlier this year, they opened their first Melbourne location, which I visited for What’s On Melbourne.

Coconuts are sourced from Thailand, with the prized Nam Hom variety being used for its natural sweetness and flavour. Coconut water and flesh is separated daily on site, to ensure freshness.

On the menu, you’ll find things like the OG Coconut Shake, which contains nothing but pure coconut water and coconut jelly, and options with additions like dragonfruit, durian, and blue spirulina. There’s also seasonal flavours – when I visited there was a sakura rose option which I tried and enjoyed.

Beyond shakes, there’s also pure coconut water, and teas made using coconut water with flavours such as mango osmanthus, and lychee oolong. If you want, you can build your own shake choosing your base, fruit, and coconut foam topping flavour. There’s also coconut puddings with a variety of flavours, and iced coconut snow desserts.

Just Coconut

Shop 31, Mid City Arcade
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: n/a
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Mon – Sun: 11:00am to 10:00pm

KAIJU! Beer & Pizza, Huntingdale

Paul
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0
KAIJU! Beer & Pizza, Huntingdale

MELBOURNE | KAIJU! Beer & Pizza (formerly known as KAIJU! Cantina) is the home of Kaiju Brewing, housed in a converted warehouse in Huntingdale. Founded by brothers Callum and Nat Reeves in 2013, Kaiju spent almost a decade gypsy brewing their beers at other breweries before finally opening their own space in 2022.

It’s a bright, loud space, with a cheerful theme that matches the branding that long-term fans of Kaiju will be familiar with. There’s colourful murals adorning the walls and 1970s evoking orange and red leather booths. An old Toyota Coaster helps to cement the fun, retro vibe. Large fans and an impressive ceiling heating system help to keep the space comfortable no matter the temperature outside.

Hop-forward beers have always been a hallmark of Kaiju, and across their 16 taps you’ll find the classics like Krush, a tropical and fruity Pale Ale, and Metamorphosis, a malty and hoppy West Coast IPA. There’s also limited beers like the ‘anything goes’ Mutation series, and other interesting creations.

If beer’s not your thing, there’s also cider on tap, as well as a nice selection of premium local spirits, cocktails, wines, and non-alcoholic options. A fridge to the side of the bar is filled with can that you can purchase to go.

To the rear of the space, you’ll find the open kitchen where Neapolitan-style pizzas are cooked in a state-of-the-art pizza oven. There’s traditional options like the Margherita, and Capricciosa, along with fun options like a cheeseburger pizza, and BBQ chicken. There’s also a few sides on offer like fries, fried calamari, and ice cream.

KAIJU! Beer & Pizza

27 Hume Street
Huntingdale
Victoria 3166
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9706 5924
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Fri – Sat: 12:00pm to 10:30pm
Sun: 12:00pm to 8:00pm
Thu: 4:00pm to 10:00pm

El Rincón, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
El Rincón, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | El Rincón is a traditional Spanish tapas bar and restaurant on Victoria Street, that’s been open for almost eight years. The family who runs it hail from La Línea de la Concepción in Spain, and have been involved in Melbourne’s Spanish food scene for over 40 years. The restaurant has had a recent revamp as part of the wider recent renovations of Queen Victoria Market’s food court. I recently paid them a visit to grab some photos for What’s On Melbourne.

The atmosphere is an authentic one. Walking through the doors you feel like you’ve been transported into the lively but intimate tapas bars of Spain. Director Manuel Jiminez-Navarro is in charge of designing the menu at El Rincon. It’s inspired by his grandmother’s cooking and the restaurant’s Andalucian heritage. Leading the kitchen is chef Clive Kirby, who faithfully prepares the dishes.

Ingredients are mixture of local and Spanish. Extra virgin olive oil, and tinned fish, for example, are imported from Spain. Local ingredients (around 50% of all of El Rincon’s produce) are sourced directly from Queen Victoria Market, ensuring a freshness that can’t be beat.

You can enjoy a full meal with a mixture of large and small dishes, or simply pop in for a wine and a few tapa or perhaps some cheese and jamon, or cake. Tapa include things like patatas bravas, garlic and chilli mushrooms, and an assortment of croquettes. For larger plates, its dishes like seafood and vegetarian paella (which take 40 minutes to cook and have a wonderful crust when served in the pan), Galician style octopus served with chat potatoes, and cured meats.

To drink, it’s Spanish wines predominantly from the regions of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, along with Spanish liqueurs, and dry and sweet sherries. There’s also sangria on tap, made using Manuel’s grandmother’s recipe, along with a selection of Spanish and local beers

El Rincón

69 Victoria Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: 0450 902 222
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Tue – Wed: 11:00am to 9:00pm
Thu: 10:00am to 9:00pm
Fri – Sat: 10:00am to 11:00pm
Sun: 10:00am to 4:00pm

Brewmanity, South Melbourne

Paul
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0
Brewmanity, South Melbourne

MELBOURNE | Brewmanity was founded in 2015 by former Melbourne Football Club captain David Neitz, his former team mate Paul Hopgood, and ex-CUB marketing manager Jamie Fox. It was created to support Neale Daniher in his battle against motor neurone disease, and to raise money for his charity, Fight MND.

It was only meant to be a one-off thing, but fate had other ideas, and early this year, Brewmanity opened their own brewery and tap room in South Melbourne. I was invited in to take a look. It’s an impressive 400 capacity space housed over three levels. There’s a downstairs bar, a second storey bar and private room, and two rooftop spaces. Views from both the second story weatherproofed outdoor space, and the rooftop spaces, look across to Southbank and the CBD.

On tap, you’ll find 14 beers, consisting of Brewmanity’s accessible core range, and head brewer Tim Miller’s craftier seasonal offerings. All of which are driven by Tim’s philosophy of “making good beer better”. There’s Social Beast, the pale ale that kicked things off in 2015, and beers like a Hazy IPA and the rather excellent Smoked Dark Larger. Beer can be ordered in pints, pots, and as part of a tasting paddle, and there’s a fridge filled with cans to take home.

If you’re not a beer drinker, Brewmanity is still a venue worth visiting. There’s a solid selection of classic and house cocktails, along with a selection of local red, white, rose, and sparkling wines.

Food is a mixture of pub favourites and other bites. Casual fare that goes well with drinks. Things like a chicken parma, South Melbourne dim sims, and glazed BBQ pork ribs with slaw. There’s also vegan options like baked cauliflower with tahini, pita, and pickles; and eggplant bao.

Brewmanity

44-50 Tope Street
South Melbourne
Victoria 3205
Australia

Telephone: (03) 8652 8325
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Wed – Thu: 12:00pm to 11:00pm
Fri – Sat: 12:00pm to 1:00am
Sun: 12:00pm to 10:00pm

St Felix Distillery, Mordialloc

Paul
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0
St Felix Distillery, Mordialloc

MELBOURNE | St Felix Distillery is a Mordialloc distillery housed in an old brick warehouse that forms part of the Urban Ground complex. It focuses on contemporary takes on fruit-based spirits like gin, vodka, and brandy. Outside, you’ll find live music, events, and food trucks, while inside it’s a quieter affair. It’s the latter where you’ll find the distillery equipment, a bar, retail shelves, and high tables with stools.

A chef by trade, owner and head distillery Xavier Nalty opened St Felix after honing his distilling craft at Calvados Christian Drouin Distillery in France, and Collingwood’s Craft & Co. At St Felix, Xavier brings his experience in food and flavour to the spirits that he distilled. His gin and other spirits are inspired by the multicultural tapestry that makes up Australia.

Wild Forest gin showcases Mediterranean botanicals, with a particular highlight on Greek mastic gum, rosemary, bay leaf, and lemon myrtle. A yuzu and green tea spirit, meanwhile, showcases those two ingredients in a spirit which doesn’t neatly fit into a category. The Bitter Citrus Aperetivo is a great option for those who find Campari too bitter and Aperol too sweet. It features big blood orange notes, along with flavours like bergamot, Australian lemon myrtle, and native rosella flower.

At the distillery, you can enjoy a tasting flight, where you’ll be taken through the core range of St Felix’s spirits, enjoying them both neat, and with tonics and sodas. You can also order spirits and drinks at the bar, and sign up for cocktail making and distilling classes.

St Felix Distillery

1 Lamana Road
Mordialloc
Victoria 3195
Australia

Telephone: n/a
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Fri: 3:00pm to 8:00pm
Sat: 12:00pm to 8:00pm
Sun: 12:00pm to 6:00pm

El Mercado, Cheltenham

Paul
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0
El Mercado, Cheltenham

MELBOURNE | I’ll travel all over the world for good food, but when it comes to places on my Melbourne list that are southside, it tends to take me far longer to get there than it should. El Mercado is a spot that I first learned about a year ago, when owner Marcela Diaz asked if I’d like to pop in and see what she and her husband Felipe were doing. Last weekend, the stars aligned, and I finally made a long overdue visit.

Marcela and Felipe, who were born and raised in Santiago, Chile, opened El Mercado in Cheltenham in 2021, realising a dream that the former interior designer and environmental advisor, respectively, had held for many years. Channelling her passion for food, Marcela trained as a chef in Melbourne, allowing her to finesse and refine family recipes and the food that she loves to cook and eat.

El Mercado is a welcoming space, small and bright, with a coffee station and cabinet filled with baked goods on one side, and a wall filled with local and imported artisan pantry ingredients. Where possible, they source their ingredients from local, independent suppliers. Dairy comes from Gippsland Jersey, coffee from Ottimo Roasters, and tea from Tea Culture.

Marcela and Felipe’s heritage, and inspiration drawn from their travels throughout South America’s markets and panaderías form the basis of the menu at El Mercado. Everything is made on site from scratch, including the excellent dulce de leche and chimichurri, which you can buy jars of for home. You can also buy mixed boxes of empanadas for your freezer.

There’s around 12 different Chilean-style empanadas on the menu at any given time. They’re all very good (yes I tried all of them), but at a pinch I’d say my favourites are the corn and Manchego, chipotle pulled pork, and slow cooked beef. They all look quite similar, with initials baked into the crust to help you know which one you’re going for if you order a few.

For sweets, it’s things like alfajores, Spanish orange cake, and medialunas. The latter, a type of mini brioche croissant, is a must try. There’s a few flavours, but you can’t go past the one filled with dulce de leche. Another must try sweet is the milhojas, or ‘thousand layers cake’. It’s a traditional multi pastry and dulce de leche layered Chilean cake. The version here is made using Marcela’s family recipe that’s been passed down generations.

El Mercado

13 Follett Road
Cheltenham
Victoria 3192
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9585 1738
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Tue – Fri: 8:30am to 3:00pm
Sat: 8:30am to 1:30pm
Sun: 8:00am to 1:00pm

High Note, Northcote

Paul
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0
High Note, Northcote

MELBOURNE | The Northcote end of High Street has always been a bit of a great area for fans of live music, with lots of venues showcasing upcoming local artists. High Note is a new addition to the area, that operates as a small bar, intimate live music space, and creative events space in one.

The venue is owned by friends Jamie Bennett (founder, Crown Ruler), Umut Turkeri (DJ, and co-founder of Hope Audio) and James Clarke (CEO, music and culture marketing agency Bolster Group). It was born from a shared desire to build a place for creativity, collaboration and human connection.

Located at the base of the Northcote Theatre, High Note is split across the two street-fronting rooms on either side of the theatre’s entrance. To the left, you’ll find the wine bar, with a small DJ booth, and artwork on the walls by local artists. To the right, it’s a collaborative space for musicians to host workshops, launch albums, hold intimate dance parties, and more.

The two big Altec Lansing 511B horns that the music plays through are hard to miss, and they have some impressive pedigree. The vintage speakers once hung from the walls of the Sydney Opera House and were restored by Umut. Through them, you’ll hear an eclectic assortment of music.

Behind the bar, it’s a tight but diverse selection of independent, low-fi, local and international wines, local craft beers, cocktails, and non-alc drinks. There’s also a few snacks like cheese, charcuterie, and oysters.

High Note

220 High Street
Northcote
Victoria 3070
Australia

Telephone: n/a
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Tue – Fri: 4:00pm to 1:00am
Sat – Sun: 1:00pm to 1:00am

Soyyum, Melbourne

Paul
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0
Soyyum, Melbourne

MELBOURNE | When Leon Low moved from Singapore to Melbourne, he was struck by the lack of places selling the soy milk based drinks and desserts that he enjoyed back home. So to, was his friend Zach, who hails from Malaysia. Over 10 years later, nobody had opened a permanent spot specialising in the soy drinks and desserts that are popular throughout South East Asia, so the duo decided to take matters into their own hands.

Leon and Zach opened Soyyum in October last year to give homesick expats and other Melburnians a taste of home, and to satisfy their own cravings, of course! I popped into the other day to meet Leon, and grab some photos for What’s On Melbourne.

At Soyyum, everything is made from scratch on site. Soy milk is made daily, using locally sourced, sustainable, and organic ingredients (where possible). You can purchase soy milk to drink hot or cold on its own, with flavourings like chocolate and match, and with add-ons like tapioca pearls, grass jelly, and soy pudding. I had a try of the original, slightly sweetened with a house made ginger sugar syrup. It’s outstanding – rich, creamy, and full flavoured. It’s the best way to get a true appreciation of what Leon and Zach are doing.

In addition to soy milk, Soyyum also offers soy pudding. There’s a sweet option, which you can top with the same options available with the drinks, and a savoury option, with topping choices like nori, soy sauce, and house chilli oil. Both the sweet and savoury options are great choices.

If you want a snack to go with your drink or pudding, you can add you tiao or a curry puff as a side. There’s also a few other options on the menu like soy ice cream, cookies, and chicken rice during the week for nearby office workers looking for a savoury lunch option.

Soyyum

9/431 St Kilda Road
Melbourne
Victoria 3004
Australia

Telephone: 0455 104 651
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Wed – Sun: 9:00am to 5:00pm

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