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39 Pizzeria & Degustation (03) 9642 0440, 362 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

Arrivederci Aroma (03) 9606 0530, 408 Queens St, Melbourne - Near the Queen Victoria Market serving Italian food and coffee. Can be noisy with its rather industrial design.

Babble Bar & Cafe (03) 9510 6464, 4B Izzet St, Prahran

Babble on Babylon (03) 9531 4211, 85 Brighton Rd, Elwood - A Reasonably priced Jamaican cafe with the music to prove it. As well as Jamaican dishes the food includes a mod oz mix.

Baker D. Chirico (03) 9534 3777, 149 Fitzroy St, St Kilda - For breakfast, a snack or a loaf of bread Chirico's the spot. This specialist baker of Italian origins makes great sourdough bread in the middle of trendy St Kilda

Bar Humbug (03) 9642 0115, 586 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

Becco 9663 3000, 11 Crossley St, Melbourne - Popular, well pitched, inner city Italian - very Melbourne. Good litttle bar attached. Mains around $40.

Benito's 9670 5347, 445 Little Collins St, Melbourne - Benito's feels like an old friend. The menu at breakfast and lunch is Italian, and in the early evenings it's antipasto and wine.

Bossy Boots (03) 9596 6825, 106 Bay St, Brighton

Bottega 9654 2252, , 74 Bourke St, Melbourne - The room is pleasant, the dishes are simple but well done, and are complimented by a thoughtful wine selection.

Breadwell (03) 9650 8544, 135 Flinders La, Melbourne

Cabinet (03) 9654 0915, 11 Rainbow Aly, Melbourne

Cacao (03) 8598 9555, 52 Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Caffe Cento Venti (03) 9650 5621, 120 Collins St, Melbourne - Caffe Cento Venti has it all; a bar, a cafe, an upmarket restaurant and an outdoor area under the plane trees at the Paris end of Collins Street.

Cafe Chinotto (03) 9650 8666, Federation Square, 2 Swanston St, Melbourne

Cafe Excello (03) 9650 0990, 99 Spring St, Melbourne

Cafe Intimo (03) 9606 0130, 439 Little Collins St, Melbourne

Cafe L'Incontro (03) 9650 9603, Swanston St cnr Little Collins St, Melbourne - A standard cafe but the position nestled next to the Town Hall makes it all worthwhile on a fine day.

Caffe Per Te (03) 9592 0169, 66 Church St, Brighton - Caffe Per Te, is somewhat of an institution in Brighton. The cool, dark wood interior, is a pleasant backdrop for the traditional Italian menu.

Cafe Quiet Earth (03) 9525 8864, 257 Carlisle St, St Kilda

Cafe Racer (03) 9534 9988, 15a Marine Pde, St Kilda - Summer or winter this cafe dispenses quality coffee and generous amounts of well-being even for those without a Ducatti or other of two wheeled machine.

Cafe Vue (03) 9691 3899, Normanby Chambers, 430 Collins St, Melbourne

Carlisle Wine Bar 9531 3222, 137 Carlisle St, Balaclava - Along with an outstanding wine list and well-pawed cocktail menu, Carlisle Wine Bar also serves well prepared and moderately priced Italian dishes

Caterina's Cucina e Bar 9670 8488, Basement, 221 Queen St, Melbourne - Caterina's is only open lunches, it is primarily a businessman's dining room. Service is very good.

Chez Olivier Le Bistro (03) 9525 2273, 121 Greville St, Prahran

Choix Creperie Cafe (03) 9629 1883, Shop G22, 620 Collins St, Melbourne - A tiny creperie hidden in a passageway at the cafe starved west end of Collins St.

Cowderoy's Dairy (03) 9537 2601, 14 Cowderoy St, St Kilda West - You can still buy milk bar essentials at Cowderoy's as well as up to the minute coffee and light snacky meals.

The Dogs Bar (03) 8534 3000, 54 Acland St, St Kilda - This is one of Melbourne's great bars, loved by its St Kilda locals and by folks who want to be by the sea on weekends.

Dweezil (03) 9593 9907, 172 Carlisle St, St Kilda

Edna's Place (03) 9523 0426, 390 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick

Federal Coffee Palace (03) 9662 2224, shop 22-23, melbourne gpo, 350 Bourke St, Melbourne

Florentino Cellar Bar (03) 9662 1811, 80 Bourke St, Melbourne - The tiny tables support large plates of pasta, and the bar, the elbows of the drinkers. Dark wood lined and clubby.

Florentino Grill Room 9662 1811, 80 Bourke St, Melbourne - A classic grill-room, good ingredients simply but correctly cooked, served by professional waiters

Fox In The Box (03) 9596 0133, 169 Martin St, Brighton

Fresh@Elwood (03) 9531 4130, 130 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Galleon Cafe (03) 9534 8934, 9 Carlisle St, St Kilda - There's a real sense of community here, fostered by the wholesome fare, warmth of the staff and the honesty of the prices.

Gibney's Gourmet Food (03) 9596 6700, 136-138 Martin St, Brighton

The Globe Cafe (03) 9510 8693, 218 Chapel St, Prahran - For Australian cafe food in the funky end of Chapel St the Globe Cafe is the place to go. Good flavour balance in the well cooked dishes.

Greasy Joe's (03) 9525 3755, 68 Acland St, St Kilda - Greasy Joe's is as synonymous with St Kilda as Luna Park, and you'd almost need a mouth that big to eat it's famous Burger with the lot

Ice Cafe Bar 9510 8788, Shop 26, 30 Cato St, Prahran - Somewhere between a bar and a cafe this groovy place whith its ultra-smooth late night decor has a real buzz at the bar.

Il Bacaro (03) 9287 2700, Shops 4 & 5, 168-170 Little Collins St, Melbourne - The epitome of Italian style and flavour. A gem of a place, cosily chic or crowded, depending on your girth.

Il Fornaio (03) 9534 2922, 2 Acland St, St Kilda - An urban, industrial interpretation of the local bakery, with a licensed cafe. It's long been a popular St KIlda destination.

Inkr7 (03) 9534 6011, 7 Inkerman St, St Kilda - All the breakfast dishes loved by the smart citizens of St Kilda ar found here plus the usual bread based items. Nice little courtyard.

The Italian 9654 9499, 101 Collins St, Melbourne - The Italian has moved half a block to swanky new, multi-layered premises, at the rear of 101 Collins St. Coffee bar on Flinders La, restaurant above.

Italy 1 (03) 9367 5744, 27 George Pde, Melbourne - In a narrow laneway, off the Paris end of Collins Street, is Italy 1, a small and intimate restaurant

Italy on the Bay (03) 9596 5477, 356-360 Bay St, Brighton - A cosy and warm space with the window over looking the street set with stools, and outside seating as well.

Jerry's Milk Bar (03) 9531 3078, 345 Barkly St, Elwood - One side of the cafe is an authentic re-creation of a 1950's milk bar - original curved glass display counters and milk shake mixers.

Journal Canteen 9650 4399, Shop 1 Level 1, 253 Flinders la, Melbourne - The new venture by Con Christopoulos (Degraves, European, Supper Club) is a smart modern cafe decorated as a reading room.

Jungle Juice Bar 9639 8779, 20 Centre Pl, Melbourne

Las Chicas (03) 9531 3699, 203 Carlisle St, Balaclava - A daytime cafe under the Balaclava railway station with a very creative menu. Courtyard at rear and standard prices.

Little Captain 9527 5207, 353 Inkerman St, St Kilda East

Little Peninsula (03) 9670 2020, 308 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne

Luce Rossa (03) 9663 3437, Level 1, Oddfellows Hotel, 33-35 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne

Lucia's Place (03) 9642 0943, 433 Little Collins St, Melbourne

Ludo (03) 9670 9488, 118 Queen St, Melbourne

Mary Martin Bookshop Cafe (03) 9663 9633, Melbourne Paramount Centre Shop 8, 108 Bourke St, Melbourne - With expanded seating and kitchen facilities, you can now get real food for the stomach as well sustenance for the soul at Mary Martin's.

Melbourne Wine Room (03) 9525 5599, The George Hotel, 125 Fitzroy St, St Kilda - The Wine Room is the old public bar of the George Hotel the adjacent dining room. The food is Italian and is well done.

Melbourne Wine Room Bar 9525 5599, The George Hotel, 125 Fitzroy St, St Kilda - The prices are lower and the atmosphere livelier (read noisy and smoky) than the Wine Room Restaurant.

Milktoast (03) 9531 3527, 115 Carlisle St, St Kilda

Mr Tulk (03) 8660 5700, State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston St, Melbourne

Nick's Bar 207 (03) 9670 4506, 207 Queen St, Melbourne - Nick's is not new. It's an old-style trattoria with traditional Italian food served by friendly staff.

Nick's Spaghetti Bar (03) 9606 0557, 556 Lonsdale St, Melbourne - Nick's feeds a lot of lawyers and other business folk nearby. There's a number of different rooms and a courtyard area.

Ortigia (03) 9670 0774, Shop 1, 443 Little Collins St, Melbourne - Mostly take-away this very popular pizza lunch spot at the legal end of town

Oskawhyte (03) 9822 4004, 1013 High St, Armadale - Oskawhyte is indeed white. This is a place for ladies who shop - seriously. Good neighbourly feeling and super-fast service.

Piadina (03) 9662 2277, rear, 57 Lonsdale St (Behind Bluebag), Melbourne

Pizza E Birra 9537 3465, 60a Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Pod Espresso 03, 305 Bay St, Brighton

Ragazzi (03) 9686 6777, 165 Mills St, Middle Park - The boys have fun tossing pasta, pounding out dough and shovelling pizzas into the wood-oven.

Rose Street Gallery (03) 9822 7753, 1d Rose St, Armadale - The fit-out of this Victorian building is so beautiful it's almost edible. Smart south of the river cafe fare

Sapore 9534 9666, 3-5 Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Sarti 9639 7822, 6 Russell Pl, Melbourne - A lovely rooftop space with courtyard serving simple but well executed dishes. There's also a cheaper bar menu.

Schoolhouse Cafe (03) 9593 2988, 19 St Andrews St, Brighton

SMXL Little Bourke (03) 9642 8611, 542-544 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

Society (03) 9639 2544, 23 Bourke St, Melbourne

Solarino (03) 9663 2636, Shop 7, 273 Little Collins St (Up Howey Pl), Melbourne

Spoonful 9521 5212, 543 High St, Prahran - Standard (read creative), but high-quality fare available to eat in or take away at this eclectically decorated cafe and produce store.

Spuntino (03) 9525 3599, 56 Acland St, St Kilda - Part of the Dog's Bar next door it is, as the name says, a place for an Italian snack. Low key, friendly and popular.

St Kilda Delicatessen (03) 8598 9366, 267 Barkly St, St Kilda

St Kilda Pier Kiosk (03) 9525 5545, St Kilda Pier, St Kilda

St Kilda Snack Bar 9525 3326, 167A Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Stokehouse Downtairs (03) 9525 5445, 30 jacka Blv, St Kilda - This really is a lovely room - dark but with great windows onto the beach with an open fire and lounges at one end for the winter.

Sud Food & Wine Bar 9670 8451, 219 King St, Melbourne - Tablecloths and a quality setting give this deep room, with its banquette seating, a sense of formality.

Superfino 030407773754, 275 Flinders La, Melbourne

Switch Board 03, 11 & 12 Manchester Unity Arcade, 220 Collins St, Melbourne - A pair of tiny holes-in-the-wall tucked away at the back of the Manchester Unity - coffee and goodies.

Tazio Birraria And Pizzeria (03) 9654 9119, 66 Flinders La, Melbourne

The Farm Cafe (03) 9415 6581, collingwood children's farm, St Heliers St, Abbotsford

Treat (03) 9824 7221, 736 Malvern Rd, Armadale

Treviso (03) 9670 8833, 4 Bank Pl, Melbourne

Two Fingers (03) 9663 0202, 27 Russell St, Melbourne

Vivace 9596 9511, 317 Bay St, Brighton

Wall Two 80 (03) 9593 8280, Rear 280 Carlisle St, Balaclava - Wall Two 80 has spawned a generation of 'hole-in-the-wall' cafes. It's well on its way to becoming a Melbourne coffee drinking institution.

Wheat (03) 9642 0288, 534 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

Wild Organic Cafe (03) 9537 7333, shop 4, 122 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Windsor Delicatessen (03) 9529 3001, 33 Hornby St, Windsor

Yellow Bird (03) 9533 8983, 122 Chapel St, Windsor