Perched on Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn, just down from Barkers Road, is Life on Mars, owner Sandra Powell's first upbeat venture into hospitality.

The building and design was all done in-house and features a modern yet rustic fit-out, with beautiful wooden tables, a mishmash of industrial and wooden chairs, drop-lights and pot plants on display.

Famed chef Fletcher Zane – whose resume includes Hotel Max, Stokehouse, Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons, Icebergs and Quay – is in control of the kitchen. Serving breakfast and lunch the food is an array of dishes made, where possible, from locally sourced and free-range produce.

Menu items include the duck egg frittata with young asparagus, homemade crumpets with leatherwood honey or Gippsland cumin salt lamb loin with black quinoa, green olives and a Persian feta dressing. There is also an impressive range of smallgoods that are made in-house, including bacon, corn beef and sausages to take home for the BBQ.

Bread is Noisette, coffee is Allpress and milk is Jonesy’s Dairy Fresh – all local industries here.