Northcote

To find this dimly lit Italian bar and eatery, look out for a flashing red neon hand in the window. Inside, you’ll find old-school breadbaskets (loaded with carbs to salsa-verde-doused burrata); garlicky spaghetti vongole swimming in oil; a cocktail list centred around Vermouth; and more.

Enter for hand-rolled layered leek and cheese pastries, vegetarian moussaka and clay pots filled with slow-cooked meat. When the dishes arrive, they’ll be spread out across the table, because everything is for sharing.

This compact 25-seater flips beef and plant-based cheeseburgers, and serves southern fried chicken and vegan Cocowhip sundaes.

This wine bar from the owner of All Are Welcome is in a former lawyer’s office. Step behind the original gold-leaf signage and vertical blinds for left-of-centre wines and Russian and Georgian dishes. You might get breads with “various fats”, beetroot-stained dill pickles, flaky puff-pastry pie or a lofty 10-layer honey cake.

This is a welcoming place – that’s thanks to the design: with its plump, comfy couches, carefree decor; sharehouse-esque fairy-lit courtyard and huge light-bringing windows. The food is just as accessible – it’s a changeable affair that might involve pumpkin with burrata one night, or a barbequed carrot showered with shards of crunchy chicken skin the next. The Victorian-leaning wine list and punchy cocktails are equally crowd-pleasing.

Dondurma is a type of stretchy, Turkish ice-cream. And it’s pretty hard to find in Melbourne. Cuppa Turca specialises in the stuff. If you want a break from gelato but still want to scratch that sweet, frozen itch, this is your pick. Plus there’s colourful Turkish delights and shatteringly crisp baklava.

A light-filled all-day European bistro, bar and deli stocking fresh pasta, fancy tinned fish and other staples.