"Melbourne is blessed with hundreds of fantastic bars, restaurants, lounges, cafes, clubs, rooms. Many are up alleyways and stairs, down basements and laneways. Some are just doorways."

The Supper Club First Floor, 161 Spring Street, City. Ph. 03 9654 6300 "Wooden floors, ornate furniture arranged in conversation nooks, high ceilings, a long, open, elegant room, a giant window overlooking the beautiful State Parliament building, lots of groovy people. Not always easy to get a seat but it's almost worth queuing for."

Elou's Stray Cat 19 Mc Killop Street, City. Ph. 03 9670 0890 "This space is too good and too close to the Maju 'Loft' to ignore ( directly across the road. ) Mario your amazingly talented host calls this a 'cultured house', where 'patrons are embraced as guests'. With his own hands he has transformed this city warehouse into a Caffee / Restaurant by day, Bar / Lounge by night. The décor feels right. Occasional music in the basement, upstairs is being converted into a gallery, and on the fourth floor Mario has one of the most 'out there' urban apartments I have seen."

Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. "This inner city neighbourhood was our favourite when we lived in Melbourne. More than bordering on bohemia, this area has a diverse mix of people, shops, cafes, bars, street life. Makes you feel young again."

The Dandenongs West of Melbourne. ( one hour drive) "This is a lovely Sunday. Rolling hills, Devonshire teas, craft galleries, gardens, antiques etc."

The Gin Palace 190 Little Collins St, City. Ph. 03 9654 0533 "What happens when you cross an 1870's bar in Budapest, with a bar that has been redesigned in New York in the 1950's and then rebuilt in Melbourne in the 1990's? You get a slinky, sophisticated, intimate bar that oozes class from every lush drape and every comfy couch. "

St Kilda Acland St / Fitzroy St / The waterfront. "St Kilda has changed a lot in recent years. Gentrification has happened, and a lot of the sleaze has been pushed out, ( though not all). There are plenty of neat places to eat and drink, and its by the water so the air feels different."

Chapel St / Toorak Road, South Yarra. "There's more money and more fashion round this part of town. You'll always find something to buy. Push on up to Greville Street, Prahran, and that's groovy as well."

Yarra Valley wineries Northwest of Melbourne ( 90 minutes ). "Melbourne is lucky to have not one, but two exceptional wine regions right on it's doorstep. The Mornington Peninsula, a worthwhile days outing, and the Yarra Valley. There are countless well known wineries, most offering tastings, many doing food in gorgeous settings, and they all make superior wines."

Syracuse Wine Bar and Restaurant 23 Bank Place, City. Ph. 03 9670 1777 "Most of Melbourne's best spots are hard to find. Exit the Maju Loft and proceed up the Mc Killop St laneway across the road, turn right into Little Collins, continue over Queen and Bank Place is on your left. Five minutes walk. Syracuse is high ceiling-ed old world Victorian splendor meets the new millennium meets relaxed European cafe. We like a glass of wine occasionally and this place has a very, very good list that consistently wins awards, tasty tapas, excellent ambience."

Chapungu Gallery Sargood House, 67 Flinders Lane, City. "Wonderful sculpture from Zimbabwe. The Gallery was opened in 1998 by Bob Hawke, and is a lovely space to wander about and admire objects of beauty."

Langton's Restaurant and Wine Bar 69 Flinders Lane, City. Ph. 03 9662 3355 "There are so many great restaurants in Melbourne. If they don't cut it, they don't last. We keep going back here, both restaurant and wine bar, because we can't fault it. Osso Bucco, red wine, ..mmm…."

Fresh Express 37 Hardware Lane, City. Ph. 03 9670 7766 "Before (or after) all those bars and cafes, this is the place to get healthy. Walk out the door of the Maju 'Loft', and twenty metres up Hardware Lane. I usually go with a mango smoothie, but there are all manner of juices and veges and soups and combo's. If your not sure what to have, the helpful and chirpy staff will suggest something that always tastes good."