Anna Shackell

The fastest growing ice cream chain in Asia is now set to take residence in Swanston Street. Following the success of their delicious pop-up shop earlier this year, Milkcow has announced they will be opening their first Australian flagship store in December. The exact Swanston Street location and opening date is yet to be announced, but trust us: when we know, you'll know. In case you missed their pop-up, Milkcow is an 100 per cent organic soft-serve monger churning quirky flavour combinations on-site daily with local ingredients. The newest addition to the CBD will teleport you to more exotic locations through flavours such as ‘Santorini’ and ‘Mont Blanc’ – think Oreo crumbs, chocolate rocks and Italian apple syrup. If it’s a 3pm pick-me-up you need, try ‘Avalanche’ – fairy floss topped ice cream served with a shot of espresso to be poured on top (or if you feel like substituting this for your morning latte, we wont judge). With colourful cones and 14 different flavours on offer, Milkcow is covering all the bases.

Blu Spoon came to Bay Street in 2014, providing the hordes of hungry shoppers and beach-goers with fresh and frozen Greek yoghurt. Due to popular demand, founders Anna Provataris and Conrad Manolidis are now expanding their operations, opening Australia’s first baklava bar. For this, we thank them.  Traditional family recipes will be on offer, showcasing the generations of experience behind every delicious piece of nutty, flaky pastry. Feeling adventurous? Try some modern twists on the classic, like cheesecake, salted caramel and browned butter baklava. Sprinkle the baklava as a topping on your Blu Spoon yoghurt parfait or take them home to devour in private – either way, the winning trio of filo pastry, honey and nuts will leave you feeling very content. 

The NGV International plays host to one of the best design stores in the city, collaborating with artists, designers and makers to supply shoppers with interesting and contemporary products. Excitingly, a new space within the store dedicated wholly to jewellery has just been unveiled. Christmas shopping, anyone? The creations of Australian and international designers are showcased, with artists drawing inspiration from anything from the coastal environment of New Zealand to the extravagant exhibition currently displayed at the gallery – Italian Jewels: Bulgari Style. A drawcard for visitors is the collaboration with Amsterdam gallery Galerie Ra, with pieces designed exclusively for the NGV by the gallery's co-founder, Paul Derrez. Another highlight of the collection are pieces made using glass elements crafted in the '40s by Australian furniture design Grant Featherston. These coloured, gold and clear pieces have spent decades residing in the Featherston archive but now re-emerge as jewellery for the first time, thanks to the work of wife Mary Featherston and Blanche Tilden. Don’t wait too long to plan your visit; many pieces are limited edition and exclusive. While you're at the NGV, why not check out the David Hockney exhibition?

After a long day, not all of us are mentally or physically prepared to face our kitchen, and the thought of the too-oily pad Thai you had last Friday and the Thursday before that is just as uninspiring. Now, there’s Food by Us: a new website and app which seeks to protect you from this experience. After roaring success in Sydney, the Food by Us team have landed in Melbourne. This is an electronic 'food sharing' platform; the first of its kind. It goes like this: anyone can sign up to be an at-home chef, sell their creations online then have them delivered to  buyers by Food by Us couriers. The aim is to give “people the chance to share their amazing food” as well as giving buyers an “authentic homemade experience,” says Food by Us co-founder Ben Lipschitz. It’s all about fostering a “food-making community”. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t UberEats and it’s not a restaurant service. But it's also not trying to be. Whether it’s a vegetable Biryani, vegan lasagne or Nutella-fudge cupcake that you’re after, Food by Us has you covered. Lipschitz has found that Lebanese, Persian, Indian, Chinese and Mongolian are among the most popular cuisines on offer, and says that buyers find dishes "authentic and home-cooked", unlike commercial offerings that he believes are sometimes "watered down" to cater to the masses. Food by Us isn’t as instant as Deliveroo. Lipschitz suggests you pre-empt your cravings by ordering  at least one day in advance. The makers do not have the same resources avail

First of all, let's take a second to pause on that piece of information. Footscray doesn't already have a rooftop bar? Madness. There are rooftop bars everywhere these days – from Fitzroy to St Kilda and into the CBD. But hey, no time like the present. Over the last 12 months, number four Yewers Street Footscray has undergone a transformation more drastic than one might expect of a typical Friday night hangout. What was once a T-shirt printing factory became a warehouse-pizzeria (Slice Girls West), which quickly welcomed an adjoining bar (Back Alley Sally). As confirmed by the Star Weekly, the Maribyrnong Council has just approved plans for a 100-person rooftop expansion above Back Alley Sally: open date yet to be announced. Not only that, the simultaneous extension of opening hours means that patrons won’t have to venture home until 1am – Foots-crazy!  The rooftop is behind Jerome Borazio's team; the masterminds that bought you Ponyfish Island, 1000 Pound Bend, Laneway Music Festival and a glamping location in Little Lonsdale Steet of all places, (St Jerome’s The Hotel).  When the expansion is complete, grab yourself a ‘Stop Right Now’ from Slice Girls (Tiger prawn, chilli and coriander topped pizza) and head on upstairs. Footscray’s first-ever rooftop bar promises such good vibes that patrons will undoubtedly be back (…alley sally). Via Star Weekly. Looking for more high-altitude drinking experiences? Here are all the best rooftop bars in Melbourne. For more reasons to love