Best French Bakery in Victoria

"Restaurants South Melbourne. Best for: A designer breakfast Eat this: Ricotta hotcake with seasonal berries, double cream, seeds and grains, and maplePerks: Chef's table on the upper level of the terrace – for a price. House-made coconut yoghurt; local kelp salt; ash rolls – these are a few of our favourite things on the menu at Top Paddock’s younger, more refined sister."

"One of Melbourne’s most Instagrammed cafés, The Kettle Black, is now accepting reservations for breakfast and lunch. Cosy up in one of their sun dappled tables and order all the brunch classics you’ve been missing – we’ll be heading straight for their famed ricotta hotcake, colourfully scattered with a rainbow assortment of berries, petals, seeds and nuts. 50 Albert Road, South Melbourne"

"The Kettle Black aims at something above and beyond the usual brunch fare. Take the chilli scrambled eggs with cured Flinders Island wallaby, feta and seasonal leaves, for example. The house-made coconut yoghurt comes topped with a sprinkling of gluten-free grains, seeds, nuts, citrus powder, dried strawberries and petals."

"Lune’s own account has 90,000 followers, and it’s easy to see why. Their croissants and cruffins are delicious works of art, with posts showing off glossy shells, mesmerising layers and creative garnishes. Plus, given they’re one of the hottest foodie tickets in town, it’s a case of “if you didn’t ‘gram it, did you really get one”?"

"Where: Fitzroy (There's also a CBD "express" offshoot in Russell Street.). Why: Blending bedrock Aussie flavours and French fabulousness with typical Lune flair, croissant pastry is slathered with black gold and cheesy bechamel, rolled into a scroll then topped with gruyere. It's a deluxe spin ($8) on a lunchbox staple."

"When the New York Times labels your croissants the best in the world, the world listens. Come to Lune for textbook-perfect croissants (made using the method traditionale: a three-day process) and cruffins, and be prepared to wait a while – queues begin at the crack of dawn. 119 Rose St, Fitzroy, lunecroissanterie.com"

"The weather's getting cool and carb cravings are kicking in. Lucky for us, there's a whole stack of bakeries and cafes to slice into - even in lockdown. Opening hours may differ right now, so be sure to check with the business directly before visiting."

"Highly rated coffee wholesalers come café geniuses, this local favourite is constantly buzzing with activity. Renowned for their in-house roasted beans, you can get your hands on everything from single origin and blended coffee, to chai and chocolate. So popular that they now have cafés in NSW and QLD, you can skip the queues in store and order direct from the website to get the Industry Bean experience at home."

"When you think Melbourne cafe, you think wide open warehouse spaces, you think stainless steel and exposed brick, you think coffee beans fresh-roasted on site. And that's why Industry Beans is perhaps one of the city's most iconic cafes. The breakfast menu here is just as impressive as their stellar coffee, with wide-ranging options that are suitable for all tastes and diets."

"Whether you are only after a take away coffee or the full sit down brekky extravaganza, Industry Beans is the place for you. This coffee shop is a seriously popular spot in Melbourne CBD amoung locals. If you love things that are pleasing to the eye, you will just love this shop."

"There’s so much more than pizza on offer at Bay Beach Pizza & Pasta in Port Melbourne. Cosily located on Bay Street, diners can sit alfresco and soak up warming rays under red market umbrellas, or din..."

"Moby is for anyone out there who is obsessed with the Ottolenghi cookbook –– there's always one in every friend group!. The owner of Moby trained directly under the famous chef, so get ready to taste greatness. The menu has a distinct Middle-Eastern influence, seen in dishes like the harissa beans with shanklish cheese, or breakfast salad garnished with dukkah."

"Restaurants Bakeries West Melbourne. Pastry Chef Marianna DiBartolo is the guru here, a guru who learnt from an expert – her Sicilian-born mum, who painstakingly baked everything from scratch. Dolcetti’s sweet treats like the luscious nougat, crunchy cannoli and panna cotta filled tarts are utterly exquisite, but it is the doughnuts people line up for."

"Rippon Lea, cared for by the National Trust, is a beautiful historic mansion with gardens that are just wonderful to explore. The mansion was built in 1868 by a businessman who made his fortune selling soft-goods on the goldfields. Take a guided tour of the house, enjoy the lovely garden and finish up with tea and cake at the Gatehouse cafe."

"This attraction is for those with a fascination for the morbid. Many of Australia’s most notorious criminals were executed here for a total of 133. This included killers who had become famous worldwide for the severity of their crimes, such as the serial killer Frederick Bailey Deming."

"Set in a two-level 19th-century brick house, The Johnston Collection seems right at home. There are about 1500 items in the permanent collection, with a focus on decorative and fine arts. These include ceramics, furniture, textiles, and glasswork."

"Firstly you don’t need a permit (yay!) and even if there are lots of visitors in the gardens, there is still lots of space. Our fave spots are the hedge wall and gazebo near the rose garden. Even the public toilets have a great stone wall!"

"One of the best Melbourne playgrounds that has been recently constructed, Pipemakers Park is set in an area of Melbourne's Inner West with industrial history and a rich indigenous history. The playground is split into sections, each with a totem/wayfinding sign that explains the Aboriginal name of the country and it's meaning. There is a sandpit, water play, space for imaginative play and a large climbing fort."

"Visit the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens for somewhere unique in Melbourne – it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest existing exhibition buildings in the world. The building hosts various exhibitions and events in all areas of interest, of which price for each will vary so check out what’s on before visiting. Regardless, a simple walk around the outside provides a moment to admire the restoration work on this wonderful building!"

"A popular spot for very good reason – again no permit required and lots of open space in the manicured gardens and sweeping paths. There’s also the picturesque Royal Exhibition building, modern Melbourne Museum and the Rubix Cube wall, so you could easily spend an entire shoot here and make it look like you traveled to three different locations. Great for San Remo Ballroom."

"If you are planning a visit to the Melbourne Museum which is located in the historic Royal Exhibition Building then you can’t walk past the wonderful Carlton Gardens. These gardens are world heritage listed and are well worth a visit in any season. Make sure you check out the ornamental lakes and the fountains (kids love water in action)."