Hot In Melbourne March 2014

Melbourne is truly a cosmopolitan metropolis, with bars, restaurants, cafe and shops in all sizes beckoning you in around every corner. To make sure you focus on those that deserve your attention, here are our picks for the month of March, that you simply need to discover.

BistroK
Having opened its doors just last year, BistroK is the ultimate in modern Korean cuisine. With Melbourne being the cultural melting pot of Australia, it comes as no surprise that you’ll find great Korean food in this bustling and creative city. At BistroK, you’ll find amazing dishes such as deep fried seafood balls in a sweet and tangy chilli sauce on cauliflower puree with a sprinkle of crushed pine-nuts on the top and slow cooked sliced pork belly and Kimchi stew with steamed tofu – it really is the ultimate in Korean cuisine. With mains costing between $25-35, it’s definitely a must do when you’re in need of a treat!
366 Smith Street, Collingwood
bistrok.com.au

Retro Star
Feeling a bit nostalgic? Then why not head down to Melbourne’s Retro Star. Filled to the brim with vintage goodies, you can hatch out your unique look from what’s on offer. From the ‘40s to the ‘80s, here you’ll find the perfect psychedelic prints, patterned ‘60s smocks, cowboy boots and cool ‘80s bomber jackets whilst you rummage ‘til your wallet’s empty in the largest vintage store in Australia.
First floor, Nicholas building 37 Swanston Street, corner of Flinders Lane CBD, Melbourne
retrostar.com.au

Basement Discs
A record store with a difference, Basement Discs not only stocks thousands of records from Pop, to RnB, Country, Electronic and Reggae to name a handful, but they also do regular in-store gigs, bringing the music live to you. Specialising in CDs and vinyl, here you can forget the digital age and strip it back to the basics that made you fall in love with music in the first place.
24 Block Place, Melbourne
www.basementdiscs.com.au

Pope Joan
A cafe by day, a casual bar and restaurant by night – Pope Joan is a neighbourhood eatery that welcomes guests from 7.30am ‘til 11.30pm on weekdays and ‘til 5pm on weekends. Whether you want to devour a boiled egg ‘n’ soldiers or sip on a cocktail, this awesome venue is perfect any time of day. And if you like what you taste, you can purchase Pope’s produce from its very own store, Hams and Bacon, just next door.
75-79 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East
popejoan.com.au

Asian Beer Café
Ride the escalators to level 3 of Melbourne Central, where the Asian Beer Cafe serves a huge range of South-East Asian favourites. The interior features Asian-style shabby chic, including iron wood from an old cargo ship that was sunk by pirates off the coast of Indonesia. A balcony provides spectacular views over Swanston Street and the State Library of Victoria, plus there are private zones for parties and functions.
Level 3, Melbourne Central
www.asianbeercafe.com.au