A great little pizza shop on Northcote. A friend brought me here as he'd had a few good eats. A great range of unique pizzas - I've never seen so many different cheeses on a menu! The bread base was really delicious and cooked to perfection. Atmosphere was busy and friendly. Can get quite busy, though, so you might need to ring if you have a group.

Great music venue on High Street Northcote. The 86 tram stop is right out the front and in the midst of a whole range of bars. Gets pretty busy on Friday/Saturdays. The band room is separate, so if you just want to catch up with mates, you won't have to stop talking every 20 minutes when the gigs start. Monday Night Mass is great, free entry, great bands and its a bit quieter. Great for a catch up and to see a few shows. A few reviewers noted it's not a pristine place, but I've definitely seen worse. Really casual, good range of drinks. Pool table, big outdoor/smokers deck.

Went in on a weekend to get several keys cut. Service was quick and efficient and the keys work well. However I'm not sure if I'll return as I've had keys cut at lower prices before. Still, handy location and a lot of items eg watch straps, shoe repair available in a handy location.

Amazing book shop on Johnston St. As well as doing books they also do live performances. I went along for my friend performing at Midsumma. The people running the place are wonderful and friendly. They are licensed and have a great looking cocktail list. It's great to see the space transform for performance. Keep up the great work Hares & Hyenas!

I really like going to the B.East next door, so I can't say I've explored every gelato option on Lygon St (there are a lot!) but I do like popping in here. Some great tastes - I love the tiramisu flavour! Quite a big place, but keep in mind, you have to buy more than just gelato if you want to sit in the main section. Otherwise there is decent indoor/outdoor seating, but on a hot day it can get tricky to grab a seat.

Savers is always great for some bargain hunting. I picked up some great pots for the kitchen today and my friend got a picnic rug. So always worth a visit for home wares before you buy brand new. Worth keeping in mind that some of the Savers in other parts of Melbourne often have better stock and slightly lower prices, just because there isn't the same level of demand.

Good place for lunch, although the burgers fell apart pretty easily, so it was a messy eat. I have a veggie burger which tasted great. Chips were well cooked. My friend had the kangaroo burger which he felt was a bit overdone, and the cooked veg inside didn't quite match. Nice outdoor area for having a drink, relaxing. Staff were friendly. Well priced food, too. Still, better burger joints in the area.

This was my local milk bar all through high school. After school we'd love to pop in for a cool drink or ice cream. The family who run it are always friendly and they have a good range of drinks and food. Prices are reasonable for a small place like this. Happy to help keep the small businesses around.

I've had balloons done for parties here and the staff are always very helpful and friendly. Their prices are reasonable and there are lots of colours and shapes to choose from. They also have a great range of party wares eg plates, cutlery etc. It can be a good trip if you have a party coming up and you want to colour co-ordinate.

Although this area has a lot of good bakeries, Briar Hill is the best for quality AND value for money. You can pick up a sandwich and cake for about $5. Their cupcakes are light and fluffy but still filling. They even have amazing jam and custard long doughnuts. The girls in the shop are always very sweet and helpful.