Melbourne: Places to Chill

I was in between jobs and decided to spend my time in Melbourne. Its the first time I've been back since I left in Jan 2009 and it feels good to be back :)

Instead of blogging about what i did, i think the best way to capture the short 9 days experience is by listing/ recommending place to visit (based on places I managed to visit)! So I'm starting the list with 'Places to Chill in Melbourne'.

(In alphabetical order)

1) Cookie Bar and Rooftop Bar, Swanston Street
I would not recommend dining in Cookie, it is overpriced for the food and service that you get. But I would recommend to visit Cookie for a drink or two. My all time favourite is the Traditional Champagne Cocktail - the one with the sugar cube inside :) its yummy and potent!A couple of floors up is the Rooftop bar. I am still so in love with this place. Its quite a hike up (you have no choice but to climb 7 flights of stairs!!) but its well worth it. This place has fake grass for carpets, fresh air, bean bags and slushiesssss (with rummmm-favorite drink at Rooftop)..!!! and best of all, a rooftop cinema for FOC. They were screening Clueless the night that we went.2) Brother Baba Budan by Seven Seeds, Little Bourke Street
I never knew the existence of this place till I went there this time around. It must have opened in my absence ;p The coffee is soo sooo good, that i dare say its the best in Melbourne! Best mocha for sure! Its a small shop with a big common table for seating. Most people order the coffee to go, but if you're a tourist like us, you would stay and enjoy every sip. If you have trouble finding the store, just look out for the coffee shop with the hanging chairs on Lil Bourke! Apparently they also just opened up a block away from Melb Uni's Commerce Centre. 3) KoKo Black, Lygon Street
Nowhere else can you find a perfect cinnamon and chilli hot chocolate blend - Its not on the menu, but if you ask nicely enough, they will conjure it up for you :) Weird to some, but a comforting taste to accompany me throughout winter. This hot choc is exactly the kind of exotic drink i'd imagined in Juliette Binoche's and Johnny Depp's movie Chocolat.4) Josie Bones, Fitzroy
I am no beer connoisseur, but if you are, head over to Josie Bones. Its been awarded Australia's Best Specialty Beer Venue for 2011 and its no surprise with its 250+ local and international craft beer. Its got a simple decor and a weird picture piece (as can be seen in the picture below) and a very meaty smell to the place, the guys may like it, but i'm no big fan.5) Passionflower, Bourke St
Great for pictures, but not so great to eat. Lol, would only recommend it it you feel the urge of taking some nice dessert pics.6) The Local Taphouse, St Kilda
This place has got an urban, almost homey feel to it - a pretty cool rooftop bar with a chillout lounge at the bottom. The waiters are friendly and they serve microbrew beers. They were featuring beers from a Belgium brewhouse on taps when we were there and you can try out a sample of 5 through their interesting platter concept. I personally prefer this to Josie Bones.^8 Cee