More on Melbourne

Fitzroy's Rose Street Artist Market - at 60 Rose Street - was a must-see. It would have to have some of the most original, unique stalls (up to 70 of them) with everything from collectibles, to one-offs to designer pieces. It is on every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am.

I'm afraid I only took one photo - was too busy looking at all the wares! But there was jewellery made from typewriter keys, decorate-your-own lamps, unique clothing, vintage library books turned into journals, vintage cutlery necklaces and earrings - of which I bought one, as well as a badge that pokes fun at my New Zealand accent ...

 

I was also very keen to have a nosey in Guy Mathews Vintage Industrial Furniture store at 154 Johnson St, Fitzroy but unfortunately it wasn't open on the Saturday we were there. But you can check out his wares and learn more about him at The Design Files.

 

Back in the city, two design stores worth visiting are dedece at 33 Russell St and Interstudio, 185 Flinders Lane.

Then there are the bars, cafes and restaurants. The laneways in central Melbourne are full of them and Flinders Lane is chockers with cafes like this one ...

MoVida has become the hot thing in town, now with two restaurants serving tapas at 1 Hosier Lane and MoVida Aqui at level 1, 500 Bourke St. Not your usual tapas but rather scrumptious.

Before we left I read about restaurant and bar Coda and after seeing its amazing lights, wanted to go. With its Vietnamese-inspired menu, no-booking bar area and booking dining space, it is pumping. Unfortunately we only had time to down a glass of wine and the duck curry as we were off to one of the line-ups of the Melbourne Comedy Festival. But I did have time to oogle the lights which looked better in person. I can see three of the blue ones over our new kitchen island bench ... mmm, yes. They were designed, as was the interior, by Melbourne-based design studio, Projects of Imagination.