All the insight of a guidebook. All the convenience of a map.

Think of the Hipside Guides Melbourne Guidemap as your own personal treasure map, revealing the very best of the city's shops, bars, restaurants, attractions and local secrets.

Explore over 350 independently selected businesses and institutions, ranging from large mainstream establishments to the quirkiest of hidden gems. Discover the city's many artistic, architectural and historical highlights, brought to life with fascinating facts, anecdotes and background stories.

The attractive hand-drawn style maps cover both the city centre and inner suburbs, including all the most popular destinations. Places of interest are clearly marked on the maps with colour-coded icons and brief descriptions. More detailed descriptions and full contact details appear separately.

Why waste your time trawling the internet or reading conventional guidebooks, when we've collected and condensed all the information you need into one simple guidemap? Whether you're a tourist or an adventurous local, a backpacker or a high-roller, this insider's guide will show you the real Melbourne!

10 reasons you'll love our Melbourne Guidemap

• There's no faster way to discover Melbourne. All the essential information is right there on the map.
• With over 350 businesses and institutions to choose from, you'll always be able to find something to match your tastes and budget.
• It's not just a shopping and eating guide. We give you the full picture, highlighting the very best of Melbourne's public artworks, historical landmarks, architecture, parks, cultural and sporting venues.
• All our selections are chosen on merit alone. We are fully independent, and we never accept ads or paid listings. Who do you think is really paying for those 'free' brochures? And how can you be sure that all those anonymous internet reviewers aren't just business owners or habitual complainers?
• The full colour, hand-drawn style maps are sure to turn heads.
• The main map covers all the most popular destinations, not just the Central Business District or individual suburbs, and we also include suggestions should you wish to venture further afield.
• Concertina folds allow any part of the map to be easily viewed without unfolding the entire sheet.
• We don't mark places on the map with meaningless number codes. We save you time by always giving the place name and a brief description.
• No batteries or mobile internet connection required.
• It costs less than a typical cocktail and delivery is free. What a bargain!

Things to do in Melbourne

Want an idea of what to expect in the full guide? Here are just a few of the places on the map:

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Shopping

• Books for Cooks

  (233-235 Gertrude St, Fitzroy; T:8415-1415; Mon-Sun): Offers a huge selection of new and second-hand books relating to food and wine (recipes, guides, history, science, etc).

• Circa Vintage Clothing

  (102 Gertrude St, Fitzroy; T:9419-8899; Tue-Sat): Want to dress like a glamorous 1950s movie star? Step this way, Miss Hepburn...

• Hearns Hobbies

  (295 Flinders St, Melbourne; T:9629-1425; Mon-Sun): An Aladdin's cave of train sets, kites, rockets, remote-control vehicles and model-making materials.

• Lost and Found

  (1-5 Perry St, Collingwood; T:9419-4477; Mon-Sun): A sprawling indoor market, selling a vast range of vintage clothes, books, art, toys, furniture and bric-a-brac.

• Rose Street Artists' Market

  (60 Rose St, Fitzroy; T:9419-5529; Sat-Sun): A smallish market, set in a former junkyard. Features a nicely offbeat selection of works by local designers and artists.

• Wunderkammer

  (439 Lonsdale St, Melbourne; T:9642-4694; Mon-Sat): Tiny store, crammed with a weird and wonderful collection of scientific curiosities (fossils, antique maps, botanical prints, medical instruments, etc).

Cheap Eats

• Añada

  (197 Gertrude St, Fitzroy; T:9415-6101; 6pm-late, Fri-Sun noon-late): A compact, bar-like restaurant, serving Spanish tapas and raciones (mid-sized dishes, for sharing).

• CIBI

  (45 Keele St, Collingwood; T:9077-3941; Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-4pm): A bright and airy café, offering a mix of European and Japanese dishes. The warehouse-like space also contains a shop selling designer homeware.

• EARL Canteen

  (500 Bourke St, Melbourne - enter via Little Bourke St; T:9600-1995; Mon-Fri 7.30am-5pm): Think sandwiches are boring? You won't after you try EARL's gourmet concoctions, freshly made-to-order using restaurant-quality ingredients.

Mid-Price Restaurants

• Cumulus Inc

  (45 Flinders Ln, Melbourne; T:9650-1445; Mon-Fri 7am-late, Sat-Sun 8am-late): Sleek-looking café and casual restaurant. The menu ranges from simple breakfast dishes, through to more adventurous options, and prices are similarly variable. You may struggle to get a seat at times as this place is very popular with foodies, but doesn't take bookings.

• The European

  (161 Spring St, Melbourne; T:9654-0811; 7.30am-very late): Classy, wood-panelled bistro, serving European food and wines. You'll find similar fare next door at The City Wine Shop, owned by the same people.

• Izakaya Den

  (114 Russell St, Melbourne; T:9654-2977; Mon-Fri noon-2.30pm, Mon-Sat 5.30pm-late): Snazzy, bar-style restaurant, offering Japanese dishes designed for sharing. The easy-to-miss entrance is down the steps and to your left.

Posh Nosh

• Colonial Tramcar Restaurant

  (tram stop #125, Normanby Rd, South Melbourne; T:9696-4000; departs 1pm, 5.45pm, 8.35pm): Dine in luxury as you cruise the city streets aboard a classic-style tram. The food is good, rather than exceptional, but as an experience, this is certainly unique.

• Cutler & Co

  (55-57 Gertrude St, Fitzroy; T:9419-4888; Tue-Sun 6pm-late, Fri&Sun noon-3pm): Slick, warehouse-like bar and restaurant, serving modern Australian cuisine. If you want to try a wide variety of dishes, the set menu Sunday Lunch is particularly good value.

• Grossi Florentino

  (80 Bourke St, Melbourne; T:9662-1811; Mon-Fri noon-3pm, Mon-Sat 6pm-late): Very formal Italian fine dining. If you find the main restaurant too intimidating, try one of the two side venues, The Grill and The Cellar Bar, which offer more relaxed settings and affordable menus.

Bars and Pubs

• The Black Cat

  (252 Brunswick St, Fitzroy; T:9419-6230; 10am-late): A cosy, bohemian-style hang-out with sheltered street-side seating. It's an extremely laid-back affair during the daytime, transforming into a hip DJ bar each evening.

• Madame Brussels

  (Level 3, 59-63 Bourke St, Melbourne; T:9662-2775; noon-late): Upstairs cocktail bar with an ultra-kitsch tennis club theme, complete with astroturf and garden furniture. Great views from the rooftop terrace.

• Melbourne Supper Club

  (Level 1, 161 Spring St, Melbourne; T:9654-6300; Sun-Mon 7pm-late, Tue-Fri 5pm-late, Sat 8pm-late): Classy wine bar with the vibe of an old fashioned gentleman's club. Access is via a barely signposted door next to The City Wine Shop. You'll also find a smart rooftop bar on the same premises called Siglo.

Sights and Attractions

• Block Arcade

  and Royal Arcade (both off Little Collins St, Melbourne): These two adjoining shopping arcades are notable as much for the rich splendour of their Victorian-era architecture as for their boutique shops and cafés. Flanking the clock above the southern exit of Royal Arcade, you'll see representations of the mythical giants, Gog and Magog, set to strike the time each hour.

• Melbourne Zoo

  (Elliott Av, Parkville; T:9285-9300; 9am-5pm): This zoo was opened in 1862, making it the third oldest in the world. Thankfully, the enclosures have been substantially modernised and many of the walkways have even been landscaped to immerse visitors in a jungle-like environment. The orangutans, gorillas and elephants are clearly the star attractions, but there are many less obvious delights, such as the excellent butterfly house and the bizarre-looking tree kangaroos.

• Yarra Bend Park:

  Meandering along the banks of the Yarra River, this huge park is so secluded it's easy to forget you're still in the middle of the city. Highlights include Collingwood Children's Farm (farming animals, not children) and Abbotsford Convent, which is home to various cafés, galleries and weekend markets. You'll also find a huge colony of fruit bats, roosting all day along the riverside near the Bellbird Picnic Area (best approached from the eastern side of the park).

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So what are you waiting for?

The above preview is just a tiny taste of what's covered in the Melbourne Guidemap, along with cinemas, theatres, museums, art galleries, music venues, sports stadiums and much more.

Want an independent, concise guide to all the coolest things to see and places to go in Melbourne?

Want to discover the Queen Vic Market's macabre underground secret, the rude origins of the Moomba Festival's name, or the unlikely connection between the Caped Crusader and early Melbourne?

Then get your copy now...