Brunchin'

They play a perfect symphony in my mouth 💋 LOOK at how the volcanic lava eggs flow in the background... I leave the mystery up to your imagination! One thing that makes me really happy: seeing how the egg yolk oozes out like a stream of gold hatching from a white puffy cloud!

Known for its dark, hipster interior and good food, Symmetry commands a queue on weekends, making reservations a must. Start off with the Crispy Baby Squid ($14) or the Truffle Fries ($15), a crowd favourite with its heady truffle aroma in a seemingly bottomless bucket. Go for the Truffle Eggs Mushroom ($22) — scrambled eggs drizzled with truffle oil, sauteed mushrooms, a slice of toast and hashbrown — or the Big Breakfast ($24) for its insanely good blueberry butter. Finally, finish off by sharing their epic waffles ($16), it is a beautiful mess of bananas, strawberries, peanut butter, hazelnut chocolate, maple syrup and vanilla ice cream. The coffee here is excellent, sure to please all you coffee fiends; they use the Slayer!

For something a little different and for a pinch of Argentinean feel, head to boCHINche, located right above Common Man Coffee Roasters. Start off with the Provoleta ($17), a sizzling dish of salty, gooey cheese balanced out with glorious honey and topped with almonds to provide crunch. With Pan and Manceta (Peurto Rican breads, $7) to go along, this is a winning dish that should be shared. The classic pairing of Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Eggs ($24) is elevated here by dill cream cheese slathered beneath. End on a sweet note with their popular Milk Cake ($14) — made with three types of milk and also soaked in milk, it is a dessert so delicate on the palate, and pairs excellently with passionfruit sorbet.

Sprucing up the dining scene in the Buona Vista area is Paddy Hills, a beautiful space that should be high up on your list of places to visit. The menu is diverse and refreshing, with a fusion of several cuisines. A feast for the eyes, the Berry Ricotta Hotcake ($19) is served with mascarpone, blueberry sugar and fresh berries, inspired by Melbourne's Top Paddock. A crisp exterior gives in to a fluffy interior tinged with maple syrup — a must-order dish that tastes a lot more cake-like than the usual hotcakes. The Japanese-inspired Squid Ink Tagliatalle ($23) features tobiko, ikura, mentaiko, puffed rice, and seared scallops. Also order the Cauliflower Fritters ($12) served with masala yogurt, and the Toasted Spicy Rice Cakes ($15) with gochujang mayo to snack on. Besides the usual coffee and tea, they have cocktails, ciders and wines as well.

Slightly under the radar for brunch is Super Loco, Lucha Loco's sister outlet. It makes perfect sense to enjoy your weekends here. Just imagine a tequila or mezcal cocktail in hand, washing down a table of Mexican food while enjoying the picturesque Roberston Quay. Start with the Esquites ($8) — grilled corn on the cob coated with mayonnaise, cotija cheese and chilli — a typical Mexican street food. The Breakfast Burrito ($18) is stuffed with steak, scrambled eggs, Mexican beans and caramelised onions, and is perfect for ravenous people. They also have tortas (Mexican sandwiches) and more common dishes like avocado toast and pancakes. Go for the guava and blood orange margarita ($16) if you can't decide on a drink!