Hello Provider world, my name is Nick. I’m the General Manager of Keoma. We do a few different things; retail, distribution, accommodation. We’ve had our Freitag store in Melbourne for 7 years now and we recently opened one up in Surry Hills, just round the corner from Provider Store. Above the store we’ve also added our second Keoma Stay apartment. I was staying there for a few months, so I was lucky enough to go to Maido every day for my morning coffee.

In Melbourne, we have our Keoma store, Freitag by Keoma store & Keoma Stay, all located in Fitzroy. Originally from the UK but I’ve lived in Melbourne for 12 years, and it really feels like home. Whenever I go away I always ask Tara for her advice, and check these Provider guides so I'm really happy to contribute my favourite places in Melbourne. I do think it's important to mention, I’m a real creature of habit, and only really spend time in the Inner North and the West.

EAT 

Breakfast & Coffee

During the week I’m not a huge breakfast eater, and I drink filter coffee. So generally, I choose places somewhere convenient along my commute from Footscray to Fitzroy that serves a batch brew. When I have a bit more time I’ll stop for breakfast. Here are some of my favourites from West to North:

Dumbo - West Footscray

My favourite café in West Footscray, friendly staff and serve coffee through a side window so its very convenient during an early morning dog walk.

Lumen - North Melbourne

Like I mentioned, I’m a creature of habit, so I rarely try new places. But I recently discovered Lumen and instantly loved it. Their batch brew rotates, but I’ve never had a bad one. Their counter cakes are a great take away, but when you sit in the food is great Last time I went I had Toast, Boiled Eggs & House Made Pickles. Sounds simple, but tasted so good.

279 - North Melbourne

Along with their batch brew, my go to order is a menti-mayo musabi and the pork miso soup.

Le Bajo Milkbar - North Melbourne

Le Bajo bake their own shokupan daily, so their Japanese sando is a must try! The spicy octopus roll or the chicken katsu. If it’s the weekend and I can have a food coma I’d recommend adding the dirty miso fries to the side.

Everyday Coffee - Collingwood

Nice roastery in the backstreets of Collingwood. They have a sun filled courtyard out the front which is good to sit with the dogs, and if I’m feeling peckish I always go for the potato and rosemary focaccia.

CIBI - Collingwood

As well as a great batch brew that they blend in house, if I have a little bit more time and I want to slow down, sitting in for the CIBI classic breakfast is a perfect break to temporarily forget about the businesses of the rest of the day, make sure you add the natto! If I don’t have time and I’m just grabbing a takeaway, as well as a coffee I always get Meg’s Mum’s miso soup. As well as their breakfast, CIBI is also one of my favourite places for lunch. I go between the vegetarian curry and their chicken soboro as my favourite, I’ll always get a miso soup, and a shiso soda as well.

Nico's Deli - Fitzroy

Nico’s is known as a sandwich shop (for good reason, they’re also one of my favourite spots to grab lunch in Fitzroy) but I also love going there early in the morning to get coffee. It’s a spot for locals, so its nice seeing the same familiar faces, and dogs. Order a batch, prop up at the counter, and chat away to the staff.  A sneaky off menu breakfast hack is ask for a cheese toastie with their chimmi-butter. 

Lunch - Midweek

During the week, I’m generally grabbing something quick somewhere between the office and our stores, on the weekends when I have a little bit more time and I’m catching up with friends:

Hinoki - Fitzroy

Hinoki is a Japanese grocery store with a sushi counter in store where they slice to order. If I’m in a rush I grab whatever packs, they have already prepared. But If I’m organised I will order online for collection. Ikura gunkan is my favourite ala carte item, a perfect mouthful of salty bursts in your mouth! Grab a Pocari Sweat from the vending machine and a bag of chips and you’ve got a pretty perfect park lunch.

Sonsa's - Collingwood

I didn’t realise quite how much I relied on Sonsa for lunch until it was temporarily closed. They were firebombed and closed for around 9 months, but that’s another story! They’re a Middle Eastern supermarket that makes Gozleme fresh at the front of the store. Since they reopened the price has gone up a little but it's still one of the best value lunches around. In winter add a portion of their lentil soup, it tastes a little bit like a mild curry sauce. Sounds strange, but its amazing and dipping your lamb & spinach gozleme in is a game changer.

Hectors Deli - Fitzroy

Some people feel the need to compare, or align with one of the many sandwich deli’s but I love them all. Their fried chicken sandwich is probably the main stay I order the most, but only if you have time for an afternoon food coma. If you want something lighter but equally as tasty, the fresh chicken salad is great. I also recommend ordering their coffee Spritz, coffee concentrate, lemon juice and soda water. Zing!

Aka Siro - Collingwood

A little Izakaya style restaurant that does bento’s during the day. The Japanese navy curry & rice, generous portion of rice, chicken karaage and their homemade curry sauce, topped with a couple of pickles.

Papirica - Collingwood

Fun and playful Japanese café specialising in Okonomiyaki.

Paramount Food Court - CBD 

If I’m ever in the city around lunchtime I try and make it to Paramount, it’s like stepping into a foodcourt frozen it time, along with the prices. The best time to get there is just before midday when all of the office workers take their lunch break. I either go to the Sri Lankan place, bay marrie style 2 curries and rice or I head to one of the two Thai places in there for pork boat noodle soup.

Lunch - Weekends 

On the weekend, I love catching up with my friends out west, generally over a late breakfast or brunch, either that or we’ll have a pub Sunday lunch planned. Either way there is always a lot of food, a lot of laughs and normally a lot of wine involved.

D&K Seafood, Elka and D&K Grocery, Footscray – they are three clearly defined businesses, but I’ve grouped them all together because they’re all run by the Tran family, one of my favourite families in Melbourne.

D&K Seafood 

They import live seafood and wholesale out to all of the top restaurants in Melbourne, Lobster, fish, abalone but most importantly they have the largest section of oysters in the Southern Hemisphere. So, as well as wholesale, and being a retail market where you can go buy all of your fish, you can go and get freshly shucked oysters. Even better, it's BYO. There is no better way to spend a sunny afternoon than by going to Mr West to grab a nice bottle of white wine, then sit in the sun outside D&K eating oysters. Pure Bliss.

D&K Grocery 

The owner, Vinny is a very successful photographer (he recently shot Nigo for the Penfolds collaboration) and used to spend a lot of his time in Japan. When covid hit and he could no longer travel, he stepped back in to work for the family business. As he was craving all his favourite konbini treats from Japan, he pivoted the store from a classic Viet grocer to becoming Melbourne’s best source for Japanese & Korean snacks & food, but also branching out into hibachi grills & knives. Top tip – if you’re planning a night out, make sure to grab some of the anti-hangover pills that he’s got at the counter.

Elka 

Elka is the latest addition, and run by Elisha, the niece of my friends Vinny & Long, so I’m super proud of her success. She’s worked really hard to create something very special. Elisha used to work across the road in D&K seafood but saw a gap in the market for a fresh sushi spot in Footscray. She used everything she learnt there, along with their fresh fish to create Elka. The chirashi don and the nigiri pack are as tasty as they are beautiful. I think I’ve eaten here at least once a week since its opened and I’ve been in Melbourne.

The Lincoln - Carlton 

The Lincoln is my favourite place to go for a Sunday pub lunch. They rotate the meat, but it’s always great but I think the pork is my favourite. Their regular menu is probably the best elevated pub food in Melbourne. With little touches like Sarsons vinegar for the fish and chips, or Yorkshire Puddings for the Steak Tartare it has a few nods to the owners Northern roots.

Dinner

Builders Arms - Fitzroy 

Sit out the front with the whipped Cod Roe and house made flat bread, teamed with a glass of white wine. Watching the people of Gertrude St go by is a pretty good way to spend a sunny afternoon, so adding food and a couple of drinks makes it even more enjoyable.

The Royal Oak - Fitzroy North 

This has everything I love in a pub. Great food menu, open fire, and dogs allowed indoors. It’s a perfect bistro pub. Great place to order a few things with a group of friends and share.

Bar Romanée, Yarraville

This is a big statement but in my opinion its Melbourne’s best steak night. If its not, its certainly my favourite. They have a rotating cut of steak, rotating sauce, always with a salad. Everything is always on point, I’ve never had a bad time there. See you there on Mondays!

Yum Sing House - CBD 

This is a big statement but in my opinion its Melbourne’s best steak night. If its not, its certainly my favourite. They have a rotating cut of steak, rotating sauce, always with a salad. Everything is always on point, I’ve never had a bad time there. See you there on Mondays!

Chotto Motto - Collingwood

For a fun, playful, and sometimes boozy evening I head to Chotto Motto for their Gyoza, and a few cold drinks. Their décor is Showa era Japan with flashing signs, and vintage advertisements everywhere. When you go to the bathroom, Tofu, their Shiba-inu is talking to you while you’re in there!

Poodle - Fitzroy 

For something a bit more fancy, Poodle is great! It's laid back enough, with friendly staff that you feel comfortable, but decadent enough that you want to push the boat out. I order their wet poodle martini, some salmon roe & bellinis, a steak & a good bottle of red wine.

Bar Margeaux - CBD 

Either go there for their Golden Hour cheese burger and martini, or their beggars banquet of 2 glasses of champagne, steak tartare, oysters & fries. If I’m going à la carte I’ll always get the Duck Fries.

Capitano - Carlton 

If I want good Italian food, I head to Capitano for their Pasta. Good cocktails, great wine, great service. Always leave here happy!

Drink

Music Room - CBD 

On the second floor (I think?!) of the H.E.R. building, there is a double door, soundproofing the music room. This is one of my favourite places to grab a drink in the city. Low ceilings and a vinyl wall behind the bar. After a couple of drinks you feel like you’re in a Japanese record bar.

Union Hotel - Collingwood 

For an after work pint the union is great. During the summer they have out the front or the dog friendly roof top. During the winter they have an open fireplace and pool table. Probably one of the best Guinness in the area too.

Punters Club - Fitzroy 

The newly renovated Bimbos is a great addition to Fitzroy pubs. On a Saturday after work I head down there to see my friend Sweetie DJ, have a pint up on the roof, and usually end up grabbing food there too.

Caretakers Cottage - CBD 

They specialise in two of my favourite things, martinis & Guinness. It does get very busy and it's very small, but mid-week and if you get there early you can (sometimes) get a seat!

Mr West - Footscray 

My local bottle shop & Bar. One of my favourite places to grab a nice bottle of wine if I’m heading over to a friend's place, or order a slice of pizza from Slice Shop across the road and enjoy your drinks there.

Hope St Radio - Collingwood 

It's become a bit of a meme in terms of the crowd, but the courtyard space during summer is amazing, the wine is good, and if you don’t take yourself too seriously the people watching is fun.

Shop

Keoma Store & Freitag by Keoma - Fitzroy 

Shameless plug I know, but I am really proud of the product and the service we offer at Keoma. It’s evolved and changed a lot over the past 7 years, and I think it will continue to evolve. The latest brand we picked up is called Organic Handloom. Leather shoes handmade in Japan. I’m also very proud that we carry a large range of Provider Store, both candles and ceramics. Working with Tara on creating a signature scented candle for Keoma was a lot of fun, and it's still our best selling fragrance in store.

Up There Store - CBD 

Other than things from Keoma, I would say out of the remainder, 90% of my wardrobe is from Up There. For a mid-thirties Peter Pan that grew up obsessed with trainers and now likes to wear high end Japanese streetwear with a little bit of Ivy-League inspired menswear, it pretty much caters for me entirely. Footwear brand mainstays like New Balance, Nike, Clarkes, streetwear brands like Needles, Kapital & Homies and then menswear like Beams+, Orslow and Engineered Garments. They also carry Malibu Sandals & Organic Handloom, two brands distributed by Keoma. I think their recent New Balance collaboration might be shoe of the year!

Urahara Store - Collingwood 

For anything denim related, head to Urahara. Martin and his team are a font of knowledge for all things Japanese & Americana denim. Inspired by the denim stores in the backstreets of Harajuku, they’ve got a great range of brands like Radial, Full Count and my favourite TCB aka Two Cats Brand. As well as a great selection of products, Urahara is where I take any of my jeans for aftercare. Nanaka runs the Denim Repair Service, located above the store. As a short king, I cannot wear any trousers off the rack, she does an amazing job taking all of my pants up, along with wizard-like darning skills on their vintage sewing machines for any holes in my jeans, I don’t trust anyone else!

Hub General Store - Collingwood 

Hub is my go to store to get a gift when I don’t know what to get someone. It’s a well curated selection of objects that you never knew you needed. I also think it's one of the best retail environments in Melbourne. During winter they have a fire burning and the place smells magical. During summer there is a basket of oranges outside, pick one up and bring it in to get freshly squeezed juice while you browse. Their in house whipped honey is always a hit if you need a last minute gift.

CIBI - Collingwood 

Another great place to buy Japanese objects, ceramics, cookware along with pantry items. I did a collaboration with CIBI on a pair of jeans with Keoma, only sold at our two locations. It was really special to see a product you’ve made sitting next to iconic items like Noguchi lamp shades and Sori Yanagi cutlery.

Stay

KEOMAstay - Fitzroy 

Located above our Keoma store, we have an apartment we rent out via Air BNB. Its very spacious, with 2 bedrooms and 2 living areas with sofa beds, so can sleep up to 8 people. Amazing views of the city, so grab a bottle of wine from Wine Republic across the road and watch the sun set over the CBD skyline.\

StandardX - Fitzroy 

I’ve not stayed here myself, but when Tara was last down and our apartment was booked. I visited her here on their rooftop patio. Great location, great vibe and great views.

Jackalope Hotel - Mornington Peninsula 

To get out of the city on a little staycation, where else do you want to stay than a boujee winery with a pool.

Do

Sense Of Self Spa - Collingwood 

I don’t get a lot of time to relax and unwind, but when I do SOS spa is one of my favourite places to go. It’s a calming space where time seems to stop, even if it is for an hour.

Abbotsford Convent/Collingwood Children's Farm - Collingwood 

A great place to walk the dogs, grab a coffee from the bakery and walk along the Yarra River path.

You Yangs National Park - Little River 

About an hour's drive West of Melbourne is my favourite dog friendly national park, it has varying levels of walking tracks. Generally, we just do the ascent to the top which takes about 30 minutes and the views are breathtaking.

The Keys Leisure Centre - Preston 

80’s – 90’s leisure centre inspired, bowling alley, arcade games, pool tables, great pub food and great bars. White Russians on tap are insane and when you’ve had a couple of those, I guarantee your bowling is 10 times better.

A big thank you to Nick for putting this Melbourne guide together for us and be sure to drop in to KEOMA when you are down in Melbourne and say hey to Nick and the team. 

You can find Keoma at: 

Shop - 266 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, 3065

Instagram - @keomastore