Eat, Shop, Drink (in 3184, Melbourne)

Girlin3184 is currently reading the book all women have gone ga-ga over, Eat, Pray Love. Luckily, it’s not necessary to travel to India for one of life’s beautiful experiences.

Ormond Rd, Elwood (note, postcode 3184) is, for the most part, a ‘secret squirrel’ culinary and retail delight, that only bayside locals know.

EAT
The Turtle Café 34 Glen Huntley Rd
The service can be somewhat slow, but this is an Elwood institution. During summer the Turtle opens late for a chilled glass of wine or a honey chai latte.
De Cuba 69 Glen Huntley Rd
Modern and upbeat, de Cuba opens it’s French doors in summer and plays relaxed house tunes. Enjoy a reasonably priced meal from a wide international selection.

SHOP
Our eternal favourite, Red Dog 3 is located at 3 Ormond Rd (just up from the Turtle Café). This is THE place in Melbourne to head for affordable replicas of just about any catwalk trend you’ve seen. Housing labels such as Muui, Ladakh, I.D.S, you can walk out with an armful of clothing for less than two or three hundred dollars. The $20 sale rack is an absolute bargain, and you’ll love the accessories too.
Other places to check out for higher end designers include
Shuba 135 Ormond Rd Elwood
Miss Posh Boutique (a couple of doors down from Shuba)
Edwards in Love (just up from Shuba)

DRINK
The Collective, at 134 Ormond Rd is a long, narrow bar that often fills to capacity. Join the style conscious crowd for an imported beer.
Blue Tongue, at the far end of the village is an up market wine bar which again, is often filled to capacity.
We can’t omit the famous Elwood Lounge, a grungy pub located at 49-51 Glen Huntley Rd. More often than not you’ll find a local band strumming out tunes, and the very crusiy locals sucking back a pot. Or two.

image courtesy of www.littlepottyredshoes.com.au , selected from the collection stocked at Miss Posh Boutique.