Sally Tabart is a writer, producer and content strategist who has spent the past 12 years moving through Melbourne’s creative landscape in all its forms: from editorial and film production to leading digital storytelling for major cultural events.
She was formerly the editor of The Design Files, co-founded the zine Ladies of Leisure, and has worked across content production and large-scale cultural programs including Now or Never and Melbourne Fashion Week. Earlier this year, she launched Todo Studio with friend Annie Portelli, a small creative practice built around connection and collaboration.
And amidst all of Tabart’s creative endeavours, she still finds time to experience Melbourne’s dining scene at its most diverse. Here she is now with all the hits, and where to find the dessert that she describes as “life-changing”.
My local is Standing Room in Fitzroy North. It’s where I have work meetings, get emails done with my business partner, take my daughter after Rhyme Time at the library, catch up with friends or have a rare quiet morning coffee with my husband. Somehow, they make it welcoming to everyone while still feeling cool. The service is always efficient and friendly, and it’s such a beautiful space that catches the sun all day. I used to work at the Melbourne University hole-in-the-wall outpost for a brief period 10 years ago, and I can confirm the coffee has always been amazing. They’ve grown up into such a sophisticated but relaxed neighbourhood spot with great food. I live in Thornbury, so it’s not my closest cafe, but I travel the extra few minutes for the vibes most days.
The best new thing I’ve found is Tiny Bar in Brunswick East, which was recommended to me by my friend Claire Adey from Into It creative consultancy. It’s actually quite shocking just how tiny it is when you get there, but it’s one of those places where you don’t even really need to look at the menu ahead of time, you just know everything is going to be good. When I went it was literally a staff of two people – one who was cooking, and one who was serving – and, delightfully, a very competent tween who was running that place like nobody’s business.
When I want to celebrate an occasion with a special meal, I go to Bistra. It’s narrowly overtaken Carlton Wine Room as my favourite special occasion spot since it opened a couple of years ago. The lychee, lime granita and coconut cream dessert is life changing. For lunch, I love sitting at the front table in the window and nursing a Campari Spritz or two.
When I want to show off the city to friends from out of town, I take them to Public Wine Shop for dinner. I think it’s the quintessential Melbourne wine bar and small plates venue. I love how it feels like you’re at your (fanciest) friend’s place sitting up at that big communal table. I’m not much of a wine drinker – it instantly makes me go bright red and want to go to bed – but they make one of the best gin and tonics I’ve ever had. For breakfast, I’d take them to Cibi and strongly encourage them to order the miso baked eggs and a sparkling yuzu soda.
My favourite place to load up on supplies is Preston Market. It’s one of my favourite places in Melbourne to spend a weekend morning. The people-watching is incredible, the produce is cheap and fresh, and the variety of food from many different cultures is such a treat. I’ve tried to meal-plan and be organised but, more often than not, my husband and I are scribbling out random ingredients on our Notes app and hoping for the best. The weekly staples are always the same: fruit and veg first, then we hit the gozleme stall near the deli where my daughter loves to practise toddling around with one of us while intermittently cruising by for a bite of a beef and cheese goz. Then we’ll swing by the deli hall for specialty bits and bobs, pick up a bunch of flowers, then we share a green juice from Rhubarb Rhubarb on the way out. Sometimes we’ll grab a potato cake and a dim sim too.
There’s no better value in the city than A1 Bakery. I work in Fitzroy a couple of days a week and the addition of A1 Bakery to Brunswick Street since I last worked in the area is much appreciated. I kind of love a no-frills lunch spot, and you can’t beat a $6 halloumi pie or spinach triangle for value – especially in Fitzroy.
And I wish more people would experience the excellence of sitting up at the bar. If I was going on Subway Takes, my take would be that sitting up at the bar is the best seat in any restaurant. As a solo diner or with two people, there’s nothing more fabulous to me than this. It feels so cosmopolitan and reminds me of working restaurants, having a knock-off after your shift and chatting to the bartenders. Is there anything better than that feeling? One of my favourite bars to sit up at is La Pinta (I adore the way the whole restaurant is centred around the bar seating). Not long ago, after a swim and a sauna at Fitzroy Pool, I sat solo upstairs at the bar at Marquis of Lorne for a steak and a beer, reading my book with the lively energy of the restaurant pulsing behind me and the choreography of the kitchen unfolding in front of me. I love feeling like you’re in the middle of it all.
My defining food moment in Melbourne was discovering the combination of a juice from Sonsa and a banh mi from N Lee at my first job in Collingwood almost 15 years ago. Both venues are such Smith Street staples and I think a real reflection of what makes Melbourne so special. There’s also nothing more Melbourne to me than the whipped cod roe and fried bread at the Builders Arms. Absolutely heaven.
If there was one thing I could change about eating and drinking in Melbourne it would be our need for newness. There’s so much energy around the next opening, the next list, the next recommendation, that we sometimes skip over the simple joy of going back to the same place, over and over. The best parts of this city aren’t always the newest ones.
But the thing I hope never changes here is how it often feels like a Friday night on a Wednesday in Melbourne, wherever you go.
Follow Sally at @sallytabs and keep up with her creative studio @todostudio__.