Live, Love, Work Port Phillip

12/10/2026

Congratulations to the five Port Phillip restaurants recognised in this year's The Age Good Food Guide hat awards.

This recognition reflects the incredible talent, creativity and hospitality that make Port Phillip one of Melbourne's great dining destinations.

Well done to all the chefs, owners and teams involved of the winners and everyone who entered this years awards.

2 Hats

* Tomo An - South Melbourne

1 Hat

* Stokehouse - St Kilda

* Lucia - South Melbourne

* Pipi's - Albert Park

* Tallum - Balaclava

* Donovans - St Kilda











From one hat to three, the essential list of every hat-winning restaurant from the 46th edition of the Guide.

08/10/2026

Port Phillip's food scene continues to shine.

Join us in congratulating our local hospitality stars who have been recognised as finalists in The Age Good Food Guide Awards.

From acclaimed restaurants to emerging culinary talent, these finalists showcase the creativity, passion and excellence that make Port Phillip one of Victoria's most vibrant dining destinations.

🏆 Restaurant of the Year Finalist
• Tomo-An, South Melbourne

🏆 New Restaurant of the Year Finalist
• KISMET, Balaclava

🏆 Service Excellence Award Finalist
• Tash Sorensen, Malin, St Kilda

🏆 Young Chef of the Year Finalist
• Kimberly Tang, Ca Com, Balaclava

These businesses and individuals help make Port Phillip a place people love to live, work and visit. If you're looking for somewhere special to dine, why not show your support and experience these outstanding venues for yourself?

Congratulations to all finalists and the teams behind them.

We are proud to celebrate your success.


FYI - City Of Port Phillip

Was 2026 the year of living dangerously? This year’s Victorian finalists threw caution to the wind.

18/09/2026

South Melbourne has just been named one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods for 2026 by Time Out, and we couldn’t be more thrilled.

This recognition reflects what locals have known for years: South Melbourne is a neighbourhood with heart, character, creativity and community at its core.

From our iconic market and independent traders to world‑class food, and Melbourne's best coffee, South Melbourne is a place people choose to spend time and not just pass through.

Live Love Work Port Phillip invite everyone, near and far to come and experience South Melbourne and discover everything this incredible neighbourhood has to offer.




Visit Melbourne - please share our story with your followers
Australia.com - please let our visitors know how great SM is
Victoria Tourism Industry Council - VTIC

South Melbourne has landed on Time Out's annual ranking of the coolest global 'hoods

07/09/2026

26/08/2026

South Melbourne has been named Australia’s #1 Shop Small Destination by Amex, and we couldn’t be prouder.

Informed by consumers, this award recognises the places Australians most strongly associate with discovering and supporting small businesses.

Amex research shows the strongest Shop Small destinations are those with great food, distinctive local businesses and a genuine sense of community proving that the most successful small business precincts are places people choose to spend time, not just transact.

Live Love Work Port Phillip couldn’t agree more.

Congratulations, South Melbourne. You truly epitomise what it means and how it feels to shop local, and why locals, Melburnians and visitors to our city love spending time in South Melbourne.

24/08/2026

Last week Ali attended New Chapter Talent - Marketing Collective Club Lunch and had the chance to meet Amanda Connors, the new CEO of Ready Set Australia.

Amanda shared her inspiring journey from Chief Marketing Officer to CEO, and the impact Ready Set is making in our community.

based in South Melbourne, Ready Set Australia supports jobseekers who have faced, and are facing vulnerability and disadvantage.

Welcome to Port Phillip Amanda, and thank you for all the great work Ready Set does.

19/08/2026

Ali and Georgie were in Morwell for the Victorian Tourism Industry Conference and the Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards.

Georgie was the conference MC and delivered two keynote presentations on customer experience to an audience of more than 300 tourism leaders. And Ali, as a Top Tourism Town Awards Judge since 2021, was proud to be at the awards dinner when Portsea, Portarlington and Echuca were named Victoria’s Top Tourism Towns.

If you’d like to learn more about our founders, and how they can support your business please reach out:

Vesna Grdjan - The Incubator - creative and advertising agency

Georgie Stayches - Fetching Events & Communications - event management, MC & keynote speaker

Alison McDowell - Roadmap Strategy - Marketing Partner, marketing and brand strategy that drives commercial growth.

13/07/2026

The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are heading to Melbourne with the first ever NFL game at the MCG on Friday 11 September.
This is a major moment for our city, and a huge opportunity for Port Phillip’s pubs, bars and hospo operators to tap into increased visitation, fan energy and game‑day spend.

Visit Melbourne is hosting a webinar for hospitality businesses to outline:
* How they’ll drive engagement across Melbourne and key precincts
* What promotional activity is planned to attract locals and visitors
* Ways your venue can leverage the event - from themed offers to extended trading
* How to align with fan behaviour to maximise foot traffic and spend

If you’re a Port Phillip hospo business, this is your chance to get ahead of the wave and make the most of a global sporting moment landing right on our doorstep.





REGISTER NOW - 20932a0d-f8ec-4219-880c-781beac81851@9c991120-4eb9-4c97-97e9-4e5f453e6afc?utm_leadID=&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NFL+Industry+Engagement+Session&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fevents.teams.microsoft.com%2fevent%2f20932a0d-f8ec-4219-880c-781beac81851%409c991120-4eb9-4c97-97e9-4e5f453e6afc&utm_id=932600&sfmc_id=13317814" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/20932a0d-f8ec-4219-880c-781beac81851@9c991120-4eb9-4c97-97e9-4e5f453e6afc?utm_leadID=&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NFL+Industry+Engagement+Session&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fevents.teams.microsoft.com%2fevent%2f20932a0d-f8ec-4219-880c-781beac81851%409c991120-4eb9-4c97-97e9-4e5f453e6afc&utm_id=932600&sfmc_id=13317814

04/03/2026

Thank you Georgie and Martina , . We loved being part of your celebration for International Women’s Day 2026.

20/02/2026

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
If you live, love visiting, work, or run a business in Port Phillip, come and celebrate International Women's Day with us. It's a relaxed and intimate evening of connection, conversation and celebration on Tuesday 3rd March at the Middle Park Hotel.

BOOK NOW - https://events.humanitix.com/live-love