Ooh - I just wrote an email to someone visiting Melbourne with a couple of tips. I've copied some below:
"St Kilda
Opposite the beach which is a great fun place to pop for a walk. Either direction is good, with the Port Melbourne direction having more bars and restaurants, and the Elwood direction having more cafes and ice cream shops.
Make sure to take a walk down Acland Street and around near Luna Park, it has quite a lively atmosphere.
Radio Mexico is a taqueria just around the corner from Acland Street in Carlisle Street. It has a great fun vibe and delicious menu of fresh Mexican nibbles and larger dishes.
Uncle in St Kilda is a modern Vietnamese fusion restaurant and bar just a few blocks down from Radio Mexico. They have a cool rooftop bar area if the weather is nice.
Windsor
Chapel Street should be the first port of call for any visit to Windsor. There are loads of cafes, restaurants, bars, cafes and shops to explore.
Very new to Chapel Street is the much talked about Hawker Hall. It's a lively fun romp full of Singaporean and Malaysian inspired food. Always a bit of a laugh and loads on the menu that would suit. Still considered very cool as it's only about 6 months old.
Tokyo Tina is part of a group of rad little eateries on and around Chapel Street: Saigon Sally and Hanoi Hannah as listed below. Like it's sister restaurants, it doesn't take bookings. It has a great, fun vibe, especially at night, when it can get quite busy. Japanese fusion inspired food that's well worth a visit. Probably the most expensive of the three but possibly the easiest to find. It's also the newest of the three.
Second in line in terms of price in between Tokyo Tina and Hanoi Hannah is Saigon Sally. As you would guess from the name, it's more Vietnamese fusion inspired food. It's down a side street off Chapel Street so maybe use google maps. Like the others, yummy foods and you can get a range of small dishes, or just one, or larger dishes. It describes itself as a 'diner and bar'.
The original of the group, Hanoi Hannah is on High Street, just off Chapel Street. The most relaxed, a bit BoHo and attracts lots of students (read: hipsters). It describes itself as selling 'hawker food'. You can just pop in for a quick snack at the bar which will be cheap and cheerful. It also does take away - there are two shop fronts, one is a take away window and the other (one shop over) is the eatery to have a seat.
CBD
AVOID Swanston Street, it's full of tacky tourist shops and fast food joints, which is a shame, as it's a major thoroughfare though the city.
Laneways
Try to wander through Degraves Street, through Centre Place and up Block Arcade. There are several other fun laneways which are full of the well renowned street art and little cafes for which Melbourne is famous - they will be online or in a guide book. These ones are the easiest to find and sort of run from one to the other over the main streets If you go through Centre Place (more or less the continuation of Degraves), try to find Hells Kitchen (don't be put off by the name!). It's about half way down, up a flight of stairs, but you have to look carefully for the sign. Once you're there, sit by the window and watch everything going on in the laneway below. Great vantage point (if you can find it!).
Collins Street and Spring Street
This is one of the most salubrious parts of Melbourne CBD. The top end of Collins Street is a fantastic place to wander around if you fancy looking at top end brands. If you walk right up to the top, you get to Spring Street, which has some pretty theatres, the Treasury Building and Parliament House. It also backs onto the Treasury Gardens and the Fitzroy Gardens (which, oddly, has the oldest building in Australia - Captain Cook's cottage. It was re-built after being shipped brick by brick from England!). The Fitzroy Gardens have paths all the way though which from a birds eye view replicate the Union Jack. There is a very nice Conservatory within the gardens to wander through.
Spring Street Grocer, City Wine Store, The European and Siglo
Up the top end of Collins Street, on Spring Street, are some places worth visiting. They are all owned by the same person, and the ethos is good food, wine, and living.
The Grocer is an organic store and gelateria which is based upon an Italian style. YOU MUST GO DOWN THE WINDING STAIRCASE TO THE CHEESE ROOM. There are temperature controlled cheeses from all over the world. You can try as much as you like and they are delicious.
Just next door is the Wine Store. They have a great selection of fancy wine, but also house wine if you fancy a glass and a light meal. There is outdoor seating opposite Parliament house.
Next door to that is the Supper Club, which is more for a late night drink after the theatre. Leather couches and a glorious circular window to overlook parliament.
Within the same building, and above Supper Club, is Siglo. Open air balcony overlooking parliament. Lovely for a nice afternoon and a great view over the cathedral and the park. Be warned that it gets very busy on Fridays after work on nice days."
Hope this helps! Enjoy your stay.