Counterweight Vinyl & Espresso

Keep your eyes peeled for the disco ball that marks this smart little Chambers Street hangout, popular with fans of vintage records and great caffeine. Run by two DJs who decided to bring together their shared love of music and coffee, Counterweight provides a relaxed atmosphere to sift through scores of well-priced secondhand records. There are some real gems to be found here, particularly for lovers of jungle, house, drum and bass, and multitudinous electronic sub-genres.

Stick around for a cup of coffee — beans here are supplied by the team at North Melbourne's Bailey Coffee, while a tasty selection of cookies, pastries and doughnuts comes courtesy of Yarraville's Cobb Lane Bakery.

A smattering of greenery from East Coast Plant Supply also graces the space, all available to buy. While this spot's generally a laidback place to unwind, caffeinate and geek out about vinyl, the adjacent alleyway has been known to feature the odd impromptu rollicking music party.