Northcote Social Club

Augie March, Catnip and The Cat Empire are among those who have wowed fans in the Band Room - a functional, rather than glamorous, affair with a raised stage dominating the dark rectangular cavern. When the crowds pack in, the vibe is intimate and awe-inspiring. Not surprisingly it is one of the venues that bands who have 'made it' often reminisce over.

There's music on most nights, from rock'n'roll to blues and experimental, representing a good mix of local and touring bands. It's not much to look at from the outside and the front room is pretty crusty, but past the Band Room there's a large outdoor area with heaps of tables and enough bright orange-coloured chairs to make a Dutch soccer fan go weak at the knees.

This area is flanked by the kitchen and you can watch the chefs preparing standard pub grub through the massive windows, in front of which is a selection of possibly the most mouthwatering cheesecakes on Earth.