It's not a high-energy day. You feel like mooching about but don't want to stay at home. What you're really after is minimum effort, maximum indulgence, which means Rathdowne Village, with its quality retail and foodie therapy, is the place to be.

With a leafy green parade of plane trees down the centre, and the rows of Victorian shopfronts and verandahs on either side, it's got all the charm of 19th Century village but none of the chintziness. The well-heeled locals love its human scale and its close proximity to the university and the city centre.

Start at North Cafeteria for coffee or brunch, do some purposeful shopping at Belki, explore other lives at Alice's Bookshop and be inspired at Cote Provence. Then choose from a buzzy dinner at La Luna or a quieter and cosier meal by the fire at Rathdowne Street Foodstore.

North Cafeteria
A small, airy, relaxed space with hand-drawn wallpaper and '60s style is a welcome addition to the village, doing coffee, tea and things on toast really well, all day ... more

Belki
Belki's stylish, quality range of bags, jewellery, ceramics and other homewares and adorable kids' things is invaluable for knockout last-minute gifts ... more

Alice's Bookshop
The archetypal antiquarian bookstore, this is a charming rabbit warren full of books you've never heard of and books that are milestones in your life ... more

Cote Provence
Here you'll find all the charm of French provincial style (furniture, linens and oddities) gathered in a beautifully styled suite of rooms ... more

La Luna Bistro
Great MediterrOz food, a happy, buzzy crowd and a sense that someone really cares about what you're eating. The focus is on quality, fresh ingredients ... more

Rathdowne Street Foodstore
The totally irresistible food and atmosphere means the locals use this place as their dining room and everyone else drives across town to stock up ... more