Shopper's guide to Carlton

Foodies, welcome to heaven on Earth. This deli on the corner of Lygon and Faraday offers a wide range of deli and liquor items to suit any budget and satisfy any shopping list. Shop antipasti, high-quality dry and fresh pasta and an amazing selection of cheeses. This is also a great place to shop for gifts, with heaps of gift boxes and hampers filled with goodies to choose from.

Generations of families have perused the products at this little toy store on Lygon Street since 1965. Here you'll find beautiful, sustainable and durable toys from all over the world that are guaranteed to put a smile on a child's face. Poppyshop has products for people of all ages, including bath toys for toddlers and chemistry kits for kids and teens. And if you're thinking a toy store won't have anything adults would be interested in, you'd be wrong. The shelves are also stocked with things like journals, candles and assorted homewares.

Gerwürzhaus carries more than 350 single-origin spices, salts, peppers, teas and herbs from around the world to choose from, but where this family-owned business really shines is in small-batch blends that staff mix themselves. The German-style Glühwein Gewürz mix makes it easy to make the perfect batch of mulled wine, and the quick butter chicken blend makes whipping up dinner a breeze. You can buy the blends by the jarful or create a hamper of smaller samples.

This musician’s haunt on the corners of Lygon and Elgin streets has been accumulating vintage, collectable and rare musical treats for nearly three decades. As the name suggests, it specialises in second-hand stock of everything from brass and woodwind instruments to electric keyboards and guitars. The staff are also able to repair close to anything, so you can bring that busted acoustic guitar that's been languishing in the corner of your room in for a fix. 

Watt's Shoe Store has been on the corner of Lygon and Grattan streets for over a century. Originally opened by bespoke bootmaker William Luttgens in 1895, the store was purchased soon after by the Watt family and has been in the family ever since. The store specialises in custom-made orthopaedic footwear, doing repairs and selling high-quality and comfortable shoes. In recognition of the family's contribution to the community, Melbourne city council named the laneway behind the store Watt Lane. 

Whether you've been riding the vaping wave for years now or you've recently been looking for ways to quit smoking cigarettes, this Carlton shop has all the tools you need for blowing tasty clouds. After you've settled on your machine comes the fun part: choosing your flavour. Are you after something sweet that reminds you of your favourite breakfast cereal from childhood, or do you want something fresh and fruity, reminiscent of an icy pole? There are even flavours that taste like cola, tobacco, cheesecake or piña colada. 

If you struggle to find a gift for that friend who seems to have it all, this shop on Elgin street is filled with the best in-home gadgets from Australia and Europe. The shop, which opened its doors in 2003, is committed to stocking only the best products and currently offers thousands of products from more than 300 different designers. From homewares and crockery to fragrances and personal care products, this shop has it all.

Skincare has been taking the world by storm lately, and Mecca is the store to shop if you're looking to hop on that trend. You'll also find heaps of makeup and fragrance products here, on top of cult beauty products by brands like Nars, Stila and La Mer. If you're looking to elevate your skincare and makeup game but you're not sure what to get, the friendly staff have an encyclopaedic knowledge on all things beauty.

Readings opened in 1969 and has since been a mainstay of Lygon Street. It was named the best bookshop in the world in 2016, and when you step through its doors you'll understand why. On top of always being stocked with the latest best books and classic novels, the shop is open until around 11pm most days. Head out on Lygon Street for a late dinner and a couple of drinks and then head to Readings to drunkenly peruse and pick out your next read. If you're not sure what you're after, the well-read staff is always happy to make a recommendation.

This fromagerie operates both as a bar and restaurant and as a takeaway joint, so if you're after a cheese platter for your next park picnic, this is the place to go. Charcuterie, pâtés and terrines are also available. There are more than 180 varieties of artisan cheeses to choose from, and you can even get curated hampers with wine pairings.