Spring in Melbourne is certainly an odd time of the year for picnics and horse races. One minute you're choosing some place with outdoor tables and calling for ice, the next, sprinting for cover! But summer in the Australian capital is another thing. This is when the city emerges from closed eateries to the terraces and courtyards of the restaurants to make what they can of the great outdoors, a sauvignon blanc in hand. Besides, the metropolis has a moment for every mood - from the cultural and artistic wonderland of Federation Square to balloon rides above the city and toothy smiles from sharks in the Melbourne Aquarium.

The city's sense of culinary indulgence comes alive during the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Between March and April every year the metropolis hosts an array of outstanding events including the Hawker's Market and World's Longest Lunch. Another Melbourne ritual is the riverside stroll along the tranquil Yarra and city skyline. Such is the array of restaurants between Federation Square and Crown Casino that the riverside interlude usually ends up with a special candlelit dinner.

Flashing lights and slot machines…the last thing you'd expect to find is a good restaurant, but at the Crown Casino there are a couple, Number 8 being one of them. A swanky eatery, it has a great view of the Yarra and has a long and expensive wine list. Renowned chef, Dan Szwarc, who is known in Melbourne for his salt and pepper calamari and brown sugar panna cotta, is the head chef of this posh hotel.

Buzzing and loads of fun, Number 8 is comfortable: No clutter, just an elegant setting. At night, the popular eatery is somewhat transformed. The twinkling lights along the Yarra provide an attractive backdrop with the occasional blast of heat and blinding orange light from the enormous Casino gaslights.

"Melbourne is known for being a foodie city," says Marg Ryding, a resident, as I join her for a Queen Victoria market walk. Seriously, I think it's the biggest plaza I have ever seen, with every single variety of everything you could wish for, from fruit and vegetables to boomerangs and didgeridoos, Iron Maiden and Morrison T-shirts. You can find the veritable Victorian food section, where endless stalls sell olives, strong cheeses, Germanic sausage, wine and balsamic, most of which is organic.

Locals turn soft at the sight of a tree-ripened cherry, just-picked white corn and organic goat's cheese at Vicky Market, which has existed since 1863. It's a place where you can find multicultural fresh food to satisfy every taste bud. The fish is from fresh rivers and streams, and yes, the pears are huge.