If you live in Carlton North, Brunswick or Fitzroy North, then Barkly Square Shopping Centre is an…read moreabsolute godsend if you want to shop frugally for your weekly/big shop. It pretty much has everything you need irrespective of what you are after. There are a few supermarkets with a Coles and a Woollies. There is also a butchers and a seafood place that often have higher quality and better value fresh meat and seafood than the supermarkets have to offer. That solves the problem where you are usually let down by supermarkets. The KMart is absolutely massive, so you can just about find everything you need. Did I mention a liquor land too?The only thing it is really missing is a Bunnings. Nevertheless with so much parking and fairly late opening hours, this is a winner. Way cheaper than shopping at Piedemonte's.

Oh how I love Sparkly Bear! It's the little suburban shopping centre that has everything you need -…read moremultiple supermarkets, Kmart, grocers, butchers, a baker, pharmacy, bottle shops, a $2 shop and even a massage parlor. Personally, I think Sparkly Bear is one of Melbourne's ultimate hangover destinations - you can stuff yourself with McDonalds and then get a head massage before popping into one of Sydney Road's many pubs for a hair of the dog. But it's also good for doing extra big shops, preferably hangover free. As a Carlton resident, Barkly Square is the easiest place to get life's dull essentials like buckets or shower curtains (don't even mention the QV BigW - it's a nightmare!). The car park is big and not too anger-inducing because it is easily accessed without having to deal with the Sydney Road traffic. First hour parking is free!

Apparently this place used to be a hospital, but that was long before my time. These days it is…read morebasically a huge, post-modern style, shopping centre, and a very confusing one at that. In fact it is very easy to get lost inside, and I have found myself wandering around it numerous times either trying to find a way out, or trying to locate a specific shop. Okay, it does have a Dan Murphy's but the way out can be a challenge to find even at the best of times.

As far as shopping centres in the CBD goes, Melbourne Central will forever have my heart. However,…read moreQV does have its own unique charm. PROS: ~ It differs from Melbourne Central in that Melbourne Central is more commercial with large-named chain stores whereas QV has a collection of smaller, independently-owned fashion boutiques. ~ Has Woolworth's and Big W - two really useful department stores. ~ Convenient location in the CBD! CONS: ~ The food court isn't very good. Yeah I know it's a pretty silly way to grade a shopping centre but mama loves her food! ~ Very confusing and hard-to-navigate. There are so many twists, turns, and hidden laneways. I have actually gotten lost on multiple occasions. Essentially, QV is a lot more hip whereas Melbourne Central is larger and more commercial. There is still room for expansion but it does have a unique charm!

Hi Everything is really good. Probably should give you a…read morefive star! However, just came to Outlet Kebab, ordered a lamb kebab combo, the lady touched everything with her bare hand! Rolled the bread wearing no gloves! When I asked ,' why don't you use gloves?' Her answer was, ' cuz no other kebab shop uses it!' Wonder is Subway opposites to it does the same thing! Hygiene is a big issue at Uni hill Factory outlet! Three star - all for amazing big shops with great affordable prices!

The largest (and only?) Nike factory outlet in Melbourne is the draw card for my visits. And they…read morehave great sales at this particular outlet, often having a period of time where there will be an additional % off the already considerably marked down items. There are heaps of shops here covering bedding, homewares, kids clothes and adult fashion. There are also cafes inthin the complex and the outlets are situated in among a little shopping precinct with more cafes and specialty shops (butchers, green grocer etc). The only downside is the one hour free street parking - never enough time!!

Forest Hill Chase is never really springs to mind when I think of shopping centers. Located in the…read moretiny suburb of Forest Hill, I came here once and was pleasantly surprised at the center. It was clean and new-ish, it didn't feel like one of those old and forgotten places that nobody ever goes to. That said, it was relatively quite in the center- but it certainly didn't feel forgotten. Forest Hill doesn't have a huge variety of fashion stores, there are still a few goodies here though (such as Myer). Forest hill also have a Hoyts cinema and AMF bowling/M9 laser strike. My favorite thing about this place is the fact that there is a TGIF here! I think I would come back if I ever wanted to just wonder aimlessly through a center, without feeling rushed or buzzed like I do at Chadstone. Would also come here just for TGI and Hoyts.

Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre is somewhere I drop into if I am passing by, but it is not…read moresomewhere I tend to go to on purpose. While it is fairly big and there have been a lot of upgrades recently, the atmosphere here is pretty non-existant and I don't enjoy myself. One good thing about the centre is that there are over 3500 free car spaces without restrictions. These are spread all around and under the centre itself. The centre has 3 levels with the topmost (and smallest) being the best. This is the newest part of the centre and has been designed to be a bit of an entertainment hub. It features Hoyts Cinemas, TGI Fridays, Nandos, Timezone, Rebel Sport, The Chase Hotel and JB Hi Fi to name a few. Despite being the biggest hit of the centre, it still doesn't get very busy up there. The centre is never really busy so if you don't like crowds then this place is perfect for you in every way! The average shopper tends to be a bit older although most of the shops seem suited to younger shoppers. There are a heap of taxis that wait just outside the food court. Bizarrely they are often there during the middle of the day. Bigger, rival centres don't have this service so this is a definite plus.

This small shopping Centre has one thing going for it. The lack of speed humps I switched to this…read moreCentre because the closer one had installed killer speed humps! What it does have however is a nicely balanced selection of stores from the usual chains like coles and Aldi, to little bakeries sand deli. They even have a full blown hipster coffee shop cafe now. #winning

My local shopping centre, located in the heart of the South Melbourne shopping area. Coles is the…read moremajor tenant; also Baker Delight, Terry White Chemist, Coffee Club and many other small shops. The centre is clean and bright with lots of light. Underground parking is free for the first hour but then becomes quite expensive. There is on-street metered parking as well. Many other shops are located along Clarendon Street and the South Melbourne Market is nearby.

I used to visit this place every week when I lived in Southbank - the Coles in there was my local…read more I love Southbank and South Melbourne so I feel a bit obliged to provide a biased review of this shopping centre. The Clarendon Shopping Centre has a Coles, Terry White Chemist, Bakers' Delight, Sushi Top, Coffee Club, Tatts outlet, Flower Shop, Asian Massage and 2 other coffee outlets. There's plenty of parking underground with the first hour free, $6: 1-2 hrs, $9: 2-3 hrs and so forth. It's close to Clarendon Shopping and cafes. South Melbourne Central is also fairly close and you'll find a Safeway, gym, spotlight to name a few in there so the centre is very conveniently located with a broad range of shops and cafes in the near vicinity.

This factory outlet in the same elk as DFO and Brand Smart is in the process of re-branding itself…read more Formally Brand Junction and now Uni Hill Factory Outlet, I hope the change in brand heralds a change in store selection and atmosphere. I first dropped by after it's opening and was disappointed by the range of retail outlets. In the stores I did venture into I found cast off stock of poor quality and good quality offers without an outlet price tag. I was clearly not the only one left disappointed. The mall was totally deserted. On a Saturday afternoon before Christmas you would expect the buzz of shoppers and bargain hunters. No. I witnessed crickets and tumbleweeds. I didn't give Brand Junction a second chance until today. I was lured in by the giant posters advertising a new look factory outlet experience. Clearly that experience is yet to happen. The experience I had was worse then my initial one. Now half the shops are closed (making way for new retailers I hope) and the atmosphere even less appealing. I will give Uni Hill Factory Outlet one more chance when the overhaul is delivered, but if it fails to deliver then I'm done forever more. Three strikes and your out Brand Junction.

Bargains, bargains, bargains! Everywhere you look there's a bargain to be had!…read moreThis place has certainly grown in the last six months and now houses the largest Nike outlet in Melbourne (I believe the one on Smith Street Collingwood relocated here). All the usual suspects are here plus a book store that houses a large array of books, all for $10 each! If you're in the area pop in, if you're not in the area it's probably worth a visit anyway.

This was right across the street from our hotel Fourpoints by Sheraton Docklands. It is also right…read moreacross from the free tram. There were many restaurants and stores in this building.

We walked around and it seems to be a nice place for families. There were some outdoor activities…read moreset up for younger kids. There is also a large ferris wheel, which I didn't see any riders. The Woolworths here is quite big. Costco is also found here.