Looking for one of the hottest hair salons in Melbourne? Anaka at 90 Glenferrie Road Malvern is not only a nurturing sanctuary but a hub for all things creative and motivational. Advice on yoga? Natural oils? Healthy food or makeup trends? This is the place. But back to the main focus: hair; gorgeous, shiny, healthy hair.

Personal attention is the driving force for Anna and her team. They want every customer to feel empowered when they arrive and confident and creative when they leave.

In a spectacular achievement, the salon was voted The Urban List’s “Best Blondes in Melbourne” in 2014 for its renowned colour work.

According to, Anna, the salon is a creative hub for both customers and for those who work there. “Most importantly, we love people and all we want is to make them feel their true authentic selves,” Anna says. “We’re all about family and friends so when you enter our door, we hope you feel like you’re home.”

Extending on the theme of family, Anna and her team love the energy of Glenferrie Road and the sense of belonging. “Local businesses are happy to promote and support each other and there is such a great selection in the area from homewares, crafts and travel to beauty.”

Customers come from Malvern as well as Mornington, Epping and Sorrento to ensure Melbourne’s best colourists apply the dye. “So if you need some great advice on how to maintain a colour or to get a great fashion look, we are the go-to place.”

Anna’s philosophy influences the whole team. “Making people feel good about themselves is beyond the aesthetic. We really are here to make people feel their best which, in turn, makes them look their best.”

But there is one recurring request that tests this patient and generous soul. “People come in with images from the eighties. Please! No!”

While haircuts from 30 years ago might take some time to return to fashion, the team is onto the current trends thanks to overseas study and careful curation of social media.

Anna has two pieces of advice: Firstly, her team can help choose a style that suits your personality and secondly, they can recommend products that will enhance a look. “Products really can transform your hair and there are some amazing products for hair loss.”

Finally, Anna’s favourite quote comes from the actress Joan Crawford:

“I think the most important thing a woman can have – next to talent, of course – is their hairdresser.”

A simple and very successful philosophy drives the crew at Crate Expectations: they buy what they love and hope their customers do, too. Georgie Bird adores being surrounded by unique finds, celebrating Australian artisans, as well as those from further afield.

“We pride ourselves on being forward thinkers and we love seeing our customers spot a new item for the first time,” says Georgie.

The store, just off Glenferrie Road at 1A Llaneast Street, Malvern, is packed with treasures, colours, textures and aromas. Walking past is nearly impossible as the store has an irresistible drawing power. Fragrances, furniture, handbags and jewellery share space with original paintings, rugs, lighting, glassware and cushions. “We have bespoke pieces and often carry items different to any other stores.” The staff encourage customers to go outside their comfort zone, daring to mix colours and to add an exciting new element to their home. “Don’t be afraid of colour and pattern! And add some greenery to your home to bring a pop of colour. It always adds some extra life to a space.”

Georgie has owned Crate Expectations for a decade and is proud of her team’s ability to offer customers exceptional one-on-one service every time. She knows there are certain items that must always be stocked (Tiff Manuell clutches and keyrings), and new products which float out the door (currently colourful pompom tassel earrings!).

“We love Malvern’s community. So often, we’ll witness a lovely little reunion in the store when customers bump into someone they haven’t seen for years. The Glenferrie Road strip and Malvern area have everything you need.”

Georgie has other highlight moments. “When the new stock comes in, you move everything around, making it look effortlessly placed, and it’s totally inspiring.”

So where does she get her ideas and how does the merchandise stay ahead of the trend? “We like to think we have a pretty good eye for current and upcoming trends. We use Instagram, not only as a social platform for Crate (@crateexpectations), but also so we can follow what is happening out there. We discover artists and products from across the world.”

A visit to Crate Expectations will be a delight to the senses but if it all seems a little overwhelming, tuck yourself into a luxuriously appointed day bed or kick off your heels and recline in a fabulous MRD Suki armchair.

A family-owned business for 40 years, Mind Games is Australia’s first games store and is a Malvern institution.

Many local families have popped-in to buy a giant jigsaw puzzle for the holiday house kitchen table – only to find themselves picking-up stocking fillers and unique brain benders for hard-to-please relatives.

It is an Aladdin’s Cave of possibilities, full of modern gaming challenges, and traditional treats like chess and ‘Backgammon’.

Anticipating trends is essential for Lucas and Clare who watch fads come and go. ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ have woven their way back into teenage imaginations, and newer 15-minutes card games like ‘Rat a Tat’, ‘Sleeping Queens’ and ‘Beekeeper and Hoard’ are essential for the pockets of primary school kids seeking a quick, fun game before the bell rings at playtime.

Jigsaw puzzles take up an entire wall of the store with the worst (or best!) box containing 6000 tiny pieces of cardboard and the promise of a European village scene. “Puzzles are wonderful in bringing everyone together without being competitive,” says Clare. Recently, a customer asked for a blank white puzzle… Clare speculates that he planned to construct the puzzle, write a proposal to his sweetheart and then pull it apart – before presenting it as part of an elaborate engagement ritual.

So while spinners are on their way out, putty is in. Old fashioned knuckles are experiencing a resurgence and Clare really enjoys how a constant stream of local, older adults seek specific games from their own childhood so they can share the joy of, perhaps, ‘Snakes and Ladders’, with newer generations. “There are some very specific requests which can be hard to fulfil,” laughs Clare.

Clare, a rehabilitation nurse as well as the manager of the store, is fascinated by the possibilities of brain plasticity. “Gaming allows players to really expand their brains without being too studious about it. It helps their brains to continually function in new ways – the games are challenging without being a drag.”

When you visit Mind Games, there’s a real chance the person behind the counter has been to Comic-Con USA, having been immersed in the latest gaming, arts and culture. “We engage in all sorts of environments so we have a real understanding of passions and trends. We watch YouTube and also listen to our young customers – and our older ones – who tell us what they want.”

Clare and the staff welcome a steady stream of repeat customers who come to find out about new products. “It’s quiet enough that we are able to offer one-on-one friendly advice which makes this location just so special. No one is anonymous – we like to think we welcome people back as old friends.”

Walls lined with wine, light timber tables and atmospheric photos of secret Turkish destinations create a warm and intimate atmosphere at this Malvern institution. A smiling welcome is always assured as is the aroma of homemade bread, charcoal chicken and lamb in this haven of authentic Turkish charm.

Regular clients have been coming for 24 years – from suburbs close-by and from destinations much further afield. Owner, Halil, says guests travel for up to an hour to experience the extensive menu which includes banquets, kebab platters, vegetarian specials, seafood, gourmet pizza, kids’ meals, and complex salads. The menu has to be a contender for the prize of ‘most comprehensive’ in the Malvern precinct with more than 150 individual offerings.

Halil is proud of his contribution to the Glenferrie Road precinct and he wouldn’t be anywhere else. “My satisfaction comes when I make my customers happy which often means I am selling a Doner Kebab to take away customers or a Cypriot Feast Banquet to dine-in clients. My family and I try to bring a little of our culture to every dish we serve, to add to Malvern life.”

Take away clients favour lamb or chicken from the spit, wrapped in pita and spiced in a unique Nicosia combination. While most customers will choose a sauce of yoghurt and garlic, BBQ, mayo, sweet chilli, tomato and herb, or perhaps chilli, one customer recently requested the lot!

Halil and his team always deliver more than expected with food often served in magnificent style on generous platters. Fresh ingredients are on display, behind spotless glass in the restaurant, adding to the atmosphere and a glimpse of the family-run kitchen. The chefs stay on trend by keeping an eye on Instagram, the web and Facebook where they also have a large following. Just visiting their Facebook page makes you hungry. Feedback from customers ensures the menu responds to demand and the restaurant’s donations to local charities are acknowledged – including one to the Golden Retriever Rescue Club.

Open for lunch and dinner, there is free home delivery to local customers spending $30 or more.

For Halil, the recipe is simple. “I always serve dishes that I would like to eat and I keep everything fresh and clean,” he says. Halil says every dish is prepared from scratch on the premises and he uses about 80 kilos of chicken and lamb each day for his famous kebabs.

And a hot tip: If you want to make someone’s day, drop in for a latte and baklava. You will be in for a fabulous, decadent surprise.

As times have changed, so too has a Malvern institution, Saffar’s Fine Rug Collection. Since 1970, this institution has offered superb traditional, handmade Persian rugs and kilims.

These days, the offerings have diversified to cater to changing demands and the availability of a wider range of carpets. Saffar’s specialises in traditional as well as modern handmade rugs. And now, as well as beautiful Melbourne homes, they also decorate offices and retail spaces all over Australia.

This rug store is firmly entrenched in the Malvern precinct. They are great fans of Glenferrie Road, welcoming its diversity and the warmth they receive from locals. “People come from all over Melbourne, from different age groups, nationalities and religions. They come from far and wide to visit.”

Colours, styles and sizes of rugs offer a superb choice. The store is spacious and peaceful – perfect for a thoughtful approach to choosing a precious heirloom. The staff enjoy hearing the trams shuttle in and out of the depot next door as they pull rugs from piles to be inspected. Time seems to stand still despite the bustle outside the store.

Inevitably, the calm and thoughtful approach of the managers encourages the customer to make a considered choice. Long term friendships are often established and interiors shine as a result.

Few customers would realise the firm connections established many years ago with trusted traders and suppliers all over the world. “We regularly meet our colleagues and discuss new trends including patterns, colours, sizes and compositions.”

At the moment, neutral tones with greys and whites are hot. These rugs allow rooms to showcase colourful furniture and bright paintings. They also provide a serene palette when a client wants to create a restful space with cream cushions and earth-toned furnishings, complemented with indoor plants.

As to the most unusual request? “Are any of these flying carpets?”. We think the only way to find out would be to choose very carefully.

To describe Esta Putt as a dedicated retailer could be an understatement. As the manager of Blue Illusion, Esta has seen generations of families come to her store which has been in Glenferrie Road for more than 18 years.

Naturally, her customers come for the French-inspired, stylish fashion. But this business offers more. Three words define Blue Illusion: fashion, lifestyle and community. As part of this ethos, when asked, Esta will help customers declutter their wardrobes, saving precious items while helping her clients part with the rest. She loves working with customers to mix old faves with new items from the regularly changing Blue Illusion stock.

“I really enjoy offering a styling service for ladies who come in and say they need some help,” Esta says. While some come for wedding outfits or something for an anniversary, others simply seek stylish daywear.

She has even been known to demonstrate to customers the art of packing a suitcase for overseas travel.

Blue Illusion is home to a well-known secret item for many women around Malvern – beautifully cut jeans. The skinny and straight leg styles offer a stunning slimline and the elastic waist means they are perfect for travelling. The jeans come from Turkey, a country renowned for the magnificent quality of its cotton. “Women in their twenties, forties, eighties come in for our jeans.”

The store provides a beautiful range of gifts from handbags, tapestries and candles to homewares and jewellery. Not surprisingly, 95 per cent of shoppers are return customers, a testament to the quality of stock and the attentive care provided by Esta and her team. They provide alterations and home deliveries as well as an exchange service when someone changes their mind. “We’re all about an honest, happy relationship with our customers.”

Esta believes her attitude is reflected in the shops all around her along Glenferrie Road. “Being small retailers, we are very focused on the happiness of our customers. We feel a personal connection.

“Some of my older ladies who may not want to buy something still come in, leave their shopping with me and then come back for a chat.”

Blue Illusion has a strong philanthropic focus, regularly collecting donations for a range of causes from breast cancer to an orphanage in Cambodia. The company also supports ‘Dress for Success’, a non-profit organisation promoting economic independence for women by providing professional attire, support and career advice.

And Esta’s hot fashion tip? Lots of faux fur and long, fabulous jackets.

Kiddie Country in Union Street, just off Glenferrie Road, is a Malvern institution. Since 1975, couples on the verge of a major life change have left this jam-packed store, loaded up with a brand new pram, a change table and maybe a decoration or two for a nursery. The thrill of these final days of planning is never forgotten.

As owner Mike Milun says, a key objective is that every customer walks away happy and excited.

Kiddie Country’s staff offer outstanding service because they’ve seen it all. If a product isn’t stocked, it’s because it failed to meet the exacting standards of Mike and his team. Safety and quality set the parameters.

“Delivering a wonderful shopping experience is essential, so we go out of our way to ensure you receive nothing short of the best,” says Mike.

“As parents ourselves, we have had many years of experience and will help guide you through the product choices available, making sure you have everything you need for your new baby, that fits within your lifestyle.”

The team attends trade shows and is constantly on the look-out for the new and most inspiring products to enhance the lives of Malvern babies and their parents.

While the store offered a cash register and maybe a new fangled bank card machine 41 years ago, these days customers can shop online. The store’s website offers a brilliant selection of top brands, all available while a little person is asleep and a parent has time to browse from home. But nothing compares to a test drive of the wide range of prams, in-store. Mike will even offer a private appointment on a Sunday for those who can’t make it during business hours.

“We love to meet young couples, direct them through the items required and then watch them return as parents as their family grows. We also get a kick out of parents who purchased here for their children long ago, who are now returning with their pregnant children who carry on the tradition.”

Mike invites customers to call – even from the car! “Why not pull up outside our store, give us a call and we’ll bring a product directly to your car? We’re all about service and convenience so you can get on with your day.”

Of course, you can always email enquiries@kiddiecountry.com.au and Mike’s team will respond quickly.

And Mike’s secret to a long and happy business life in Malvern? Be happy. Keep smiling.

Continental Kosher Butchers was built with the bare hands of survivors, Polish and German immigrants Ber Goldfarb and Heinz Gluecksman in 1945. It has been in Glenferrie Road Malvern since 1972.

Much has changed over the last 70 years but its devotion to quality, tradition, and innovation has made Continental Kosher Butchers one of the few survivors in the kosher meat industry in Australia. In fact, it is the largest producer of kosher red meat and smallgoods in the Southern Hemisphere.

Manager, Daniel Lewis, says there is a unique environment along the Glenferrie Road strip. “I love that the vast majority of the stores in the shopping strip are owned by lovely people. We support them – by buying a bicycle for the proprietor’s son’s birthday; perhaps hand crafted breads, cakes, meat products, green groceries, organic and health foods ….”

When asked for a best selling item in the store, Daniel tells the story of a recent customer who took a phone call while waiting to be served, saying: “I’ll call you back darl, I’m just at the brisket shop”.

Daniel: “Our 14 hour, gently steamed, cured brisket is made from grass-fed beef and has won many awards over the years. Generations of families have grown up, filling their Glicks bagels (available next door) and they’ve trained their grandchildren to do the same.”

The other iconic product is the traditional wood-smoked frankfurt. “There was a time when frankfurts were far from a common occurrence in Australia. They were a gourmet treat served at high-class venues. Ours were on the menu of many such establishments around old Melbourne town. The recipe has not changed since then.”

Nor has the tradition changed that every small child who walks into the store with their “ Bubbeh” or “Zaideh” (grandmother or grandfather) runs to the deli cabinet expectantly hoping for a frankfurt to be handed to them, on the house.

For Daniel and the team, the greatest motivation for hard work is knowing they are contributing to the community’s rich family life, while keeping the kosher tradition alive. “Family values and friendships drive us – and I like to think we are selling memories. The best memories are made amongst your loved ones, with great conversation and good times at the dinner table.” The owners have now been supplying to five generations of families living within a wide radius of Malvern.

The team watches TV cooking shows to address “MasterChef Syndrome”, and there is a fabulous cookbook library with the kitchen trialling new products and recipes to ensure the product range is relevant and exciting.

A new range of products is for sale both at the Glenferrie Road store and in 90 other shops around Australia. Under the label, Lewis & Son, a range of healthy smallgoods with no additives, e numbers or nasties is the first of its kind in the world to be FODMAP Friendly certified, and Gluten Free with endorsement form Coeliac Australia. The range has expanded to include free-range chicken broth and chicken schmaltz as well as an enormous range of Australia’s most creative fermented vegetables. Sauerkrauts, Kimchis, Rockin’ Out Brocco Kraut, and the fabulously named Cauli-Flower-Power are just a few.

Mary Chen and her hardworking team have recently moved their 20-year dry-cleaning business from its high profile location on the corner of Wattletree Rd and Drysdale Street. But those customers who are dedicated followers of this brilliant business can rest easy. Mary and the team have moved next door, just one shop closer to fabric store, Lincraft.

Now with more space and a fresh new look, Lotus Dry Cleaning can offer an even faster service.

While it might seem like a nightmare for some, Mary is cheerful when she describes the fact that she and her staff iron over 100 business shirts a day. “We charge such a low price for ironing shirts that people are always walking through the door with their arms full of shirts,” Mary says. “Why would you do it yourself when we can do it for you so cheaply?”

A good drycleaner is an essential service in any local community and Lotus is renowned and appreciated by Malvern locals. The feeling is mutual with Mary pleased to serve her loyal clientele.

“My Malvern customers are so kind and friendly. They are very happy with our level of service and the fact that we have 30 years of experience. I love serving them because they are so grateful for our careful work.”

Mary has a smile for about 100 customers a day who come in to seek advice and to drop-off ironing, washing and dry-cleaning. Doonas are always coming through the door and Mary is proud of the washing and ironing service offered for sheets and pillowcases. “People like to sleep in crisp sheets that feel as though they have come from a five-star hotel.”

Mary is honest with those seeking expert care for precious items.

“Occasionally I will tell someone that there is too great a risk and that I wouldn’t clean something but I have recently cared for a beautiful 100-year old dress, a very, very old lace tablecloth and a 50-year old rug.”

The team regularly dry-cleans wedding dresses – even those with fine beading.

“We know what to do and people are happy to trust us because we’re honest and careful.”

Print Décor is a Glenferrie Road institution with Lynne and Bernie Lowenstein maintaining a passionate interest in walls that talk.

“We specialise in artwork, mirrors and customised framing,” says Lynne who, with Bernie, has been based in the same spot for 30 years.

Carefully selected artists are represented in the shop with Archibald Prize winner, Adam Cullen, being a hot favourite. “People who have stayed at the nearby Cullen Hotel often seek us out so they can take a Cullen home with them. We have an Australia-wide exclusive on certain images from his Ned Kelly series.”

People who have a love of aesthetics are drawn to the shop, tapping into Lynne’s carefully chosen pieces. They will always find a beautiful painting, a magnificently framed mirror or a fine print to admire.

“I simply love artwork so when a customer comes in and picks something, I just get such a kick out of it. I also really enjoy helping a person find the perfect mirror for a particular room in their home.”

Every now and again, the couple will be humbled by the opportunity to frame a real Picasso or a Matisse. They’ve framed a knighthood certificate, a wedding dress and a wide range of exquisite artworks. “We’ve even framed an entire ceremonial Indian headdress and in a separate frame, the rest of the outfit.”

One framing job attracted a lot of attention while hanging in the shop waiting to be collected. A lot of debate took place as visitors discussed the ethics of the ban on golliwog dolls found within the pages of an Enid Blyton book.

Lynne travels to find original artwork and keeps in touch with local artists. “I follow my instinct a lot and keep a close eye on design sites and interior design shows. I also pick up on trends by listening to specific requests from customers. They will come in and ask for something quite specific and I’ll recognise a trend emerging.” While tapping into the Adam Cullen demand was spot-on, Lynne winces at the memory of a great idea that flopped after photos of the Northern Lights framed in rainbow Perspex bombed. “They are sitting out the back, thoroughly unloved,” she laughs.

Looking to future trends, Lynne predicts arty architectural images are on their way from the US, featuring oblique shots of the built environments in muted colours of greys and blues.

Frank Fera introduced pizza to Australia back in 1961. Could there be a more qualified person to serve Malvern’s hungry tummies? Homemade pasta, veal and fish are also popular choices at the Glenferrie Road institution, Rossini Bistro.

It’s a simple, homely environment, according to Frank and Maria’s daughter, Lucy, who grew up helping in the family’s commercial kitchen.

The restaurant is packed seven nights a week and has been for 27 years.

Among the favourite dishes are the famous spaghetti marinara and pizzas large and small.

Pasta is so popular that some 90 kilos of various shapes and sizes is prepared each week for both take away customers and those sitting at paper-topped tables amongst familiar faces. In fact, Lucy says there is a loyal and regular clientele – with the odd famous personality from TV and film making an appearance.

“We treat all the customers like they are our family,” Lucy says.

“I just adore welcoming every person who comes through the door and serving them beautiful food.”

Diners often start with bruschetta, minestrone or Pepata di Cozze – a casserole of mussels with white wine and garlic.

About 20 types of pasta are on the menu including lasagna, penne, ravioli, tortellini and spaghetti. Seafood dishes include calamari and salmon. Chicken and veal dishes also feature. Customers can BYO their favourite wine.

Children are warmly welcomed and enjoy the pizza as much as the desserts like panna cotto, gelati and Bacio.

If you are keen to enjoy old-style, Italian hospitality, there could hardly be a more authentic experience. As Lucy says, Rossini is an institution on Glenferrie Road. Customers enjoy the comfort of arriving to the Fera family welcome. Soon they have pulled up a wooden chair and are enjoy a generous meal in a homely setting.

“Malvern is such a lovely and friendly area. It’s quiet and safe. We are good mates with all the businesses around here. We all look out for each other.”

With world-class pizza coming out of the Rossini ovens, there is no reason to travel back to Frank’s original stomping ground where he introduced pizza all those years ago in Carlton. Malvern has its very own master chef. Perhaps even its own national treasure.

Thomson is a real estate agency on the corner of Glenferrie Road and High Street, opposite the Malvern Town Hall. This third generation-owned business has been in Malvern since 1980. Managing director, John Chartres, looks back on 44 years with the company and celebrates the lively nature of this local shopping precinct. There is no better location for his business, he says, thanks to the stable, village-like atmosphere of locals doing their weekly shopping.

Over the years, John has helped hundreds of families buy their own homes in the area and to then invest in property portfolios. “Malvern is simply amazing. People come here and stay for 20 years. There’s easy access to the city and the best schools in Melbourne are on your doorstep.

“Kids can play footy out the front of their house and neighbours still have barbeques together or pop in for a visit,” he says.

The boutique agency of 15 people specialises in personalised care of investment portfolios, helping their clients develop wealth over the years.

John recently took a client full-circle after helping him buy a service station and adjoining shops in 1979. The Stanhope Street property was recently sold for an excellent price after judicious separation of the sites to maximise profit.

In another memorable moment, John helped a son sell the family home in St George’s Road, Toorak, which was, as it happens, John’s first sale 40 years ago. During four decades, John worked with the family to invest and grow their investment portfolio. “We achieved an enormous price and the son was very grateful. It’s those moments that make my job so satisfying.”

One of John’s more unusual clients, an opera singer, needed to test the acoustics of each property she inspected. “She had to have a big sing in each room before she would consider buying the house.”

As the market changes – for example with legal battles over airbnb in residential apartments and the rezoning of land to accommodate apartment blocks – John is constantly advising clients on their investments. “I need to keep abreast of changes. Recently, we’ve seen land on busy roads be rezoned so with the stroke of a pen, land value has jumped from $2500 per square metre to $4000. It’s exciting to be able to advise my clients and to see them profit.”