Psst! Can you keep a secret? Want to know the city’s best spot to escape the madding crowd? Whether you’re about to drop from all your shop or need a queue-free lunch, head up the escalators at the quietly posh St Collins Lane shopping centre where you’ll find a food-court oasis awaits.

Neil Perry’s first Melbourne Burger Project led the way up here a few years back, but now, with the addition of the final four tenants, the stylish ‘food hall’ vision has finally come to fruition.

With good lighting, loads of greenery, an expansive terrace outside and a palette of black, tan and bronze inside with bentwood chairs surrounding generous tables, the fit-out is straight out of the cool Melbourne café playbook – which looks even more impressive in shopping centre surrounds.

Saint Dreux, however, looks straight out of Blade Runner. This coffee and katsu specialist is Japanese sleek, black-and-white sexy and singular-focus cool.

The made-to-order sandwiches arrive in an artful black box: five choices of crunchy, panko-crumbed proteins – Kurobuta pork, chicken,
egg prawn or wagyu – served between slices of crustless white bread.

Produce is good – as it would want to be at $15 for the pork and $28 for the beef – and the little hand towel the sandos are served with is an elegant touch, but the bread needs to be lighter, fluffier to warrant the price tag and waits of 15 minutes or more.

Faster fare can be found at Sushi Boto – think sushi train, but with boats. Same gimmick, just on the water. While I’ve never understood the appeal of conveyor-belt dining, it’s a fun addition and the fish and rice I tried were fine. 

A new poke place, Poke Workshop, and American barbecue joint Meat the Challenge round out the options.

Classy, clean and chilled, St Collins Lane is a find. Just don’t tell anyone about it.