The ethically focused Earthly Pleasures Cafe is set in a beautiful old stone building among green gardens, making it well worth the one-hour drive to Belgrave in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. We don't like to overdo it with the word picturesque, but this historic 1930s building and surrounds certainly warrants its use.

The cafe prides itself on making everything from scratch, so you know all the sauces, chutneys and sweets have been made in house using fresh seasonal produce. And, the coffee in the cups is roasted by Fitzroy-based Industry Beans.

If you feel like you need to get out of your usual environment to really get your work hat firmly on, why not head out of town a little? Take your laptop outside, make full use of the free wifi, and feel utterly refreshed (yet somehow also very productive). Homemade sweets, beer and wine are available and the 8.30am–5pm opening hours step things up a notch to "I'll stay here all day" levels.