Daylesford village life

In Daylesford's main shopping precinct, it's hard to miss the influence of Jim and Dianne Frangos. On the corner of Vincent Street, the main drag, and Central Springs Road, their gourmet and retail emporium – it incorporates the casual bohemian eatery Koukla, fine-dining restaurant Frangos & Frangos, and the upmarket fashion and homewares store, Frangos Collection – is a tribute to how much this small country town has grown.

Cafe culture is a big part of Vincent Street, and for a hearty breakfast in a laidback space, you can't go past Breakfast & Beer. The roasted mushrooms with soft goats cheese, lemon and parsley served on warm focaccia will fuel you for the shopping ahead. (You might also want to go back for a refreshing ale when the day is done.)

Stylish shopping
To treat yourself or someone special, visit Ex Libris Prints, with its gorgeous range of photographs, books, homewares and, of course, historic prints. Down the road Mimosa stocks jewellery, fashion, scented candles, precious items for the home, and cute things for little kids.

Lovers of vintage will be able to lose themselves for hours hunting through Junk Style, the collaboration of three canny retailers who've assembled a treasure trove of clothing, jewellery, books, LPs, furniture and bric-a-brac, spread over a series of huge rooms.

Art on show
Clayfire Gallery features many local artists, working in a variety of mediums. Across the road, the Pantechnicon Gallery, housed in a building that was originally a livestock auction room, shows only local makers. At any one time, you can see pieces by up to about 50 artists.

To market
On the weekend, Vincent Street really bustles. On the first Saturday of each month, the primary school turns over its ground to the local farmers' market, while every Sunday, just around the corner on the Midland Highway, huge crowds come to check out the stalls at the Daylesford Sunday Markets.