Must-see restaurants in Melbourne

  • Bangpop

    Melbourne

    Bangpop breathes the colour, vibrancy and flavour of Thailand into otherwise grey surrounds with its bar made from Lego and dangling filament bulbs…

  • Mart 130

    Melbourne

    A quirky location within the Federation-style Middle Park tram station, Mart 130 is a cute, sun-filled cafe that serves up corn fritters, toasted pide and…

  • Kaprica

    Melbourne

    Tucked away opposite Lincoln Sq is this intimate, rustic spot with white-linen-covered tables. You can smell the pizza from the park – try the broccoli…

  • Small Block

    Melbourne

    With salvaged service-station signage and concrete floors, plus warm and efficient service, Small Block acts as a community centre with a neighbourly drop…

  • Misuzu’s

    Melbourne

    Misuzu’s menu includes whopping noodle, rice and curry dishes, tempuras and takeaway options from the neatly displayed sushi bar. Sit outside under a…

  • Krimper Cafe

    Melbourne

    Venture down Melbourne's most picturesque laneway, lined with old red-brick buildings and potted greenery. Hidden behind a set of weathered wooden doors…

  • Bodega Underground

    Melbourne

    Melbourne's love affair with Mexican food continues apace in this downstairs restaurant wallpapered with colourful film posters. Share slow-cooked lamb…

  • Exterior of The Atlantic restaurant, Crown.

    Atlantic

    Melbourne

    'Simple sustainable seafood' is the mantra at this upmarket eatery in the casino complex.

  • People lunching on the terrace at Bistro Guillaume, Crown.

    Bistro Guillaume

    Melbourne

    Sydney’s famed Frenchman does bistro food with fine-dining flair.

  • Tiamo

    Melbourne

    Popular and packed, Tiamo is a go-to for the Aussie-Italian dining experience, but that doesn't make the food or service the best on Lygon St. There's…

  • French Saloon

    Melbourne

    Accessed via the unmarked door on Hardware Lane beside Kirk's Wine Bar, this très chic space features a zinc-topped bar all the way from France,…

  • New Shanghai

    Melbourne

    According to local dumpling experts, New Shanghai, in a flash corner of the Emporium shopping complex's food hall, serves up Melbourne's best xiao long…

  • MoVida Aqui

    Melbourne

    The vibe couldn't be more different than that of the much-loved original MoVida at this financial-district outpost. Darkened, bohemian and intimate have…

  • Trunk

    Melbourne

    Trunk's beer garden turns into a prime city-centre office-worker watering hole on Friday night, but don’t let Bryan from the marketing department put you…

  • Two Birds One Stone

    Melbourne

    Sandblasted oak stools, whitewashed timber and a wintry forest mural evoke Scandinavia at this contemporary cafe with smooth coffee and a smart, produce…

  • Huxtaburger

    Melbourne

    The southside branch of Fitzroy burger royalty, Huxtaburger is famed for its sweet brioche buns, grass-fed wagyu patties and crinkle-cut chips (best…

  • Fonda

    Melbourne

    Fun, thumping Fonda serves Mexican-with-a-twist street food. Tacos are from La Tortilleria in Kensington and the crispy prawn version with guacamole and…

  • Meatball & Wine Bar

    Melbourne

    Reflecting Melbourne's current obsession with American cuisine, this dark, smartly fitted-out restaurant serves up the ol' American-Italian classic…

  • Kaiseki

    Melbourne

    This wooden restaurant with sake bottles and Japanese lanterns is mostly casual and affordable, but what really gets people in the door is the $40 all-you…

  • Waiters Restaurant

    Melbourne

    Head down a laneway and up some stairs to step into this restaurant – and into another era. Opened in 1947, it still has 1950s drapes, wood panelling and…

  • White Mojo

    Melbourne

    If you eat with your eyes, White Mojo is your kind of cafe: the menu has been designed with Instagram in mind. The fitout – all blond wood and white…

  • HuTong Peking Duck & Dumpling Bar

    Melbourne

    This Prahran outpost of the city restaurant, known for flawless, made-from-scratch xiao long bao, also specialises in Peking duck. Other bite-size…

  • D.O.C. Delicatessen

    Melbourne

    This enticing Italian deli has everything you need for the ultimate cheese and charcuterie board, as well as Italian groceries and affordable panini…

  • Mrs Parma's

    Melbourne

    Melburnians have long adopted the humble chicken parmigiana as their own, but Mrs Parma's takes things to a whole new level with 14 types of parma, of the…

  • Dosa Hut

    Melbourne

    In an Indian eating strip in West Footscray, this place specialises in crispy pancake-like filled dosas, biryanis (baked rice dishes) and a range of Indo…

  • No35

    Melbourne

    The views of the city skyline are superb through this 35th-floor restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows (there are even memorable views from the toilets!)…

  • Abla's

    Melbourne

    The kitchen here is steered by Abla Amad, who arrived in Australia in 1954 and has since inspired a generation of local Lebanese chefs. The flavour-packed…

  • Demitri's Feast

    Melbourne

    This down-to-earth meze bar might be tiny, but it's filled with big Greek flavours. Think cauliflower 'popcorn' and slow roasts, best shared and washed…

  • Stalactites

    Melbourne

    What's not to love about a 24-hour 'souva' joint? Especially when it's been doling out late-night lamb souvlakis in Melbourne for nearly 40 years. Located…

  • Gilson

    Melbourne

    Gilson straddles the line between cafe and restaurant but misses the mark with snobby service. It's not a problem if you're just here to sip coffee and…

  • Hopetoun Tea Rooms

    Melbourne

    Since 1892 patrons have been nibbling pinwheel sandwiches here, taking tea (with pinkies raised) and delicately polishing off a lamington. Hopetoun's…

  • 8bit.

    Melbourne

    It’s unclear whether you’re in a diner or trapped inside a video game at this popular takeaway, which serves the kind of juicy burgers in brioche buns…

  • Gopals Pure Vegetarian

    Melbourne

    For the best-value veg meal in town, you can't go past this humble Hare Krishna–run institution. The food is both tasty and cheap: the 'feast plate' gives…

  • Bowery to Williamsburg

    Melbourne

    This basement deli is true to its NYC name, with bagels schmeared with the traditional (cream cheese and smoked salmon) to the local (Vegemite). It also…

  • Sugardough

    Melbourne

    This bakery-cafe smells like warm bread and a comforting hug. Order a house pie (with a daily vegetarian and vegan option), panini, simple breakfast or…

  • Grain Store

    Melbourne

    Inhabiting one of those post-industrial spaces that Melbourne does so well, the Grain Store adds a touch of class to Melbourne's downtown cafe scene…

  • Wonderbao

    Melbourne

    Wonderbao does only one thing – no prizes for guessing what. Its bao (steamed buns) range from the traditional sticky-barbecue-pork variety to oddities…

  • Los Hermanos

    Melbourne

    A casual neighbourhood taqueria that packs out on weekends, with people visiting as much for tequila in the courtyard as they are for tacos in the small…

  • Enlightened Cuisine

    Melbourne

    Every imaginable variety of mock meat (generally made from wheat gluten or soy) is on offer here, served up in traditional Chinese style, from kung pao …

  • Mesa Verde

    Melbourne

    Part of the wonderful Curtin House complex, Mesa Verde does great Mexican food to a backdrop of Sergio Leone screenings. As well as street-food dishes,…

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