From bustling Lygon Street to characterful city laneways and suburban legends, Melbourne is a melting pot of flavours, with influences from every corner of the globe. The city’s vibrant culinary scene sees locals and visitors alike break bread in historic arcades, on rooftops and in basements, with every cuisine on offer: Chinese hotpot, regional Italian, Korean, Thai, French – the delicious list goes on.
Home to chefs with a burning passion for their craft and a community of food obsessives, Melbourne offers you a chance to broaden your palate and take your dining experience to new heights. But where should you book first? We’ve done the hard work for you.
Best Italian restaurants in Melbourne
Hardware Club
Tucked away in the famous lane that inspired its name, The Hardware Club delivers an inspired Italian menu, serving dishes like burrata with nduja and chilli jam, gremolata and focaccia, and a ragu of the day.
Johnny, Vince and Sam’s
Run by a local comedy trio, Johnny, Vince & Sam’s feels like stepping into Nonna’s living room – if Nonna served up generous plates of handmade pasta, pizza and old-school Italian comfort food with a cheeky Melbourne twist. Add nostalgic décor, lively energy and plenty of vino, and you’ve got a ristorante impossible not to love.
Super Norma
Serving up eight generational family pasta recipes and cyclical daily specials, this cosy hole-in-the-wall spot strikes the perfect balance of flavour and a casual-cool atmosphere, with Italo-disco records on rotation 24-7.
Best French restaurants in Melbourne
Bistro Thierry
Be whisked away to the streets of Paris at Bistro Thierry, pairing fine wines with resplendent classics like French onion soup and buttery, garlicky baked snails that will have you escargot-ing back for a second helping.
Reine & La Rue
Set in the heritage, neo-gothic Melbourne Stock Exchange building, this fine dining restaurant is nothing short of opulent, with an adjoining speakeasy bar, a sophisticated French menu and an extensive wine list to match its ornate vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows.
France-Soir
With its warm, intimate setting and a menu that celebrates French gastronomy, this beloved institution is bustling from the moment it opens each day with patrons eager to try freshly shucked oysters, a rich 750g rib eye steak with bearnaise sauce and the quintessential steak tartare.
Best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne
Kenzan
Without the frills but with all the flavour, Kenzan’s authentic menu is an ode to Japanese simplicity. Expect some of Melbourne’s finest sushi, sashimi, agedashi tofu and much more, all prepared by expert chefs who trained in Japan.
Kisume
Elevate your senses over three levels at this sleek Flinders Lane restaurant, with a fine-dining restaurant on the top floor, a sushi bar with an open kitchen on the ground floor – where sushi masters can be seen slicing fresh sashimi – and an intimate basement area dedicated to an indulgent ‘hot menu’.
Mensho Tokyo
At Mensho Tokyo, it’s all about the broth. Having perfected the umami soup paramount to good ramen, the restaurant often has lines forming out the door for a taste of its creamy tori paitan broth, made from simmered chicken, seaweed and vegetables and paired with fresh noodles and a tender duck char siu.
Best Chinese restaurants in Melbourne
Flower Drum
Known for its signature Peking duck dish – brought out on an open flame and prepared with pancakes, fresh spring onion and plum sauce before your eyes – this ambient high-end restaurant is a true Melbourne icon, with decades of impeccable service and a delicious Cantonese menu.
ShanDong MaMa
Hidden away in an old shopping arcade in Chinatown, ShanDong MaMa has fed Melbourne’s dumpling obsession for decades, serving delicately wrapped parcels to please any palate. Varieties include pork and cabbage, Yu Shiang eggplant and pan-fried mackerel fish.
Best fine dining restaurants in Melbourne
Attica
Securing a table at this world-renowned restaurant may be difficult, but this Melbourne icon’s degustation menu aims to deliver not just a meal, but an experience. Attica’s talented chefs use an array of local ingredients to pay homage to our homeland’s rich culinary heritage.
Gimlet
Be transported to the glamourous 1920s in the heart of the CBD at the grand Gimlet, where you’re invited to settle into plush maroon booths for freshly shucked oysters, before indulging in dishes roasted over hot coals. The food offering is delightfully enhanced by its extensive drinks menu, with gimlets a must-order to begin.
Vue de Monde
Perched on Level 55 of Melbourne’s Rialto, Vue de monde pairs sweeping city views with an inventive tasting menu showcasing native Australian produce and modern techniques. With polished service and an ever-evolving menu, it’s a memorable fine-dining experience at the heart of Melbourne’s culinary scene.
Best casual dining in Melbourne
Soi38
Enjoy a taste of Thailand at this unassuming restaurant, hidden within the concrete walls of a multi-level carpark off Bourke Street. First opened almost a decade ago with only two items, Bangkok boat noodles and Tom Yum soup, Soi38’s menu now includes a sumptuous Thai barbecue served on a hotplate.
Bun Bun Bakery
Catch the train out to the suburbs to try the humble banh mi at one of Melbourne’s most famous Vietnamese bakeries. Bite down into a fluffy yet crunchy bread roll with all of your favourite fillings –homemade pate, roast pork and crackling, and a snappy spring onion.
Chin Chin
At 125 Flinders Lane, Chin Chin serves up a riot of South-East Asian flavours, colourful share plates and vibrant energy. Expect aromatic curries, punchy salads and dishes designed for passing around the table – all set to a lively soundtrack in one of Melbourne’s most high-spirited dining rooms.
Best brunch restaurants in Melbourne
Higher Ground
Housed in a grand heritage-listed building with exposed brick walls, this central spot screams ‘Melbourne’ – from the graffiti murals on its exterior to its meticulously crafted coffee menu and fresh take on avocado toast.
Florian
It’s worth fighting for a spot at this busy Carlton eatery – its signature breakfasts are famous for a reason. Try the eggs Florian topped with smoky braised kale, or the gravlax on toast paired with whipped ricotta and a soft egg.
Green Refectory
With all the charm of a Victorian country bakery, a legion of loyal visitors, pastries and cakes arranged along the counter and an extensive breakfast menu of eggs your way and moreish all-day burritos, this Sydney Road spot is perfect for both brunch on-the-go or a Sunday sit-down.
Discover Melbourne
Feature image: Gimlet at Cavendish House courtesy of Visit Victoria.
