The Best Restaurants in Melbourne Right Now

The best restaurants in Melbourne include Attica in Ripponlea for a special occasion, Stokehouse in St Kilda for dreamy bayside dining, Florentino in the CBD for elevated group dining, and France Soir in South Yarra for a long lunch with a French twist.

In a city that treats dinner as a competitive sport, we’ve done the legwork. This guide is where to eat in Melbourne right now, from the institutions that have shaped the city’s dining scene to the neighbourhood favourites locals guard closely. Curated by Sitchu editors and refreshed regularly, it’s the list to check before you commit to a booking.

Most Iconic Restaurants in Melbourne

Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar

Pellegrini’s remains one of Melbourne’s defining venues, not because it has changed with the city, but because it has held its shape. Since 1954, it has served espresso, pasta and ritual in equal measure, with handwritten menus, counter seats and staff who understand the value of familiarity. The late Sisto Malaspina remains central to its story, and the nature of his generosity can still be felt. Few venues carry memory this well.

Sitchu Tip: We maintain that Pellegrini’s might just be Melbourne’s finest setting for an espresso. The old-school Italian charm, the counter-side conversations, the people-watching. Make of that what you will. Order the lasagne, and when summer rolls around, the famously excellent watermelon granita. Some Melbourne traditions are simply sacred.

Suburb: Melbourne
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Solo dining, Quick bite, Business lunch

Florentino

Established in 1928, the Bourke Street institution remains one of the city’s grandest restaurant addresses, now under Edition Group’s custodianship and renewed across the Dining Room, Cafe Florentino and Cellar Bar. Beneath Napier Waller’s frescoes, the Mural Room still frames milestone lunches and elegant dinners, with Michael Greenlaw and Brendan Katich shaping menus grounded in Italian tradition and refined through contemporary technique.

Sitchu Tip: Order the iconic chocolate soufflé with your mains. It’s baked to order, so asking early means no waiting at the end of the meal.

Suburb: Melbourne
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Date night, Special occasion, Wine lovers

Flower Drum

For close to five decades, Flower Drum has set the standard for Cantonese fine dining in Melbourne. The Market Lane dining room still carries that unmistakable sense of occasion, with old-school service, silverware, pressed linens and staff who know exactly when to step in. It is a restaurant built on precision, continuity and genuine craft.

Sitchu Tip: Peking duck remains a signature for good reason, while the mud crab and sang choi bao completely justify the booking.

Suburb: Melbourne
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Chinese
Best For: Business lunch, Special occasion, Group dining

Discover our edit of the most iconic restaurants in Melbourne here.

Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Melbourne

Gimlet at Cavendish House 

Gimlet at Cavendish House is a love letter to old-world glamour, where cocktails at dusk, oysters on ice and intimate leather booths set the scene. Housed in a 1920s Chicago-style landmark on Russell Street, Andrew McConnell’s grand European dining room celebrates caviar, wood-fired meats, exceptional seafood and an impressive wine cellar. Order the namesake Gimlet, settle in beneath the glowing chandeliers and surrender to one of Melbourne’s most exquisite dining experiences.

Suburb: Melbourne
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Special occasion, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Plan ahead; bookings are snapped up weeks in advance.

Greasy Zöes

At the very end of the Hurstbridge train line, Greasy Zöes is doing something extraordinary with just eight seats, one chef and an unwavering devotion to the land around it. Chef Zoe Birch creates an unwritten, ever-changing degustation dictated by the seasons, the weather and her relationships with Nillumbik’s small-scale growers. Native grains, painstaking ferments, homegrown vegetables and exceptional local produce become exquisite little courses, each revealing something of the landscape beyond the dining room. Her partner Lachlan Gardner takes care of the wines and wonderfully personal service. Nothing is hurried, nothing is wasted, and every detail feels incredibly considered. It’s Australian dining at its most intimate, intelligent and moving.

Sitchu Tip: This is our Melbourne editor’s favourite degustation in Melbourne. Period. From Zoe’s sublime cooking to Lachlan’s extraordinarily thoughtful regional wine pairings and equally brilliant non-alcoholic program, every detail is a masterclass in hospitality. Truly sublime in every way, and worth every minute of the journey to Hurstbridge.

Suburb: Hurstbridge
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Wine lovers, Special occasion, Weekend plans

Navi

On a residential stretch of Yarraville’s Gamon Street, two-hatted Navi is one of Melbourne’s most singular dining experiences. Chef-owner Julian Hills draws on his background in ceramics, childhood spent foraging and close relationships with local growers to create an intricate tasting menu shaped by season and place. The small astonishments arrive one after another: black garlic macarons crowned with salmon roe, Clarence River prawns with macadamia and jasmine, wallaby with bunya nut, and extraordinary little desserts. Intimate, inventive and deeply connected to the Australian landscape, it’s a restaurant that could only belong exactly where it is.

Sitchu Tip: Can’t score a table at Navi? Head next door to Navi Lounge for inventive cocktails and exquisite snacks, including those famous black garlic macarons and the wonderfully indulgent ducklava with tamarillo. Walk-ins are welcome, and the cocktail flight with matching bites is a brilliant way to experience a little Navi magic without the full degustation.

Suburb: Yarraville
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Date night, Special occasion, Wine lovers

Discover our edit of the best fine dining restaurants in Melbourne here.

Best Restaurants in Melbourne for a Long Lunch

France Soir

A cornerstone of Melbourne dining, France Soir remains as relevant now as it was decades ago. The room buzzes with energy, the service moves with practised ease, and the menu stays loyal to French tradition. Steak tartare, escargots, beef bourguignon and oysters arrive exactly as they should. It is timeless, assured and still one of the city’s most reliable reservations.

Sitchu Tip: For a truly Parisian touch, enjoy a dirty Martini at one of the outdoor tables, soaking up the lively ambience and indulging in a side of people-watching.

Suburb: South Yarra
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: French
Best For: Long lunch, Weekend plans, Date night

Marion

An Andrew McConnell favourite, Marion remains one of Melbourne’s finest wine bars, with a formidable cellar and a kitchen to match. The famous flatbread with whipped fromage blanc is non-negotiable, alongside vodka pasta, mussels and beautifully handled seafood. Come summer, Spanish-inspired vermouth sessions bring salty snacks and Mediterranean spirit to Gertrude Street. From sunlit lunches to candlelit dinners, Marion rarely misses a beat.

Sitchu Tip: Anyone who’s tried Marion’s impossibly good French fries knows they might just be the best in Melbourne. Order them regardless of what else is coming. We don’t make the rules.

Suburb: Fitzroy
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Long lunch, Weekend plans, Wine lovers

Gerald’s Bar

Gerald’s Bar has moved house, grown considerably and somehow kept every ounce of its wonderfully eccentric soul. After nearly two decades on Rathdowne Street, Gerald Diffey and Mario Di Ienno have transformed a former Carlton North pub into a sprawling Lygon Street clubhouse, complete with a magnificent timber bar, blue velvet banquettes, a leafy courtyard and the familiar Michael Caine portrait watching over proceedings. There’s still vinyl spinning and excellent wine flowing, but the kitchen has found a new gear, with chefs Pete Savage and Matt Podbury turning out everything from clever bar snacks to beautifully composed seafood and French-leaning bistro dishes in the dedicated Parlour dining room.

A Melbourne original, with an exciting second act.

Suburb: Carlton North
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Long lunch, Group dining, Late night

Old Palm Liquor 

Old Palm Liquor is Brunswick East’s wine-bar-meets-grill, where retro glamour, exceptional bottles and fire-kissed cooking make a very delicious combination. Chef Almay Jordaan draws on her South African heritage, cooking over a custom-built wood-fired braai. Start with undeniably popular warm flatbread, served with toum and sumac labne, followed by baked scallops with peri-peri and mullet XO, whole flathead with garlic and lemon, or beautifully charred Wagyu with berbere butter.

The formidable wine list runs to more than 300 bottles, with minimal-intervention treasures and plenty of adventurous pours. Add golden timber, vintage charm and the hum of a packed dining room, and you’ve got a Brunswick East favourite that’s every bit as good for dinner as it is for drinks.

Sitchu Tip: If there’s a fish crudo on the menu, it’s your due diligence to order it and report back to us. We’ve yet to meet one here we didn’t love.

Suburb: Brunswick East
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Date night, Group dining, Late night

Linger longer with our edit of the best restaurants for a long lunch in Melbourne here.

Best Affordable and Casual Restaurants in Melbourne

A1 Bakery

Sydney Road would feel wrong without A1 Bakery. The family-run Lebanese bakery has fed Brunswick since 1992, with fresh khobz emerging daily alongside za’atar manoush, spinach triangles, halloumi pies and chicken tawouk wraps sharp with pickles and garlic. Shelves stacked with Middle Eastern groceries complete the picture. More than three decades in, it remains one of Melbourne’s great democratic lunches: fast, generous and gloriously affordable.

Sitchu Tip: We’re hopelessly devoted to the halloumi pie, preferably with an ice-cold can of Coke. If last night involved one martini too many, this is the breakfast of champions.

Suburb: Brunswick
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Bakery
Best For: Budget-friendly, Weekend plans, Quick bite

Shanghai Village

A cheap and cheerful Melbourne institution, Shanghai Village has been drawing dumpling devotees through its red doors for years. The Little Bourke Street dining room is busy, boisterous and proudly no-frills, with plates of fried or steamed dumplings still leaving plenty of change from $20. The menu stretches well beyond its best-known order, but this is the place for an affordable feast with friends, a bottle of BYO wine and little concern for ceremony.

Suburb: Melbourne
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Chinese
Best For: Budget-friendly, Weekend plans, Group dining

Laksa King

A Melbourne institution since 1998, Laksa King has earned its devoted following one steaming bowl at a time. The original Flemington restaurant remains a favourite for its fragrant, coconut-rich laksa, loaded with springy noodles, seafood and just the right kick of chilli. Its Glen Waverley sibling takes the same beloved flavours to the south-east, alongside a generous menu of Malaysian hawker classics. Come for the legendary laksa, stay for the roti, char kway teow and the wonderful bustle of a dining room that rarely slows down.

Suburb: Glen Waverley
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: South-East Asian
Best For: Budget-friendly, Solo dining, Quick bite

Phuoc Thanh

This no-frills Richmond bakery is an institution for pork roll lovers, with lines out the door every day of the week. Soft yet crunchy bread envelops a trifecta of savoury Vietnamese hams in their traditional pork banh mi, but their grilled pork number steps it up a notch with juicy barbecued meat laced with caramelised onions and sweet soy marinade. Freshness comes via crisp lettuce, coriander, cucumber and pickled carrot, plus a smattering of fresh chilli if you dare.

Suburb: Richmond
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Best For: Budget-friendly, Solo dining, Quick bite

Save your pennies and explore more of Melbourne’s best cheap eats here.

Best Restaurants for Bayside Dining in Melbourne

Bottarga

Bottarga‘s new Bay Street dining room makes an impression from the first bite. Handmade pastas, beautifully handled seafood and inventive Italian cooking shine in the open kitchen, from crab spaghettini with bottarga to Peking duck cigars with foie gras snow. There’s also an extraordinary agnolotti filled with five different meats, including kangaroo and crocodile. Add an impressive wine cellar and clever desserts, and you’ve got one of Brighton’s most exciting dining destinations.

Suburb: Brighton
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Special occasion, Group dining, Date night

Donovans 

Donovans has been making Melbourne fall in love with beachfront dining for decades. Set directly on St Kilda Beach, this beloved institution feels like stepping into a beautifully lived-in coastal home, complete with roaring fireplaces, eclectic furnishings and sweeping Port Phillip Bay views. The Mediterranean-inspired menu celebrates generous, uncomplicated cooking, from Queensland leader prawns sizzling over charcoal with oregano and chilli to whole baby snapper with fresh lemon and the much-loved old-fashioned chicken pie.

Sitchu Tip: Whatever you order, save room for Donovans’ signature Bombe Alaska, served with warm chocolate sauce. It’s a gloriously old-school finale, especially when shared between two over the last of the wine.

Suburb: St Kilda
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Best For: Special occasion, Waterfront, Long lunch

Stokehouse 

Few Melbourne dining institutions command a setting quite like Stokehouse, where uninterrupted Port Phillip Bay views meet exceptional seafood and the easy glamour of St Kilda. Now entering a new chapter under restaurateur Andrew McConnell, this beloved beachfront address remains a celebration of long lunches, Champagne and beautifully handled coastal produce. Settle in for freshly shucked oysters, whole King George whiting with hand-cut chips and an excellent bottle from the cellar.

Sitchu Tip: For the best experience at Stokehouse, book a window table around sunset. Watching the sun dip over Port Phillip Bay with a glass of Champagne in hand is one of Melbourne’s great dining pleasures.

Suburb: St Kilda
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Seafood
Best For: Group dining, Waterfront, Long lunch

Find more restaurants for bayside dining in Melbourne here.

Best Restaurants in Melbourne for a Degustation

Chae

In the green folds of the Dandenong Ranges, chef Jung Eun Chae has created one of Australia’s most extraordinary dining experiences. What began in a tiny Brunswick apartment is now a coveted six-seat Korean degustation in her Cockatoo home, where centuries-old fermentation techniques, seasonal produce and condiments painstakingly aged over months and years shape every course. From delicate broths and beautifully composed banchan to house-made rice wines, the cooking is personal and profound, steeped in Korean tradition and delivered with remarkable warmth.

Sitchu Tip: With reservations allocated by monthly ballot, securing a seat is an occasion in itself.

Suburb: Cockatoo
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Korean
Best For: Special occasion, Weekend plans, Date night

Attica

Attica is unlike anywhere else in Australia, a wildly imaginative celebration of this country’s landscapes, cultures and extraordinary ingredients, told through the singular vision of chef Ben Shewry. At this internationally acclaimed Ripponlea institution, native ingredients and First Nations food traditions inform an ever-changing tasting menu that might feature crocodile ribs, finger lime and other unexpected Australian treasures. The experience is deeply personal, irreverent in places and wonderfully generous in spirit, with storytelling, humour and genuine hospitality woven through every course. This is Australian dining with something meaningful to say, and the confidence to have a little fun saying it.

Suburb: Ripponlea
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Special occasion, Weekend plans, Date night

Amaru

Behind an unassuming Armadale shopfront, three-hatted Amaru is doing some of Melbourne’s most extraordinary cooking. Chef-owner Clinton McIver turns exceptional Australian produce and native ingredients into an intricate, ever-changing tasting menu, where marron meets anise myrtle, Wagyu is paired with macadamia miso, and every course reveals another delicious surprise. The intimate 34-seat dining room feels wonderfully personal, with chefs presenting dishes and sharing the stories behind them.

Sitchu Tip: For the full experience, secure a seat at the chef’s counter and watch the artistry up close.

Suburb: Armadale
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Special occasion, Weekend plans, Date night

Dive into more of Melbourne’s best degustation restaurants here.

Best Restaurants by Cuisine in Melbourne

The Best Italian Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne’s love affair with Italian food runs deep, from iconic espresso bars to cosy trattorias, and every neighbourhood has its go-to. Carlton is the city’s original ‘Little Italy’, and while Lygon Street is the famous strip, locals know Scopri is the one worth the detour. Head into the CBD’s laneways, and you’ll find Il Bacaro and Tipo 00, while Lagotto in Fitzroy North keeps the northside well fed. For wood-fired pizza, homemade pasta and scoops of tiramisu, view our full edit of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne here.

The Best French Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne has always had a soft spot for all things French, and right now, the talk of the town is Maison Bâtard, the four-level Parisian fantasia that moves from Champagne-fuelled lunches to late-night martinis. For timeless French classics, Entrecôte in Prahran has built its reputation on steak frites with signature tarragon butter, while Bistro Sousou in Fitzroy has spent nearly two decades serving the greatest hits in a room that feels plucked from 1920s Paris. When you’re craving a French festin, you can view our full edit of the best French restaurants in Melbourne here.

Sitchu Tip: If you haven’t spent an evening at South Yarra institution France-Soir with steak frites, escargots and a dirty martini, have you even Melbourne-d? All the glorious bustle of a Parisian bistro, decades of old-school charm and not a single reason to reinvent the wheel. Some classics never lose their magic.

The Best Taiwanese Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne’s Taiwanese scene is all about night-market comfort food. In the CBD, AhMa serves grandma-level classics like popcorn chicken and braised pork rice, while Taiwan Village in Carlton is known for generous bento boxes and night-market favourites. Out in Clayton, Taiwan Yes brings the heat with mala dishes and stinky tofu hotpot for the brave. Hungry for more? View our full Editor’s picks of the best Taiwanese restaurants in Melbourne here.

The Best Japanese Restaurants in Melbourne

Snagging a seat at one of Melbourne’s top Japanese counters takes planning, but the reward is worth it. Minamishima in Richmond remains the benchmark for Edomae-style sushi, while Tomo-An in South Melbourne offers a rare six-seat kaiseki experience. Aoi Tsuki in South Yarra injects serious personality into its 12-seat omakase, and hatted Matsu in Footscray puts the west firmly on the map for world-class kaiseki. Explore our considered edit of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne.

The Best Thai in Melbourne

From car park noodle stall to Royal Lane dining room, Soi 38 is proof that Melburnians will queue for exceptional Thai food, and its legendary boat noodles still deliver. In Abbotsford, Jinda Thai fills a former sewing factory with fiery Isan flavours and tables crowded with fragrant curries, while Longrain remains a Little Bourke Street favourite for bold, aromatic dishes made for sharing. From chilli-laden feasts to deeply comforting bowls of noodles, turn up the heat with our full edit of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne.

The Best Spanish Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne’s love for Spanish food owes a lot to MoVida, the Hosier Lane fixture that set the benchmark for tapas done right. Añada brings Andalusian flavour to Fitzroy with small plates and a tasting menu built for sharing, while Tinto in Hawthorn is the neighbourhood pick for long tables and a paella. Ready to go all in? Our edit of the best Spanish restaurants in Melbourne has plenty more to share, sangria included.

The Best Indonesian Restaurants in Melbourne

Follow the smell of charcoal and banana leaf to Pondok Nasi Bakar in South Melbourne, where the smoky, rendang-filled nasi bakar is the city’s benchmark. For a taste of North Sulawesi’s chilli-loving Manadonese cooking, Kantin in Carlton serves a nasi kuning with a bit of everything, while My Asian Neighbour in Reservoir is known for family recipes that sell out fast. Bring on the sambal with our full edit of the best Indonesian restaurants in Melbourne.

The Best Filipino Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne’s Filipino dining scene is having a delicious moment. At CBD favourite Serai, fire takes centre stage, with an omakase counter giving diners a front-row seat to the action. Nearby, Askal puts an inventive spin on Filipino classics, while Fitzroy’s Palay moves from breezy weekend brunches to lively Filipino tapas by night. Discover the flavours, creativity and culinary talent shaping our full edit of the best Filipino restaurants in Melbourne.

Sitchu Tip: Don’t miss Askal’s extraordinary Oxtail Kare-Kare Doughnut, stuffed with braised oxtail, peanut curry, bagoong and black garlic butterscotch. Save room for the house-made ube cakes, too.

The Best Mexican Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne’s Mexican offering has come a long way from the supermarket taco kit. Leading the charge is Mamasita, the CBD taqueria widely hailed as the city’s Mexican trailblazer, still drawing a crowd years on, thanks to what are arguably the best Palomas in the Hoddle Grid. Out in Kensington, La Tortilleria is well worth the trip west, while Maiz y Cacao keeps the CBD options flowing. And if you like your tacos with a side of secrecy, Super Taco squeezes just 10 seats into its laneway hideaway, so get in early. Whether you’re after a quick taco fix or a margarita-fuelled night out, you can view our full edit of the best Mexican restaurants in Melbourne here.

The Best Turkish Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne’s Turkish dining scene is a feast of smoky grills, generous meze and recipes passed down through generations. In Balaclava, Tulum gives traditional Anatolian flavours a contemporary Australian accent, while Elwood’s Lezzet brings a little theatre to the table with beautiful meze and smoky Adana kebabs. Over in Malvern, family-run Nicosia celebrates Turkish-Cypriot cooking with generous plates and Nutella baklava worth saving room for. From elegant dining rooms to family favourites, explore our full edit of the best Turkish restaurants in Melbourne.

Sitchu Tip: Behind Tulum, newcomer Kismet Mezze Bar serves old-school Turkish comfort in a relaxed tavern setting. Order the house-made simit, settle into the meze and make an evening of it.

The Best Greek Restaurants in Melbourne

No menu, no rules, BYO. Collingwood institution Jim’s Greek Tavern has been doing things its own way for 50 years, serving generous banquets on the kitchen’s terms. Nearby, The Pontian Club brings a fresh perspective with ex-Gimlet chef Oscar Tan cooking over flame, while CBD stalwart Stalactites has your late-night souvlaki cravings covered. From old-school feasts to new-generation Greek dining, explore our full edit of the best Greek restaurants in Melbourne.

The Best Indian Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne’s Indian dining scene is a delicious world of fragrant spices, regional specialities and serious culinary talent. In Fitzroy North, Horn Please brings the fun with a riotous feast of street snacks, tandoor favourites and cocktails, while Tonka remains a Melbourne rite of passage for contemporary Indian dining beneath its striking sculptural ceiling. Over in Carlton North, Enter Via Laundry takes diners on an intimate journey through India’s regional cuisines, with chef Helly Raichura turning tradition, memory and remarkable ingredients into something extraordinary. Spice things up with our full edit of the best Indian restaurants in Melbourne, naan included.

Best Restaurants by Dish in Melbourne

The Best Burgers in Melbourne

Napkins at the ready! Charrd in Brunswick East has queues out the door for its smash burgers, now ranked among the world’s best, while Macgregor’s Original in Abbotsford keeps it American-style with classic combos and beef tallow fries. Out west, Good Good Burgers in Maidstone and Essendon have earned cult status with their retro diner feel. Craving chicken? Juanita Peaches in Brunswick is making waves with its fried chicken, and Chickyboi in Fitzroy is the go-to for legendary fried chicken sangas. Stack up your options with our full edit of the best burgers in Melbourne here.

The Best Pizza in Melbourne

Melbourne’s pizza game is elite, from New York-style slices to wood-fired favourites. Pizza Elettrica in Thornbury serves New York-inspired pies, while Brunswick East’s Figlia, from the Tipo 00 team, pairs sourdough bases with natural wine. Richmond’s five-level Da Bruno brings big Italian energy, and Garfield on Lygon Street adds a Japanese twist. For gluten-free diners, Shop 225 in Pascoe Vale South is Australia’s first Coeliac Australia-accredited pizzeria, with plenty of vegan options too. Grab a slice of our full edit of the best pizza in Melbourne.

Sitchu Tip: We live and die by the by-the-slice options at Slice Shop in Footscray. The mushroom is a must.

The Best Ramen in Melbourne

Slurping is not only encouraged at Melbourne’s best ramen spots, it’s practically compulsory. In Chinatown, Mr Ramen San has earned its loyal following with rich Kyushu-style tonkotsu and complimentary extra noodles, while Tokyo cult favourite Kikanbo brings its fiery miso bowls and customisable chilli heat to La Trobe Street. Fitzroy’s Ramen AKO champions delicate chicken broths, and Brunswick favourite Misoya Sake Bar delivers the deeply comforting miso ramen we crave. From silky broths to springy noodles and perfectly jammy eggs, get your chopsticks around our full edit of the best ramen in Melbourne.

Sitchu Tip: Ascot Vale’s Cafe Ogawa is the new ramen dreamboat worth crossing town for. Japanese ramen master Atsushi Ogawa brings his celebrated Yokohama-style iekei and rich tonkotsu to Union Road, complete with noodles made at his own factory in Japan.

The Best Hot Pot in Melbourne

Bubbling broths, fiery Sichuan spices and a table piled high with things to dip, dunk and devour. Melbourne’s hot pot scene knows how to put on a feast. At Panda Hot Pot in Carlton and Carnegie, dinner comes with a side of theatre, from a spectacular 1.5-tonne dragon suspended overhead at its Carlton outpost to live traditional performances. Over in the CBD, Wong’s Late Night Hot Pot keeps the Chongqing flavours flowing until 2am, while Bourke Street’s Tan Hot Pot brings its signature duck blood hot pot to the table. Gather your hungriest friends and explore our full edit of the best hot pot in Melbourne.

Sitchu Tip: Don’t leave Tan Hot Pot without ordering the brown sugar rice cakes. The mushroom broth is another favourite, especially if you’re after something a little gentler on the spice front.

The Best Pho in Melbourne

Melbourne’s best pho comes with a queue, and that’s half the ritual. Footscray is the heartland, where Pho Hung Vuong Saigon on Hopkins Street has been a lunchtime institution for years, and Phở Chú Thể (aka Uncle The’s) has been ladling out bowls since 1989, with a second shop in Richmond. For a modern take, Good Days in Brunswick keeps both vegans and beef-broth devotees happy. Chopsticks at the ready for our full edit of the best pho in Melbourne.

The Best Steak in Melbourne

Melbourne knows its way around a seriously good steak, and the world agrees. Six local restaurants have earned a place on the 2026 World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants list, led by South Yarra’s Steer Dining Room, where exceptional Australian and Japanese Wagyu takes centre stage. In Armadale, Victor Churchill pairs dry-aged perfection with an intimate 13-seat dining counter, while Chris Lucas’ Grill Americano is all marble, martinis and magnificent bistecca to the CBD. From beautifully marbled cuts to the sides worth saving room for, sink your teeth into our full edit of the best steak in Melbourne.

Best Oyster Bars in Melbourne

Melbourne’s oyster obsession is showing no signs of slowing down. On Little Bourke Street, standing-room-only Muli Express shucks every dozen before your eyes, while next-door sibling Stop Whining Seafood Wine Bar takes things further with 16 varieties and a wine list worth exploring. Down in St Kilda, The Walrus brings pour-your-own martinis, a vinyl soundtrack and plenty of seaside charm to the equation. Briny, beautiful and best enjoyed with something cold in hand, slurp your way through our full edit of the best oyster bars in Melbourne.

The Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne knows how to make vegetables the main event. At Smith & Daughters, chef Shannon Martinez continues to rewrite the rules of plant-based dining, while Fitzroy institution Vegie Bar has been feeding the city’s herbivores since 1988. Over in St Kilda, Rufio brings Latin American heat with sweet potato empanadas, wood-fired eggplant and plenty of vegan-friendly plates. And for a pub feed with a difference, Carlton’s Green Man’s Arms serves an entirely vegetarian menu with Middle Eastern influences. From date-night dinners to comforting pub classics, go green with our full edit of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne.

The Best Gluten-Free Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne’s gluten-free dining scene has never looked more delicious. In St Kilda, Rufio brings Latin American flair to an entirely gluten-free menu, while Shimbashi Soba makes its noodles fresh daily from 100% Tasmanian buckwheat. New Collingwood arrival The Freehouse is raising the bar with South American-inspired plates, golden beef empanadas and gluten-free beer on tap. Northcote’s Primo and CBD institution Stalactites both carry Coeliac Australia accreditation, while Chocolate Buddha has your next sushi-train lunch sorted. Brunching next? Our guide to the best gluten-free cafes in Melbourne has you covered.

The Best Fish & Chips in Melbourne

Nothing says Melbourne summer quite like fish and chips by the bay, preferably with salty fingers, a generous shake of vinegar and a seagull eyeing off your last chip. On the Albert Park foreshore, Pipis Kiosk brings serious culinary credentials to the humble takeaway window, while St Kilda’s Northern Soul flies the flag for proper British-style fish and chips. Third-generation fishmongers are behind the counter at Ripponlea Fish Supply, and over in Essendon, Scalable Fish-Op is giving the neighbourhood chippie a sustainability-minded shake-up. From golden, battered classics to seafood worth crossing town for, we’ve rounded up the best fish and chips in Melbourne. BYO appetite.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Best Restaurants in Melbourne

What are the best restaurants in Melbourne right now?

The best restaurants in Melbourne right now include Attica in Ripponlea for a special occasion, Stokehouse in St Kilda for bayside dining, Florentino in the CBD for grand Italian dining and France Soir in South Yarra for a long French lunch. Other standouts include Gimlet at Cavendish House on Russell Street, Flower Drum for Cantonese fine dining on Market Lane, and Marion on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy for share plates and one of the city’s most assured wine lists.

Where is the best degustation in Melbourne?

Attica in Ripponlea is Melbourne’s best-known restaurant for a degustation, with chef Ben Shewry’s multi-course menu built around native Australian produce. For something more intimate, Chae in Cockatoo serves Jung Eun Chae’s Korean-inspired tasting menu to just 24 guests a week in the Dandenong Ranges, while Amaru in Armadale offers an ever-evolving, hyper-seasonal tasting menu. Greasy Zöes in Hurstbridge seats only eight guests at a time, and Navi in Yarraville showcases foraged and native ingredients. Book well ahead, as seats at these restaurants are limited and in high demand.

Where can I find good cheap eats in Melbourne?

Melbourne’s best affordable restaurants include A1 Bakery on Sydney Road in Brunswick, Shanghai Village on Little Bourke Street, Laksa King in Glen Waverley and Phuoc Thanh in Richmond. A1 Bakery has served Lebanese manoush, pies and wraps since 1992, while Shanghai Village is a BYO dumpling institution where a plate still leaves change from $20. Laksa King is a go-to for its coconut-rich laksa and Malaysian hawker dishes, and Phuoc Thanh draws daily queues for its Vietnamese pork rolls.

Which Melbourne restaurants are best for gluten-free and vegan diners?

Rufio in St Kilda is one of Melbourne’s best gluten-free restaurants, serving an entirely gluten-free Latin menu. Shimbashi Soba in Collingwood, Northcote and Carlton North makes its noodles fresh daily from 100% Tasmanian buckwheat, while Primo in Northcote and Stalactites in the CBD are both Coeliac Australia accredited. Shop 225 in Pascoe Vale South is a Coeliac Australia-certified pizzeria with every pizza available vegan. For plant-based dining, Smith & Daughters in Collingwood, Vegie Bar in Fitzroy and the all-vegetarian Green Man’s Arms in Brunswick East are long-standing favourites.

What are the best restaurants in Melbourne with a water view?

Stokehouse and Donovans in St Kilda are two of Melbourne’s best restaurants with bay views. For something more casual, Pipis Kiosk on the Albert Park foreshore offers a takeaway fish and chips window just steps from the beach.

Where can you find the best steak in Melbourne?

Steer Dining Room in South Yarra, Victor Churchill in Armadale and Grill Americano in the CBD are among Melbourne’s best steak restaurants. Melbourne has six restaurants on the 2026 World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants list.

What are the best vegan and gluten-free restaurants in Melbourne?

Smith & Daughters in Collingwood is Melbourne’s best-known vegan restaurant, while Rufio in St Kilda serves an entirely gluten-free Latin menu. Vegie Bar in Fitzroy and Green Man’s Arms in Brunswick East are also fully vegetarian, and Shop 225 in Pascoe Vale South is Australia’s first Coeliac Australia-certified pizzeria.