9 Spots to Savour & Slurp On The Finest Oysters in Melbourne
For a shucking good time, look no further than these oyster bars in Melbourne.
There's never a bad time to enjoy this delectable bounty from the sea. Whether you prefer them natural, dressed with a classic mignonette, or something more daring, perhaps even cooked, here are the best places in Melbourne in which to enjoy them. They're best paired with a glass or bottle of wine, in case you needed any more incentive to make this your new weekend activity.
Are you ready? Go forth and slurp oysters in Melbourne in 3, 2, 1...
Claw & Tail - Seafood & Oyster Bar
Flock with the gulls to this excellent little kiosk in St Kilda. Claw & Tail is the perfect summertime spot for indulging in a dozen oysters with friends and family. Hit the beach, a tray of these freshly shucked, refreshing and juicy morsels in one hand, luscious lobster roll in the other.
20 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Hazel
The mellow, airy and beautiful Hazel is one of our favourite restaurants in Melbourne's CBD - and for good reason. Every dish served up here has been thoughtfully considered and gorgeously presented, with a strong focus on sustainability and locally grown produce. There's a reason why the oysters on the menu here are some of the best in the city too. Hazel carefully select each and every producer they work with, valuing those who prioritise sustainable methods, high animal welfare and time-honoured methods. So whether the oysters are sourced from NSW's Wapengo Organic Rock Oysters or direct from a oyster farm in Port Lincoln, South Australia, you can rest assured they'll be some of the freshest, delectably salty fruits of the sea you'll ever eat.
164 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Firebird
It's a big yes to grill-driven Vietnamese powerhouse, Firebird, where every Saturday and Sunday diners can enjoy its Endless Lunch, which includes bottomless grilled oysters served with green nuoc mam or fresh with burnt chilli vinaigrette. Adding to the deliciousness are their bottomless frites with lemongrass sate salt. The Endless Lunch also offers a flat pressed baguette with black garlic relish, squid noodles with green papaya, charcoal, free-range chicken and seasonal greens. Guests can make it more slurp-tastic with bottomless booze for $35pp.
223 High Street, Windsor
Pipi's Kiosk
There's no better way to enjoy oysters than sitting beachside, and the perfect spot is at Albert Park's Pipis Kiosk. Guests can take in the everchanging bayside vista as they enjoy Sydney Rock oysters, served alongside a vibrant rhubarb mignonette. Pipi's also has the perfect accompaniment, an Oyster Martini! It's a crisp seaside delight served wet, using Never Never Oyster Shell Gin, a dash of olive brine and Constance Fino orange bitters, and a sincere expression of the Australian coastline.
129A Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park
Omnia Bar & Bistro
Craving a leisurely lunch? Omnia Bistro & Bar has fresh Gazander oysters available with a classic mignonette dressing. Sourced from the esteemed family-owned business in Little Douglas Bay, South Australia, these Pacific oysters are a testament to Omnia's commitment to using only the freshest produce. It's a swell destination for your next date night, not only for the oysters on the menu (although hello aphrodisiac), but for its laidback but luxe approach to dining.
625 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Freyja
At Nordic restaurant Freyja, oysters are served with seasonal garnishes. This month it's rhubarb and kosho, a condiment made from green chillies to add a sour, salty and spicy zing to the beautifully fresh molluscs. We're big fans.
427 Collins Street, Melbourne
Pearl Diver
Pearl Diver is a dynamic oyster bar and bistro in the heart of Melbourne’s theatre precinct. Accompanying the incredible selection of seasonal oysters is a full bistro menu paired with a concise and highly curated wine list. So if you’re looking for a buzzy place to sit back and sip, slurp and savour some of the best oysters in Melbourne, this is the place to do it. If there's a few of you joining the party, we insist you order the oyster tower. The lobster béchamel jaffle with bisque dip won't hurt, either!
56 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Pearl Chablis & Oyster Bar
An intimate bar and dining space in Melbourne's bustling CBD, Pearl Chablis & Oyster Bar is dedicated to nature’s perfect pairing. Head on in to this gorgeous spot and enjoy the finest varieties of Chablis, paired with Australia’s freshest oysters. It's a wine connoisseur’s dream, where you can peruse the largest collection of Chablis in Australia, with over 500 wines from all over Chablis and Burgundy.
Then it's onto our favourite oceanic delights; fresh, seasonal oysters sourced sustainably from the best growers along the Oyster Coast of NSW. At Pearl, they're served chilled, grilled or au natural - and shucked on demand!
108/200 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Honorable Mention For Best Oysters in Melbourne Goes to...
Aptus Seafoods
Since 1969, Aptus Seafoods has been serving up Melbourne with extraordinary seafood. Owners Angelo and Petros, second-generation fishmongers, are now at the helm and always happy to help with advice on the right type of fish for your dish.
People come from far and wide to indulge in their freshly shucked oysters. Other top selling products include Tasmanian salmon, cooked crayfish, fresh prawns and sashimi grade tuna.
Angelo and Petro have also taken these shelled delights to the next level, with the opening of The Oyster Bar. It boasts a daily selection of freshly shucked, sustainable oysters, and is a boisterous little stall located in West Aisle that's a must for any visitor to South Melbourne Market. In even better news - it's so reasonably priced!
322-326 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
Done savouring and slurping your way around the best oysters in Melbourne and looking to escape to the coast for some more delightful seafood dining? Be sure to check out our guide to Lakes Entrance, and to the best restaurants in the Mornington Peninsula.
