melbourne BYO Restaurants
France-Soir
SOUTH YARRA
Open since 1986, France Soir is one of Melbourne’s pre-eminent restaurants – attracting the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger. Find classic French staples from steak tartare to margret de canard (duck breast) for mains, to crème brûlée for dessert.
Porgie & Mr Jones
HAWTHORN
Don't be fooled by the diminutive shopfront. It opens up into a bustling, multi-roomed cafe.
DOC
CARLTON
Come to this buzzy restaurant for pizza like the Italians eat: simple and brilliant combos that don’t overload the palate, with a focus on best-in-class ingredients. It can be hard to squeeze in on a busy night – that’s half the fun.
China Red
MELBOURNE
A bustling eatery tucked down a city arcade that's part of the growing Hu Tong dumpling empire. Ordering a double serve of xiao long bao (one won’t cut it) via touch screen never gets old here.
Thaiger Rabbit
ABBOTSFORD
A go-to for home-style Thai fare since 1996. Bring your crew and order familiar plates of pad see ew, Thai green curry and roti. Or beeline to the Isan section of the menu for dishes like larb and crying tiger (slow-cooked and grilled beef). Plus, family-recipe ice tea, chrysanthemum tea and coconut juice.
Jim’s Greek Tavern
COLLINGWOOD
After more than 40 years, this classic Greek spot still brims with diners most nights. It stays true to tradition with pan-fried saganaki, house-made Greek dips, lamb sliced from the gyro and hot plates of charcoal-cooked seafood.
Laksa King
FLEMINGTON
Around since 1998, this is the king of laksa in Melbourne. Find classics like Hainanese chicken rice and char kway teow, alongside aromatic curry laksas laden with seafood, roasted duck, chicken and more.
Thaila Thai
BRUNSWICK EAST
A hyperactive restaurant that serves mammoth-sized, affordable Thai food.
Tom Toon Thai Noodle Cafe
ABBOTSFORD
A budget-friendly stalwart that brims with local patrons and visitors most nights of the week. Squeeze into the cosy dining room for home-style salads, curries and hot pots. Pull a book off the communal shelf while you wait.
Shanghai Village
MELBOURNE
This double-storey dumpling house is a Melbourne institution. Follow the vast red door to find its iconic pink walls and steaming hot plates of dumplings coming from the kitchen. There’s a sizeable menu of both fried and steamed dumplings, which you might order with Shanghai fried rice and Chinese broccoli drizzled in oyster sauce.
Scopri
CARLTON
Inspired by Italy’s Piedmont region, the Scopri team plates up house-made pastas and heavy-hitting secondi such as kid goat cooked on the bone. Don’t be fooled by the starchy white tablecloths – there’s nothing but a friendly, welcoming vibe at this Carlton classic.
Pacific House Restaurant
RICHMOND
You might have seen the crimson Peking ducks hanging in the window. This affordable, bustling Cantonese barbeque and seafood restaurant is a Victoria Street institution. Rotating specials are handwritten on the wall, but don’t go past the Peking duck pancakes and char siew (barbeque pork).
Fratellino Pizzeria
SOUTH YARRA
A favourite pizza joint among the South Yarra locals.
La Svolta
HAMPTON EAST
An authentic Italian pizzeria.
Mamak
MELBOURNE
The Sydney favourite brings its famous roti to Melbourne.
Hutong Dumpling Bar CBD
MELBOURNE
Its revered xiao long bao has drawn crowds since it opened in 2008. Other favourites include spicy wonton and pan-fried dumplings. A reliable classic for no-fuss, high quality dumplings.
Ocha
HAWTHORN
We recommend you make a booking at this bustling modern-Japanese restaurant. Even though Ocha opened back in 2011, it's still to this day a difficult task to get a walk-in table here on a weekend.
Ocha
HAWTHORN
We recommend you make a booking at this bustling modern-Japanese restaurant. Even though Ocha opened back in 2011, it's still to this day a difficult task to get a walk-in table here on a weekend.
The Waiters Restaurant
MELBOURNE
Starting in the 1940s as a place for migrant waiters to unwind after a shift, this Melbourne icon still serves reliably good pastas and desserts. There’s nothing fancy here – just good wine in glass tumblers, humble family-run hospitality, and a chalkboard menu of hearty Italian classics.
Pizza Meine Liebe
NORTHCOTE
Pizza Meine Liebe (German for "pizza my love") rode in with a new wave of produce-driven pizza joints – and it’s still around for a reason. Come for thin, slightly chewy bases topped with clever combos, woodfired to perfection.
Jinda Thai
ABBOTSFORD
The Tanpapat family has been been serving Thai food for generations. They opened at this spacious Richmond warehouse in 2013, serving traditional dishes just as you’d find them in Thailand. Think boat noodles, punchy larb and pla rad prik (deep-fried barramundi with tamarind sauce).
Tavlin
CAULFIELD
Family-style Israeli cuisine in Balaclava.
Las Tapas
ST KILDA
There’s only one rule at this Spanish eatery: no cutting corners.
Pinotta
FITZROY NORTH
Sit up at the bar or outside in the heart of Fitzroy North village over an unpretentious and affordable bowl of pasta. The owner of the neighbourhood spot is a self-professed wine lover, filling out the mostly Victorian wine list with ones she’d drink herself. Better yet, you can bring your own.
Three Monkeys Place
DONCASTER EAST
Asian-tinted breakfasts and inner-city cafe vibes.
Ling Nan
MELBOURNE
Offering no-nonsense Cantonese dining in the heart of the CBD, Ling Nan has been satisfying Melbourne’s late-night cravings for around three decades. New location, same must-order XO pippies.
Afghan Gallery
FITZROY
This Brunswick Street institution is one of Australia’s oldest Afghan restaurants. Adored by locals and tourists alike, the veggo- and vegan-friendly spot is one of Fitzroy’s most essential dining experiences.
Bontempo
FITZROY
From the team behind South Yarra’s Fratellino Pizza comes a northside counterpart. Thin-crust Neopolitan pizzas are served hot and oozing from the imported Valoriani pizza oven and can all be made gluten-free. Non-pizza options include pasta and chargrilled fish.
Roast Duck Inn
BOX HILL
Look for the crisp red ducks in the window. Enter for a sumptuous feast cooked by Cantonese chefs who have more than three decades of experience. There are two dinner sittings and the restaurant is BYO.
Potluck
CAULFIELD
Here, dishes are inspired by owner Esther Sun’s childhood meals, created through her lens as a first-gen Chinese Australian. Try her mum’s signature beef noodle soup, as well as prawn toast and san choy bow.
Mirchi Indian Restaurant
KEW
This smart diner is dedicated to its owner’s northern Indian heritage and family. Enjoy classics like Amritsari fish, Punjabi-style butter chicken and paneer tikka alongside playful twists, like gol gappa (or panipuri) served in a shot glass.
Serendib
NORTHCOTE
At this Sri Lankan restaurant, the main drawcard is the colourful, affordable buffet that’s made up of more than 20 dishes. Go for aromatic cashew curry, tender Sri Lankan tempered potatoes and a made to order mango lassi.