melbourne CBD

Kafeneion

Restaurant

Two hospitality veterans are behind this small but mighty Greek diner. Order hard-to-find classics like sweetbreads and slow-cooked lamb. Plus, ultra-thick traditional Greek coffee, carafes of wines and beer.

Vue de Monde

Restaurant

Vue de Monde translates to “worldview” in French – and that’s just what you’ll get at this celebrated fine diner. Perched 55 floors above the city on the Rialto Building’s former observation deck, it boasts an impressive 360-degree vista from Docklands to the Dandenongs.

Lillian Brasserie

Restaurant

Set inside Chris Lucas’s fine diner, Society, this European-inspired brasserie retains the strong seafood focus of its sibling, but offers it in a more casual space primed for long lunches and late-night cocktails. Pull up at the bar for signature drinks and exceptional drops from Society’s peerless wine cellar.

Tipo 00

Restaurant

After all these years, moody Tipo 00 still attracts queues of people hoping for a taste of its simple yet meticulously assembled pastas. A couple of secondi and dolci also grace the menu, alongside salumi best enjoyed at the marble bar, spritz in hand. Make sure you arrive early – very early – if you don’t have a booking.

Reine

Restaurant

Gothic vaulted ceilings, stained windows and solid granite columns define this grand brasserie, in the former Melbourne Stock Exchange. Order freshly-shucked oysters from the raw bar, top-grade beef and cheese from the roving trolley.

Nomad

Restaurant

This sequel to one of Sydney’s top restaurants has the same magic, but with the distinctly Victorian spin. Descend into the smart basement for fire-driven European cuisine, plus a renowned charcuterie program.

Le Yeahllow

Cafe

The creators of a future-classic puppy cake dessert have opened their third shop in the old Black Star Pastry site in Melbourne’s CBD. Come for the signature puppy cake, plus a surrealist mandarin number and an exclusive chocolate dessert.

Hector’s Deli CBD

Cafe

Hector's Deli brings its North American-style sangas to the city suits at its fourth Melbourne site. Perch at the timber bench for signatures like the tuna melt, salad sandwich, or fried chicken potato bun. Or, opt for the meatball sub, a CBD-only special.

Bloomwood

Cafe

Among a strong selection of Asian-inspired viennoiserie, you’ll also find focaccia pizza for lunch and specialty drinks that can be served with three baby croissants on a skewer.

Koi Dessert Bar

Cafe

A Masterchef alum (and his family) is behind this popular dessert spot. Find more than 150 desserts – including cakes in flavours like pandan, coconut, mango and almond. Grab a seat by the kitchen and watch the team at work.

Ondo City

Cafe

This casual Korean eatery serves up hard-to-find dishes like yukhoe bibimbap and mandu-guk. The menu runs the full gamut of flavours and textures, from fermented and fiery to crisp, cool and refreshing.

Hareruya Pantry CBD

Cafe

Hareruya is Japanese for “sunny shop”. Here, follow the billowing, traditional Japanese noren curtain inside for takeaway bento boxes, bouncy steamed buns, egg salad sandos and experimental gelato flavours.

Apollo Inn

Bar

In a timber-panelled room that feels of another time, get ready for four types of Martini, a daily menu of shellfish on ice, and a stand-out crème caramel dessert.

Embla

Bar

Nominally it’s a wine bar, but Embla’s charms are far more profound than those two words suggest. Come here for some of the city’s best food, paired with an idiosyncratic wine list poured by staff who give a damn.

Inuman

Bar

The rooftop bar is another accomplishment from the brains behind Askal and Kariton Sorbetes. Find experimental cocktails highlighting Filipino flavours, plus snacky dishes like feijoa jam on a toasted Chinese doughnut.

Hell’s Kitchen

Bar

A late night watering hole in the middle of the city with a good laneway view.

Caretaker’s Cottage

Bar

Squeeze into this tiny, 100-year-old caretaker’s quarters for what may be Victoria’s smallest pub. Behind Tassie oak bar you’ll find Guinness on tap, a short cocktail list and British pub snacks to keep you mint.

Dessous

Bar

Lively cocktails and refined snacks are on the cards at this dark and daring basement bar. But it’s really the wine list you come here for – it’s an adventure in unfamiliar regions and varietals, and focuses on biodynamic and sustainable drops.

Pidapipo CBD

Shop

A gelataria that serves sweet brioche, has a chocolate tap and does affogato Italian style.

Kariton Sorbetes Chinatown

Shop

Find Filipino flavours at this playful dessert spot in Chinatown. Its menu is projected onto the curved, sky-blue ceiling. And it has flavours like ube (purple yam), mango float and champorado (rice pudding) – in scoops, tubs or pillowy bread buns.

Mecca Cosmetica

Shop

One stop luxury shop for makeup, skincare, haircare, body and fragrance.

Reina

Shop

Sift through archival Prada, Miu Miu, and McQueen in this light-filled sanctuary of pre-loved designer garments. It’s all expertly curated by a Melbourne-born graduate of New York’s Parsons School of Design.

American Doughnut Kitchen Melbourne

Shop

Melbourne’s first ever doughnut outlet.

Distal Phalanx

Shop

Experimental clothing for the party crowd.