melbourne CBD restaurants

Marmelo

Restaurant

A Portuguese restaurant from a powerhouse Sydney hospo couple, with views out over Russell Street. Come for elevated takes on Iberian classics (with an emphasis on Victorian produce), then head downstairs to sibling bar Mr Mills for a nightcap.

Soi 38

Restaurant

This Thai street-food spot is a cult Melbourne fave. Brave the queues for pad krapow, aromatic boat noodles, spicy papaya salads, crying tiger (slow-cooked and grilled beef brisket), mixed Thai hotpot and more.

Silk Spoon

Restaurant

Lee Ho Fook chef Victor Liong turns his attention to flavours from central Asia, northern India and the Middle East in lunchtime salads, dumplings and rice bowls.

R Harn

Restaurant

At R Harn, the duo behind beloved Thai restaurant Soi 38 have turned their attention to the Malay-influenced cuisine of southern Thailand. Come for stir-fries, dry curries and familiar noodle dishes with a southern spin.

Askal

Restaurant

A team of seasoned hospo pros, including ex-Lume and Sunda chef John Rivera, are behind this unadultered Filipino restaurant. Try elevated takes on Filipino mainstays including sisig, lechon and halo-halo.

Doju

Restaurant

Here, owner-chef Mika Chae (a distant relative of chef Jung Eun Chae) draws inspiration from top Korean restaurants and modern Australian fare. Come for marron with garlic butter, or Korean hwae (a Jeju Island-style raw fish dish).

Ceree

Restaurant

Ceree shows that Filipino food is more than just adobo. Hit this homey cafe, restaurant and pantry for classic Filipino dishes, like silog – a Filipino breakfast of garlic fried rice, fried egg and sides like pork sausage and adobo.

Bossa Nova Sushi

Restaurant

Two of Melbourne's top hospitality players are behind this not-so-average sushi train. Come and pluck plates of tuna nigiri, seared bonito and eggplant agebitashi as they travel around a 28-seat train.

Ronin Omakase

Restaurant

Book well in advance for this 10-seat omakase spot, which breaks all the right rules of Japanese cuisine. The nigiri-focused menu mixes in Italian and Malaysian flavours, and includes a rare omakase cocktail pairing.

Bistrot Bisou

Restaurant

This is top Sydney chef Luke Mangan’s love letter to French cuisine. Enjoy New Zealand salmon cold-smoked in-house and a Calvados-soaked apple tarte tatin alongside a French-inspired cocktail list with eight Martinis.

Morena

Restaurant

This slick restaurant and wine bar, by the Farmer’s Daughters chef, was decades in the making. Come for ceviche with a spicy Peruvian citrus-based marinade and Venezuelan spanner crab arepas served in a Tulum-inspired space.

Reed House

Restaurant

Inside an old bluestone home, two Ottolenghi-cred chefs are having fun with old-school British recipes. Think ramen Scotch eggs, Welsh rarebit crumpets and Yorkshire tea punch cocktails.

Sot Dining

Restaurant

Showing that Korean food is more than just barbeque. At Sot, an ex-Nobu chef serves inventive spins on Korean classics – like K-style beef tartare, ceviche in chilled gochujang broth and a panna cotta spin-off.

Gimlet at Cavendish House

Restaurant

Andrew McConnell's signature flair is all over this grand bar and dining room, from the exacting service to the comforting European dishes. It’s named after the classic cocktail, and the calibre of drinks here speaks to that. You’ll find us at the marble bar, Gimlet in hand.

Maison Batard

Restaurant

This sprawling four-level dining destination is where you’ll find a supper club, terrace bar and silver service French restaurant offering lighter takes on French bistro classics.

Trattoria Emilia

Restaurant

Taking cues from northern Italian trattorias, Emilia has you covered for all occasions, from casual pasta and tigelle lunches to long and luxurious dinners.

Romanello

Restaurant

Pop into this nostalgic store for crisp and fluffy pizza by the slice, topped with produce from Queen Victoria Market next door. Don’t miss the crowd-favourite chicken schnitzel sanga with homemade pistachio pesto.

Embla

Restaurant

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.

Miss Mi

Restaurant

A swish restaurant inside the Mövenpick Hotel exploring the future of Asian-Australian dining. Led by a former Longrain chef, it's serving Vegemite-glazed kangaroo skewers and Sri Lankan custard with native sorrel. And at the bar, Pandan Coladas and a rotating selection of street snacks.

Mamasita

Restaurant

There were Mexican restaurants before Mamasita, but it was the first one to bring a faithful representation to Melbourne. The “hot babe” has been around since 2010, but its grilled corn and flavoursome tacos still attract queues.

Dodee Paidang Little Collins Street

Restaurant

Descend to the sprawling and busy basement for a menu that honours classic Thai food including pad thai, whole fish soup, seafood platters, papaya salads and plates of barbequed meat.

Juni

Restaurant

From acclaimed chef Michael Lambie comes this fun pan-Asian diner and cocktail bar. Come with a group and tackle classic Asian dishes, Lambie originals and cocktails riffing on Southeast Asian desserts.

Aru

Restaurant

This sultry sibling to Sunda is every bit as stellar. The menu effortlessly blends Southeast Asian flavours, native Australian ingredients and ancient techniques.

Sunda

Restaurant

At this cool laneway diner, you’ll find many Southeast Asian flavours in thoughtful, nuanced, high-definition dishes. Creations like Sydney rock oysters with tomato sambar and moringa beans add an unmistakeable local accent.

Supernormal

Restaurant

Beautifully executed Japanese (and other east Asian cuisines) by celebrated chef Andrew McConnell. Come for Melbourne's most famous lobster roll, steaming bowls of ramen at lunch, Korean-style barbequed meats and Shanghai dumplings.

Lee Ho Fook

Restaurant

From the mind of acclaimed chef Victor Liong, this diner reimagines traditional Chinese flavours through a refined modern lens. Look for it down a graffiti-covered alley off Flinders Lane.

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.

Grill Americano

Restaurant

Venetian elegance, New York energy and Melbourne nostalgia collide at restaurateur Chris Lucas’s lavish brasserie and grill. Settle into the grand dining room for charcoal-fired bistecca, show-stopping tiramisu, quintessentially Italian cocktails and lots of tableside theatrics.

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.

Flower Drum

Restaurant

If you’re after the gold standard for Cantonese cuisine in the city, look no further. Flower Drum’s been serving it since 1975. Its low-lit, seductive ambience and consistently impeccable service are reasons to visit alone.

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.

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.

Maha Restaurant

Restaurant

The flavours at celebrity chef Shane Delia’s opulent Maha are familiar, but they’re assembled with more finesse than your average Middle Eastern restaurant. Vibrant mezze, a must-have lamb shoulder and an affordable wine list make this a winner for group dining.

CDMX CBD

Restaurant

At this lively taqueria from the team behind Superchido, confit beef-brisket and birria tacos arrive on your table in about four minutes, warm and crisp. It’s speedy service – just like in Mexico City.

Cumulus Inc.

Restaurant

Andrew McConnell's all-day eating house combines the star chef's typically excellent food with smart interior design. While it's not his most famous venue these days, the polished service, considered wine list and inventive dishes at Cumulus Inc. are still worthy of celebration after all these years.

Pinchy’s

Restaurant

This playful eatery has a 100-square-metre open-air balcony and a tonne of oceanic snacks. Expect to use your hands.

Aunglo

Restaurant

The casual CBD diner offers a modern take on the Thai barbeque-hotpot hybrid moo kata. Find fatty pork belly, A5 Wagyu from Miyazaki and bingsu served in hollowed-out watermelons for dessert.

Il Mercato Centrale

Restaurant

Il Mercato Centrale brings the best of Italy to Melbourne’s CBD with 23 food vendors selling fresh produce, pasta and booze. Come for the shopping, then stay for a market-style lunch of pizza, piadina, gelato and more.

Hazel

Restaurant

This pared-back eatery from the Higher Ground, Top Paddock and Liminal team specialises in woodfired dishes that are unfussy, yet easily live up to the gold standard set by their other Melbourne venues.

Longrain

Restaurant

Longrain started in Sydney in ’95 and came to Melbourne a decade later. Since then, it’s been at the forefront of contemporary Thai dining here. Order a banquet and try favourites like caramelised pork belly and som tam salad.

Chancery Lane

Restaurant

Scott Pickett's take on a mod-French brasserie brings old-world European elegance to a heritage-listed CBD building. There's ritzy deep-green marble, dramatic arched windows and candelabras throughout. Start with black truffle and foie gras toasties, then move onto French-style gnocchi, and finish with a gin-and-raspberry baba.

Yakimono

Restaurant

Enter the cyberpunk facade to find Chris Lucas’s two-level Japanese diner. Watch chefs turn skewered meat over jumping flames, slurp your noodles and call it good manners (it is in Japan), and sip cocktails named after Tokyo’s neighbourhoods.

Chin Chin

Restaurant

The fiery Southeast Asian diner Melburnians and tourists have been queuing for since 2011. So why's it still such a hit after all these years? The service remains fast and efficient; the energy is always high; and Benjamin Cooper's food continues to nail that sweet spot between flavour, tradition and fun.

Kisume

Restaurant

This is one of Melbourne's best Japanese restaurants. It's certainly its most ambitious. There's a New York-style sushi bar at street level, a pumping izakaya-style basement and an upstairs private dining room – Kuro – for intimate kaiseki-style meals.

Society

Restaurant

At this sprawling restaurant by Chris Lucas, there’s an experience for just about every taste. Grab a seat at the marble bar for cocktails, sit in the chandelier-lit dining room to try the luxe European menu, or book one of the striking private dining rooms.

Sara Craft Ramen & Bar

Restaurant

Delicate broths and two-week-aged noodles are the specialty here, with styles ranging from asari clam shoyu ramen to A5 Wagyu ramen.

Tim Ho Wan

Restaurant

With 20 locations spread across Asia and Australia, this Hong Kong dumpling chain must be doing something right.

La Madonna

Restaurant

The Next Hotel's in-house diner makes a strong case for hotel dining. The menu skews Italian – with stracciatella, Wagyu bresaola, pan-fried gnocchi and a knockout Campari-glazed roasted duck. There’s also an intimate barrel room producing aged Negronis and Martinis, and a grandiose cheese-and-charcuterie cabinet.

Magic Mountain Saloon

Restaurant

A neon-lit Thai joint serving fun, modern twists on the country’s cuisine. Whether you’re here for bottomless brunch or a late-night snack, there are plenty of versatile spaces to drink and dine in. The mezzanine hosts DJs most nights of the week.

Ling Nan

Restaurant

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.

Nana Thai

Restaurant

There are still constant queues during the dinner rush at this buzzing Thai diner. The pay-off is some of Melbourne’s best (and spiciest) Thai food, including more than a dozen kinds of papaya salad, a crowd-pleasing tom yum with instant noodles and mookata, the signature hotpot-barbeque hybrid.

Khao

Restaurant

This restaurant specialises in Thai curry noodle soup khao soi. Find it topped with flame-seared salmon, Wagyu and the restaurant’s popular fried chicken. It’s also a dessert-lovers haven with Thai milk tea bingsu and more.

BKK

Restaurant

Small, lively and theatrical, this barbeque-powered Thai restaurant is a top spot to try dishes from all over the country, paired with highly complementary beers, wines and cocktails.

Marrybrown Melbourne

Restaurant

Since it first opened in 1981, this Malaysian fried chicken chain has gained a cult following around the world. At its second Melbourne spot, order sell-out spicy fried chicken, nasi lemak and its famous cheesy wedges with mayo.

Katsuretsu Co

Restaurant

Here, the couple behind well-loved tonkatsu spot Ton & Co serve crisp, golden panko-coated Japanese tonkatsu. Plus, find oyster and prawn katsu options.

Palermo

Restaurant

An Italian-influenced Argentinian spot from the team behind San Telmo and Pastuso. Expect meat and fish cooked over the asado firepit – a specialty here. The layout is a nod to a classic steakhouse, plus there are private rooms for special occasions.

Taxi Kitchen

Restaurant

A casual dining space with one of the finest views in Melbourne.

Ruby

Restaurant

This day-to-night brasserie, by two established cafe owners, has a breakfast and brunch offering that would fit comfortably at any of their other venues. But its French-style lunch and dinner menus feature steak frites and hamburgers.

Alt

Restaurant

A moody laneway pasta bar that well and truly covers the classics – think cacio e pepe pici and guanciale-studded carbonara. Yet it's by no means true to tradition, also serving bright-green seaweed pappardelle with abalone.

Di Stasio Citta

Restaurant

The CBD sequel to restaurateur Rinaldo Di Stasio's St Kilda institution goes just as heavy on the hand-made pastas. But it also throws high art into the mix, with video installations and dramatic artworks lining the walls of the restaurant’s brutalist, contemporary interior.

Grossi Florentino

Restaurant

There aren’t many Melbourne restaurants left where they’ll open the door for you, pull out your chair and fold a napkin on your lap. Impeccable service is a fine backdrop to a three-course meal of traditional Italian decadence.

Mr Ramen San Midcity Centre

Restaurant

A bastion of exemplary Hakata-style ramen in the city centre. Visit for house-made noodles, consistently excellent broths and a creation known simply as the “cocktail draft beer”. If you drink too many, do as the shop prescribes: keep calm, eat ramen.

Ombra Salumi

Restaurant

Grossi Florentino’s adjoining bar is dedicated to the craft of aging and preserving fine meats. Order platters of salumi and cheese, before a round of pizzas and Italian wine.

Ronnie’s

Restaurant

A classy Italian restaurant complete with white tablecloths, private booths, and comforting Italian fare. Order saucy, spicy vodka fusilli with whipped ricotta and breadcrumbs for mains, and baked cheesecake for dessert.

No. 100 Flinders Lane

Restaurant

The espresso machine stays on till late. But coffee’s not the prime focus at this all-day Lebanese eatery, where you can tuck into a selection of house-made hummus, cured kingfish with toum, snapper with spiced tahini, and more.

Captain Melville

Restaurant

One of Melbourne’s oldest drinking spots, this old boozer has come a long way since 1853. Inside, enjoy hearty pub grub, curries and pasta – all surrounded by lush greenery and old bluestone walls.

The George on Collins

Restaurant

An elegant all-day bar and restaurant in an iconic building.

Mesa Verde

Restaurant

This bar and restaurant inside Curtin House is all about agave-based spirits – but the food's no afterthought. Baja-style rockling tacos, achiote chicken quesadillas and Mexican doughnuts with salted espresso dulce de leche all go dangerously well with a margarita or the spicy riff on a pina colada.

Cameo

Restaurant

This sky-high bar – adjoining Atria in The Ritz-Carlton – harks back to the days when hotel bars were at their most fashionable. The elegant 30-seat spot shakes up antique cocktails using 100-year-old spirits.

The Hotel Windsor

Restaurant

One of the most renowned afternoon teas in Melbourne.

Movida

Restaurant

The restaurant responsible for igniting Melbourne's love for modern Spanish food.

Lollo

Restaurant

At the W Melbourne’s in-house restaurant, Coda chef Adam D’Sylva draws on his Italian-Indian heritage. His globe-trotting menu includes luxed-up lasagna, pasta-less cacio e pepe (a surprising triumph), and spicy duck curry. Plus, an excellent roster of theatrical cocktails.

Osteria Ilaria

Restaurant

Tipo 00’s younger sibling stretches beyond the pasta bar concept with meat and seafood dishes straight out of a modern Italian osteria. An enormous cellar below stocks Italian necessities like wine and house-cured charcuterie.

Ishizuka

Restaurant

At this elegant 16-seat Japanese fine diner, which is inside a giant paper lantern in a Bourke Street basement, you'll find one of the best kaiseki – a traditional degustation-style multi-course meal – experiences in town.

Kuro Kisume

Restaurant

Chris Lucas’s crown jewel on the top floor of Kisume presents one of the city’s most unique dining experiences.

The Waiters Restaurant

Restaurant

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.

Bar Margaux

Restaurant

Walk down the nondescript staircase and let your eyes adjust. There’s no natural light at this New York-inspired French bistro – that’s why it’s so easy to lose track of time here. It's also home to one of Melbourne's most famous late-night burgers.

Marameo

Restaurant

An Italian eatery tapping into pasta obsessions such as cacio e pepe and seafood linguine, plus protein-heavy mains. It’s designed to feel like an Italian dinner party – so gather your crew and make for the all-seasons rooftop courtyard.

Dom’s Social Club

Restaurant

A three-storey Italian joint geared for good times. Head to the first floor for a woodfired pizza feast, or up again to the public bar for lambrusco and pool. The rooftop is one of the city’s best spots to drink with a view.

Movida Aqui

Restaurant

This offshoot of CBD favourite Movida is just as noteworthy, with share-friendly Spanish plates and views out over Bourke Street. Come for refined tapas and paella alongside Spanish wines and cocktails.

Straight Outta Saigon

Restaurant

The sister restaurant to popular Vietnamese-fusion joint Hochi Mama, offering a more traditional take on Vietnamese cuisine.

+39 Pizzeria

Restaurant

The prefix for an international call to Italy is a fitting name for this tiny pizzeria (with big European energy). There’s enough pizza variety to satisfy any aficionado and an extensive antipasti selection, if you’re so inclined.

China Chilli

Restaurant

Bring a group and choose your adventure at this moody, red-lit Sichuan diner. Feast on all-you-can-eat hotpot cooked at your table. Or order go-to dishes like Sichuan lamb ribs, kung pao chicken and dan dan noodles.

Thai Tide

Restaurant

A neon-lit Thai diner serving dishes rarely seen outside the country. Order punchy betel leaf wraps, caramelly mackerel and ant larvae soup. Plus, there are lo-fi Australian wines and disposable cameras to capture your night.

Punch Lane

Restaurant

This wine-slinging laneway bar was one of Melbourne’s first. Since 1994, it’s developed a loyal following for its expansive wine list, reliable service and Euro-leaning share plates (including an off-menu Portuguese fish stew).

Bomba

Restaurant

You can choose your own adventure at Bomba. Come for tapas and imported Spanish wines at the restaurant downstairs, or escape to the fifth-floor rooftop for cocktails and DJs every weekend. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

Daughter In Law

Restaurant

A vibrant pan-Indian diner that’s proudly “unauthentic”. Sink into a plush booth for sweet-and-sour fried cauliflower, colourful thali and Tandoori-fired-pineapple cocktails before spilling out onto Chinatown after.

Grill

Restaurant

Florentino’s downstairs sibling is a casual, Tuscan-inspired steakhouse powered by a Josper grill. Grill dials down the formality and grandeur, yet retains the mothership’s passion for outstanding produce and Italian values.

Her Bar

Restaurant

Open till very late on weekends, this swish, marble-clad bar and diner is your first port of call at the five-storey Pacific House building. Come for Mediterranean-inspired plates and tapped cocktails before hitting the rooftop.

Atria

Restaurant

Led by a former Vue de Monde chef, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel’s glamorous 80th-storey restaurant eschews a set menu for the flexibility of à la carte. Come for vegetables cooked with love, a focused wine list, sharp cocktails and, of course, the views.

Salted Egg

Restaurant

Quincy Melbourne’s fun Southeast Asian diner is helmed by a former Chin Chin chef. Come for playful takes on traditional curries, stir fries and dim sum, served in a sleek dining room overlooking Flinders Lane.

Tres a Cinco

Restaurant

This lively cantina is all about home-style Mexican. Expect beef tacos exactly how they’re served in Mexico, prawn-and-chorizo tamales and a jiggly chocolate flan. Plus: eight different Margaritas and hard-to-find agave spirits.

Pastuso

Restaurant

Pastuso brings Peruvian flair with a menu of ceviche, grilled meat and plenty of pisco. The dining room is a riot of colour, but we say grab a seat at the marble-clad bar and take in all the action, Pisco Sour in hand.

Pho Thin

Restaurant

This is the first Melbourne location for one of Hanoi’s most famous pho spots. Its signature is the “stir-fried up” rare beef, with lots of garlic in a steaming bowl of broth. There’s also beef brisket, poached chicken and a red-wine pho.

Pepe’s Italian & Liquor

Restaurant

Pepe’s is a New York-inspired Italian restaurant. The space has all the terrazzo floors, plump leather booths and dim lighting you could ask for. So grab a Martini, take a seat in one of those booths and scan the menu. Clams Casino? Veal parmigiana? A hot-fudge sundae? It’s hard to go wrong.

SPQR Pizzeria

Restaurant

Pizza from a co-founder of MoVida, Pei Modern and Lee Ho Fook.

Ilza Izakaya and Snack Bar

Restaurant

This 25-seat restaurant is run by a husband-and-wife duo who met while working at Nobu. Order the signature hamburger curry udon, hibachi-grilled yakitori and salmon tartare alongside yuzu cocktails and sake.

Elchi

Restaurant

This Indian diner walks the line between classic and contemporary. Enjoy extravagant dishes from Kerala in the south to Punjab in the north-west, set amongst luxe leather booths and gold ceiling lights. Its well-loved owner also runs Masti in Fitzroy and Eastern Spice in Geelong.

Thai Town

Restaurant

This grand Thai restaurant wears a few colourful hats. It aims to bring the street food cultures of Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai to one 200-seat space. Get pantry staples such as salted egg cakes and durian crisps, or grab a seat for charred pork skewers, tom yum soup, boat noodles and Thai beers.

Khaosan Lane

Restaurant

Head down the laneway next to the GPO for Thai barbeque, towers of beer and hard-to-find bar snacks such as deep-fried duck beaks. Cocktail buckets, live music and a midnight license keep the fun vibes going all night.

Cecconi’s

Restaurant

Luxury and tradition collide at Cecconi’s, where Venetian food is the star of the show. The kitchen grows its own herbs, fruit and vegetables to use across the board, be it a seasonal risotto or garlicky seafood linguine.

Pa Tong Thai

Restaurant

At this homely restaurant, find popular Thai dishes alongside lesser-known Phuket delicacies. Bring a group and order comforting dishes like pad thai and tom yum as well as specialties including snail coconut southern curry.

Little Ramen Bar

Restaurant

Hearty ramen for all tastes – from the traditional to the adventurous. Enjoy a classic tonkotsu or spicy ramen, or customise your bowl to an equally impressive vegan or vegetarian option. Chase it all down with a frosty Sapporo.

Mensho Tokyo

Restaurant

The first Australian location for the revered global ramen chain brings its signature tori paitan soup to Melbourne's CBD. Expect lines around the block for one of its 28 seats, and be rewarded inside with six different ramen options, snacks and sake pairings.

Cambodia’s Kitchen

Restaurant

A sibling duo are behind this snug Cambodian restaurant, and they want to help Melburnians get better acquainted with dishes from their homeland. Visit for stir-fried “pin” noodles, fragrant rice-noodle soups and more, served until late.

Operator Diner

Restaurant

You know the old-school, untouched-for-decades diners dotted all over the US? This CBD spot is a slick recreation of those retro relics. Go for syrupy pancake stacks, loaded brekkie muffins and filter coffee in classic diner mugs.

Mabu Mabu Big Esso

Restaurant

Indigenous ingredients and cuisine take centre table here – particularly those from Mer Island in the Torres Strait. Enjoy the share plates, which are inspired by chef-owner Nornie Bero’s childhood. Expect buckets of chargrilled prawns, fried crocodile and juicy charred emu. There are also impressive pantry fillers – including spices, sauces and teas – to take home.

Thai Baan

Restaurant

The Isan street-food-inspired canteen attracts queues for its spicy and sour boat noodles, made from a 30-year-old family recipe, sweet pok pok noodles and traditional desserts.

Journal Cafe

Restaurant

A homely and humble lunchtime affair that spills over to dinner.

Dolly

Restaurant

Descend the art deco staircase inside Melbourne's Le Meridien hotel to find a European restaurant imbued with the glamour of yesteryear. It's all about classic European fare, from a signature beef Wellington to bombe Alaska torched tableside.

Fishpot

Restaurant

There are nearly 100 ingredients to choose from at this hotpot joint, and you’ll never lose them in the broth again – just press a button and a hotpot lift will bring all your Wagyu, fish balls and veggies back to the surface.

The French Brasserie

Restaurant

A dependable brasserie serving French classics to the suited and booted.

Tonka

Restaurant

Indian flavours are far too uncommon at the top-end of dining, an issue Tonka has been smartly redressing for years. The wine list is a cracker, but we're more partial to the smart cocktail menu and its wealth of refreshing, South Asian-inspired mixes.

Coda

Restaurant

It’s tricky to pin down Coda’s flavour-punching dishes. Modern Asian? Euro-Vietnamese fusion? Pop in pre-theatre for some scallops and a glass of wine, or do your next special occasion here. Coda is supremely versatile, and one of Melbourne’s best.

Khao Man Gai

Restaurant

Soak up one of Thailand’s most-loved street foods at this laidback, family-run restaurant. It turns out nine versions of chicken rice, including the original with tender skin-on chicken, alongside fragrant rice, cucumber and tao jiew (fermented soybean sauce). Plus, find cold Thai beers, fun cocktails and Australian wines.

Mr Ramen San Little Bourke Street

Restaurant

The sequel to Mr Ramen San's original flagship brings a condensed menu featuring all the hakata-style favourites. Order fast-served bowls of chashu-topped ramen in a silky 12-hour cooked pork broth, or a soup-less bowl of mazesoba ramen. Plus, free noodle top-ups and Japanese beers on tap. Kanpai.

Warabi

Restaurant

An intimate omakase experience from a group behind Michelin-starred restaurants. Perch at the counter for nine theatrical courses or commandeer the eight-person private dining room. Dishes might include saltwater eel, green-tea soba noodles or decadent Wagyu and foie gras katsu – all expertly paired with Japanese sake.

Stalactites

Restaurant

A late-trading Greek institution in the heart of the city. Since 1987, it's been serving traditional, uncomplicated food including fresh dips, chicken and lamb giros from the spit and a famous range of souvlaki that punters keep coming back for – regardless of the time of day (or night).

Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters

Restaurant

While sibling restaurant Farmer’s Daughters is all about Gippsland, this sophisticated eatery brings the best of the entire state’s produce to Melbourne’s epicentre. Find an interactive ingredients table, a 3000-bottle “wine library” and a terrace with river views.

Bowltiful CBD

Restaurant

The entirely halal diner specialises in Gansu cuisine from northern China. In particular, deeply comforting Lanzhou beef noodle soups with a clear, consommé-like broth and hand-pulled wheat noodles available in nine different widths.

West Lake

Restaurant

A Chinese institution, West Lake has weathered the test of Chinatown's high turnover rates for decades. There’s excellent all-day yum cha, then tasty classics like scallops in XO sauce and stir-fried vegetables until well past midnight. Late-night cravings? Satisfy them here.

Shanghai Village

Restaurant

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.

Dragon Hot Pot

Restaurant

Cheap, delicious and fun, as all great malatang joints should be. Fill your golden pot with meat, tofu, noodles and vegetables from the self-serve fridge, then bathe your spoils in hot-and-sour Sichuan-style broth.

Dainty Sichuan Hot Pot

Restaurant

Next of kin to the popular South Yarra institution.

Mamak

Restaurant

The Sydney favourite brings its famous roti to Melbourne.

Chef David

Restaurant

This 160-seater used to be a hotpot spot, but now it's a grill-yourself Sichuan restaurant. Come for sizzling skewers, whole grilled cod and dozens of side dishes.

Fancy Hank’s

Restaurant

Empty stomachs are a prerequisite at this upscale American barbeque joint. Go for the signature share platter, which might include hearty beef brisket, pork shoulder or pulled mushrooms. Pair it with the beer tasting of Australian and American lagers.

Hawker Chan

Restaurant

Fast Michelin-star food without a hefty price tag. This global chain started in Singapore’s famed hawker canteens and continues to churn out high quality classics like char siu, roast pork and crispy skin roast duck.

Miznon

Restaurant

Eyal Shani’s Israeli pita haven came to Melbourne, via Paris and Vienna.

Din Tai Fung

Restaurant

A Michelin-star global dumpling chain that started as a roadside store in Taipei. Intricacy and precision undergird the specialties here (each xiao long bao is folded 18 times). Robots deliver a fast yet impressive menu that features kung pao chicken, wonton soup, noodles, bao and pan-fried seafood.

Hutong Dumpling Bar CBD

Restaurant

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.

Butchers Diner

Restaurant

Chequerboard floors and a meat cabinet create an authentic American diner experience at this fast-casual, hole-in-the-wall burger joint. The menu honours timeless American classics like the Reuben sandwich, chilli dog and cheeseburger. More adventurous carnivores might enjoy a black pudding and devilled egg burger.

Ippudo

Restaurant

The world-famous chain has been perfecting its ramen since 1985. It’s loved for its signature hakata ramen (a rich, creamy, pork bone broth with chewy noodles) while its tonkotsu akamaru shinaji ramen is made from a 25-year-old recipe.

Shandong Mama

Restaurant

You’ll find some of the best dumplings in town in an arcade off Chinatown. Don’t let the long line deter you. The staff at this stripped back, all-day Chinese diner keep the queues moving quickly. Shandong is known for its seafood so be sure to add a plate to the order.

Lulu's Char Koay Teow

Restaurant

Owner Chee Wong quickly made his mother-in-law’s char kway teow (and the special sauce) a hot commodity. Choose one of the seven options of the popular Malaysian hawker dish (including original with prawns, and vegetarian) for a sumptuous midweek meal. No booking? No worries.

China Red

Restaurant

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.

Ruyi

Restaurant

A high-end restaurant serving contemporary Chinese fare in a Melbourne laneway. Though many of these dishes aim to elevate tradition, there’s plenty of nostalgia to be found in xiao long bao and soft-shell crab.

Secret Kitchen CBD

Restaurant

You can’t walk past the live seafood tank – one of the largest in the city – without doing a double-take. This Cantonese joint specialises in fresh seafood and seats up to 150 people. Aside from the seafood, the rest of the menu has the usual dim sum favourites. You might eat Peking duck pancakes, fried rice in an omelette pouch, and steamed buns decorated like piglets.

The Hardware Club

Restaurant

Two childhood friends are behind this breezy upstairs Italian spot, which pays homage to the neighbourhood eateries of their hometown with textbook pastas, cacio e pepe toasties and a daily dessert that’s best paired with house-made amaro.

Movida Next Door

Restaurant

An authentic tapas experience.

Betty’s Burgers

Restaurant

Betty’s is inspired by a famous burger shack from Noosa, Queensland. And while it’s certainly not replicating that spot’s famously low prices, the no-frills burgers here are affordable and tasty. Don’t forget to order some hand-churned, frozen custard ice-cream.

Luci Restaurant

Restaurant

Hilton Melbourne's restaurant is the kind of old school, glamorous day-to-night venue that makes dining out feel like an event. The modern Australian menu isn't shy about it's Italian influences – and the dining room alone is worth a visit.

Kirk’s Wine Bar

Restaurant

A charming bar from the City Wine Shop team. There are few places in town that manage to balance new-world informality with old-world sophistication, but Kirk’s pulls it off with aplomb. Like the wine list, the European-influenced menu has something for everyone.

Pizza Pizza Pizza

Restaurant

New York-style pizzas out front; one of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets out back. Once you’ve finished a slice or two, push past the black curtain at the end of the dining room to find a comfy, sitting-room-only bar specialising in classic cocktails.

Freyja

Restaurant

An upmarket New Nordic restaurant occupying two levels of Collins Street’s Gothic 1880s Olderfleet building. Stop by when the sun is up for various smorrebrod, or Scandi open sandwiches. Later on, you’ll find standout savoury waffles, not-your-average beef tartare and other dishes where simplicity tempers innovation.

Rosa’s Canteen

Restaurant

Rosa Mitchell’s menu is a masterclass in simple and supremely effective Italian cooking. Forget luxe imported ingredients – her unpretentious eatery in the heart of the legal district is all about making local produce sing.

Lupino Bistro

Restaurant

The retro feel – complete with macramé and terracotta accents – is part of what makes this classic CBD bistro so great. But it’s the crowd-pleasing menu of pizza, pasta and secondi that keeps diners coming back for all manner of occasions.

Il Bacaro

Restaurant

At this CBD stalwart, you'll find old-school service, a lengthy wine list and plenty of classic Italian charm. Dishes here have a Venetian focus, and include a zucchini risotto plus a signature Moreton Bay bug spaghettini. For drinks, opt for a classic Bellini or a parmesan-infused Martini.

Bottega

Restaurant

The tables at Bottega spill out onto the footpath much like they would in Rome or Florence, luring in passers-by with an energetic atmosphere. Mains usually feature produce from owner Denis Lucey’s farm, while an expertly curated wine list offers around 150 bottles from both Australia and Italy.

Il Solito Posto

Restaurant

Choose your own adventure at this cosy underground institution. If you fancy casual Italian dining, pull up a table in the cafeteria opposite the bar. For a more refined atmosphere, make your way to the dimly lit trattoria lined with bottles of vino.

Rice Paper Scissors CBD

Restaurant

Pack into this compact laneway diner for fun, shareable Southeast Asian food and cocktails mixed with the likes of lemongrass and lychee.

San Telmo

Restaurant

An Argentinean restaurant and wine bar that features a traditional parrilla barbeque.

Funghi e Tartufo

Restaurant

Situated on Hardware Lane is this outstanding player in the city’s vegan dining scene. The owner-chef riffs on nostalgic Sicilian dishes using plant-based ingredients, served in a converted 19th-century warehouse full of old-world charm.

Pelicana

Restaurant

When it landed in New York, Eater magazine named it the best fried chicken in the city. Now, it's here. It's tender, crisp fried chicken made using a method perfected over nearly 40 years.

Gami

Restaurant

Fried chicken and beer, Korean style.

Royal Stacks

Restaurant

A burger joint lovingly recreating the best of US-style fast food.

Her Rooftop

Restaurant

Five storeys up, this compact open-air bar offers fruit-forward cocktails and punchy, barbeque-driven Thai food from downstairs sibling BKK. With glass balustrades and dual retractable awnings, it’s the perfect all-weather spot to enjoy city views.

Meatmaiden

Restaurant

A bona fide meat dungeon.

Tippy Tay

Restaurant

The Garden State Hotel’s good-time Italian eatery takes its cues from the Amalfi coast. Pop in for cacio e pepe arancini, a retro dessert cart and – when you ring the doorbell – Negroni fountains delivered to your table.

Polepole Kitchen

Restaurant

An African beer and barbeque joint in the city.

Lucy Liu Kitchen & Bar

Restaurant

Dine on the best of Bangkok, Taipei and Shanghai in the glow of red neon.

Makan

Restaurant

Tasia and Gracia Seger might be reality TV stars, but their Indonesian restaurant proves their talent is definitely not just for show.

Bodega Underground

Restaurant

This dim, characterful basement serves a wide range of proper tacos until 3am every night of the week. Do you even need to know more? Okay: there are over 70 mezcals and 20 tequilas on the back bar.

Yulongfu

Restaurant

This Shanghai-style restaurant’s recipe for xiao long bao has been passed down through the family for more than a century. Get the black truffle and pork version, plus pan-fried pork buns, chicken wontons in chilli-sesame oil and more.

Farmer’s Daughters

Restaurant

This three-storey love letter to Gippsland and its produce is by Alejandro Saravia, the chef behind CBD classic Pastuso. There's a deli with house-made pastrami rolls; a suave restaurant with a focus on cooking with flames; and a greenhouse-like rooftop oasis.

Billy van Creamy Truck

Restaurant

Melbourne’s first organic gelato truck has a purist streak you can taste.

Akaiito

Restaurant

Sit at the omakase bar for robata-grilled marron with kombu butter; clam and miso soup; and fried rice amplified with Wagyu, shiitake and cod roe. All in a heritage-listed building full of original bluestone features and brooding black marble.