Melbourne has a reputation for being the cultural capital of Australia. With a strong emphasis on the arts and sports, there’s always something happening in Melbourne. And as with most cities that appreciate culture, the food scene is fantastic!
Melbourne is a city with personality. It’s a bit quirky, a bit edgy, and just generally cool without trying too hard. Each neighborhood has something unique to offer, making it a city that takes time to explore. After a month in Melbourne, I feel I’ve only just scratched the surface of all there is to know.
If you’re fortunate enough to find yourself in Melbourne, here are some of the best places to eat and drink in Victoria’s capital.
Table of Contents
Tip: Click the star next to “Melbourne Glutton Guide” above to view this map on your Google Maps app on your phone.
Places to Eat
18bit
When that cheeseburger craving hits, 8bit helps satisfy it with solid burgers and cheese fries.
2Bar Liberty
Strong focus on high-quality wine, beer, and spirits with bistro style food to complement.
3Bistro d’Orsay
A classic French bistro serving traditional dishes like duck confit and coq au vin. We really liked the charcuterie and steak tartare.
4Breakfast Thieves
Breakfast and brunch best described as modern Australian with an Asian flare.
5Buza Chicken
Recommended to us by a local, it’s a popular spot for super crispy and juicy Korean Fried Chicken.
6Brunswick Street Alimentari
Great spot for brunch or lunch. They also have a deli counter with sandwiches and salads for takeaway.
7City Wine Shop
Popular wine bar, bistro, and bottle shop across from Parliament. Fun place to try some interesting Aussie wines.
8Cure Bar & Eatery
Cozy bar and restaurant featuring wine, whiskey, and plates to share.
9DOC Espresso
Italian cafe and market with outdoor seating. They have a great meat and cheese board and Italian wines.
10Embla
Wine bar with great food and an interesting wine list. They do a $50 set menu lunch on Sundays and an a la carte menu the rest of the week.
11Flower Drum
Award-winning, high-end Chinese restaurant. It’s a Melbourne institution famous for both its food and service.
12Gelocchio
Some of the best gelato in Melbourne! Great selection of flavors and it’s super delicious. Try the Salted Caramel.
13Grub Food Van
Tasty food and an even better ambiance featuring an old airstream van.
14Heartattack and Vine
A European style cafe with coffee and sandwiches by day and snacks and booze at night.
15Humble Rays Melbourne
Cute cafe with creative brunch combos. Quality ingredients and friendly staff. Heads up – the kitchen closes at 3pm daily.
16Juicy Bao
A casual Chinese restaurant in Chinatown with great soup dumplings. It’s a popular spot, so there’s usually a wait.
17Kirk’s Wine Bar
Cute little wine bar and bistro. Nice place for a glass of wine with some olives or cheese.
18Laneway Greens
Lots of healthy options with ingredients that are locally, ethically, and sustainably sourced.
19兰州牛肉面Lanzhou Beef Noodle Bar
Great spot for authentic Chinese noodle soup. The braised beef noodle soup is delicious, and you can watch the noodles being hand-pulled.
20Little Andorra
Cozy bar and local hangout. They’ve got interesting wines, quality food, and vinyl spinning.
21Lune Croissanterie
Bakery focused on the art of making proper croissants, cruffins, and tasty baked goods.
22Milk the Cow Licensed Fromagerie
A cheese bar with two locations. They have over 180 cheeses to pair with wine, beer, and whiskey.
23Monk Bodhi Dharma
Vegetarian restaurant with specialty coffee and creative breakfast and brunch options.
24MoVida
The OG tapas place of Melbourne. The anchovy with smoked tomato sorbet is a must!
25Naked for Satan
A Basque-style pintxo bar with a full restaurant and bar upstairs. Grab some pintxos downstairs before heading up to the top level for bigger plates or some drinks with great views.
26Operator25
Great brunch spot with creative dishes and really good coffee housed in the building of Melbourne’s first switchboard.
27Osteria Ilaria
Modern Italian shared plates in a chic yet rustic space. Solid service, great cocktails, and interesting wine round out the experience.
28Papirica
Authentic Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancakes) made with quality ingredients and homemade sauces.
29Pidapipò Gelateria
Popular for its unique flavors. It gets busy, so the line can be quite long. Definitely worth trying, but if you’re not up for waiting, head to Gelocchio down the street.
30Proud Mary
Industrial-style cafe with all-day breakfast and coffee roasted in-house.
31Seasons Provedore
Delicious homemade pasta! Try the gnocchi (it’s properly made so it’s light and fluffy) and the pappardelle bolognese.
32Self Preservation
It’s a coffee shop during the day and wine bar and bistro at night.
33ShanDong MaMa Mini
Amazing food and the sweetest owner. We loved the lamb dumplings and spring onion pancakes, and people rave about the mackerel dumplings!
34Shortstop Coffee & Donuts
Artisanal donuts with flavors like Australian honey & sea salt cruller and earl grey & rose cake.
35Smith & Daughters
Fully vegan restaurant with really tasty plant-based food and specialty cocktails.
36Smith & Deli
A vegan deli and corner store with plant-based sandwiches, salads, snacks, and desserts.
37Stalactites Restaurant
Greek restaurant with a stalactite ceiling (hence the name) and solid gyros. Bonus: it’s open 24 hours a day.
38Supernormal
High end, Asian inspired menu meant for sharing. Great flavor combos, knowledgeable staff, and good wine list.
39Sweet Canteen
Great coffee and awesome freshly-baked desserts tucked away in an alleyway.
40Tipo 00
Popular Italian restaurant and pasta bar with a buzzing vibe and killer pasta.
Places to Drink
1Bartronica
Basement bar with craft beer, cocktails, vintage arcade games, and video games.
2Garden State Hotel
It’s a huge place with different rooms and tons of seating, so great for groups. They have wi-fi and high tables, so you could get some work done here too.
3Island Somewhere
Cool bar with board games and arcade games. Plus, there’s a secret door behind a bookcase that takes you to a hidden room with pinball and Nintendo 64!
4Madame Brussels
A kitsch bar with a garden party theme. Fun decor, a rooftop terrace, and jugs of cocktails.
5Noisy Ritual
An urban winery with a fun vibe serving wine flights in test tubes. Food is available (grazing platters or they’ll bring in pizza from Mankoushe down the street).
6Ponyfish Island
Located in the middle of the Yarra River, it’s a great spot for grabbing a drink with awesome views.
7Thunder Road Brewery
Brewing over 100 different styles of beer, they have good drinks, Nintendo 64, and pinball in a big warehouse space.
Places for Coffee
1Brother Baba Budan
Small shop with proper coffee, baked goods, and friendly baristas. They also sell specialty coffee gear and beans.
2Dukes Coffee Roasters
Small coffee shop featuring their specialty roasted beans. Limited seating and pastries available as well.
3Patricia Coffee Brewers
Known to have some of the best coffee in Australia, expect excellent coffee and baked goods in a standing-room-only shop.
4Vertue Coffee Roasters
Known for their coffee and breakfast menu, they roast specialty blends and sell take-home beans as well.
>> What are your favorite spots in Melbourne? Leave them in the comments below!
Such an international cuisine! I didn’t know much about the restaurants in Australia and have to say pretty much everything looks amazing