THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN MELBOURNE
Melbourne’s food scene is second to none in Australia, boasting an abundance of venues that are the envy of the nation. Whatever you’re craving, Melbourne has it. With so much on offer, it can be a little overwhelming choosing where to wine and dine. That’s why we’ve made things easier for you with our expertly curated selection of the best restaurants in Melbourne, from modern Australian fine dining to hearty and comforting Italian kitchens.
What are you waiting for? Dig into our tantalising list and start planning your delectable date night.
ATTICA
CUISINE: Modern Australian fine dining
ADDRESS: 74 Glen Eira Rd, Ripponlea VIC 3185
OPENING HOURS: 6pm – 8pm Tuesday – Saturday
INSTAGRAM: @atticamelbourne
Attica is an unassuming suburban restaurant tucked away in Ripponlea. From the outside, it doesn’t shout luxury or glamour, but this modest-looking venue is anything but ordinary. Attica has been named one of the world’s best restaurants, featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table, and awarded three hats by the Good Food Guide 2020.
The dining experience isn’t about the room or its global reputation—it’s entirely about the food. Inside, moody lighting draws all focus to the table, creating a sense of theatre with every course. Chef and owner Ben Shewry delivers beautifully balanced, modern cuisine that is deeply narrative, witty, and playful, showcasing native ingredients that are often unfamiliar but linger memorably on the palate.
You can make a reservation at Attica, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, by clicking this link
GIMLET
CUISINE: Modern Australian
ADDRESS: 33 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
OPENING HOURS: Mon – Thurs: 12pm until Late, Fri & Sat: 12pm to 1am, Supper from 10pm
INSTAGRAM: @gimlet.melbourne
Set inside a grand 1920s landmark on leafy Russell Street, our cocktail bar and dining room serve old-world European charm with a distinctly Melbourne edge. Enter Cavendish House—a Chicago-style beauty reimagined by Andrew McConnell and Acme—where nostalgia meets modern glamour. It’s made for every mood and moment: quick drinks at the bar, long lunches in intimate booths, or elegant evenings in the dining room overlooking the street below.
The menu plays just as nicely, moving from oysters and snacks to generous shared mains of wood-fired meats and seafood—plus caviar, if you’re feeling fancy. Behind the bar, classic cocktails meet standout world wines in a space that feels part theatre, part refuge. European flavours, Australian produce, thoughtful sourcing, and sustainability underpin every plate, changing effortlessly with the seasons.
You can make a reservation at Gimlet, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, by clicking this link
MR MIYAGI
CUISINE: Japanese
ADDRESS: 99 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Thursday 5pm – late, Friday – Sunday 12 noon – late
INSTAGRAM: @mrmiyagimelbourne
Located in the heart of Chapel Street, Mr Miyagi is definitely one of the go to places when in Melbourne. Being one of the most innovative restaurants in the food scene, Mr Miyagi offers a casual but fancy Japanese restaurant, serving up traditional dishes with a funky, modern twist. The menu is a concise offering of fun plates designed around sharing. The Salmon Nori tacos are a must!
The dining room feels a bit like a club, with its dim lighting, loud beats and long bar, it’s more than a meal; it’s a cool and funky dining experience. With its sexy and hip decor, funky vibes, stunning drinks menu and its delicious modern take on traditional Japanese Asian Fusion cuisine, Mr Miyagi is a true all-rounder.
You can make a reservation at Mr Miyagi, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, by clicking this link
FLOWER DRUM
CUISINE: Cantonese
ADDRESS: 17 Market Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Saturday: Lunch 12 noon – 3pm, Dinner: 6pm – 11pm, Sunday 6pm – 10:30pm
INSTAGRAM: @flower_drum
To keep a restaurant at the top of its game for nearly four decades in Melbourne is extraordinary, and Flower Drum shows no signs of slowing down. Maintaining this level of consistency requires impeccable service and exceptional kitchen skills day after day.
In China, “Flower Drum” is a traditional dance celebrated for its beauty and elegance, a fitting name for a restaurant that honours authentic Asian cooking. Using the best seasonal ingredients and skilful techniques, Flower Drum delivers delicate, refined flavours that delight the palate. Sophisticated, timeless, and impeccable, it remains one of Melbourne’s finest dining experiences.
You can make a reservation at Flower Drum, one of Melbourne’s finest dining experiences, by clicking this link
FROM HERE BY MIKE
CUISINE: Modern Australian
ADDRESS: 9 Maritime Place, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3008
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Saturday: Lunch 12 noon – 3pm, Dinner: 6pm – 11pm, Sunday 6pm – 10:30pm
INSTAGRAM: @fromhere.melbourne
A love letter to the land, served on a plate. From Here by Mike marks Mike McEnearney’s first hotel collaboration—and it’s a beauty. Known for his ingredient-first ethos, low-waste mindset, cult Sydney favourite Kitchen by Mike and two acclaimed cookbooks, Mike brings his produce-driven philosophy straight to Melbourne’s heart. Think food that honours provenance, seasonality and flavour above all else.
The drinks list is a true taste of place, spotlighting 40+ Victorian winemakers alongside like-minded Australian and international producers. Expect textural whites, elegant reds, delicate sparklings, hyper-local cocktails and small-batch spirits. Recently awarded a coveted Good Food Hat, it’s a celebration of great food, warm service and relaxed energy. We’re just getting started—come hungry.
You can make a reservation at From Here by Mike, one of Melbourne’s newest restaurants, by clicking this link
SUNDA
CUISINE: Modern South East Asian / Modern Australian
ADDRESS: 18 Punch Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
OPENING HOURS: 5.30pm – late (Wednesday to Saturday), 12pm – 3pm (Saturday)
INSTAGRAM: @sunda_dining
When it comes to curries, Vegemite isn’t exactly what you expect—but Chef Khanh Nguyen thrives on surprises. His modern Asian menu pushes boundaries, blending regional flavours with native Australian ingredients in dishes designed to share. What could be chaotic becomes a triumph of imagination, with rich, bold flavours that play delightful tricks on the palate.
Designed by award-winning architects Kerstin Thompson and Figure Ground, the tiny space is tastefully minimalistic, putting the focus squarely on Sunda’s progressive cuisine. With accolades including two hats from The Australian Good Food Guide 2020 and The Australian’s Hot 50 Restaurants 2019, Sunda is one of Melbourne’s hottest dining destinations.
You can make a reservation at Sunda, one of Melbourne’s hottest dining destinations, by clicking this link
VUE DE MONDE
CUISINE: Modern Australian fine dining
ADDRESS: Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
OPENING HOURS: Wednesday – Saturday: 6pm – late, Friday – Saturday: Lunch from 12pm
INSTAGRAM: @vuedemonde
Perched high on Level 55 of the Rialto Tower, Vue de Monde is Melbourne dining turned all the way up. Helmed by celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, with executive chef Hugh Allen at the reins, this sky-high icon delivers a full 360-degree city view and a serious sense of theatre. The ever-evolving chef’s menu reimagines classical fine dining through a modern lens, spotlighting native Australian ingredients with curiosity and flair.
Inside, it’s pure drama: moody noir interiors, weathered kangaroo pelt–clad tables, river stones and twisted vines, all set against Melbourne glittering below. Add seamless service, jaw-dropping courses and a glass of Dom Pérignon above the clouds, and yes—it’s pricey, but utterly priceless.
You can make a reservation at Vue De Monde, one of the best elevated restaurants in Melbourne, by clicking this link
CODA
CUISINE: French Vietnamese
ADDRESS: 141 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
OPENING HOURS: Tuesday – Saturday 6pm – 10pm
INSTAGRAM: @codamelbourne
Located in one of Melbourne’s most iconic laneways, Coda is nestled in the heart of the city’s most dynamic culinary precinct. Coda has assembled a dedicated team with highly sought-after experience from many international and Melbourne restaurants, and since 2009 they are thrilled to have maintained One Hat in The Age Good Food Guide’s ‘Hat Awards’.
The menu includes a diverse range of Euro-Vietnamese and modern-Australian influences offering a relaxed dining experience in a converted warehouse space.
You can make a reservation at Coda, one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Melbourne, by clicking this link
CHIN CHIN
CUISINE: Australian meets South East Asian
ADDRESS: 125 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Sunday 11am – 10pm
INSTAGRAM: @chinchin
Located at the intersection of two of the cities most iconic laneways, Chin Chin is a quintessentially Australian restaurant with a South East Asian injection. Chin Chin was one of the first restaurants to purposely cultivate a dim, lively ambience. Arguably, it’s still one of the best at it.
The Chin Chin experience is based on more than just food with curated playlists by one of Australia’s most respected DJs, art exhibited on the walls by both established and emerging artists and an eclectic group of passionate wait staff who love what they do. Chin Chin has become as much a tourist destination as a local staple.
You can make a reservation at Chin Chin, one of Melbourne’s most celebrated restaurants, by clicking this link
TIPO 00
CUISINE: Italian
ADDRESS: 361 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Saturday 11:30am – 10pm
INSTAGRAM: @tipo_00
Tiny place with a big heart, Tipo 00 is a pasta bar that is the pure essence of everything that we love about Italian dining. With a tight menu focussed on excellent house-made pasta crafted by talented chefs that holds affordability and interest in equally high esteem.
This tiny outfit that only holds around 40 souls in the CBD has become an instant hit thanks to chefs Andrea Papadakis and Alberto Fava’s straightforward offering of hearty and exquisite meals that feeds not only your belly, but also your soul.
You can make a reservation at Tipo 00, one of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne, by clicking this link
KISUME
CUISINE: Japanese
ADDRESS: 175 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Thursday 5pm – 10pm, Friday – Sunday 5pm – 11pm
INSTAGRAM: @kisume_au
Kisume is a modern Japanese Restaurant from the Lucas Group that exudes, elegance, luxe and grandeur. The restaurant is unmistakeably Melbourne, but with that added New York sass. A three level concept Japanese restaurant, Kisumé includes a Sushi Bar, The Table, Chablis Bar, private dining and events.
The restaurant has a mix of incredibly passionate wait staff with impressive knowledge of the menu and Master Chefs that showcase their skill, technique and creative freedom of their Japanese Craftsmanship in each and every dish.
You can make a reservation at Kisume, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, by clicking this link
MOVIDA
CUISINE: Spanish
ADDRESS: 1 Hosier Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Sunday 11am – 2am
INSTAGRAM: @movidamelb
A little bar on a graffiti-covered lane, serving Spanish tapas and shared plates. Frank Camorra’s MoVida is the restaurant responsible for setting off Melbourne’s ongoing fixation with modern tapas.
MoVida highlights and celebrates the best of Spanish produce, technique and tradition through the lens of modern Australian food culture, highlighting the amazing produce available locally with a Spanish sensibility. With its lavish design and sassy staff, remains one of Melbourne’s best Spanish dining since the early 2000s.
You can make a reservation at Movida, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, by clicking this link
MINAMISHIMA
CUISINE: Japanese
ADDRESS: 4 Lord St, Richmond VIC 3121
OPENING HOURS: Tuesday – Saturday 5:30pm – 10pm
INSTAGRAM: @minamishimamelbourne
Minamishima is a Japanese restaurant that serves the omakase of Chef Koichi Minamishima. Tucked down a one-way street in Richmond, it’s the most intimate Japanese dining experience in Melbourne. Minamishima is one of the only omakase menus in town and using both local seafood and fish imported straight from the Tokyo fish market.
For a few hours all you think is nice thoughts about the Japanese, their culture and food. Their deep respect for tradition, purity, style, freshness and beauty. Much of what’s great here is the result of good supplier relationships and several years of meticulous planning. It’s all in the details. This is not a cheap night out in Richmond, but it is sushi as you rarely experience it outside Japan.
You can make a reservation at Minamishima, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, by clicking this link
GROSSI FLORENTINO
CUISINE: Italian
ADDRESS: 80 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Friday Lunch: from 12 noon, Monday – Saturday Dinner: 6pm – late
INSTAGRAM: @grossiflorentino
Florentino is one of Melbourne’s most iconic dining venues beginning in 1928 and has influenced the changing hospitality and food culture in Melbourne. Look no further than this fine-dining stalwart in Chinatown for flawlessly executed Italian dishes that toe the line between creative and comforting.
Grossi Florentino houses three areas, Cellar Bar, Grill and Florentino. Each venue is unique in style with a separate kitchen and menu but coherent in the values of Italian cooking and genuine hospitality. Through three generations of hard graft and some damned fine cooking they’ve cemented their place in the city’s dining history.
You can make a reservation at Grossi Florentino, one of the Melbourne’s most iconic restaurants, by clicking this link
CUTLER & CO
CUISINE: Modern Australian fine dining
ADDRESS: 55/57 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
OPENING HOURS: Thursday – Saturday 6pm – 10pm, Sunday 12 noon – 10pm
INSTAGRAM: @cutlerandco
A contemporary Australian menu served in a fine dining setting that somehow also feels casual and relaxed, Cutler & Co is the perfect example of the Melbourne style restaurant that we know and love. With service, from a team of well-drilled professionals, and a menu that champions the very best in local produce, it is among the Melbourne’s best restaurants with a clever and considered offering that never forgets flavour.
Consistently awarded two hats in the Age Good Food Guide and a collection of accolades that span over a decade, this is definitely a must-visit Melbourne institution.
You can make a reservation at Cutler and Co, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, by clicking this link
We hope you enjoyed our curation of the best restaurants in Melbourne.
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