Melbourne has long held the title of Australia’s most exciting food capital. And anyone lucky enough to have visited this remarkable city will quickly understand why. With world-class chefs and historic establishments holding firm, Melbourne’s longstanding restaurant culture will never disappoint.
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Embla
Any out-of-towners wanting to fully grasp the true essence of Melbourne’s dining culture should have Embla on their agenda. This bustling dark-toned wine bar, with its world-class service and a drinks list highlighting the best of new and old craftsmanship, is the city’s best example of an establishment retaining its popularity without conforming to fleeting trends.
Addictive and delicious snacks like seasoned chicken-skin crisps and their signature soured cucumbers will be the perfect addition to your opening glass wine before moving on to their dinner offerings and delightful desserts. Embla is best experienced at night, with flickering flames illuminating a party atmosphere.
Farmer’s Daughters
Farmer’s Daughter is the perfect celebration of Gippsland’s seasons and the bountiful produce they provide. With seasonally driven menus specially designed to showcase the freshest regional ingredients, wines, and locally distilled spirits, you will quickly fall into a love affair with this remarkable location.
Dishes are cooked in an open campfire kitchen, using charcoal and wood to bring out the comforting country flavors of each ingredient. The establishment also features a deli on the ground floor and a greenhouse-inspired rooftop bar, complete with native plants and herbs used throughout the menu.
Attica
With internationally acclaimed New Zealand chef Ben Shewry at the helm, it should come as no surprise that Attica has regularly featured on the coveted World’s 50 Best Restaurants List, making it one of the best dining destinations on planet Earth.
Despite its high honors, it offers an adventurous yet remarkably relaxed eating experience, opting for native Australian ingredients for the majority of its meals. A multi-course tasting menu will take diners on a journey through rare and unique ingredients like finger limes, marron, and bunya nuts. Each course is specially created to reflect the rich history and culture of the local region, giving a story to every dish.
Grill Americano
Grill Americano makes dressing up for dinner fun again. With plush royal blue velvet chairs, waiters donning white jackets, and classic Martini cocktails on the menu, this fantastic homage to the grand dining rooms of New York and Paris will make you feel like royalty.
Their delicious and vast menu will present you with the hardest decision of the night: what to order. From the perfectly wood-grilled steaks and beef carpaccio to a variety of Italian classics like king prawns in a rich tomato bisque, tubes of rigatoni in a cream sauce, and fluffy focaccia with a savory green-olive butter.
Florentino
Since its opening in 1928, Florentino has significantly impacted Melbourne’s dining scene and continues to be one of the most renowned restaurants in the city. Led by accomplished chef Guy Grossi, Florentino’s menu is a love letter to Italian and Australian culture, championing locally served ingredients in classic Italian dishes.
The menu is designed to offer diners the choice of three or five courses. Its impressive wine list, featuring wines from Italy, France, and Australia, complements it well.
Flower Drum
Flower Drum may be approaching its 50th anniversary, but it remains as essential to Melbourne’s food scene as ever. It provides a masterclass in staying on trend through attention to detail, exceptional service, and innovation.
The grand dining room delivers the perfect amount of drama to your dining experience, with plush carpets, twinkling lacquer details, and a menu to match. The Peking duck is served with meticulous animal illustrations carved into the smooth plum sauce, and crunchy spring rolls ooze with a delectable saltbush lamb brisket and gravy filling. A newly added bar delivers a host of excellent cocktails and bar snacks for diners to enjoy.
Chin Chin
Chin Chin is a fantastically eclectic Southeast Asian diner located in Flinders Lane and is one of Melbourne’s most popular restaurants. It serves a variety of flavorful and experimental Thai-influenced dishes that are as dynamic as the restaurant itself, with an upbeat playlist and contemporary art lining the walls.
Most dishes are created to be shared among friends and family, with everything from spicy curries and tangy salads to flavor-packed stir fries and the ultimate barbecued meat on offer. Should you arrive at a full restaurant, simply leave your name at the door and head to the GoGo bar for a drink while you wait to be called.
Supernormal
Supernormal is difficult to miss, with bright red neon cherries shining in the window as an ever-growing queue of hungry patrons lines up outside. The very casual and contemporary restaurant is a fan favorite thanks to its pan-Asian cuisine, which is heavily inspired by Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, and Hong Kong.
From the best dumplings you will ever eat to melt-in-your-mouth Korean BBQ pork, spicy pickled veggies, and morish bowls of steaming ramen, don’t be surprised if you find yourself returning time and time again.
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