Melbourne Restaurants
Melbourne has a wide range of restaurants, with a high concentration within walking distance of the city centre. Chinatown offers Chinese food as well as some Malaysian, Thai, Indonesian, Japanese and Vietnamese offerings. Head to Carlton for Italian, Richmond for Greek and more Vietnamese, and Fitzroy for cheap Asian, Turkish, Mediterranean and vegetarian food. Chapel Street and Toorak Road in South Yarra offer high-class restaurants, while St Kilda's Fitzroy and Acland streets have long been popular for their diverse array of eateries.
The restaurants below have been classed into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over A$70)
$$$ (A$51 to A$70)
$$ (A$31 to A$50)
$ (up to A$30)
These prices are based on a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, and includes tax and service. Tipping is optional.
The restaurants below have been classed into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over A$70)
$$$ (A$51 to A$70)
$$ (A$31 to A$50)
$ (up to A$30)
These prices are based on a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, and includes tax and service. Tipping is optional.
Gastronomic
Circa, the Prince
Thick pink curtains, evocative lighting and an innovative ‘modern' menu that includes exquisite seafood and game dishes make Circa a top-notch thriller in the Melbourne gourmet stakes. A constant award-winner, Circa is open for a casual breakfast and lunch, and a more formal dinner. Expect to find anything from duck prosciutto to smoked eel - for the latest menu click on the website.
2 Acland Street, St Kilda
Tel: (03) 9536 1122.
Website: www.circa.com.au
Price: $$$$
Thick pink curtains, evocative lighting and an innovative ‘modern' menu that includes exquisite seafood and game dishes make Circa a top-notch thriller in the Melbourne gourmet stakes. A constant award-winner, Circa is open for a casual breakfast and lunch, and a more formal dinner. Expect to find anything from duck prosciutto to smoked eel - for the latest menu click on the website.
2 Acland Street, St Kilda
Tel: (03) 9536 1122.
Website: www.circa.com.au
Price: $$$$
Taxi Dining Room
One of Melbourne's top restaurants, the Taxi Dining Room is light, bright and serves up plenty of sushi as well as filling Western-style meals with a Far East twist, from Atlantic salmon to roast rabbit. The dining room has the best views in Federation Square, with high ceilings sporting huge windows overlooking Southbank and St Kilda Road.
Transport Hotel, Federation Square
Tel: (03) 9654 8808.
Website: www.transporthotel.com.au
Price: $$$$
One of Melbourne's top restaurants, the Taxi Dining Room is light, bright and serves up plenty of sushi as well as filling Western-style meals with a Far East twist, from Atlantic salmon to roast rabbit. The dining room has the best views in Federation Square, with high ceilings sporting huge windows overlooking Southbank and St Kilda Road.
Transport Hotel, Federation Square
Tel: (03) 9654 8808.
Website: www.transporthotel.com.au
Price: $$$$
Vue de Monde
If you yearn for ancient French dishes, with a modern makeover, then this fine-dining venue will certainly impress with its inventive recipes prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients and great skill. The chef, Shannon Bennett, worked under Marco Pierre White in London, and he offers a truly stunning five- to fourteen-course Menu Gourmand for both lunch and dinner.
430 Little Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9691 3888.
Website: www.vuedemonde.com.au
Price: $$$$
If you yearn for ancient French dishes, with a modern makeover, then this fine-dining venue will certainly impress with its inventive recipes prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients and great skill. The chef, Shannon Bennett, worked under Marco Pierre White in London, and he offers a truly stunning five- to fourteen-course Menu Gourmand for both lunch and dinner.
430 Little Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9691 3888.
Website: www.vuedemonde.com.au
Price: $$$$
Business
Bamboo House
Shanghai, Peking and Sichuan dishes combine to make Bamboo House an eating experience that consistently gets the thumbs up. Don't miss the delicious tea smoked duck, steamed scampi in garlic sauce and Peking duck wrapped in pancakes. The atmosphere is formal rather than friendly, and the interior is splashed with traditional Chinese décor.
47 Little Bourke Street
Tel: (03) 9662 1565.
Website: www.bamboohouse.com.au
Price: $$$
Shanghai, Peking and Sichuan dishes combine to make Bamboo House an eating experience that consistently gets the thumbs up. Don't miss the delicious tea smoked duck, steamed scampi in garlic sauce and Peking duck wrapped in pancakes. The atmosphere is formal rather than friendly, and the interior is splashed with traditional Chinese décor.
47 Little Bourke Street
Tel: (03) 9662 1565.
Website: www.bamboohouse.com.au
Price: $$$
Il Bacaro
Regional Italian is the name of the game at this seductive dark-panelled restaurant, where the food has Venetian providence, and the dark, moody feel of the place is European by heart. Flickering candles, an intimate space, crisp white tablecloths and generous, delectable portions have made Il Bacaro a Melbourne institution.
168-170 Little Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9654 6778.
Website: www.ilbacaro.com.au
Price: $$$
Regional Italian is the name of the game at this seductive dark-panelled restaurant, where the food has Venetian providence, and the dark, moody feel of the place is European by heart. Flickering candles, an intimate space, crisp white tablecloths and generous, delectable portions have made Il Bacaro a Melbourne institution.
168-170 Little Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9654 6778.
Website: www.ilbacaro.com.au
Price: $$$
Trendy
Chocolate Buddha
Creative Australian-influenced Japanese organic noodles and soba dishes go down well with the hungry crowds that gather at stylish Federation Square. The tables are communal, the atmosphere is frantic on occasion, and, importantly, the food gets consistently good reviews. Try the Bloody Mary sake cocktail if you dare.
Federation Square, corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Street
Tel: (03) 9654 5688.
Website: www.chocolatebuddha.com.au
Price: $$
Creative Australian-influenced Japanese organic noodles and soba dishes go down well with the hungry crowds that gather at stylish Federation Square. The tables are communal, the atmosphere is frantic on occasion, and, importantly, the food gets consistently good reviews. Try the Bloody Mary sake cocktail if you dare.
Federation Square, corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Street
Tel: (03) 9654 5688.
Website: www.chocolatebuddha.com.au
Price: $$
Fifteen Melbourne
Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Foundation charity follows the now well tried recipe, which sees disadvantaged young people being trained by experienced chefs. Under the supervision of executive head chef Tobie Puttock, the new recruits are doing well, using the finest Australian ingredients to best effect and dishing out tasty modern Mediterranean dishes.
Basement, 115-117 Collins Street
Tel: 1300 799 415.
Website: www.fifteenmelbourne.com.au
Price: $$$
Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Foundation charity follows the now well tried recipe, which sees disadvantaged young people being trained by experienced chefs. Under the supervision of executive head chef Tobie Puttock, the new recruits are doing well, using the finest Australian ingredients to best effect and dishing out tasty modern Mediterranean dishes.
Basement, 115-117 Collins Street
Tel: 1300 799 415.
Website: www.fifteenmelbourne.com.au
Price: $$$
Mecca Bah
Expect sweet potato falafels, spicy Turkish kofte, scrumptious Turkish pizzas and velvety Turkish coffee ice cream at this casual, airy restaurant overlooking the Yarra River. Located in the Docklands, just a short tram ride from the city, Mecca Bah comes highly recommended for its good-value, yummy food and its appealing wine list.
55A Newquay Promenade, Docklands
Tel: (03) 9642 1300.
Website: www.meccabah.com
Price: $$
Expect sweet potato falafels, spicy Turkish kofte, scrumptious Turkish pizzas and velvety Turkish coffee ice cream at this casual, airy restaurant overlooking the Yarra River. Located in the Docklands, just a short tram ride from the city, Mecca Bah comes highly recommended for its good-value, yummy food and its appealing wine list.
55A Newquay Promenade, Docklands
Tel: (03) 9642 1300.
Website: www.meccabah.com
Price: $$
Budget
Café Segovia
Small and welcoming, Café Segovia is a bohemian institution serving scrummy foccacias, coffee, cakes and light meals.
33 Block Place, off Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9650 2373.
Price: $
Small and welcoming, Café Segovia is a bohemian institution serving scrummy foccacias, coffee, cakes and light meals.
33 Block Place, off Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9650 2373.
Price: $
La Porchetta
Terrific pizzas and plenty of delicious pasta and risotto dishes are the deal in this popular, buzzing Italian eatery that lacks pretentiousness. It's one of an ever-expanding chain, but its growth attests to its immense popularity.
33 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Tel: (03) 9525 3344.
Website: www.laporchetta.com.au
Price: $$
Terrific pizzas and plenty of delicious pasta and risotto dishes are the deal in this popular, buzzing Italian eatery that lacks pretentiousness. It's one of an ever-expanding chain, but its growth attests to its immense popularity.
33 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Tel: (03) 9525 3344.
Website: www.laporchetta.com.au
Price: $$
Nudel Bar
There are noodles and there are noodles. Here, they come wet, cold, 'wokked' and in broth and, just to make things more interesting, a whole range of pasta dishes come out of the kitchen too. It's a wacky mixture of Asian and Italian that works. Convenient and quick, the cheerful Nudel Bar has plenty of hearty vegetarian options and a pleasing by-the-glass wine list.
76 Bourke Street
Tel: (03) 9662 9100.
Price: $$
There are noodles and there are noodles. Here, they come wet, cold, 'wokked' and in broth and, just to make things more interesting, a whole range of pasta dishes come out of the kitchen too. It's a wacky mixture of Asian and Italian that works. Convenient and quick, the cheerful Nudel Bar has plenty of hearty vegetarian options and a pleasing by-the-glass wine list.
76 Bourke Street
Tel: (03) 9662 9100.
Price: $$
Pint on Punt
This easygoing hotel cum bistro/pub offers backpacker accommodation and cheap nourishing meals. The food goes way beyond standard pub grub, with juicy steaks, salmon tortillas, chilli mussels and warm tandoori salad on the menu.
42 Punt Road, Windsor
Tel: (03) 9510 3310.
Website: www.pintonpunt.com.au
Price: $
This easygoing hotel cum bistro/pub offers backpacker accommodation and cheap nourishing meals. The food goes way beyond standard pub grub, with juicy steaks, salmon tortillas, chilli mussels and warm tandoori salad on the menu.
42 Punt Road, Windsor
Tel: (03) 9510 3310.
Website: www.pintonpunt.com.au
Price: $
Sheni's Curries
This tiny, earthy place sees eager crowds queuing for takeaway Sri Lankan curries at lunch times and the early birds hogging the seats. Authentic, flavoursome and hot value for money.
Shop 16, 161 Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9654 3535.
Price: $
This tiny, earthy place sees eager crowds queuing for takeaway Sri Lankan curries at lunch times and the early birds hogging the seats. Authentic, flavoursome and hot value for money.
Shop 16, 161 Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9654 3535.
Price: $
Personal Recommendations
Donovans
A smart interior, oodles of soft cushions and magical sea views make Donovans a very pleasant place to taste some of Melbourne's freshest seafood. It's homely inside - but what a home! The views across Port Phillip Bay are enough to stimulate any appetite for the lip-smacking dishes being ferried out of the kitchen, from warm baked oysters and wild barramundi to organic pork chops and succulent lamb shanks.
40 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Tel: (03) 9534 8221.
Website: www.donovanshouse.com.au
Price: $$$
A smart interior, oodles of soft cushions and magical sea views make Donovans a very pleasant place to taste some of Melbourne's freshest seafood. It's homely inside - but what a home! The views across Port Phillip Bay are enough to stimulate any appetite for the lip-smacking dishes being ferried out of the kitchen, from warm baked oysters and wild barramundi to organic pork chops and succulent lamb shanks.
40 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Tel: (03) 9534 8221.
Website: www.donovanshouse.com.au
Price: $$$
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