Melbourne Travel Guide

Australia  #7 in Best Places to Visit in Australia and The Pacific
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What to Eat in Melbourne

Melbourne is a city of cafes. You'll find them tucked within central Melbourne's alleyways and clustered together throughout trendy neighborhoods like South Yarra-Prahran, St Kilda and Fitzroy. Try a flat white, an Australian coffee specialty that's similar to a latte but with more espresso and less milk. Popular coffee shops include Brother Baba Budan and Café Andiamo in the central business district and Two Birds One Stone Cafe in South Yarra-Prahran.

Though most of the city's residents were born in Australia, Melbourne's sizable British, Indian, Chinese, Italian and Greek communities have greatly influenced the area's culinary offerings. (In fact, Melbourne is home to the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Europe.) Three neighborhoods – Chinatown, Lygon Street (also known as Little Italy) and the Greek Precinct – specialize in Chinese, Italian or Greek shops and restaurants. As a result, you'll find an array of top-notch ethnic fare throughout the city.

For some of Melbourne's best Asian bites, head to Chinatown to eat at Rice Paper Scissors or Longrain. If you're craving Italian, consider dining at Scopri or Da Guido Melbourne la Pasta, both of which sit on or near Lygon Street. Some of the Greek Precinct's best Greek specialties are offered at Stalactites, while modern Greek fare like crab souvlaki (a kabab-style dish traditionally made with lamb) and pork-stuffed spanakopita (a savory pastry with layers of spinach, feta cheese and phyllo) can be found at Gazi Restaurant and The Press Club in the CBD. Other ethnic favorites include the Armenian-focused Sezar, the Middle Eastern- and Mediterranean-influenced Maha and the British-inspired Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.

But if you're looking for an Australian-style meal made with local ingredients like Wagyu beef, barramundi (a type of fish found throughout the country) and blue mussels, you're in luck: Melbourne offers a variety of Australian eateries. Most of the city's favorite Australian restaurants, including ezard and Eau De Vie, reside in the CBD.

Melbourne also makes some of Australia's best wine (for travelers who are 18 and older). Five wine regions – the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges – are located within 50 miles of the city. Hundreds of wineries can be found throughout these wine regions, all of which specialize in chardonnay, shiraz and pinot noir. Other wine varieties like pinot grigio and cabernet sauvignon are produced at select wineries as well.

Find the Best Restaurants in Melbourne

  • #1
    David’s Spicy Pot
    #1 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 98 reviewsTripAdvisor (98)
    $ - $$ | Chinese, Fast Food, Asian
    462 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #2
    Scopri
    #2 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 968 reviewsTripAdvisor (968)
    $ - $$ | Italian
    191 Nicholson St Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053 Australia
    Read More »
  • #3
    Rice Paper Sister
    #3 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 229 reviewsTripAdvisor (229)
    $ - $$ | Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese, Asian
    15 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #4
    Da Guido 365
    #4 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 254 reviewsTripAdvisor (254)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean
    365 Little Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #5
    Foglia di Fico
    #5 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 109 reviewsTripAdvisor (109)
    $ - $$ | Italian, European
    585 La Trobe St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #6
    Da Guido Melbourne la Pasta
    #6 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 795 reviewsTripAdvisor (795)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean
    130 Lygon St Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053 Australia
    Read More »
  • #7
    11 Inch Pizza Little Collins
    #7 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 214 reviewsTripAdvisor (214)
    $ | Italian, Pizza
    Equitable Place 353-359 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #8
    Il Cantuccio
    #8 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 568 reviewsTripAdvisor (568)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean
    209 Lygon St Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053 Australia
    Read More »
  • #9
    Hochi Mama
    #9 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1219 reviewsTripAdvisor (1219)
    $ - $$ | Asian, Thai, Fusion, Vietnamese, Street Food
    11-15 Liverpool St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #10
    Geppetto Trattoria
    #10 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 280 reviewsTripAdvisor (280)
    $ - $$ | Italian
    78A Wellington Pde, Melbourne, Victoria 3002 Australia
    Read More »
  • #11
    Dans le Noir?
    #11 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 205 reviewsTripAdvisor (205)
    $$ | International, Gastropub, Australian
    701 Swanston St Corner of Lincoln Square and Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3141 Australia
    Read More »
  • #12
    Pidapipo Gelateria
    #12 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 401 reviewsTripAdvisor (401)
    $ | Italian
    299 Lygon St, Melbourne, Victoria 3053 Australia
    Read More »
  • #13
    Harley House Bar and Grill
    #13 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 170 reviewsTripAdvisor (170)
    $ - $$ | Peruvian, Latin
    71 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #14
    Cucinetta
    #14 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 345 reviewsTripAdvisor (345)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean, European
    U 4 3 Murphy St South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria 3141 Australia
    Read More »
  • #15
    Kazuki's
    #15 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 479 reviewsTripAdvisor (479)
    $$ | European, Contemporary, Fusion
    121 Lygon St Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053 Australia
    Read More »
  • #16
    Roule Galette Melbourne
    #16 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 525 reviewsTripAdvisor (525)
    $ | French, Cafe, European, Healthy
    241 Flinders Lane Shop 2, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #17
    Rice Paper Scissors
    #17 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 2272 reviewsTripAdvisor (2272)
    $ - $$ | Asian, Thai, Vietnamese
    19 Liverpool Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #18
    Sud Food and Wine
    #18 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 195 reviewsTripAdvisor (195)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean
    219 King St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #19
    El Rincon
    #19 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 281 reviewsTripAdvisor (281)
    $ - $$ | Mediterranean, European, Spanish
    69 Victoria Street Adjacent to the Queen Victoria Markets, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #20
    Patricias Coffee Brewers
    #20 of 5,539 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 188 reviewsTripAdvisor (188)
    $ | Cafe, Australian
    Cnr Little Bourke & Little William St., Melbourne, Victoria Australia
    Read More »

Explore More of Melbourne

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