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
    Scopri
    #1 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 878 reviewsTripAdvisor (878)
    $ - $$ | Italian
    191 Nicholson St Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053 Australia
    Read More »
  • #2
    The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant
    #2 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1001 reviewsTripAdvisor (1001)
    $ - $$ | Australian
    Tramstop 125, Corner Normanby Road & Clarendon Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3205 Australia
    Read More »
  • #3
    Pidapipo Gelateria
    #3 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 341 reviewsTripAdvisor (341)
    $ | Italian
    299 Lygon St, Melbourne, Victoria 3053 Australia
    Read More »
  • #4
    Cucinetta
    #4 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 216 reviewsTripAdvisor (216)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean, European
    U 4 3 Murphy St South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria 3141 Australia
    Read More »
  • #5
    Da Guido Melbourne la Pasta
    #5 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 682 reviewsTripAdvisor (682)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean
    130 Lygon St Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053 Australia
    Read More »
  • #6
    Il Cantuccio
    #6 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 530 reviewsTripAdvisor (530)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean
    209 Lygon St Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053 Australia
    Read More »
  • #7
    Eau De Vie
    #7 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 746 reviewsTripAdvisor (746)
    $ - $$ | Bar, Australian
    1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #8
    Hochi Mama
    #8 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 986 reviewsTripAdvisor (986)
    $ - $$ | Asian, Thai, Fusion, Vietnamese, Street Food
    11-15 Liverpool St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #9
    Patricias Coffee Brewers
    #9 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 160 reviewsTripAdvisor (160)
    $ | Cafe, Australian
    Cnr Little Bourke & Little William St., Melbourne, Victoria Australia
    Read More »
  • #10
    Il Bacaro Cucina e Bar
    #10 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 437 reviewsTripAdvisor (437)
    $$ | Italian, Mediterranean
    68-170 Little Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #11
    Longrain
    #11 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1067 reviewsTripAdvisor (1067)
    $ - $$ | Asian, Thai
    44 Little Bourke St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #12
    Geppetto Trattoria
    #12 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 198 reviewsTripAdvisor (198)
    $ - $$ | Italian
    78A Wellington Pde, Melbourne, Victoria 3002 Australia
    Read More »
  • #13
    11 Inch Pizza Little Collins
    #13 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 150 reviewsTripAdvisor (150)
    $ | Italian, Pizza
    Equitable Place 353-359 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #14
    Rice Paper Scissors
    #14 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 2157 reviewsTripAdvisor (2157)
    $ - $$ | Asian, Thai, Vietnamese
    19 Liverpool Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #15
    Roule Galette
    #15 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 472 reviewsTripAdvisor (472)
    $ | French, Cafe, Healthy
    241 Flinders Lane Shop 2, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #16
    El Rincon
    #16 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 233 reviewsTripAdvisor (233)
    $ - $$ | Mediterranean, European, Spanish
    69 Victoria Street Adjacent to the Queen Victoria Markets, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #17
    Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co
    #17 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 771 reviewsTripAdvisor (771)
    $ | American, Diner
    97 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #18
    Sezar
    #18 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 919 reviewsTripAdvisor (919)
    $ - $$ | Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Armenian
    6 Melbourne Pl, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #19
    Hopetoun Tea Rooms
    #19 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1994 reviewsTripAdvisor (1994)
    $ - $$ | Healthy
    282 Collins St Shops 1 and 2, Block Arcade, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »
  • #20
    Maha
    #20 of 5,273 Places to Eat in Melbourne
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1544 reviewsTripAdvisor (1544)
    $$ | Mediterranean, Turkish, Middle Eastern, Persian
    21 Bond St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
    Read More »

Explore More of Melbourne

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