Essendon might be a little further from the hubbub of the city and a little more under the radar than other inner north suburbs, but rest assured it can hold its own — especially when it comes to its food scene.
From laidback joints to cosy wine bars, tried and true Turkish cuisine to bang on Thai food, Essendon restaurants hit the mark for a range of occasions and eats.
Essendon Restaurants At A Glance
- Best Cheap & Cheerful Essendon Restaurants
- Best Essendon Restaurants For Casual Dining
- Best Wine Bars & Pubs For Dinner & Drinks In Essendon
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Without further ado, here are the best Essendon restaurants in 2025, according to Urban List.
Best Cheap & Cheerful Essendon Restaurants
Khao Hom Thai
87 Rose Street, Essendon
Khao Hom Thai is your friendly neighbourhood Thai restaurant in Essendon. They say they serve up the best pad thai in the area and we’re inclined to back them. You also can’t go wrong with the massaman curry, chicken satay skewers with roti or the vegetable spring rolls. There’s a few seats available inside but the bulk of their trade is takeaway, so save this for the casual intimate dinners or for when you’re ordering in.
INSIDER INTEL
- Open for dinner only, 4:30pm to 8:15pm Tuesday to Sunday.
- KH’s Mix Entree pack involves all the entrees, great for when you want to try everything.
- Mains come in at a very wallet-friendly $21 each.
Scalable Fish-Op
1041 Mt Alexander Road, Essendon
Image: Scalable Fish Op | Supplied
Perched on the eclectic and busy end of Mount Alexander Road is Scalable Fish-Op, a more refined fish and chippery. With ethically-sourced produce, a modern menu and their astoundingly crunchy yet light soda-based batter which engulfs each cut of fish, this fish and chippery makes for an easy inclusion in this guide to Essendon restaurants.
INSIDER INTEL
- Their hand-size potato cakes have racked up a loyal following.
- Try their contemporary options like Skull Island prawns with chilli-infused burnt butter, Moreton Bay bug roll, and even Southern-fried fish wings.
- Throw in a banana fritter for good measure.
Best Essendon Restaurants For Casual Dining
Tutti Trattoria
18 Napier Street, Essendon
Image: Tutti Trattoria | Supplied
Tutti Trattoria is a celebration of wholesome, noisy family gatherings and old school Italian recipes made with fresh ingredients (and love). You can expect traditional dishes including bruschetta, polpette, pomodoro, mushroom truffle pizza as well as a pillow-soft tiramisu. Each of the restaurant’s rooms has its own ambience, including a bright elegant and polished bar area on arrival, a room decorated with scopa card prints and chequered tablecloths reminding you of Nonna’s living room, as well as a grand dining space with a lemon ceiling and Sicilian ceramics. This might just be the best Italian restaurant Essendon has to offer.
INSIDER INTEL
- Bottomless gnocchi for $28 per person Monday to Thursday. For real.
- Don’t miss the disco bathroom.
- The cocktail menu came to play, there’s plenty to choose from.
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Bodrum Essendon
51 Fletcher Street, Essendon
Bodrum has called Essendon home for over 30 years, and in 2025 it’s come under new ownership with Chef Dursun Alpan taking the reins. Their new menu is a hit. The lamb is slow-cooked in a traditional Turkish wood fire oven, and after trying it you won’t want lamb cooked any other way again. It’s wow-worthy, making this joint a top contender for the best Turkish restaurant in Essendon. But it’s the whole experience at Bodrum that will leave you with a smile on your face, from the genuine hospitality to the Turkish decor.
INSIDER INTEL
- Get the künefe for dessert — gooey cheese inside crispy shredded pastry and topped with syrup and pistachios. It’s a whole event.
- We’re also getting a bite of baklava, who says you can’t have two desserts.
- The Turkish coffee is served with Turkish delight.
Hold Bar & Eatery
87 Fletcher Street, Essendon
Image: Hold Bar & Eatery | Supplied
It’s restaurant meets wine bar meets cafe (aka all of our favourite things) at Hold Bar & Eatery. What’s more, it’s dedicated to showcasing women-owned businesses. From producers, makers, and performers to the owners of Hold Bar & Eatery itself. It’s an inclusive and extremely aesthetic space where you’re guaranteed a brunch, lunch, dinner or dessert that absolutely delivers. This is one of the best restaurants Essendon has on offer.
INSIDER INTEL
- Bottomless brunch every weekend involves any meal from the brunch menu and unlimited drinks for $70 per person.
- $30 bottomless gnocchi and garlic focaccia every Wednesday.
- Get a seat by the fire for all the vibes.
Squires Loft
131 Buckley Street, Essendon
Image: Squires Loft Essendon | Supplied
When you’ve got a juicy steak on the mind, you can’t go past Squires Loft in Essendon. Sourced from the Western District of Victoria and Gippsland, you can rest assured the beef is local. The steaks go through a 28-day wet-aging period making them tender and full of flavour. Plus this restaurant always has the Essendon football games on upstairs on the rooftop — a huge upside for the Bombers supporters.
INSIDER INTEL
- The birthday celebrations are big here, with a free main and dessert for the birthday person (so long as they’re in a group of over 4 people).
- Check their Instagram for deals, like happy hour drink prices during Bombers games.
- The baked mushrooms with feta is the ultimate side dish.
Hugo Dining
1116-1118 Mt Alexander Road, Essendon
Image: Hugo Dining Restaurant Essendon | Supplied
This is not a drill. The Hugo 100 Layer Lasagne involves 20 layers each of pasta, bechamel, bolognese, parmesan and mozzarella. It’s the dish we didn’t know the world needed. If that’s not your style, the woodfired pizza, chicken saltimbocca, or pan friend barramundi at Hugo Dining should do the trick.
INSIDER INTEL
- Pappardelle with Moreton Bay bugs is one of their most popular dishes.
- The Hugo affogato is the only way to finish your meal.
- Don’t feel like dining in? Get three pizzas takeaway for $49.
Best Wine Bars & Pubs For Dinner & Drinks In Essendon
The Essendon Hotel
914-918 Mt Alexander Road, Essendon
Sometimes all you need is a great pub, and that’s what The Essendon Hotel is. Opening in 2019, it maintains the original charm of the building while incorporating modern styling within. The food, vibe, decor, and service all get big ticks from us. On the menu expect elevated pub classics like gnocchi lamb ragu, truffle mushroom risotto, and braised beef cheek with truffle mash.
INSIDER INTEL
- It’s steak night on Wednesday, schnitty night on Thursday, and happy hour on Friday. Mark your calendar.
- Their resident funk band plays on Saturday nights.
- They’re known as the ‘cocktail pub’ for a reason, with the likes of a butter choc martini and banana old fashioned.
The Last Stop Wine Bar
43 Rose Street, Essendon
Image: The Last Stop Wine Bar | Supplied
The Last Stop Wine Bar on Rose Street is the perfect dinner and drinks spot in Essendon. Their menu is Mediterranean leaning and we’re here for it. Think oysters with finger limes and lemon gin, saganaki with honey and walnut, gourmet beef sliders, and marinated lamb cutlets. The food is divine, especially when paired with a glass or bottle from the cellar door.
INSIDER INTEL
- Feeling like some mid-week fun? Head to their trivia.
- They also host all sorts of tastings and themed nights (details on their Instagram).
- We can’t go past their Basque cheesecake for dessert.
Main Image Credit: Tutti Trattoria
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