Resting on the edge of the CBD, Richmond is a bustling metropolis of Melbourne. The bar and restaurant-rich suburb is easily one of the best precincts for drinking and dining, whether it be a pre-match pint and parma before sauntering to the holy grounds of the MCG or a full six-course fine dining set menu.
From little bistros that will transport you to the streets of Rome to meticulously made nigiri at hatted omakase restaurants, you could easily (and happily) get lost in Richmond's food scene. You'll find an answer for every type of hunger, budget, craving and vibe in this list. Go crazy, and start ticking off these stunners one by one.
Melbourne's Best Restaurants At A Glance
- Jump To The Best Casual Dining In Richmond
- Jump To The Italian Restaurants In Richmond
- Jump To The Best Wine Bars & Pubs In Richmond
- Jump To The Best Fine Dining Restaurants In Richmond
Feeling like you could be down to venture further afield? Here's our comprehensive list of the best restaurants in Melbourne regardless of the suburb.
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Here are the top must try restaurants Richmond has to offer for 2025:
Best Casual Dining In Richmond
In the mood for something fun, simple, fast, funky or cheerful? Whether it's a quiet weeknight dinner or somewhere with a bit of spice to get the party started, these are the best restaurants in Richmond that will suit most occassions.
Onda Bar & Eatery
280 Bridge Road, Richmond
Fiesta is definitely the mood when we swing by Onda Bar & Eatery in Richmond. Spanish for ‘vibes’, this place certainly has a buzz about it. Partly down to the on-point décor, monstera murals and the chairs you see on Pinterest boards, but it’s the Latin American flavours that transport you to another dimension. Plantain fingers with lime aioli and kingfish ceviche merely scratch the surface, we could go on for days. The bottomless brunch almost defies refusal, with 90 minutes of bottomless tacos and cocktails for $59 per person. Best to grab some friends and go try for yourself. Oh and note this one for your mates with dietary requirements – vegan, vegetarian and gluten free are all easy asks here.
Bahari
179 Swan Street, Richmond
Image: Bahari Restaurant Richmond | Supplied
Mmm, Greek food. There’s nothing more satisfying than fresh, authentic Greek cuisine and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Bahari. Head chef Philip Vakos grew up with two Cretan grandmothers, so you know he means business. Follow a stint on Masterchef, he opened Bahari and changed Richmond for the better. The banquet menu starts at $59 per person and includes delightful dips, olives and saganaki to start as well as a range of small plates, meats, salads and sides. A great choice for groups. But a la carte options are aplenty also. Chef Philip adores getting creative with seasonal produce, so listen closely to the daily specials as you could be onto a winner.
Eazy Peazy
108 Swan Street, Richmond
Image: Eazy Peazy | Supplied
From the group that brought us Toji Sake, is Eazy Peazy, a modern Japanese eatery. The space was designed by Carr Design and embodies the spirit of Japan, with the design direction paying homage to the traditional art of brewing sake. Clean lines, soft tones and mood lighting create a space you can easily relax in.
Teaming up with head chef Dan Chan (Yardbird Hong Kong, Cumulus Up, Supernormal Canteen) Toji Sake founders Shar and Yuta Kobayashi bring simple, delicious, authentic Japanese cuisine. The food has been Inspired by Kobayashi’s Australian-Japanese upbringing, and Chan’s passion and experience with Japanese cooking, the menu is focused around the specialisation of yakitori, hibachi and sharing plates.
Some menu highlights include the Yuba duck gyoza with shiso and umeboshi, Raw kingfish with smoked daikon, wasabi and ponzu, Sher Wagyu striploin from the hibachi and Cheesy beef croquette. Assuming you’ve got the room for dessert, you’ll want to order the Yuzu sorbet with baked sesame meringue.
Psst, head here for the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne.
1090 Burger
181A Swan Street, Richmond
Image: 1090 Burger | Supplied
A restaurant dedicated to the craft of burger making is hiding in plain sight along Richmond's main drag. The golden ratio of ten percent fat and 90 percent meat gives this joint its name, 1090 Burger, serving the best umami flavour bombs with a secret nine-ingredient marinade. Feast on their appropriately named Thunderburger, stacked with grass-fed Angus beef, double cheese, bacon and chilli mayo and why not throw in a side of Thunderfries for good measure, topped with bacon bits and pickles. If meat isn’t your weapon of choice, devour their VegieBurger, loaded with a veggie patty and shiitake mushroom for that savoury punch.
I Love Pho
264 Victoria Street, Richmond
If you’re easing into the world of Pho (pronounced: 'fuh'), I Love Pho in Richmond is maybe the best pho spot to start. The menu of this family-run restaurant is very friendly to newcomers, with classic sliced beef and shredded chicken. If you want to be more adventurous, you can enjoy your fair share of chicken giblets, heart and liver too. Pair it with a cafe sua da or Vietnamese iced coffee and you’ll be raring to go. These guys also have a store on the top floor of the Emporium, looking after all you inner-city dwellers. Also peep Melbourne's best banh mis here.
Thy Thy Counter & Canteen
60-66 Victoria Street, Richmond
Image: Thy Thy's Counter And Canteen | Supplied
Thy Thy's origins date back to 1980 along Richmond's Victoria Street, and after a hiatus on the strip for quite some time, original owners Le and Ho have brought back their signature style of Vietnamese cuisine, but not without several modern sensibilities. The classic rice paper rolls and special beef pho are just two stars of the show, but it's their Vietnamese iced coffee that may be the best in town.
Jan Chi Korean Feast
362 Bridge Road, Richmond
Korean-inspired tapas-style restaurant? We know what you’re thinking: say less. Meaning ‘to feast’, Jan Chi is an intimate joint where you might just find some of the best Korean food this side of the equator. Get a taste of Jan Chi with your choice of five dishes for $50 per person or try the feed me menu featuring the chef's choice of six dishes and one dessert to share for $59 per person. You won’t find any regular cocktails on the menu here, only unique variations made using soju and Asian ingredients. Think a shiso leaves mojito, a soju negroni or a yuja martini.
Tofulicious
78 Bridge Road, Richmond
Image: Tofulicious | Supplied
Up towards the Punt Road end of Bridge Road, Tofulicious (aka Tofu Shop International) is a long-time favourite of vegetarians and healthy eaters alike having opened back in 1982. With a revolving selection of vegetarian dishes (with or without tofu) that’s updated every two weeks, variety is the spice of life at this vegetarian restaurant in Richmond. It's cheap, cheerful, fresh and healthy - eat in or grab it to takeaway. Don’t miss their famous soy chai or a scoop of the soy ice cream for dessert. It's so darn delicious, we promise you'll want to come back for more!
Best Italian Restaurants In Richmond
There's no doubt Italian food is one of the most popular cuisines in Melbourne, so it's no surprise there are some bellissimo Italian restaurants in Richmond. Whether you're after a swanky new joint or family-run establishment, here's where to go.
Pastarami
175 Swan Street, Richmond
Image: Pastarami | Supplied
That’s PASTA-rami, for those of you playing at home, and it’s the price tag here that has our mouths watering. Former fine diner Noir has just returned to life as the casual yet impressive local Italian joint, serving up snacks, full plates and a tasty drinks list.
The Swan Street spot is offering up lunch and dinner, slinging focaccias from $14 a pop and a three plate (yes, three plates, you read that right) lunch special for under $30. Menu highlights include thoughtful snacks such as crostini with miso tuna, anchovies, beef carpaccio, and big plates like confit duck with cavatelli, smoked cinnamon and mushroom, and garlic prawn spaghetti with chilli, tomato and prawn bisque pasta.
There’s a pretty satisfying and (dare we say it) on trend wine list with a stack of natural leaning numbers from Australia. The cocktails are spritz-y but there’s also some big boys like the sour cherry negroni or Tim Tam mocha martini (*drool*).
Flour Child
432 Church Street, Richmond
Image: Flour Child | Supplied
Think pizza couldn't get any better? Think again. This Roman-style 'pinsa' joint, which spruiks a crumblier crust that's more of a mouthful, is complete with cheese sommeliers, a burrata bar, antipasti pros and 10,000 bottles of liquor on display.
Flour Child, which you might know from its outpost in St Kilda, isn’t just your regular Italian restaurant in Richmond. It’s your go-to for bangin’ pizza, cooking classes, and events for any occasion. Roll up your sleeves and learn how to make their infamous Pinsa pizza, get knee deep in the cheese making course, or let the creative juices flow at their paint and sip classes run by head chef Alessandro.
Brunch knows no limits at Flour Child, with four sessions starting at various times from 12pm to 6pm so whether you’re after a post-Pilates bottomless brunch or pre-drinks with a bang this spot has you covered (and comes in at only $49 per person for a 90 minute sesh). There’s no shortage of options on the menu from curated charcuterie boards to an array of burrata dishes to Italian classics alongside their pizza and pasta offering.
Casa Mariotti
258 Swan Street, Richmond
Image: Casa Mariotti | Supplied
You might just think you’re in a little bistro in Rome at Casa Mariotti, especially after a vino or two. It’s honest, home-cooked Roman cuisine at this family run restaurant, with recipes straight from Mamma Mariotti’s kitchen - so you know they’re not messing around. The carefully selected wine selection is sourced from Italy’s finest vineyards, or you can sample what they call a taste of ‘Italy Down Under’ which features locally made wines using Italian grape varieties.
Thursday date nights are a definite thing here, with special homemade gnocchi on offer - choose from guanciale and pecorino or butter and sage. But no matter what day you come, you’ll receive a warm welcome and in all likelihood won’t want to leave.
Hungry for even more Italian? Check the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne here.
Best Wine Bars & Pubs In Restaurants
Wine bars and pubs are what make Melbourne tick. These are the best of the best in the grand old suburb of Richmond.
Lene
360 Bridge Road, Richmond
Restaurant and wine bar meets gallery showcasing Victoria’s emerging artists, Lene is an absolute must try restaurant in Richmond. Opened by head chef Cameron Williams in 2020, Lene is innovative and welcoming. The raw bluefin tuna, goat cheese agnolotti and k’gari mud crab are all perfection, but you truly can’t go wrong. Just don’t get too carried away on mains, as you really don’t want to miss dessert here. Olive oil ice cream with passionfruit and treacle tuile, sourdough doughnuts with citrus curd, and chocolate and cardamom mousse with vermouth caramel. We’ll take all three, thanks.
Clover
193 Swan Street, Richmond
Image: Clover | Supplied
Perched on a sleepier stretch of Swan Street, Clover is the charming 48-seat wine bar from chef Charley Snadden-Wilson (The Moon, Etta, Embla) and wine bar-virtuoso Lyndon Kubis (The Moon, Toorak Cellars, Milton Wine Shop). Clover is cementing itself as one of the best restaurants in Richmond with a selection of modern Australian dishes imbued with French influence. Think fresh oysters with green chilli, smoked fish toast, and angus scotch with dijon on the menu. The hefty selection of wine from all across southern Europe as well as local Australian drops is sure to quench your thirst. The menu du jour (or menu of the day for the uninitiated in French cuisine) is $85 per person, and well worth doing. It’s ambient, welcoming, and scrumptious.
Royston Hotel
12 River Street, Richmond
The Royston Hotel made it onto our guide to Melbourne’s best parmas, so we’re not surprised to see it make the cut as one of the best restaurants in Richmond as well. Tucked away on River Street in a quiet pocket of Richmond’s backstreets, this quaint pub has a plethora of quality craft beers on tap, and their dining room is a cosy and inviting collection of tartan and wood. The menu has all the pub favourites including the aforementioned parma as well as what can only be described as comfort food: cauliflower and cheese rigatoni, slow roasted pork belly, burgers and a dirty martini dip that requires your attendance.
Best Fine Dining In Richmond
With it's close vicinity to the Melbourne CBD, it's no surprise that Richmond is home to some incredible fine diners. Whether it's for a fancy first date, special occasion or just because - here are the best Richmond fine dining restaurants.
Minamishima
4 Lord Street, Richmond
Minamishimia in Richmond has three hats and serves the omakase of Chef Koichi Minamishima. With over 30 years of experience behind him, this chef is known for his A-grade sashimi that’s prepped with loving care and incredible attention to detail. Each plate is meticulously made using only the finest ingredients. Picture watching on while your nigiri is precisely sliced, shaped, torched and brushed.
If you want to impress some out-of-towners, this is a pretty good place to start. It’s on the pricier side but this is definitely a destination restaurant, one that’s best saved for a special occasion. Book well in advance, as seats fill up weeks and sometimes months ahead. We don’t throw around terms like ‘best restaurant in Richmond’ lightly, but this might just qualify.
Tartine
105 Swan Street, Richmond
Image: Tartine | Supplied
On Swan Street Richmond, Tartine is the creation of self-admitted Francophile and illustrious head chef, Andrew Beddoes, alongside Matteo Bruno. Inside is warm and cosy, with soft French tunes setting the mood. The menu ranges from standard French classics, such as Steak Frites smothered with Montpellier butter, to a more new-age fusion, mixing in fan-favourite dishes with a French twist.
However, it’s the tartines – French-inspired open sandwiches – which are an absolute highlight. Seriously, you don’t want to miss these. From hibachi grilled prawn to brie de meaux with caramelised onion, you could order purely from the tartines section and walk away a happy (and full) little camper.
New Quarter
79 Swan Street, Richmond
Image: New Quarter | Supplied
Providing an elevated dining experience, New Quarter is a true revelation for the Richmond restaurant scene. With a vibrantly Vietnamese-influenced menu coinciding with a uniquely curated drinks menu, including a revelatory kaffir lime and ginger Sour as well as more beers than you could poke a stick at. The food menu is playful and explorative, take the now-signature Banh Mi Fingers, or opt for duck floss egg noodles and lemongrass pork cutlets. New Quarter is definitely up for contention in the debate for the best restaurant in Richmond.
Future Future
191 Swan Street, Richmond
Architecturally intriguing and culinarily unique, Future Future brings Japan's best sublime dining to Richmond. The flavours are pure, but the execution feels experimental. For otsumami or ‘snacks’, think pumpkin agedashi tofu with parsnip crisps or maybe fried chicken karaage served with red chilli ponzu. From the hibachi aka the grill, you can’t go past the kingfish wing with sake lees or the octopus with soy garlic butter. And of course, make sure you save room for dessert. You couldn’t possibly leave without a taste of Future Future’s twist on tiramisu: tiramiso with lemon, yuzu and white chocolate crumb.
Image credit: Public House