Food & Drink

Love K-BBQ? It’s time for J-BBQ. Yakiniku, meaning ‘grilled meat’, is at the heart of Japanese BBQ experience, and there's no shortage of places to find it in Melbourne. 

You've seen that mouth-watering cheese pull on socials, now you want to try it for yourself. What do you do? Hit up Urban List of course.

We’re all for a rooftop, especially one that opens out onto Melbourne’s brand new Sky Park, suspended over Collins Street. Quarterhouse in Docklands, just near Southern Cross station is bringing us just that—with three levels of after-work or pre-game goodness, the mega-venue is set to be your go-to spot when you’re in that part of town.

Hold onto your hearts, Melbourne—the world’s most adorable gang is about to make its grand entrance! The long-awaited Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe, after much speculation, has finally swung open its doors, bringing the whimsical world of Sanrio to life in an Australian first-of-its-kind immersive dining experience. And yes, it’s as adorable as it sounds.

From smoky mezcal cocktails to slow-braised birria tacos dripping with consommé, Melbourne's Mexican food scene is hotter than a habanero right now. We've scoured the city to bring you the must-try taquerias, cantinas and modern Mexican kitchens that'll transport your taste buds straight to Mexico City.

Melbourne’s best pubs are redefining family-friendly dining—with proper playgrounds, delicious food  and cocktails to top you off. We’ve hunted down the 16 spots where kids go feral in enclosed play zones, teens disappear into arcades and parents finally get to enjoy a meal while it’s still hot. Genius? Absolutely. Long overdue? Even more so.

Melbourne’s affair with wine is about to get a transformation. Melbourne Winery, housed in the historic Ross House on Flinders Lane, is where traditional artisanship meets metropolitan elegance.

With Easter around the corner, the sweet smell of hot cross buns is starting to waft out of bakeries across Melbourne. With so many on offer, it’s hard to know who makes the best hot cross buns in Melbourne. Is it the traditional take? Is it a chocolate-filled number? Or is it the undignified 'fruitless'? Luckily, you have Urban List doing the hard yards for you.

When midnight cravings hit, Melbourne’s late-night dining scene delivers. From steaming bowls of Cantonese noodles to New York-style pizza slices, these late-night restaurants in Melbourne keep the city fed long after dark.

Melbourne’s doughnut game just got a serious upgrade. Joey’s Doughies, the brainchild Joe La and Brian Taing, is set to open in the QV Foodhall.

Move over, Sydney—Melbourne’s about to get a dose of the Merivale magic and we've got our fingers and toes crossed for a certain famous woodfired bread.

Ever been at the kids’ play centre and thought, ‘I wish there was a little more here for me?’ Well, you’re not the only one. Hoopla has opened as Australia’s first ‘parent’ focused kids indoor play centre and family outing spot (read: there’s a grown-ups menu). 

The vibes in Noosa are immaculate and the dishes are bucket list-worthy.

Ditch the couch—Melbourne’s serving up another weekend full of things to do. Heathcote in the City turns Meat Market into a wine-lover’s paradise (95 drops + food trucks!), while the Korea Festival brings Squid Game challenges and K-Pop battles to Fed Square.

Collingwood is historically home to some of Melbourne's best restaurants, bars, shopping, street-art, and well ... just about everything else. The inner-city (hipster, shh) suburb is truly a cultural melting pot, simmering from the north and south end of the suburb. But if you want a local tip, cut through the main drag on Smith Street and you'll see what's on offer is proper fire.

A good pub does exactly what it promises on the tin: a spot to catch up with mates, knock back a few pints and naturally, tuck into a parma.

How untrained and unorthodox home cooks are ushering in a new wave of food enthusiasts.

What's Melbourne's best new restaurant is something we're forever being asked here at Urban List. The thing is, what's best and what's new is always changing because the restaurant, bar and cafe scene is ever-evolving. Good thing we've made it easy for you, we've pulled together all Melbourne's newest openings right here.

Just a short flight from Australia's Eastern Seaboard, Auckland is close enough for a quick escape, but far enough to reset your rhythm—this is how to make the most of it in 72 hours.

Sandy McIntyre is the actor, writer, producer and model making waves across Australia’s creative scene. We picked their brains on the best of what to do in Sydney this winter season. 

Just when you thought Melbourne’s bakery scene couldn’t get any better, To Be Frank go ahead and open a shiny new venue with even more carb-loaded varieties coming fresh out of the oven. 

Melbourne’s CBD just got a delicious chunk of Taipei with the arrival of AhMa Taiwanese Streetfood—the latest venture by acclaimed chef Spring Chee who has creds from Big Comma and Tokyo Motto. 

Fear not, breakfast-lover—you’re about to have the ultimate list of the best breakfasts in Auckland right at your fingertips.

If there’s one person who knows how to make the most of a weekend in Sydney, it’s the powerhouse NRLW player, sharp-witted commentator, and podcast co-host Millie Elliott. 

From rainforests to art deco terrace homes, treat yourself to a retreat among picturesque surroundings this Easter. 

Matcha, what's not to like? It's the drink of the year and if you've been to Japan and you're chasing those memories from the trip, or want to live vicariously, we've got the 10 best spots in Melbourne for you to check out.

Bastille Day means different things to different people. If you’re French it probably represents throwing off the shackles of an oppressive monarchy. For the rest of us, it’s an excuse to order massive plates of steak & pomme frites, or drink Burgundy by the bottle while toasting “liberty, equality, fraternity and reasonably priced booze!” That’s the good thing about Bastille Day. There’s something for everyone.

To understand Texas, you need to eat your way through it. And thanks to this guide, you'll know exactly where to go when you take the holy trip down to the Lone Star State.

If New York is the city that never sleeps, Melbourne’s the city that never stops eating, and there are a myriad of excellent spots waiting to welcome you for a Monday wine-and-dine.

Finding that perfect combination of crackling puff pastry, rich stewy filling, and buttery shortcrust is practically a spiritual quest. Lucky for us, you don't need to make the pilgrimage out of Melbourne to satisfy your pie cravings anymore.

South Melbourne's new pizza spot Pizzateca Lupa is an ode to Roma, with two different (but equally delicious) styles of pizza on offer.

The food news has been coming in thick and fast in Melbourne, and to make sure that you're across Melbourne's food and bev movements, we've wrapped up everything that you need to know in a handful of digestible servings.

Once again May has crept up on us out of nowhere, bringing with it one very important day. It’s that one thing you should be prepared for, yet every year it comes as another suprise. That’s right, it’s Mother’s Day. 

Here's your ultimate Eat, Play, Stay guide to the Barossa Valley with Andy Allen.

Melbourne’s Japanese cafe scene has always marched to its own beat—espresso in one hand, chopsticks in the other. But lately, a new wave of Japanese-inspired spots has been quietly rewriting the Melbourne brunch playbook. 

How far would you drive for some Sizzler-style cheese toast? 'Cos we're happy to spend an hour heading up to the Blackwood Hotel for a little slice of nostalgia and a frosty pint to match.

It may be a whole lot colder but the prospect of a three-day weekend is one mighty-fine way to warm the soul. This coming King’s Birthday in Melbourne for 2025, Monday 9 June, a selection of Melbourne’s venues will still be turning it on for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. 

Whether you’re planning a first date, an anniversary, or a sweet surprise for your special someone, organising a date that makes them swoon (and scores you some serious brownie points) is always a win.

The long weekend is just around the corner so it’s time to start planning your social movements for the mini-break. Whether you celebrate Easter or not, we can all agree it’s pretty nice to have a four-day weekend to catch up with friends and family while letting someone else do all the cooking and cleaning—surcharges are totally worth it. Here’s your list of what’s on over the Easter weekend in Melbourne. 

Crabzilla has entered the chat. Ministry of Crab has just opened on Flinders Lane and we're here to get our bib on, meet our crab and indulge in some champagne.

Like the precinct’s spruikers, the choice really is overwhelming when it comes to Lygon Street restaurants. One will tell you they have the freshest carbonara in the southern hemisphere while the other will stake claim to a 400 cheese pizza. Both worthy options, but dig deeper and you’ll find a diverse culinary offering ranging from fiery ramen at one end and modern Australian at the other.

The heart of Melbourne, the CBD. We've got heaps of good restaurants here in Melbourne and Victoria as a whole. Whether you're looking for Flinders Lane restaurants or you're just looking to tuck into some affordable fare, we've nailed down the best.

Want to relive that Japanese holiday, or get your eye in before you head overseas? You're in luck, because Melbourne is full of top-tier Japanese restaurants. Whether you’re craving freshly made sushi, bowls of steaming ramen, sizzling teppanyaki, melt-in-your-mouth sashimi, or flavourful donburi, there’s no shortage of authentic Japanese restaurants in Melbourne to dive into. 

Coffee runs thick through Melbourne's veins, and in every corner of the city you'll find caffeine-soaked cafes to frequent. But cafes go beyond a good coffee, and for Collingwood cafes, we're spoilt for choice.

Searching for the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne? From hidden trattorias to fine dining, here are Melbourne’s top 25 Italian spots for pasta, pizza and more in 2025.

For those on the hunt for a cultural experience rich with all things history, people, stories, and nature, Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau) should be top of the list. 

Wine that’s good for the planet AND your palate? Now that’s something worth raising a glass to.

We’ve all got our local Melbourne Thai restaurant that we swear by and practically have on speed dial—or at least saved in our favourites on our food delivery app of choice. No matter your preference, if you're looking for the best Thai restaurant Melbourne has to offer, you're in luck.

Gone are the days when vegetarian dining in Melbourne meant cheerless salads and the same old pasta dishes. This city’s plant-based scene has exploded into a vibrant ecosystem of its own, where vegetables aren’t just an afterthought—they’re the headliners.

Between some seriously breathtaking natural gems, uber-exciting eats, and a range of stays to satisfy all kinds, Townsville has quickly become one of the country's best places to explore this year. 

Winter just got cheesier. From 15 May to 22 June 2025, Fed Square transforms into a snow-dusted French alpine village for Fondue Chalet—the city’s most indulgent winter pop-up from the team behind Melbourne’s cult-favourite Raclette Igloo.

Go behind the scenes of LA's biggest icons to explore the other side of the city of angels.

Staying in is having a serious moment, and dinner parties are getting a glow-up this year. 

Forget diamonds—Melbourne’s real luxury is a perfectly cooked steak. Whether you’re after a melt-in-your-mouth wagyu, a charred, smoky ribeye, or an old-school pub porterhouse with all the trimmings, this city delivers.

An Aussie-born chef and Singapore local, Peter Smit has carved a unique place for himself with his nose-to-tail cooking style. We followed the Dirty Supper chef-owner, to uncover what he does to decompress when he's out of the kitchen and off the clock.

On the hunt for the best cafe in Melbourne? It's a tough one, simply due to the sheer volume of options. The standard the city has set has been replicated all over the world, and it's no surprise as the quality of our coffee is world-class and our brunch is unbeatable.

This destination diner in the Southern Grampians is the very essence of local, Victorian dining. And it doesn't hurt that the surrounds are stunning.

Forget ordering pizza to your neighbourhood bar/bottleshop combo. Benchwarmer has completely smashed the mould on what to expect by installing an izakaya inside their craft beer haven.

Arguably Melbourne's best restaurant, and the one with the best view, Vue de Monde has seen some incredible chefs through its doors. But current executive chef Hugh Allen has achieved quite a lot in his 29 years and counting, and now he can add restaurateur to his resume. 

You've probably heard of it. It's Collingwood's hottest new rooftop with almost 360-degree views of the city, mixing a touch of glamour, a little bit of edge and most importantly, some bangin' cocktails.

Flinders Lane is the beating heart of Melbourne’s dining scene, a laneway where culinary magic happens. This is undoubtedly one of Melbourne’s foodie hotspots. From hole-in-the-wall gems to high-end hotspots, this iconic strip is a dining paradise. 

Whether you have a couple of hours airside transiting to your next destination or you’re lucky enough to make a day of it in Jewel, we’ve sorted your next layover at Changi Airport in Singapore.

Chef and food advocate Simone Watts has done it all—cooked, farmed and travelled the world—and now she’s landed at Barragunda Dining on the Mornington Peninsula, transforming the way we think about food. 

The southern hemisphere’s largest shopping centre, Chadstone has just dropped the lineup for a massive 26,500sq m foodie precinct. The two areas, The Market Pavilion and Dining Laneway will host some of Melbourne’s tastiest food retailers. 

Tucked away on Tasmania's picturesque East Coast is Devil's Corner winery. This is the kind of place you drive past wistfully, wondering if you have time to stop in. We're telling you, you need to make the time.

The Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix 2025 is a pretty big deal for us Melburnians.

When you've maxed out your little treat budget for the week, recreating your fave over-the-top coffee at home can be the next best thing.

As the action revs up on the track, we'll show you how to ace the off-track scene

Expect a three-course meal, inventive minty cocktails, wine and conversation cards to get to know your new mates.

Best bars, best bars, best bars... Unlike the bartender we're not going to ask, "what do you usually like?", we're just going to hit you with some straight fire. That's right, 29 of our editor-approved watering holes.

Where’s the best spot to get a good glass of vino in Melbourne? Here’s your handy cheat sheet.

When the clock hits cocktail hour you don't want to be messing around, it's time for a crisp martini or meaty negroni. Thanks to Melbourne's stellar culinary and bar scene there are some seriously good spots around the city to get a glass in hand. From hidden watering holes to some serious first-class swank here are Urban List's picks for the best cocktail bars Melbourne has to offer in 2025.

Melbourne’s bustling dining scene owes a very honest tip of the hat to France. Every suburb has its own cache of bakeries, bistros and patisseries reminiscent of the City of Lights, and if you're like us wondering why you're here rather than there, well, this list might just save you the trip.

There was a time when the best burgers in Melbourne came from your local fish and chip place, usually with a slice of beetroot and a couple of extra dim sims. Actually, now we think about it, those are still pretty bloody good, but we've pulled together our top picks so you can eat easy.

The Melbourne CBD is a labyrinth for hidden bars, whether they be upstairs, underground or tucked away at the end of a laneway. You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to suss them all out though—we’ve done the detective work for you. We’ve scoured all the nooks and crannies and come up with some of the best hidden bars Melbourne has to offer. All you need to do is turn up and find the door. 

The Melbourne edition of il Mercato Centrale, originally launched in Florence in 2014, offers a dynamic day-to-night dining experience, from light snacks to full restaurant meals. Located in the iconic McPherson building on Collins Street, this 2,500 sqm space has been transformed into a vibrant retail and culinary hub.

Korean BBQ restaurants have made quite the splash, a cuisine dear to many Melburnian's hearts and for very good reasons. The flavour-packed dining experience of K-BBQ is a sight to behold; with sizzling plates of chargrilled meats accompanied with sauces, salads, and sides. 

Melbourne is Australia's breakfast (or brunch, depending on how late you stay up) queen. The city basically invented modern cafe culture, with our easy-going, wake-up late for a bite culture emulated all over the world. But with so many options, where do you start? Don't worry, we gotchu with Melbourne's best cafes and breakfasts for 2025.

Today’s diners are more intentional, discerning, and value-driven than ever. They’re eating out more frequently, but scrutinising every dollar, expecting premium experiences without the premium price tag.

Melbourne has one of the most culturally diverse culinary scenes in the world, but you already know that and so do we. What you may not know though, is where to find the cream of the crop when it comes to Indian food—enter Urban List.

There’s a reason Jackalope on the Mornington Peninsula is on everyone’s bucket list: from its stunning grounds to unique architectural design, moody black colour palette or funky bar and restaurant, the hotel is the very definition of a luxury stay.

Housed within the former St Kilda Ichi Ni site, The Espy has dropped a fresh open-air bar, right in the peak of summer. 

Geelong, it's only an hour away from Melbourne but it's a whole new world and there's plenty of things to get around. Here's the local inside scoop on where to eat, drink, play and stay when you're in The Pivot.

Geelong’s restaurant scene is thriving, offering a vibrant mix of culinary experiences that firmly establish it as a must-visit destination for food lovers. Once living in Melbourne’s shadow, this seaside gem has emerged with its own bold personality, leaning heavily into its love for fresh, local seafood.

Summer might be coming to a close, but there’s no need to go thirsty.

The Prince Hotel's snuck in another cheeky refresh, just in time for summer. 

With its effortlessly cool vibe, buzzing bars, and eateries that punch above their weight, Thornbury has cemented itself as one of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets.

Sail through the slew of new year birthdays and anniversaries with these tips for budget-friendly celebrating.

Sustainable living starts with small, impactful changes, so who better to inspire us than our fave eco-friendly cafes leading the charge? 

We teamed up with Australia's largest generator of renewable energy, Momentum Energy to ask you guys where your fave eco-friendly cafes are, and you absolutely delivered. 

It's the earmarked sports event of the summer, the Australian Open 2025 is the iconic stretch of January where Melbourne suddenly transforms into tennis-arm-chair experts. 

In Melbourne, coffee isn't just a drink; it's a daily ritual and a passionate debate. Whether you’re en route to work, waiting in line at your favorite cafe, or clutching your morning brew, conversations about Melbourne’s best coffee are always brewing. 

Whether you're a self-proclaimed shower superstar or a fearless performer who can hit every note of Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire," we all have that one go-to karaoke song that turns an ordinary night into an extraordinary experience. So, step out to a Melbourne Karaoke bar and belt out every lyric of Britney Spears' "Toxic" or Eminem's "Without Me" while the crowd cheers you on

At this time of year, who wants to spend a long shift in the kitchen sweating it out?

We wanted to really find out what constitutes a good burger, so we asked the masterminds behind some of our faves. It turns out that there’s a bit of a theme—a secret ingredient if you will—to all of the burgers we know and love.

Good things come in small packages, and so do great things, such as Xiao Long Bao. Our city is spoilt for choice when it comes to these often-steamed, sometimes-fried pockets of flavour, so much so that you’ll be left doing laps of Chinatown until everything shuts up shop for the night.

The heat is beaming down, the beach is calling, and you've got a thirst that only the iciest drink is going to quench. But there's something else calling your name, something that is going to instantly cool that core temp down, something that is totally worth forgoing the summer bod for—ice cream.

The Super Bowl is a big deal, and whether or not you're into American sport you can't help but get caught up in the fever, the chicken wings and of course the drama.

We'll show you how to ace the off-court scene by serving up Melbourne's best during the Australian Open

It’s hard to name a more iconic pub feed than the chicken parma. These slabs of perfection have found their way into the hearts of Melburnians, and it doesn’t look like the love affair is slowing down anytime soon. Here is Urban List's guide to the best parmas in Melbourne for 2024:

Following waves of immigration in the sixties and seventies, Greek food and culture has become a huge part of Melbourne’s culinary identity. We’ve got the largest Greek population outside of Athens, so it’s no surprise the city is brimming with Greek taverns and family-owned restaurants to suit all occasions and budgets. It’s a tough task, but we’ve pulled together the best Greek restaurants in Melbourne, with plenty of options for the souv-fans, seafood lovers, dairy queens and vegetarians out there. 

We had to ask Tanuki's general manager Joong Charpentier the secret to his success—and the answer might surprise you.

It's been a long, cold, winter, and not to mention a solid eight months or so since Melburnians were boozing around in some of Melbourne's best beer gardens. But like the sun will rise each morning, Melbourne's best beer gardens will be waiting for you as the warmer months return.

It's something that Melburnians can take deep pride in, other states might have the weather but our bustling late-night music culture and good-time mentality is second to none in this country. 

Melbourne’s such a cultural melting pot. We’re so lucky to have an incredible and eclectic mix of cuisines from across the globe right at our fingertips—and fortunately, a stack of options from the tiny South Asian island Sri Lanka.

Finding the best oyster bar in Melbourne is no easy task, that’s why we're shelling out the details on the city’s best.

Is Melbourne having a cinnamon scroll redux right now? If we look at the facts, it might appear that the answer to that question is yes.

Have a bit of a sweet tooth after dinner? Or maybe you're just craving a sugary fix from one of Melbourne's many incredible dessert bars. Don't worry, we've got you covered with our top picks for dessert in the CBD and further afield. These are Melbourne's best dessert spots for 2025.

This one’s dedicated to all the gluten-intolerant bread and pastry lovers. Let’s be honest, the supermarket selection of gluten-free baked goods can be, well, uninspiring. Thankfully, we have a good handful of specialty gluten-free bakeries in Melbourne/Naarm that are reducing celiac’s FOMO when it comes to being able to get their hands on fresh bread, pastries and desserts. 

Navigating Melbourne’s vibrant dining scene while sticking to gluten-free options has never been easier. Think gluten-free pasta dishes, pizzas, and even indulgent desserts—all made with care and quality ingredients. If you’re seeking the best gluten-free restaurants in Melbourne, these spots have you covered.

Sandwiches are the new sexy. There are no two ways about it. Melbourne burgers had their time in the sun, but there’s only so much magic you can make with beef, cheese and brioche. Sandwiches are much more interesting. 

Ramen—a timeless pairing of noodles, broth and various accoutrements. Chewy noodles that have been cooked to the exact level of firmness, broths varying from a light and salty to one made by slow-cooking pork bones. Toppings that vary from pork that's been braised in soy sauce, sake and sugar, to soft-boiled eggs marinated in a mix of ingredients that are often a closely guarded secret. Better still, you can find some of the best ramen in Melbourne/Naarm. 

Charcoal chicken is a time-honoured practice, a craft that you'll find in almost every corner of the world. While flavours may vary from region to region, the smoky golden crisped exterior and succulent meat inside that results from spinning across the coals and flamed has established the roast chook as a pinnacle of dining. 

One of the most important food groups to Melburnians, pizza, is held in a treasured category of its own. Boasting some of the finest pizzerias outside of Italy, the level of craft here is world-class from classic leopard spotted Neapolitan-style to thick-cut deep dish. 

If you're a hungry herbivore, look no further than our guide to Melbourne's best spots for vegan eats, from burgs to fine dining, it's all here.

This one's probably going to be controversial given we can't cover every single amazing example of dim sims around Melbourne. But, we've called upon the heavy dim sim hitters at Dim Sims 4 Lyf to help us out here.

Carlton restaurants extend far beyond cherished Lygon Street—although the historic strip is still home to a massive concentration of Italian joints. With that being said, over the years Carlton has grown to become one of the most vibrant culinary hotspots in town. Here are Urban List’s recommendations on the best restaurants Carlton has to offer in 2025:

Arguably one of the greatest, most historic and popular cuisines that the world has to offer, it’s never a surprise to our wallets or our stomachs when we start craving Chinese food, and we’re sure you’re no different. Something about it makes it the ultimate comfort food, what with the savoury, salty, complex fusion of flavours.

Whether you're a self-proclaimed bread enthusiast or a total croissant fiend after a fix you'll find something that’ll have your tastebuds doing a happy dance at Melbourne's best bakeries for 2025.

It could be a quick refuel, a boozy business meeting, or perhaps sharing a meal to catch up—lunch is a sacred part of the day for many Melburnians. We love lunch here. We're starting to steer clear from the grab and go, a hangover from (we won't say it) the past few years, and taking the time to sit and dine now. These are some of our top picks for Melbourne's best lunch spots for 2025, that are sure to impress your mates, visitors or colleagues.