U:L By You

Strap on some comfy shoes and grab the trail mix. These are the best walks near Melbourne.

Dig out the CamelBak you bought in 2001, invest in some super tough band aids, and drop your adventure pin on any of Australia's best hikes and walks. 

You know those scenes in the movies when someone gets a huge bouquet delivered to their office? And all the co-workers gather and gush about what a sweetie the sender must be? Well, you can be that sender in 2025, thanks to Urban List finding the best flower delivery Melbourne has to offer.

The search for the perfect bar is the kind of quest you could commit your life to. But what if it isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of answer? In a city like Melbourne, there’s the best bar for every different type of mood, moment, night, and person. 

Pho, a glorious Vietnamese noodle soup, has become a staple in Melbourne. Pronounced ‘fuh’, this dish involves a rich broth developed over hours of slow-simmering beef bones. Inside, you’ll find slippery rice noodles and thinly sliced beef. Top it off with fresh bean sprouts, herbs, and chilli, and you’ve got yourself one satisfying bowl of soup. Here's where you'll find the best pho in Melbourne. 

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.

The sun is shining, the beach is beckoning, and you’ve got that hunger that only fish and chips can satiate. Thankfully we have no shortage of seriously good fish and chips in Melbourne and surrounds.

In 2025, Melbourne high tea is bringing together the best of old-world charm and modern-day fun. Whether you're in the mood to channel some classic 19th-century vibes, complete with dainty finger sandwiches and scones stacked high, or you're looking for something a bit more daring—think themed high teas, live music, and a splash of burlesque—Melbourne’s got you covered.

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. 

From breathtaking islands and sugar white sand beaches to sun-baked landscapes and jaw-dropping natural wonders, Australia is a land of unique and diverse beauty. 

Forget what you thought you knew about a regional escape, Daylesford has everything you could want in a getaway and then some. From next-level foodie experiences to wine bars slinging seriously good sips, you'll be planning your relocation before the sun has set on day one of your trip. 

Not just for meandering strolls along the Yarra or a quick pit stop before hitting the Arts Centre, Southbank is a goldmine for your tastebuds and foodie destination in its own right. 

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. These are the best restaurants for every types of occassion. 

No matter the season, it’s always prime time to pack the car and escape into Victoria’s wild backyard. From lush riverfront bushland to windswept coastal dunes (yes, you might spot a whale), the state is dotted with incredible free camping spots - some within just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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:

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. 

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.

Beaches in Victoria are a coveted commodity, often guarded and kept hush-hush. From Hampton Beach and the hidden gems of Melbourne to the stunning coasts of the Mornington Peninsula, the Great Ocean Road, Wilson's Prom, Phillip Island, and more, there are spectacular stretches of sand and ocean waiting to be explored.

We love Melbourne, but you know ... living in one of the world's best cities comes with a price tag, good thing Urban List has you you covered with a stack of things to eat, drink, do and see all on a shoestring as part of our series Budget Ballin'. This time we've teed up 20 of the best cheap and free things to do in Melbourne to keep both you and your hip pocket happy.

To help you make the choice, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best scenic drives in Victoria for 2024. along with some pit stops and sites to see on the way. You bring the aux cable, we’ve got the rest sorted.

Everyone knows how the saying goes, dogs are a girl’s best friend. Another heartbeat in the house, a wagging tail that greets you every time you come home, and someone that will literally never judge you or your poor decisions. But our hearts just break when every day we have to pack up, go to work and we have to shut the door on those big puppy eyes that stare into our souls. 

Here are some Melbourne meal delivery services rising to the surface to save our stomachs and recipe ingenuity. 

Here’s how to do a romantic dinner in Melbourne. First step: book early. Especially around the dreaded V-Day. Most of the city’s swankier eateries fill up weeks in advance, and if you leave it too late the maître d’ will just laugh at you down the phone. Second: pick somewhere, small, cosy, intimate. Candlelight if you can get it. Avoid the trendy but frantic CBD hotspots where it’s too loud to deploy all that witty and seductive banter (that means you, sorry Chin Chin). 

If we’re talking diverse dining areas, South Yarra takes the cake. The multitude of cuisines, dining styles and settings—from intimate to hawker-style eateries—is unbelievable. Just a stone's throw from the CBD, South Yarra is the perfect place to start your adventurous night or you can even duck in and out of the bunch of bars throughout this suburb’s bustling nightlife energy.

Reaching bold new heights, the timeless pastime of running became all the rage when Victoria was into lockdown after lockdown. Securely confined to the 5km radius, it was almost the perfect formula for novice joggers, limiting the obligatory sense that you don’t need to punch out double digits km’s straight out of the gates. 

Bring the light and flavours of Diwali home with some delicious help from our community and The Spice Tailor. 

One of the best things about living in Melbourne is the sheer variety of cuisines we have at our fingertips, and they say variety is the spice of life. If you’re looking to spice up your life a little more, then there’s no better place to start than at some of the finest Middle Eastern restaurants Melbourne has to offer. 

Doesn't matter how you spell it, doughnuts or donuts in Melbourne are kinda a big deal. They're the ideal baked good, they're sweet enough to be a treat, yet usually hefty enough to be a meal if you're so inclined.

Honestly, going to KFC for fried chicken when you live in Melbourne is like going to Starbucks for an oat latte…you just don’t do it. Our city is famous for its food from all around the world, but deciding where the best-fried chicken in Melbourne is a tough call, one that's met with many wet wipes. 

Gnocchi. A staple pasta choice and when cooked to perfection. However, curating a classic and delicious gnocchi recipe is an art form; the humble potato dumpling may look simple, but they are far from it. Anyone who’s actually made gnocchi will tell you: its complexity is in its simplicity. And when you get the real deal, the homemade stuff that melts on the tongue, watch out though, it leaves the humble spaghetti in the dust.

If you live in Melbourne, it means you live close to some of the best galleries our great nation has to offer. So, in the spirit of Urban List Art Month, here’s our round-up of some of the best galleries you can feast your eyes on in Melbourne when you’re starving for some culture.

To get your motivation moving, and to celebrate the launch of the FuelCell Propel v4 running shoe, we’ve teamed up with New Balance to take a dive into what gets Urban List’s biggest running fans laced up on the regular. 

Finding the best souva shop or ‘Souvlatzithko’s as they’re traditionally known in Greek is a right of passage for any Melbournian, graduating from the late-night corner stores to the dedicated souvlaki destinations across the city, it’s all part of the journey. While they all may vary slightly we’re all chasing that perfectly chargrilled Gyros, laid softly in a pita with Tzatziki, the arguments over whether lettuce or chips belong is for greater minds to decide. 

Everyone’s living through it, and while another lockdown simply isn’t a viable option, hospitality is facing some of the biggest challenges since the beginning of the pandemic. There are, however, several ways that us diners, drinkers, visitors and regulars can help; and speaking with those who are in the thick of it, it’s a lot easier than you might think:

Safe to say it’s been a tough bloody slog for our hospo community over the last two years, ravaged by lockdowns, restrictions and twists at every turn, we’re only just now starting to balance things out.

We’ve rounded up 10 of the best board games around, whether you’re playing with two or six, amateurs or pros.

We’re pretty spoilt with hiking choices in Victoria. While some tracks are best explored in spring or autumn (Mackenzie Falls, we’re looking at you), others are home to flora, fauna and pristine swimming areas that flourish in warmer weather.

We’ve rounded up some of the best sustainable restaurants in Melbourne, who are committed to using local and ethically sourced produce and making their spaces eco-friendly.

Even if school's a hazy memory, it’s never too late to learn a new skill. Good thing Melbourne has an amazing selection of workshops, classes and courses to keep your idle hands busy (and most importantly, make you appear smooth and winning on Tinder dates). From making your own ceramics and brewing homemade Kombucha to mastering the art of record collecting (yes, it’s an art), these are some of Melbourne's best workshops.