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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.

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. 

Our editor reckons these 20 spots from casual to fine dining are the best restaurants in Melbourne as of July, 2025. How many have you been to?

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.

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.

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.

Remember when an adventurous night out meant a couple of lukewarm pints in a pub that was two suburbs away from your house? Not anymore. Now, it’s all about Melbourne's escape rooms.

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.

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. 

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. 

There are few topics that'll get a Melbournian riled up quicker than where to get Melbourne's best pho. Some people will swear it's Springvale or nothing. Others reckon you can't beat Victoria St on a Friday night. The best pho in Melbourne is like a metaphor for happiness: we're all searching for it, there's a lot of theories on how to get it, and the secret is pretty simple. The best pho in Melbourne is the pho that's in front of you right now.

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.

We've hit lockdown #2 in Melbourne. We were so close, we could taste it. In fact, we did taste it, we hit up all the amazing restaurants we'd been wanting to go to for months.

When in stage 3 lockdown it can be hard to stay positive all the time. Cake can help.

Now, more than ever, we need to be sure about what we're buying, and the way in which produce is packaged and delivered.

Straight from Sicily to you. Kind of.

In 2020, you’re either shooting film, or looking at getting into it—and that’s a beautiful thing.

The art of crate digging is alive and well, and there are plenty of record stores in Melbourne to prove it with vendors catering to OG hiphop heads, collectors looking for that rare find and DJs after a fresh haul for their Friday night set. 

We’ve rounded up Melbourne’s best American BBQ for y’all, and luckily for us, there are more BBQ hotspots than you can shake a rib at.

Styling your home is basically a full-time occupation now. If people come round for tea and you don't have a Monstera plant and a couple of vintage cameras dotted about your living room, your guests are well within their rights to mock you and then leave. Sounds harsh, but we didn’t make the rules.

Now, with the exam season looming for many – sometimes you just want to escape the house and go and study at a café. And no, it doesn’t need to be unproductive – with Wi-Fi, a damn good coffee (maybe even a snack or two) you can conquer the world. Now go and smash that assignment, it won't smash itself.

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. 

Some people call ’em bao. Some call ’em Taiwanese burgers. And others call them by their correct name, gua bao. Whatever you call them, these meat-filled, sandwich-like treats have well and truly hit Melbourne’s streets. Here are some of our favourite gua bao in Melbourne.

Narrowing down Melbourne’s plethora of vegetarian dishes into fifteen top contenders is a hard task. We’ve even asked you, our audience, for your opinion but even you guys thought the pressure was too much. Here are some of the best vegetarian dishes you can get in Melbourne.

While you read this, you might be at your desk, staring at a sandwich filled with deli meats that just aren’t stacking up for you.

There’s no denying that Prahran is one of the coolest suburbs in this city and is home to some of the best restaurants Melbourne has to offer.

If the only thing you’ve been climbing lately is stairs, it’s time to check out some of Melbourne’s indoor climbing venues. 

No matter what mood you’re in, Seddon has enough places to cater for every appetite; burgers and shakes, Greek street food and Middle Eastern delights, to name a few.

Recently craving for that authentic Southeast Asian feed? Our city’s got you covered. Melbourne’s streets are crawling with the delicious flavours of Vietnam, the trick is knowing exactly where to lay your chopsticks. And we’ve meticulously searched the city to find exactly which tables are worth sitting at. (If you're after Melbourne's best banh mi or pho, we've got you covered there too).

When we think of Elwood, we think of sunny days, carefree strolls along the beach and maybe even some people watching of bike riders or families with ice-cream in hand. 

All hail Melbourne’s mighty fleet of food trucks. How many of you buggers are there now anyway? Feels like every week we get something new and delicious hitting our streets. 

According to Colin Firth, ‘Manners maketh man’. But shoes also maketh man, especially in Melbourne, where foot fashion is taken pretty seriously. Don’t know your Yeezy from your Onitsuka Tiger? No worries. There are stores for that sort of thing. Here’s where to get your kicks in Melbourne.

Hands down one of the best things about our glorious city Melbourne is its diversity. Especially when food is the topic of conversation. So, for all you Halal-loving Melburnians who want to try the finest food in our beautiful city, here are a few of the best places in Melbourne to chow down on some Halal delights.

A long time ago, in the back of a derelict country tavern, a young kitchen hand got distracted counting beads on his abacus and accidentally dropped a raw chicken breast into a pile of breadcrumbs, which then rolled off the bench and onto a ham, cheese & tomato pizza, and then into an oven preheated at 180 degrees Celsius for a good halfa. 

Collingwood is characterised by its industrial red-brick buildings, rustic walkways, narrow streets, as well as some of Melbourne’s most unique food and bar culture around. It’s a much-loved microcosm within Melbourne that has a lot to offer. We’ve thought long and hard about this, and have compiled a selection of what we think are Collingwood’s best restaurants.

Whether you’re a gluten-free diner yourself, are dating a gluten-free person, or just don’t want to eat bad food when you go out with your gluten-free pal, we’ve got you covered.

There’s nothing quite like your first time drinking bubble tea. Otherwise known as ‘boba’, there’s speculation about the origin of bubble tea, but it’s generally considered to hail from a teahouse in Taichung, Taiwan.

It’s not exactly hard to find some quality Asian eats around Melbourne, and for that, we are so, so grateful. But everyone knows that when that dumpling craving hits, Chinatown is the place to go. However, with all its bright lights and bustling energy, it can also be a bit overwhelming.

Melbourne is home to dozens of superb venues where punters can catch anything from local indie bands to international hip-hop stars seven nights a week. Musos, here’s our guide to the best venues for live music in Melbourne.

It’s almost that time of year, where we collectively hit pause on our healthy eating habits and eating chocolate before 10am becomes acceptable. 

Does anyone remember a time before brunch became a thing? Don’t get us wrong—brunch culture is Melbourne is insanely good. But we here at Urban List miss the good old days when we would get lunch with a friend, instead of, ‘Hey babes, wanna grab brunch?’

The recipe for a traditional katsu sandwich is simple. Take one Panko-crumbed pork cutlet and deep fry. Add shredded cabbage and two big squirts of tonkatsu sauce and mayonnaise. Stack these ingredients inside the fluffiest, cheapest, Tip-Top-iest white bread you can find. Then cut off the crusts.

April has a big line-up of must-see movies coming to your screens so book in your date nights or bestie nights and get ready for some seriously good, popcorn fuelled watching.

It is no surprise that Carlton is home to some of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants; however, this suburb is more culinarily cultural than you think. From hearty Italian to top-notch Japanese food, there’s always something new to try out in Carlton. 

A good milkshake is like a time machine for your brain. One slurp and—whoosh—you’re 12 years old again, stuck inside a never-ending summer holiday where the icy poles are always cheap and people still talk via landlines. That’s the power of a good milkshake. But there’s the rub: what makes a good milkshake? And where do you get one in Melbourne?

Melbourne’s a city absolutely chock full of great places to eat, and even though you’re pretty set with your go-to Saturday morning brunch joint, there’s a whole world of other options out there that you’ve probably been dying to get to.

Melbourne has decided to properly drop the hammer on winter with high winds, rain flying in sideways, and a lot of squall, tons of squall.

If you’ve ever found yourself toying with the idea of eating less meat but don’t know where to start, a good vegetarian supermarket can make all the difference. From healthy soy-based options, almost-as-good-as-the-real-thing “fake” meat, vitamin-packed legumes or just organic products that will leave you feeling sprightly and refreshed, these supermarkets have it all.

There is a lot out there and we’ve wrapped up some of the best places for you to check out.

The Holiday season is upon us and its time to get organised, and by organised we mean working out what you going to be drinking on Christmas day.

No longer do our plant-based friends have to settle for boring garden salads and stale bread baskets at restaurants. A burger from Lord of the Fries will cure a hangover just as well as a Big Mac, in case you’re wondering.

As the sun shows its face more and more over the coming months, you’re going to need a plethora of ideas on how to spend your free time, be it a day off during the week, or the ever cherished weekend.

With plenty of things to do, see, eat drink and buy, the Yarra Valley is the ultimate city escape

Humanity reached the peak of innovation when someone decided to stick a slice of cheese between two pieces of white bread and grill that baby up. Food historians (where can I get this job?) date cooked bread and cheese back to ancient times. I researched this on wiki, so it must be legit.

Fashion moves fast, and quite frankly, keeping up can be a challenge. A very expensive and entertaining challenge. If you’re looking to max your knowledge of the farshun industry, but all that scrolling and reading makes your brain hurt, then a podcast is for you.

Look, we'll be the first to admit that we don't get over to that side of the West Gate bridge nearly enough (can you blame us for avoiding the Friday arvo standstill traffic???) but we know we've got to give it a better try. 

For a surefire whale of a time.

Ah, kebabs. They really do it all—best 3am decision ever, a carb overload to get you through the working day or (in our opinion) the food that travels *best* with UberEats. No chance of things sliding around and getting cold here, thank you. The thing with kebabs though, is that having a bad one is like a betrayal from a close friend. We’ve put together the list of the best kebabs in Melbourne, purely to save you from kebab disappointment. 

From Port Melbourne to Mordialloc, we sampled burgers from Fish and Chip joints, dedicated burger joints to full blown restaurants and cafés and have come up with our favourite 17.

The plastic bag ban is in full force, so it’s time to stock up on your reusable shopping bags. Single use plastic bags come from petroleum (a finite world resource) and have some pretty nasty effects when they get into the environment.

Sometimes mum’s dry lamb shank just doesn’t quite cut the mustard. Thankfully, good Sunday roasts are a dime a dozen in Melbourne, thanks to our outrageously good food scene, because shockingly not everything’s deconstructed and covered in avo mash.

You know you’re always going to find somewhere delicious to eat in Melbourne’s CBD and inner 'burbs. What can be trickier is stumbling across good cafes, bars and restaurants in suburbs that sounds like made up countries from Game of Thrones (hey there, Maidstone). That's where we come in. 

Sensitive skin sucks. Nothing’s worse than having a night on the town wearing a bomb make up look, only to wake up the next day with an itchy, rashy face. A lot of makeup on the shelves today make it seem like they’re going to your best option – they all read ‘hypoallergenic’ or ‘dermatologist tested’. 

Hopeless Ramen-tic’s listen up. The Japanese staple of ramen reigns supreme in Toyko. 

Science can’t agree on much, but there’s no doubt the ultimate pasta-cheese-combo is still macaroni. They’re bendy pleasure tubes of al dente potential, no two ever quite alike. And if mac n’ cheese is your poison in Melbourne, there’s no shortage of places to get it. Mac n’ cheese balls, rac n’ mac, mac burger patties, fluoro orange Cheezel dust—if it’s bad new for arteries, it’s good news for us.

Finding a good flick in Melbourne isn't difficult. Twenty years ago it was a choice between Hoyts and Village (and there's nothing wrong with those), but now you've got dozens of boutique and indie cinemas popping up all over the city. It feels like anyone with a rooftop, a projector and a King Size bed sheet can be a theatre owner.

Just a whole heap of #poolporn really to up your next vacay by a few hundred likes.

​Sour beers have taken off, haven't you heard? From the subtle and funky to the downright mouth-puckeringly tart, sours are a broad spectrum of beers with something for everyone. Show everyone how ahead of the game you are with this little collection of some of the best of our local brewers.

Some people are gonna reach for the vom emoji at the mere mention of “non-alcoholic gin”. Surely that’s like a meat-free Bolognese, right? Or a Cruise-free Mission Impossible? Well there’s actually a growing movement for non-alcoholic spirits, and gin is leading the charge. After all, you can still get those floral botanicals in there without the booze. And these guys won’t leave you crying on the stairs at 2am throwing shoes at people who love you.

because LBH the only reason we travel are for the buffet breakfasts

If you search for ‘pure bliss’ in the Dictionary, it’ll read something along the lines of: reclining back after a hard day’s work on a sunny lounger with an overflowing G&T. Promise.

We've all been there, you've planned a great day outdoors in Melbourne but Melbourne's gone and done it again—it's started pouring with rain.

This gem of the West may only be 10km out of the CBD, but Yarraville has the friendly, communal vibe of your favourite country town. With a bakery or cafe located in every second shop, Yarraville beckons you to indulge in its cosy corners, great coffee, and sweet treats. But it’s not all about cafe-hopping, they’ve got some excellent bars to boot, and a smattering of well-stocked bookshops and boutique grocers. Without further ado, here is our pick of Yarraville’s greatest treasures.

Are you among the Prahran uninitiated? Let us introduce you to our top picks of our beloved ‘burb—yep, you’ll find TUL Melbourne HQ here—with our latest Pick of the Precinct.

Hawthorn is moving on up in the desirable postcode stakes, with a bunch of awesome cafes popping up at a rate of knots, my all-time favourite wine bar, and some of the best spots for gift shopping in Melbourne. Go the Hawks!

Ah, Brunswick. With your plethora of pubs, cafes and awesome foodie haunts, what a special place in our hearts you hold! Here’s our pick of the shops, bars, cafes and restaurants in Brunswick—everything you should be eating, drinking, buying and doing when taking a trip to the northside.

With so much to eat, see, and do, we took a trip to this gem of a neighbourhood to bring you the very best of Kew.

Malvern is one of those suburbs that you may think you know, but you really don’t. As it continues to evolve, we have seen some great new cafés, bars and shops join the neighbourhood. Here is our guide to exploring the streets of Malvern.

From drinking holes galore to sweat-soaked gig venues, meatball sliders to fresh Mex, healthy delights to homemakers’ heaven, Richmond is a shiny, happy playground for many a Melburnian. In our humble opinion, here’s the best of the ‘burb.