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Melbourne’s hot on fusion cuisine and the latest mash-up is Nikkei: Peruvian and Japanese, taking over a long-standing Chapel Street venue. 

Rathdowne street has recently birthed a family-run cafe, bringing a little taste of the Middle East to Carlton North—Cafe Jabelle. 

Fans of the Sicilian pastry pipped full 0f creamy ricotta will be glad to know a cafe dedicated to the treat has landed in Carlton with Melbourne's cannoli king Dario Di Clerico leading the charge.

***TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS***

The Prince is a real old charmer and a true Melbourne icon. However, we’re here to tell you all about Prince Dining Room as it ushers in a new era with Sydney’s rising star Mitch Orr at the helm as Creative Director, already making as one of our city's best restaurants. 

Tucked away on Little Collins Street, e.g.etal is more art gallery than jewellery store, exhibiting exquisite contemporary jewellery from over 50 Australian and New Zealand designers.

It’s big, it’s bold, and after a martini or two, you might feel like you’re in one of NYC’s top-tier bistros. Society is from powerhouse restaurateur Chris Lucas of Lucas Restaurants, flaunting crystal chandeliers, a wine cellar with more than 10,000 bottles, and a menu decked out with first-class Australian produce. 

One of Melbourne's best restaurants in the CBD, Shane Delia's Maha Restaurant—named after Delia's wife—has been kicking around for a good 15 years. The city's premier Middle Eastern restaurant underwent a tasteful, moody little renno a few years back, bringing it more in-line with modern Melbourne sensibilities.

Carlton North’s La Luna Bistro has held down the fort as a Melbourne institution for 25 years, and with full-hearts and full-bellies they plan to close their doors, dishing-up their final meals on 3 August. 

Get ready to get your boogie and your bubbles on at this new discotheque themed cocktail bar, hidden in a CBD car park.

The crown jewel of Andrew McConnell's Trader House empire (Cumulus Inc., Cutler & Co, Supernormal), Gimlet At Cavendish House is an absolute culinary marvel. 

Resting right above the now infamous speciality tea destination Yugen Tea Bar, the South Yarra venue is now welcoming Yūgen, a  two-level eatery with three unique spaces, each one evoking a sense of intimacy mixed with innovation and newness. 

Poodle Bar & Bistro stepped into Melbourne’s dining scene in all its swanky art-deco glory and hasn't loked back since.

With sweeping views of Melbourne CBD from level 55 of the Rialto Tower, Vue de Monde is the ultimate fine dining experience in Melbourne. The word experience is key, and this is the ideal place for a special occasion. Acclaimed young chef, Hugh Allen has left his mark on the restaurant already with an incredible degustation that will not soon be forgotten. With too many Chefs Hats to count, save your pennies and pounds because Vue de Monde is a must-do, at least once in your lifetime.

On the former site of the Lygon Food Store now lies Lagoon Dining, the creation of young hospitality trio Chris Lerch, Keat Lee and Ned Trumble, who met while working at Ezard in 2013.

Chris Lucas is at it again with the big and bold Grill Americano, sitting alongside the culinary elite of Flinders Lane. Adding yet another venue to the hospitality group's quiver, Grill Americano will take its cues from Venetian architecture while serving up a menu that’s rich in handmade pasta and Italian classics cooked in a wood oven that'll take centre stage in the restaurant.

It was a wise person who once commented that good taste never goes out of style and so it is with Il Bacaro, a modern Italian restaurant and bar located in Little Collins Street, Melbourne.

Scott Pickett, Melbourne chef and restaurateur can do no wrong and his aptly named, Smith Street Bistrot on Smith Street, Collingwood is no exception. 

The St Kilda seaside dining institution, Stokehouse opened back in the 80s has long stood as one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, and still does today. 

Regularly ranking in the world's top restaurants, Ripponlea's Attica sits at the pointy end of Melbourne's fine dining scene. The three hatted restaurant offers five to eight course dinners during the week, and a special Tuesday night Chef's Table where diners can critique Head Chef, Ben Shewry's, latest culinary experiments.

Without doubt one of Melbourne's best French restaurants, Toorak Road's France-Soir in South Yarra has been ticking along since the 80s and shows no signs of slowing down.

Re’em Yarra Valley is a unicorn, in more than one sense of the word.

Lee Ho Fook is an institution. Expect contemporary Asian flare in the restaurant's pristinely industrial space with its cluster of globe lights standing in for paper lanterns.

High Street Armadale introduces its latest restaurant to its eclectic dining scene, Banshō—a unique fusion of French bistro and Japanese cuisine. Enlisted chefs Tomotaka Ishizuka (Kisumé) and Yoonho Chang (Lume), blend the timeless sophistication of French gastronomy with the artful mastery of Japanese flavours, evidenced in the choux au craquelin—a matcha cream puff, among other dishes on the menu.

Situated at the foot of Eastern Road in South Melbourne, Lucia is a quaint Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar exuding Renaissance charm. From the team behind Riserva, Baia Di Vino and San Lorenzo, this neighbourhood gem promises the same warm hospitality and authentic food.  

Collingwood fine diner IDES has reached cult status in Melbourne, attracting guest chefs from all over the country (usually IDES alum) and you need to be patient to secure a booking which are released two months in advance. 

While there's certainly no shortage of wine bars in Melbourne CBD, finding one that balances culinary know-how with a perfectly curated wine list (one that doesn't take an hour to read...) can be tricky.

We’re not ones to boast, but Melbourne simply *has* to be home to the most incredible restaurants in the country—and this CBD eatery is the jewel in our burger-loving, martini-drinking crown.

A Brunswick institution since 1989, Dejour Jeans on Sydney Road is a denim lover's dream. This not-so-hidden gem offers Australian tailor-made jeans for $65. Yep, bespoke jeans, made to fit, for $65. That isn't a typo. 

Oh Suzie Q, I love you and I can’t stop thinking about your barbeque pork buns. Suzie Q is going to be a thing. Before you know it every event you’re going to will be there. 

Each time Euro summer rolls around, half of Melbourne is left at home. The least we can do to numb the pain is enjoy some authentic and vibey French cuisine, right in the heart of Armadale.

Tucked away on the cusp of the New South Wales border resides a quaint country town called Huon—and right on the banks of Lake Hume is the all-new eco-friendly The Good House.

TBBQ, Brunswick Street’s latest hotspot is where obsession meets the grill. This isn't just barbeque; it's a culinary journey crafted by Tao Ding, a former software engineer turned pitmaster.

We all know Andrew McConnell can do no wrong, but his star venue Cumulus Inc. is a must visit for any Melburnian after a proper fine dining experience. 

Casual, elegant and nostalgic. You might think there aren’t many pubs in the CBD that tick those boxes–until now. Springrock Public Bar is a delightful amalgam of modern Melbourne and a good old fashioned pub experience. It’s the type of place where you'll find a curated wine list but also be able to join 200 other punters crowded around a game of footy on the TV. 

Gertrude Street has fast become Melbourne's trendiest strip. Fancier than Brunswick Street, more artsy than Chapel Street, Windsor. And if there's one restaurant that sums up that whole effortlessly chic vibe, it’s Cutler & Co.

Named after the ultra-fine "double zero flour" that’s a pasta-maker's secret weapon, tipo 00 has firmly cemented itself as one of the most coveted dining experiences in Melbourne’s CBD. And when we say coveted, we mean reservations are a competitive sport—so be ready to snag that spot.

Windsor is about to get a futuristic twist with Chapel Street’s latest opening: The Chapel. This isn’t just another bar or restaurant, it’s a portal to a dystopian world where art, music, cocktails, and a Mediterranean-inspired menu collide.

Chin Chin is Chin Chin, there's no doubt abot it. You can’t talk about Melbourne’s culinary scene without mentioning the neon-lit institution. Over a decade in the game and you’ll still see punters lining up for those signature cocktails, punchy South-East Asian flavours and upbeat vibes. 

If you are seeking an authentic, fine dining Italian experience in the CBD, you simply cannot go past Bourke Street stalwart, Grossi Florentino Upstairs.

Two years after opening their second location in Malvern, the cult-followed charcoal chicken shop continues to expand its dynasty with their third location opening soon along Glen Huntly Road.

The brainchild of the one and only Shannon Martinez and renowned Melbourne chef Ian Curley, Lona Misa is the plant-based venue South Yarra didn’t know it was waiting for. Tucked away inside the Ovolo South Yarra Hotel--aka, the world’s first entirely plant-based hotel group—the 90-seater venue is a cafe by day, and bar by night, giving guests the best of both worlds when they dine inside. 

It's the Sydney-born brand that’s worked with the likes of Kendall Jenner and Travis Scott, and has outposts in all of the major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and London. Now, the streetwear label is returning to its aussie roots with a flagship store in Melbourne.

Ruby Dining is an understatedly elegant diner in Melbourne’s mid-town, serving up a cornucopia of tasty snacks, clever entrees and larger plates, a la New York bistros.

Drawing from their wealth of culinary expertise, Mamas Dining Group has just unveiled their latest venture on Chapel Street, Windsor Wine Room. Departing from the Asian-inspired approach of their renowned restaurants like Hochi Mama, Straight Outta Saigon, and Kiss & Tell, this wine bar embraces a European-influenced dining experience.

Indian diner Bibi Ji is bringing the spices of India to Carlton’s Lygon Street, Melbourne’s Italian dining epicenter, with an 80-seat restaurant specialising in dishes inspired by Indian street food. From the team behind the acclaimed Australian-Indian restaurant Daughter-in-Law, Bibi Ji, which translates to ‘mother’ in Punjab, is the brainchild of chef and co-owner, Amar Singh (Horn Please and Dhaba at the Mill).

Celiacs, rejoice. Newcomer Hotel Nacional's main schtick is an entirely gluten-free offering. It’s from the many brains behind Repeat Offender and Rufio, two Latin American-leaning restaurants known for ridding gluten from the kitchen. But with both those out in Elwood and St Kilda respectively, it was only a matter of time before the crew brought their signature flair to the CBD. And after having their eye on the former Campari House place for well over a year, the doors for Hotel Nacional are now open.

Sitting atop Vibe Hotel on the corner of Queen Street and Flinders Street is the tallest rooftop bar Flinders Street has in its repertoire—Fleet. It’s an impressive 68 metres tall which for a visual reference, Melbourne Central’s Shot Tower tops out at 50 metres. 

In 2024, Pinchy’s is lookin’ extra fresh. After four years residing on Bourke Street, the seafood restaurant and bar is ushering in a renewed era, assigning a new chef in the kitchen and rewriting the entire menu.

The humble North Fitzroy Arms. With new ownership comes a new team and a decent sprucing of the space, but the same amount of love that has been poured into the pub for the last 150-years remains steadfast. 

The Bon Vivant's Companion is the latest addition to Mornington’s bar scene—marble bench tops, brass detailing, deep timber floors, and splashes of emerald green. It’s moody, sleek and the epitome of a cocktail bar. Which is what they’re calling themselves, but with over 200 Australian spirits on the shelves, and a whisky and gin list that spans across 10 pages, it’s clear the crew are serious about their drinks.

Melbourne is no stranger to fashionable punters—after all, the city is dubbed the fashion capital for a reason. You wouldn’t be the first to be in awe of someone’s fit as they walk down Swanston Street, and you certainly wouldn’t be the last. Wondering where everyone is going? It could very well be SWOP. 

At Albert Park, you’ll typically find sleek eateries and bars residing in almost every nook and cranny. For owner Baxter Pickard, that was the story of how he came to establish Wally’s: by being in the right place at the right time. By stumbling upon a vacant corner located next door to Bread Club, he envisioned a wine bar fueled by his love for wine and so, brought it to fruition.

Port Melbourne’s Starward Distillery and Bar, named Australia’s Most Awarded Distillery of the Year at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, has unveiled a revamped hospitality experience featuring an open-plan bar and intimate booth seating. 

Straight off the bat, the fit-out at Casa Chino already tops as one of the most beautiful restaurants in Melbourne. The undercover alfresco dining space is adorned with vibrant greenery running overhead along exposed wooden beams, and the centre-piece tree lights up with fairy lights, emitting a soft, warm hue. Inside, the pastel colours and contemporary Latin flair sets the tone for Casa Chino among the suede booth seating, poppy floor tiles, and curved archways.

Tableside amaro, rare home-grown Italian veggies, and a head chef with impressive creds—Bau Bau is opening in Mount Eliza.

If you dare climb Swanston Street’s Curtin House stairs or simply take the lift, you'll find Mexican tequila bar and kitchen Mesa Verde sitting high on the sixth floor, just underneath Rooftop Bar.

Niku Shiki has graced The Glen for two years, cementing itself as the epicenter for premium wagyu in Melbourne. Now, the three-in-one Wagyu specialist has landed in the heart of Melbourne’s bustling CBD.

The pair behind Johnston Street’s ‘70s-style bar Gum, Chris and Miles Brooks, are unveiling another decades-inspired eatery next door. This time, they’re bringing us back to the ‘80s with The Continental, or The Conti for short—the duo’s take on grab ‘n’ go deli with a touch of funky flair.

Shopping centres are picking up their dining game as of late. Last year, Chadstone poured $70 million big ones into the culinary precinct The Social Quarter that boasts chic restaurants like Cinque Terre and Cityfields. Now, the sustainable shopping centre in Melbourne’s east is following in similar footsteps by introducing a slick new all-day dining rooftop, Rombe.