Pho Hung Vuong 2
- ★ 4.8
- Vietnamese
- $
- Richmond
Order Rare beef and brisket pho, large
The defining pho on Victoria Street: long-simmered beef broth with rare beef and brisket in a no-frills Richmond room that has fed the city since the 1980s.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Melbourne actually eats.
Where to eat well, no fuss
20 places
Chin Chin
Order Whole barramundi with green herbs and tamarind sauce
Chin Chin on Flinders Lane is the no-bookings Southeast Asian diner: arrive on a weeknight, order the whole fish and a cold beer from the freezer bar.
Pappa Laksa
- ★ 4.5
- Malaysian
- $
Order King seafood laksa with barramundi fillet
Pappa Laksa in Burwood slow-cooks its coconut broth for five hours: rich, layered and served with barramundi or king prawns over rice noodles.
Book food experiences in Melbourne
Ho Jiak
- ★ 4.5
- Malaysian
- $$
- CBD and Laneways
Order Char kuay teow with wok hei and fresh cockles
Ho Jiak on Rainbow Alley references Penang and KL regional traditions: precise Malaysian cooking with handmade roti at the counter in a compact laneway space.
Green Man's Arms
- ★ 4.3
- Vegan
- $$
- Carlton
Order House falafel with hummus and Yemeni lahuh bread
Green Man's Arms on Lygon Street is Carlton's fully vegan pub: Middle Eastern small plates, house falafel and kombucha on tap in a corner hotel with live.
Cumulus Inc.
Order Whole roasted chicken with seasonal sides
Cumulus Inc. on Flinders Lane is the CBD's best all-day operator: raw bar at the counter, whole roasted chicken for the table and a wine list worth exploring.
Maison Batard
- ★ 4.0
- French
- $$
- CBD and Laneways
Order French onion soup with a gruyere crust
Maison Batard's ground-floor boulangerie feeds the CBD from 7am; by noon the bistro above opens for French classics and a wine list without a bad bottle.
Daphne
- ★ 4.2
- Modern Australian
- $$
- Brunswick
Order Fried cheese with honey and walnuts
Daphne is a public house in spirit: seasonal menu, cocktails and a wine list for conversation in a Brunswick East room that became a local anchor fast.
France-Soir
- ★ 4.4
- French
- $$$
- South Yarra and Prahran
Order Steak frites with French mustard and frisee salad
France-Soir on Toorak Road has served classical French food since 1982: the menu barely changes, theatrical service and an honest wine list.
Good Days
- ★ 4.2
- Vietnamese
- $
- Collingwood
Order Beef pho with tendon and fresh bean sprouts
Good Days on Smith Street is Collingwood's Vietnamese pho anchor: aromatic broth, fresh noodles and regulars who know what they want before they sit down.
Where to stay in Melbourne
A sample of Melbourne hotels from our booking partner, who list 1,938 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
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With a stay at Europa Melbourne - Hostel, you'll be centrally located in Melbourne, just a 5-minute walk fr...
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Roma
- ★ 4.7
- Italian
- $$$
- CBD and Laneways
Order Tonnarelli cacio e pepe, tableside
Roma on Collins Street is Melbourne's most disciplined Roman trattoria: cacio e pepe tableside, proper tonnarelli and a small menu that refuses to overstep.
Rita's Abbotsford
- ★ 4.7
- Italian Pizza
- $$
- Collingwood
Order Semolina-crusted pizza with anchovy and olive
Rita's in Abbotsford makes semolina-crusted pizzas with wood-fired char most pizza rooms approximate: small room, short menu, real consistency.
Suupaa
- ★ 4.1
- Japanese
- $$
- Collingwood
Order Udon bolognese with parmesan and soft egg
Suupaa in Cremorne takes the Japanese konbini as inspiration and applies serious cooking: the udon bolognese beats most Italian noodle dishes in the city.
Zareh
- ★ 4.8
- Middle Eastern
- $$$
- Collingwood
Order Chargrilled flatbread with yoghurt and lamb fat
Zareh on Smith Street brings Armenian and Lebanese cooking with a charcoal focus that makes it one of Melbourne's most exciting casual rooms.
Stokehouse
- ★ 4.3
- Seafood
- $$$
- St Kilda
Order Grilled barramundi with seasonal greens and brown butter
Stokehouse on the St Kilda foreshore is Melbourne's defining seaside lunch: a one-hat seafood room with bay views and a kitchen earning its reputation.
Tipo 00
- ★ 4.6
- Italian
- $$$
- CBD and Laneways
Order Tagliolini al nero di seppia with squid
Tipo 00 on Little Bourke Street is Melbourne's pasta room of record: squid-ink tagliolini daily, short seasonal menu and a room that stays full every service.
A1 Bakery
Order Za'atar manakish with fresh tomato and onion
A1 Bakery on Sydney Road has been Melbourne's Lebanese bakery anchor since 1992: thick manakish, fresh flatbreads and meat pies at a walk-in counter.
Grossi Cellar Bar
- ★ 4.0
- Italian
- $$
- CBD and Laneways
Order Fresh pasta of the day with a glass of Barolo
Grossi Cellar Bar serves the same kitchen as upstairs at half the price: fresh pasta, cured meats and Italian classics at a curved marble bar in the CBD.
Bar Liberty Bistro
- ★ 4.5
- Modern Australian
- $$$
- Fitzroy
Order Seasonal raw oysters and the cheese course
Bar Liberty in Fitzroy holds one Good Food Guide hat: Melbourne's best natural-wine bistro with seasonal small plates and a list that rewards exploration.
Carlton Wine Room
- ★ 4.3
- Modern Australian
- $$
- Carlton
Order Fish with seasonal grain salad and preserved lemon
Carlton Wine Room is the neighbourhood bistro Melbourne dining culture is built on: seasonal cooking, natural wine and a room that rewards weekly return.
Nothing matches.