26 cuisines represented in our Melbourne guide. Click through to the entry to see editor picks, what to order and how to book. Want a wider lens? All cuisines in this country or global cuisines index.
26 cuisines, most places first
Modern Australian15 restaurants
Cafe14 restaurantsThe cafe is where Melbourne's coffee identity lives, with roasters and baristas treating the espresso bar as seriously as any restaurant.
Cocktail bar13 restaurantsMelbourne's cocktail culture thrives in hidden upstairs rooms and laneway doorways, a legacy of the small-bar licensing that reshaped the city centre.
Bakery10 restaurantsMelbourne's bakery scene runs from laminated pastry obsessives to old-school neighbourhood ovens, and queues have become part of the ritual.
Italian10 restaurantsItalian food shaped modern Melbourne dining, from the trattorias of Lygon Street to a new wave of pasta-focused rooms.
Street food9 restaurantsMelbourne's street food lives in its markets and migrant high streets, where a handful of dollars buys some of the city's best eating.
Brewery7 restaurants
Brunch7 restaurantsBrunch is close to a civic institution in Melbourne, built on the city's coffee culture and a willingness to wait in line for it.
Wine bar7 restaurantsThe wine bar is one of Melbourne's defining formats, a small room where a tight kitchen and a thoughtful list carry equal weight.
French fine dining6 restaurantsFrench fine dining in Melbourne leans on classic bistro and brasserie technique, often softened by a local hand.
Japanese5 restaurantsJapanese cooking in Melbourne reaches well beyond the city centre, with much of the energy now in the inner west and Cremorne.
Vietnamese5 restaurantsVietnamese food is central to Melbourne eating, with Victoria Street in Richmond long serving as the city's pho corridor.
Malaysian4 restaurantsMalaysian food is one of Melbourne's most beloved comfort cuisines, built on laksa, char kway teow and rich curry noodles.
Chinese3 restaurantsChinese cooking in Melbourne spans Cantonese, Shanghainese and modern reinterpretations, much of it clustered around the CBD's laneways and Chinatown.
Asian fusion2 restaurants
Levantine2 restaurants
Middle Eastern2 restaurantsMiddle Eastern cooking in Melbourne moves between traditional mezze and modern plates, with Smith Street in Collingwood a focal point.
Southeast Asian2 restaurantsSoutheast Asian flavours run through much of how Melbourne eats out, from Thai herbs to fragrant curries and grilled street fare.
Greek1 restaurantMelbourne is home to one of the largest Greek populations outside Greece, and that diaspora runs through the city's tavernas and mezze rooms.
Japanese sushi1 restaurantSushi at the top end of Melbourne is a quiet, omakase-driven craft built on precise rice and fish.
Mexican1 restaurantMexican dining in Melbourne broke into the mainstream through a wave of taqueria-style rooms in the city centre.
New American1 restaurantAmerican-style diners and bar food have found a confident, playful home in Melbourne's inner north.
Seafood1 restaurantMelbourne's seafood dining is tied to the bay, with the best rooms making the most of the waterfront.
Tasting menu1 restaurantThe Melbourne tasting menu is where its chefs work most freely, building long sequences around produce and place.
Thai1 restaurantThai cooking is woven into Melbourne's everyday dining, from quick noodle plates to lively bar-and-kitchen rooms.
Vegan1 restaurantMelbourne's plant-based scene is among the most developed in the country, with dedicated vegan pubs and kitchens treating the food as cooking first.
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