The restaurants worth a reservation in Melbourne, from neighbourhood bistros to the new classics.
The restaurants worth the trip in Melbourne: bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
19 places
Order New England lobster roll and slow-cooked lamb shoulder
Supernormal on Flinders Lane runs an Asian-influenced menu drawing on Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul. One Good Food Guide hat and perpetually full since 2014.
Order Wood-roasted lamb with spiced rice and labneh
Zareh on Smith Street in Collingwood applies Armenian and Lebanese heritage to a wood-fired menu of roasted lamb, spiced rice and labneh; opened in 2025.
Order Tagliolini al nero with squid and bottarga
Tipo 00 on Little Bourke Street serves house-rolled pasta in a tight CBD room. The squid-ink tagliolini and wagyu mafaldine have been selling out for years.
Order Hand-rolled pasta of the day from the cellar bar menu
Grossi Florentino holds two Good Food Guide hats. The upstairs room is the classical Italian benchmark; the Cellar Bar serves the same food more casually.
Order Stir-fried green beans with holy basil and pork crackling
Chin Chin on Flinders Lane is Melbourne's reference for Southeast Asian cooking: loud, no-bookings, consistently packed since 2011 and the food holds up.
Order Pork chop with mustard and pickles on the daily specials board
Daphne in Brunswick East is the Etta team's public house: seasonal European cooking, a natural wine list and a room that genuinely takes the food seriously.
Order Steak au poivre with pommes frites and a glass of Burgundy
France-Soir has been Melbourne's Parisian bistro since 1982: the menu barely changes, the wine list is legendary and the room feels uncannily right.
Order Rare beef and brisket pho with bean sprouts and fresh herbs
Pho Hung Vuong 2 on Victoria Street is Melbourne's pho standard-bearer: long-simmered broth with charred onion and ginger, piled with fresh herbs.
Order Wood-roasted lamb with orzo and feta
Aegli on Coventry Street leads Melbourne's new Greek wave: regional Hellenic flavours, smoked saganaki and lamb shoulder in a South Melbourne room.
Order Seasonal raw bar plate and house bread with cultured butter
Bar Liberty in Fitzroy holds one Good Food Guide hat: Melbourne's natural-wine bistro of record, with small plates, biodynamic pours and a polished kitchen.
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Order French onion soup and the daily rotisserie plate
Maison Batard on Bourke Street combines boulangerie, bistro, cocktail bar and terrace: Melbourne's closest equivalent to a full-service Parisian house.
Order Curry mee noodles with coconut milk broth
Ho Jiak in Rainbow Alley is Melbourne's best Malaysian kitchen: noodle dishes referencing Penang and KL regional traditions with roti made in the open.
Order Semolina-crusted margherita or the anchovy and olive
Rita's in Abbotsford makes what many locals rate as the city's best pizza: semolina-crusted bases with charred edges from wood and discipline, not theatre.
Order Udon bolognese and the daily onigiri
Suupaa in Cremorne takes the Japanese konbini concept seriously: udon bolognese and tamago sandwiches with precise daily specials and excellent canned sake.
Order Chicken pho with fresh herbs and chilli vinegar on the side
Good Days on Smith Street serves Vietnamese pho rivalling Victoria Street: clear aromatic broth, noodles cooked to order and a room full of loyal locals.
Order Pan-fried fish with seasonal vegetables and grains
Carlton Wine Room on Faraday Street is the bistro Melbourne dining culture is built on: seasonal cooking, natural wine and a room that always feels right.
Order Cacio e pepe made tableside with tonnarelli pasta
Roma on Collins Street is Melbourne's Roman trattoria, cacio e pepe tableside. Located in Cbd. Order the cacio e pepe made tableside with tonnarelli pasta.
Order Seasonal tasting menu with matched wines
Etta in Brunswick East is Daphne's senior sibling: a considered tasting menu format, produce-led cooking and a wine list that matches the kitchen's drive.
Order Whole roasted chicken for the table with grains and seasonal leaves
Cumulus Inc. on Flinders Lane is Andrew McConnell's all-day room: raw bar to open, share plates to follow and a wine list that earns a return visit.
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