There’s a lot that’ll draw you into Melbourne’s CBD around lunchtime. You might be shopping, working, seeing a matinee performance, having a meeting or going to an exhibition. But no matter why you’re in the city during the arvo, inevitably, hunger will strike and you’ll find yourself in need of a feed. Thankfully, great local dining options are almost endless. But therein lies the problem. What one place do you choose to go when you’re after lunch in the Melbourne CBD?
That, dear reader, depends entirely upon what you’re in the mood for. You might feel like treating yourself to a fine-dining situation or want cheap eats that’ll fill that hole in your aching belly. You might want steak, sushi, pizza, fried chicken, tapas, pasta, pho, burgers, curry, tacos or dumplings. All of these options lie on this list of the best Melbourne CBD lunch spots. Simply scroll through to find what tickles your fancy, or simply use the map function above to see what’s nearby. Choose your own delicious city adventure.
Recommended reads:
The Best Breakfast in Melbourne’s CBD
The Best Restaurants in Melbourne’s CBD
The Best Bars in Melbourne’s CBD
The Best Coffee Shops in Melbourne’s CBD
Expect big portions and even bigger flavours at this Melbourne CBD lunch spot
The family who used to own Thai Culinary and Raan Kan Eang on Elizabeth Street (both sadly closed during Covid) returned with a new venture in Melbourne’s CBD in 2023 — Kan Eang. Set within a narrow space on Flinders Lane, the two-storey Thai restaurant is a sleeker, more refined version of the older haunts. This is partly because the original owners’ children have taken over the reins to give the venue a contemporary refresh.
Loyal fans needn’t fret though, because the siblings have stuck true to what made their family’s previous restaurants so popular — serving up generous amounts of great Thai eats at really decent prices. Many of the most popular dishes from the previous venues remain, and the parents still pass through to make sure they don’t mess around with family recipes.
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377 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
It’s a relatively new addition to our Italian restaurant scene but is already one of its finest
Melbourne’s CBD is no stranger to a brilliant Italian restaurant, but 2023 saw a new legend join the game — QuandoQuando Cucina & Bar. This Sicilian restaurant comes from Pino Trigilia, who used to own and cook at Il Nostro Posto on Hardware Lane (now home to Funghi e Tartufo).
Traditional and semi-formal Sicilian food is the name of the game here. Don’t come expecting rustic cheap eats. Everything is more refined, but has a pleasing, well-considered simplicity. A must-try? Any of the hand-made pastas, be they on the regular menu or one of the daily specials.
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270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Get around $15 noodles every weekday lunchtime
Sitting on level three of the Arbory crew’s HER building, Thai barbecue canteen BKK celebrates punchy flavours cooked over flame and coal. Enjoy the open kitchen’s theatrics as you tuck into fire-driven fare centred around BKK’s custom-built five-metre Zesti charcoal grill and oven.
From barbecued meats to authentic curries, the menu pulls inspiration from across Thailand, with a few modern reinterpretations in the mix. Come weekday lunchtimes, the team also serves up its mega cheap $15 noodles that’ll easily fill you up. You can even get an adaptation of the BKK menu up on the HER Rooftop when the sun is shining.
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80 Collins Precinct, Melbourne
This CBD spot pays culinary homage to all things Gippsland
The much-hyped 80 Collins Street dining precinct might be a good 320 kilometres away from Gippsland. But, even so, resident Farmer’s Daughters is dedicated almost entirely to celebrating and showcasing the region’s finest produce and ingredients. The three-level restaurant is the work of acclaimed chef Alejandro Saravia — not only a longtime champion of the area, but the Official Food & Beverage Ambassador for Gippsland.
With this homage to all things Gippsland, Saravia is out to take guests on a full-blown exploration of his favourite Victorian region, minus the four-hour road trip. On the first floor, you’re greeted by a gourmet deli, food store and eatery, the second more closely resembles a fine-diner and the rooftop is ideal for either lunchtime sips and snacks or proper sit-down feeds.
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275 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
This 1930s New York-Inspired Italo-American joint is full of charm
Think of Pepe’s as a glammed-up version of Pellegrini’s — Melbourne’s famous Italian espresso bar and restaurant. Taking its cues from 1930s and 1940s New York City, the lush restaurant marries checkerboard flooring and red leather seating just like Pellegrini’s, but it’s significantly more polished and formal.
During the week, suits descend upon the eatery for long business lunches, while weekends see a crowd of Melbourne foodies take over — ordering big plates of pasta, woodfired pizzas and spritzes for days. It’s Italian-American dining at its finest.
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37/41 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Jessi Singh’s rule-breaking Indian restaurant has naan pizza and 70s Bollywood tunes
Most nights, Daughter in Law is packed — getting a seat ain’t easy. This is the reason why we’re such big fans of heading to this beloved modern Indian restaurant at lunchtime.
Hide away from the heat by grabbing a table inside where you can sip on beers and cocktails while sampling modern, flavour-packed Indian dishes. And if you have the time, we highly recommend the chef’s selection banquet. At a leisurely pace, eat and drink your way through a seemingly endless amount of food without being weighed down by the stress of having to decide what to order. It’s an ideal way to stretch out an afternoon in the CBD.
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A two-storey barbecue joint complete with its own rooftop bar.
This epic barbecue joint is made for any never-ending lunches that you have a hunch will eventually transform into a big night of drinking and eating. Start off in the large 100-seat dining room, feasting on pulled pork, smoky beef brisket, glazed baby back pork ribs and all the sides your barbecue-loving self could dream of — adding blooming onions, buffalo wings and mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes to the order for more greasy goodness.
Following your Melbourne barbecue feast, just take a trip upstairs to the rooftop bar, Good Heavens, and get back into it. Our rec? Watch the sunset over the city with a cheeky spritz in hand before heading elsewhere for a merry night out on the town.
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38 Mcilwraith Place, Melbourne
With an atmosphere that perfectly mirrors the vibrant hustle and bustle of a Bangkok market.
Soi 38 is an authentic Thai street food restaurant in the CBD, with an atmosphere that perfectly mirrors the vibrant hustle and bustle of a Bangkok market. With plastic stools and brightly coloured tables, this is the kind of place you come to experience classic yet tantalising flavours with genuine Thai ambience.
The menu here, at one of the best Thai restaurants in Melbourne, never seems to end, staying true to the inventiveness of the country’s street food scene. The spot may not be all fine dining and glam, but it proves that it doesn’t need to be. It’s still up there with some of the best restaurants in Melbourne.
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650 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
This sky-high fine-diner is now serving lunch from Thursday to Saturday
Atria has been towering over Melbourne’s skyline (up on the Ritz-Carlton‘s 80thfloor) since March 2023, but it was originally a dinner-only situation. Thankfully, that’s now changed (at least from Thursday to Saturday), with a la carte and set menu options both available during lunchtime sittings.
Expect fine-dining done fabulously up here, with a strong focus on local and seasonal ingredients. Michael Greenlaw (ex-Vue de Monde and London’s Bibendum) and his team carefully consider and intricately prepare everything on the plate, and the sommeliers expertly pair it all with wines from their encyclopedia list. This Melbourne CBD lunch spot is certainly on the luxurious end of the spectrum, but it’s worth the great cost if you can afford it.
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Level 1, Curtain House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
One of the classic ‘cool’ bars in Melbourne never fails to disappoint
Cookie beer hall, eating house and disco is a flamboyant venue full of chatter and laughter that serves up classic Thai dishes and innovative cocktails for lunch every day of the week. Either come for drinks and snacks at the bar or go all out with a bunch of mates, ordering from the long menu of contemporary Thai dishes.
Our favourites? The deep-fried five-spice chicken with sweet chilli sauce and homemade pickles, as well as the seafood platter of snapper, calamari, mussels and king prawns in a red curry. Make sure you order some cocktails from the bar as well. These guys are known for constantly creating new concoctions that can’t be missed.
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San Telmo offers authentic Argentinian food and wine to match
After a cocktail next door, don’t be surprised if you find yourself on the doorstep of San Telmo, succumbing to the enticing pull of the Argentinean grill. Inside, carnivores congregate around the Parilla — feasting on slabs of tender, smokey charred meat. Order by cut: short ribs, flank, rib eye and all the steaks of rump are on offer here.
The menu is designed to share, which means that our vegetarian friends needn’t miss out. The sweet-burnt carrots with thyme and goat cheese, provolone, charcoal roasted cabbage salad, or Brussel sprouts with parsnip and chestnut puree will appease the non-animal eaters, while desserts like the dulce de leche creme caramel with salted peanut praline will have both tribes fighting over the fork.
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Giant bowls of ramen served well into the night.
Shujinko is one of those hallowed places you’ve no doubt discussed with friends vaguely in the past — “Yeah, that ramen joint on Russell?” The service is bright and cheerful, and the place is always busy no matter whether it’s 7pm or 11am.
Head in and be greeted with a hefty bowl of glorious pork belly-topped soup of your choice — the black ramen is our pick. You’ll be staring lovingly into its oily depths and whispering arigatou, we’re sure of it. The menu features a slew of extra toppings available to add on. Plus, there are now multiple Shujinko locations in the CBD and one in Glen Waverley, so you’ll never have to go without when searching for ramen in Melbourne.
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Shop 9 Equitable Place, Melbourne
Let little robots with digital cat faces deliver your Thai street food eats directly to the table
Hidden in a basement just off Little Collins street, DodeePaidang is a vibrant eatery bursting with aromatic fragrances and bustling conversation which perfectly captures the energy of a Bangkok diner. Opened in 2017 by SompornPhosri, who grew up working in his mother’s kitchen, this Melbourne Thai restaurant now has seven locations. But this one is the original and, fair to say, the best.
The menu is vast and can be daunting. Thankfully, it features photos of every dish, so you won’t be ordering blind. This is extra important as you’ll purchase all your food and drinks via a QR code (there are no personalised recommendations for you; you’ve got to trust in your choices!), and then a robot will deliver your order to the table. Alternatively, for a quick Melbourne CBD lunch, the team has another store upstairs with cheap curries and spicy fish cakes available every weekday.
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209 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Make sure you pair your Korean fried chicken with a few jugs of beer
Korean-style fried chicken and cold beer continue to be a hot combination, especially among students hunting down cheap eats in Melbourne CBD. Here, every morsel of bird is guaranteed to have that perfect golden crunch thanks to the massive robotic arm that hovers over the deep fryer throughout the day.
When it comes to your fried chicken, you can go for bone-in or boneless, and then pick the sauce you want to slather on these bad boys. Hot and spicy is a crowd favourite — SamSam isn’t holding back on the heat with this one — but you’ll be more than happy choosing soy and garlic, mala-soy, sweet chilli, soy and mustard, lemon mayo, or snow cheese. Baskets of bird come with pickled radish and coleslaw, and can easily be paired with a jug of ice-cold beer and kimchi fries.
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After decades of service, the Waiter’s Club remains a city stalwart
The Waiters Restaurant (formerly The Waiters Club) has been around since 1947 and still resembles an old canteen from the 70s. But despite missing out on the neighbouring Meyers Place revolution, The Waiters Restaurant remains a city stalwart. Originally a members-only, after-work venue for Melbourne’s Australian waiters, the restaurant now hosts a cross-generational legion of foodie fans.
Tuck into a large welcoming bowl of pasta like the spaghetti bolognese that’s been on the menu since the 70s (in the exact same form) and settle in for a good old fashioned family-style feast. Fine dining, it’s not, but it is homely and dependable. And you’ll never leave hungry.
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366 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
This cosy CBD spot is a go-to for exceptional (and budget-friendly) Malaysian hawker food
One word: roti. Mamak is famous for a good reason, and that reason is flaky, buttery, delicious and dipped in curry. The Melbourne branch of the Malaysian restaurant sits in the middle of the CBD on Lonsdale Street.
Obviously, you’ll hit up the roti menu but don’t bypass the satay options — they’re just as good. There’s also dessert roti FYI, so make sure to try and exercise a minute amount of self-control and leave space. And on top of all that greatness, Mamak is an affordable Melbourne BYO restaurant, only charging $4 per person.
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Part art gallery, part Italian restaurant, this CBD is the second outpost of St Kilda’s Cafe Di Stasio.
While food is king here, it’s hard to talk about Di Stasio Citta without mentioning its grand modernist design. It feels more like a contemporary gallery than a restaurant, with high concrete-clad walls, minimal furnishings, and white videos projected onto the walls. At the same time, Italian music from the 60s plays in the background. It’s a brilliant backdrop for the consumption of Melbourne CBD’s best lunch.
Expect to choose from about ten different pasta options each time you visit, and always struggle to make a choice. The rest of the menu is stacked with classic Italian dishes executed perfectly each and every time. It’s the kind of place where regulars come back over and over to order the same exact series of dishes. But with so many options available, we recommend changing it up and discovering something new.
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Yulongfu Steamed Buns Restaurant
Xiaolongbao steal the show at this Shanghainese dumpling restaurant
The husband and wife duo behind Yulongfu take their dumplings very seriously. Located on Bourke Street, this Shanghainese-style dumpling shop is a celebration of tradition and craft, executed through a menu full of signature dim sum morsels handmade to long-held family recipes, some dating back as far as 1904.
It’s run by some of the most friendly front-of-house staff in the city. They’ll pop your BYO beer and chilled wines in the fridge and talk you through the long menus. We are obsessed with their oysters cooked in XO sauce, the xiaolongbao and clay pot beef. Just be warned that the separate spicy menu is no joke. Even the spiced-down version will have you reaching for your beers after every bite. Consider yourselves warned.
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Lobster rolls and karaoke, together at last.
A pop-up turned perennial favourite, Supernormal first opened the doors to its current Flinders Lane digs in early 2014 and has been earning fans ever since for its crafty fusion fare — including the famous signature New England lobster roll.
It’s also where you can have one of the most fun private dining experiences in Melbourne. Kick it off with a long lunch for up to 40 guests and follow it up with karaoke in the very same room. The team has a huge screen and all the gear required to keep the dancing and singing going til late. Otherwise, the main dining room is always busy with people taking over seats at the bar and down in the booths. A vibe.
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23-25 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Hotel Nacional is Hardware Lane’s five-storey, totally gluten-free Mexican restaurant and bar
The Hardware Lane site that previously held Campari House was completely overhauled and transformed into a huge new Mexican restaurant and bar in mid-2024. Head Chef Sergio Tourn (ex-The Vale and Tino) is responsible for the menu, which combines traditional Mexican elements with plenty of European, Australian and South American influences.
For weekday lunches, the crew even serves up huge $20 burrito bowls packed with your choice of protein — including pulled pork, crispy rocking, pulled chicken and braised mushrooms. Alternatively, order a la carte, sharing a bunch of tacos, tostadas and quesadillas either inside or up on the rooftop.
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Melbourne’s Italian dining institution has been pumping since 1928
Although the Grossi family hasn’t always owned it, Florentino has stood at the 80 Bourke Street site since 1928. In that time, it’s changed ownership quite a bit, but the sentiment has remained the same: Florentino has always been about authentic Italian fine dining and great wine.
Expect the menu of classic Italian eats to change regularly, but we hope you catch its sopressini al ragu made with wild boar meat, oranges and pecorino. It might just be the very best ragu we’ve ever had in Melbourne. That being said, you don’t necessarily have to go down the carbs route at Grossi Florentino, there are ample options. It’s been one of the best restaurants in Melbourne for many years, and that ain’t changing anytime soon.
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15 Celestial Avenue, Melbourne
A Chinatown institution where the frills are minimal and the Cantonese eats are generous
Nestled up an unassuming Chinatown staircase, this Cantonese restaurant is a simple sort of spot with minimal frills. But it’s also a true institution — a longtime hit with off-the-clock chefs and discerning late-night diners alike. And it’s not hard to see why.
The menu is a roll-call of classics done well and served without restraint. Tried and true winners like crispy-skinned roast duck, along with many incarnations of that age-old comfort food, congee. The BYO offering also makes this one ideal for group dining and cheap eats.
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Andrew McConnell’s elegant cocktail bar and European bistro serves up caviar, champagne and truffles aplenty.
Yet another hit from legendary chef Andrew McConnell (Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, Marion) Gimlet is a suave Melbourne restaurant and cocktail bar located in the 1920s-built Cavendish House. A dapper fit-out features soaring ceilings, geometric tiles and honeycomb chandeliers, while the food and drink offering is that of a very chic French bistro.
The menu boasts plates like wood-roasted rock lobster with bisque sauce, and a gnocco fritto featuring bresaola and parmesan; deftly mixing old-world elements with a touch of modern flair. Like the space, the menu is also incredibly indulgent — expect caviar bumps, champagne and truffles aplenty.
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‘The Chris Lucas effect’ has people lining up out the doors almost every day.
The tried and tested magic formula of Chin Chin sees regular crowds out the door seeking a taste of the now-famous Southeast Asian menu. If you don’t have a booking, you can put your name down on the list and wait for your table at the team’s downstairs drinking den Go Go Bar.
Alternatively, the Lucas Group crew has a stack of other city dining destinations serving up banging afternoon set menus and a la carte offerings, including Grill Americano, Yakimono, Society and Kisume. Depending on the kind of food you’re in the mood for, any of these spots will satisfy your lunchtime cravings in the city.
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361 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
A long-standing legend you can always rely on
The word ‘institution’ gets thrown around quite a bit, but Tipo 00 can rightfully claim the title. Named after the finely ground flour used to make pizza and pasta, Tipo’s popularity shows no sign of slowing down – just try getting a table at noon any day of the week. This famed Italian restaurant in Melbourne has a menu that is both simple and reliable.
Expect crowd-favourite dishes like the squid ink tagliolini (a narrower version of tagliatelle) which is served with squid and bottarga (cured fish roe). You can’t leave without ordering a plate (or two) of their famous Tipomisù — a ring of fudgey chocolate cake filled with mascarpone and chocolate caramel. Watch out for the intense kick of caffeine at the end.
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Accessible Indian-inspired cuisine with a fine dining twist
There are few restaurants in Melbourne’s CBD that instantly make you feel special. Tonka (formally Honky Tonks) is one of them. The moment you walk in, you know this place is different. The staff are warm yet professional, and the dining room is beautiful, accented by a twirling white installation hanging from the roof.
Follow the flashing neon sign to the very end of Duckboard Place off Flinders Lane and you’ll find your way. Contemporary Indian eats are championed here, matched by a gutsy wine list made to complement the vibrant dishes. Cocktails also get an Indian twist and can easily be sampled on their own at the bar out front.
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Raise a glass to Melbourne’s wine bar renaissance
Brought to you by those clever folks behind the Town Mouse (which sadly closed back in 2018), this Russell Street wine bar is instantly inviting with a slick yet warm European charm. The cosy confines mark it as perfect date night material, while stools lining the bar and open kitchen lend themselves perfectly to sophisticated solo dining.
A considered pouring list plays to both the curious and the more conservative. Technique-driven, but not pretentiously so, the food at Embla is as great as you’d expect from this team; the menu proves a winning blend of comforting flavours and chef flair. All of this combines to make one of the very best lunch spots in Melbourne CBD.
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349-351 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Home to excellent a la carte Japanese eats and omakase experiences
Tucked away in Flinders Lane is one of the most striking dining rooms in all of Melbourne. Black granite, dim lighting, sleek leather furniture and a dazzling, illuminated red ribbon streaking through the room from the ceiling. Here, diners can go a la carte with inventive Japanese eats or dive into one of the best Melbourne omakases.
Unlike some other Melbourne omakase joints, Akaiito’s experience includes a more modest five to seven courses of local seafood and top-grade wagyu. But while there are fewer options, the portions are larger. Plus, it’s one of the only Melbourne omakase restaurants that has an entirely vegetarian option — a big win for those dining with meat-free mates.
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Spot on modern Asian CBD dining from the lady herself
Lucy Liu is one of those classic Melbourne laneway hotspots, pulling the crowds with its low-lit entrance, fun-loving menu and bold attitude. If your idea of culinary heaven lies in cleverly executed Asian flavours over old-world European elegance, consider Lucy Liu your CBD lunchtime go-to.
Here, an edgy, neon-laced fit-out backs up a truly exciting menu, featuring yellowfin tuna tataki, a range of stellar house-made dumplings and share-friendly plates like a slow-roasted lamb shoulder with green chilli dahl. Living it up? Opt for Lucy’s five- or seven-course tasting menu, matched to a few of the bar’s vibrant cocktails.
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Emporium Melbourne, Level 4, 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Dumpling magic from the ultimate dumpling masters.
Taiwan’s Din Tai Fung has been a staple of the Melbourne dumpling scene since its opening back in 2015. The Emporium restaurant space is bright, modern and polished, with a glass-walled dumpling kitchen offering visuals of the masters at work, to enjoy while you dine.
The vibe is buzzy and service is speedy, as smartly-dressed waitstaff drop baskets and plates of dumplings to your table.The menu here champions the classics, with options like chicken and mushroom potstickers, shrimp and pork siu mai, and soupy xiaolongbao.
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Tucked away in stencil-drenched Hosier Lane
MoVida is the name of Frank Camorra’s still-brilliant tapas joint in Melbourne CBD. Tucked away in stencil-drenched Hosier Lane, MoVida offers a grazing extravaganza in an enchanting room akin to what you’d actually get in downtown Barcelona.
With a grand choice of aperitivo snacks, tapas, raciones (plates to share amongst two or more), and daily specials, Camorra’s inner city hideaway is a well-packaged empire of Spanish goodness catering to both locals and out-of-towners. Just be warned that you’d best make a booking, because the place packs out. And fast.
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37 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Packed to the brim, this little gem offers a trip to Spain sans the passport.
When people are queuing for a table on a Wednesday night, you know there’s got to be something damn good about Melbourne’s Bar Lourinha. Seasoned regulars know that it’s got a combination of the three all-important aspects of any great venue: food, wine and service. It also helps that it feels like a tiny slice of Spain right here in Melbourne’s CBD.
The wine list is heavily focused on European offerings; Spain, France and Italy are the main contenders here. As for the Iberian food menu, start the evening with smoked chilli and corn croquettes before moving onto the Portuguese prawn rice with turmeric butter or the grilled skirt steak. You can take your time at this beloved restaurant in Melbourne CBD, ordering food and drinks as you go.
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Melbourne’s quintessential drop-in Italian dining institution.
One of our city’s great gifts, this Italian classic remains stubbornly untouched as the years slide by. Steaming with soul food, raw character and some of the best coffee in Melbourne since 1954, Pellegrini’s really doesn’t have any reason to change. You’ll still find its original red leather stools sitting by the wooden bar and the worn checkerboard flooring where so many Italian food lovers have trodden.
Sit up at the bar with an espresso and torte at the start of the day, or head over for big bowls of Nonna-style pasta for an early lunch. Sitting near the top end of Bourke Street, Pellegrini’s is Melbourne’s rock. Safe, comforting and familiar, some might argue change at Pellegrini’s would be a good thing. But to that, we strongly disagree.
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279 La Trobe Street, Melbourne
This Chengu-born hot pot brand has locals flocking for its spicy Sichuan soups
If you’re after the real deal when it comes to a Sichuan hot pot feast, you’ll find yourself in expert hands with a visit to much-loved CBD restaurant, David’s Hot Pot. Originating in hot pot’s heartland of Chengdu, the brand made its way to Melbourne in 2017 and has since spawned several Aussie outposts, which see the crowds flocking for big, fresh flavours and traditional Sichuan-style broths.
It’s buzzy, colourful and primed for group feeds, with a rainbow of lanterns strung from the ceiling and steam wafting from the fragrant pots atop each table. The kitchen’s boldly flavoured soup bases marry classic ingredients with top-quality Australian beef tallow, with a stack of different options available. If you’re in the CBD and wnt some hot pot for lunch, look no further than David’s.
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Sydney’s much-loved Mediterranean restaurant Nomad is at home in Melbourne’s CBD
This, the first Melbourne outpost of Sydney’s much-loved Mediterranean restaurant Nomad can be found in the Adelphi Hotel’s lower ground floor. The 100-seat fine-diner replicates the ethos of the original while championing a whole new menu — for either lunch or dinner.
The haunt’s signature offerings centre around house-made cheese and charcuterie and the kitchen’s prized woodfired oven. Fans will find just a handful of menu mainstays, backed by a lineup of Melbounre-specific dishes — with plenty of locally-sourced meat and veggies cooked over flames among the mix.
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Elegance and attention to detail at one of Melbourne’s oldest Chinese restaurants
Internationally recognised for authentic Cantonese cuisine and exceptional service, Flower Drum’s menu emphasises fresh seafood and meats with a creative modern twist. You’ll find all the Cantonese classics at this lavish restaurant, from silky duck wontons and steamed tofu to delicate pieces of crab and tender Peking duck.
We also highly recommend you try the Flower Drum lunch banquet, with delicate seafood rice paper rolls, sang choi bao, Peking duck pancakes, wok-fried barramundi fillet and stir-fried eye fillet with mushrooms and soy. It’s a no-brainer for those wanting classic Chinese fare in old-school fine-dining surrounds.
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From the minds behind Liminal and Common Ground Project comes this after-work go-to for cocktails and clever contemporary bites.
The Mulberry Group’s Hazel graces two levels of the 1920s T&G Building, where the team is cooking with a woodfired grill and oven fuelled by Aussie ironbark. At Hazel, one of the best Melbourne CBD lunch spots, there are a myriad of things to tempt snackers and feasters alike, from crafty small plates to larger gems such as the wood-grilled seafood stew and a wood-roasted pork belly with charred leaks and wild garlic.
The generous wine selection has broad appeal, as do the simple, yet snappy cocktails. Meanwhile, the light-filled space is primed for lingering, with its restrained mix of elegant curves and natural linens. And for post-lunch sips, see downstairs sibling bar Dessous.
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Collins Place, 45 Collins Street, Melbourne
Several of Melbourne’s best Japanese chefs owe a debt of a gratitude to Kenzan
Kenzan is a proper Melbourne dining institution. For over 35 years, it has led the Japanese restaurant scene in Melbourne, training up some of the best Japanese chefs in the country — who have gone on to work at spots like Usami and Minamishima.
Traditional Japanese cooking skills are on full show here, used to create both simple and inventive dishes. It serves up a whole host of Japanese eats, but it is really well known for being one of the best sushi spots in Melbourne. The menu of sushi rolls, sashimi and nigiri is extensive, with a huge variety of platters up for grabs during lunch and dinner service. You’re truly spoilt for choice at Kenzan, one of the very best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne.
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1/11 Collins Street, Melbourne
There’s a fiesta in Melbourne and everyone wants to be invited.
An oldie but a goodie, Mamasita is one of the OG players in Melbourne’s Mexican wave, first opening its doors back in 2010. That famous front staircase has seen many a lengthy queue as people scramble to get their food fix amid an atmosphere of a perpetual party.
The menu at arguably the best Mexican restaurant in Melbourne is a broad-ranging one, with snacks like tostadas, ceviche and terrific tacos, plus a handful of heartier shared dishes of meat to stuff in Mamasita’s stretchy hand-pressed tortillas. What’s more, the obsession with agave spirits here is clear with just one glance at the drinks list, loaded with tequila, mezcal and tasting flights.
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The famed Israeli street food joint has finally landed in Melbourne
Melburnians rejoiced when Miznon, the world-famous Israeli street food eatery run by celebrity Israeli chef Eyal Shani, landed on Hardware Lane in 2017. From the outside, the Melbourne CBD restaurant might look small, but the whole space weaves around three narrow floors.
Here, the menu is made for sharing. Grab a bunch of mezzes, a couple of kebabs stuffed with meat and falafels and the famed roasted cauliflower. And while you’re at it, order a few bags of house-made pita, mopping up all the leftover sauces and oils. You won’t want to leave a drop behind. Add to Playlist