Restaurants in Melbourne
The city laneways are a diner's delight, with Asian-fusion Ezard hidden away in Flinders Lane, Longrain in Chinatown and tapas at MoVida near Federation Square. Explore Southbank before dining on fresh seafood at Rockpool Bar & Grill. Asian and ethnic cuisines proliferate in the Inner North. Booking is essential at top-end restaurants and most open daily until 10pm-11pm. A 10-12% tip at top-end and mid-range restaurants is appreciated.
Ezard
Innovative seasonal cuisine
Teague Ezard's intimate city basement restaurant is a Melbourne classic,
where crisp linens and moody teak furnishings prepare you for something
special. Ezard's seasonal menu has an Asian accent, with kingfish sashimi or
Wagyu beef, and carnivores and vegetarians alike have a choice of an
eight-course tasting menu or à la carte.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Fri 12pm-2.30pm & 6pm-11pm; Sat 6pm-11pm
Address
187, Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+ 61 (3) 9639 6811
Rockpool Bar & Grill
Brasserie-style grill with views
Sydneysider Neil Perry's foray into Melbourne's dining scene is as sleek and
stylish as its Southbank location. Rockpool Bar & Grill's quality
produce-driven menu features the finest beef and seafood, unfussily prepared
so the ingredients shine. With its sweeping city skyline views and timber
and glass decor, this is theatrical dining at its best.
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Opening Hours
Daily 12pm-3pm & 6pm-11pm (closed lunchtime Sat)
Address
Crown Complex, Southbank, Melbourne 3006
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 8648 1900
Circa the Prince
Dramatic food and décor
In St Kilda, Circa the Prince is all about drama, with black, pink and white
décor and a sense of space. The celebrated food blends a lack of
fuss with fine produce. Go for à la carte Wagyu rump or slow-cooked chicken,
or try the vegetarian degustation, but don't miss desserts like Circa's very
own Snickers.
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Opening Hours
Sun-Fri 7am-11am, 12pm-3pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm; Sat 6.30pm-10.30pm
Address
3, Acland Street, St Kilda, Melbourne 3182
Telephone
+ 61 (0) 3 9536 1122
Botanical
Cuisine by the gardens
Botanical in South Yarra has subtle lighting and blond-wood furniture. Paul
Cooper creates inventive takes on modern classics like rack of lamb to
inspire the taste buds. It is unsurpassed for a splurge weekend brunch or to
kick back with a drink and snacks from the grazing menu.
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Opening Hours
Daily 7am-11pm (from 8am Sat & Sun)
Address
169, Domain Road, South Yarra, Melbourne 3141
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9820 7888
Longrain
Thai with a twist
Thai and Chinese flavours merge with 21st-century verve at Longrain. The
converted warehouse in Chinatown's heart is filled with communal tables, the
hum of diners and heady aromas of chilli and lime. The idea is to dine
banquet-style, combining your chosen main with a variety of smaller side
dishes and plenty of jasmine rice.
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Opening Hours
Fri 12pm-3pm; Daily 6pm-11pm (from 5.30pm Sat & Sun)
Address
44, Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9671 3151
Pearl
Multicultural fusion
At the river end of Richmond, Pearl has been pleasing lovers of modern fusion
fare for several years. The decor is lush, with glimmering pearl details and
crisp white napery. Pearl's multicultural menu is driven by executive chef
Geoff Lindsay's love of ginger, chilli and palm sugar, Turkish delight,
chocolate and pomegranate.
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Opening Hours
Daily 12pm-3pm & 6.30pm-11pm
Address
631-633, Church Street, Richmond, Melbourne 3121
Telephone
+ 61 (0) 3 9421 4599
Vue de Monde
Classically-inspired French cuisine
Dining at its finest is offered at the city's Vue de Monde, where
classically-inspired French cuisine is given a memorably modern
interpretation. Try the two- or three-course menu du jour at lunchtime or
the degustation tasting menu anytime. Favourites include almond gazpacho and
confit of trout or pork cassoulet.
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Opening Hours
Tue-Fri 12pm-2pm & Tue-Sat 6.30pm-8.30pm
Address
430, Little Collins Street, (Normanby Chambers), Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9691 3888
Press Club
Inspirational Greek food
A meal at the city's Press Club is a celebration of great food and good
company. Overseeing this formal, but convivial, affair is the inspirational
Greek chef behind the helm. Go for the great-priced lunch deals or a
degustation to share. Super-creative dishes like mussel spanakopita and
calamari cocktail take Greek cooking to new heights.
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Opening Hours
Sun-Fri 12pm-3pm; daily 6pm-10pm
Address
72, Flinders Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9677 9677
MoVida
Sophisticated tapas
MoVida's movable feast of tapas is deservedly popular, and this city laneway
bar is always buzzing. Signature tapas include oven-baked scallop with jamon
and potato foam and the less tricky mushroom croquettes. Choose larger
plates to share or go it alone and savour Malaga-style mussels or cured
Wagyu beef with truffle foam and poached egg.
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Opening Hours
Daily 12pm-late
Address
1, Hosier Lane, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9663 3038
Chocolate Buddha
Organic Japanese cuisine
The fresh flavours of Chocolate Buddha's organic Japanese cuisine are just as
diverting as the front-row views of Federation Square. There's delicate
sushi and sashimi, steaming bowls of ramen noodles, gyoza dumplings and
other light dishes to share, plus donburi mains like yakitori chicken or
teriyaki sirloin. Seating at communal tables makes for a convivial
atmosphere.
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Opening Hours
Daily 12pm-11pm (until 12am Fri-Sun)
Address
Federation Square, Corner Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9654 5688
Becco
Stylish modern Italian
With its city laneway location, 1950s heritage and relaxed Italian ambience,
Becco is quintessential Melbourne. Service is semi-formal, proffering
platters of bruschetta and antipasti, osso bucco veal and other traditional
fare. Larger mains like roast duck with grappa and quail with polenta take a
more modern direction. Becco's cocktails and bar menu are equally
attractive.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm & 6pm-11pm
Address
11-25, Crossley Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9663 3000
Shakahari
Wholesome vegetarian
Drawing inspiration from modern Asian cuisine Shakahari, with its delicious
curries, croquettes, laksas and tempuras, gives vegetarian food a great
name. A clean brown decor is complemented by red paper napkins and there is
a courtyard for more intimate dining. Be sure to try the 'Satay Legend' -
skewered, lightly fried vegetables and tofu pieces.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Sat noon-3pm; Sun-Thurs 6-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 6-10pm
Address
201-203, Faraday Street, Melbourne 3053
Telephone
+61 (0) 9347 3848
Pellegrini's Espresso Bar
Traditional 1950s Italian
Pellegrini's was serving espresso when Melbourne was still taking tea and
scones. The long, narrow room hasn't changed a bit since the 1950s, which is
all part of the charm. Pull up a stool at the Gaggia-dominated bar, order a
whopping bowl of spaghetti and feel the buzz of this much-loved city
institution.
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Opening Hours
Daily 11am-11pm
Address
66, Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9662 1885
Transport
Parliament Train Station
Nudel Bar
Eclectic noodles
Nudel Bar specialises in noodles, whether it's pasta or Asian cuisine. The
concept is popular and Nudel's tightly-packed tables are filled with
customers upstairs and down throughout the day and into the night. Try Asian
green tea noodles with mushrooms or a hearty baked macaroni. The friendly
service is speedy for city workers.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Sat 11am-11pm
Address
76, Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9662 9100
Transport
Parliament Train Station
Brunetti
Italian café with glitz
Caffeine die-hards were shocked when Carlton institution Brunetti was
transformed from a traditional Italian café into a shining coffee palace of
marble, leather and wood. They've since adjusted to the glitz as the coffee,
biscotti and pastries remain as perfect as ever. The range includes cooked
breakfasts, panini, gelati, antipasto, snacks and full restaurant menu.
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Opening Hours
Daily 6am-11pm (until 12am Fri & Sat)
Address
194-204, Faraday Street, Carlton, Melbourne 3053
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9347 2801
