Jade Solomon

Vegans tend to get a bad wrap, but that shouldn't mean they only get to eat bad wraps. Melbourne continues to expand its plant-based options, with everything from vegan degustations to vegan cheap eats available across the city. While there are many dedicated vegan and vegetarian restaurants, some of Melbourne's most beloved and popular spots are also serving up excellent vegan fare. These restaurants won't leave you wanting for any meat.  While you're at it, check out the best restaurants for vegetarians in Melbourne. Explore more with the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne. 

Melbourne's ice cream and gelato scene has evolved significantly over the last few years. The past was uncomplicated: decisions such as cone or cup, vanilla or chocolate, and Flake or no Flake were as flamboyant as things got. Now we have choices like ice cream brioche or tacos, fairy floss clouds or candied bacon, and charcoal, sea salt or ube. No matter how you roll, here are the super-duper scoopers serving Melbourne’s best ice cream, gelato and soft serve.  Looking for somewhere to eat your ice cream? These are the best beaches and the best picnic spots in Melbourne. 

December 2023: As summer kicks into full swing, leaving the house becomes more tempting and eating out becomes somewhat of a sport. The romance of lazy al fresco dining beckons. We swap vino on the couch for Spritzes on the streets. Work slows down and socialising ramps up, creating more opportunities to support the hospitality industry than perhaps at any other time of the year. Whether it's returning to the local charmers you know and love well, or trying out a new restaurant that's just popped up on your radar, our guide to Melbourne's top restaurants is the best place to get some cracking ideas.  The continually evolving and expanding dining scene in Melbourne is both a blessing and a curse: how do you choose between so many incredible restaurants? Well, that's where we come in. Stop endlessly scrolling, and commit to making your way through Time Out’s list of the best restaurants in the state right now. Our always-hungry local experts and editors have curated 2023's most delicious and divine, innovative and imaginative, comforting and familiar, memorable and magical dining experiences right here at your fingertips. From old favourites and culinary institutions such as Attica, Stokehouse and Flower Drum, to emerging standouts and instant icons such as Serai, Gimlet, Amaru and Reine and La Rue, we've got it all covered here.  Get out, and get eating! You've got a lot to get through!  Prefer a tipple-focused adventure? These are the best bars in Melbourne. Looking for a kno

Opening presents on Christmas Day is great, but you know what's even better? Getting to open presents for the 24 days leading up to it. Thanks to whoever invented the advent calendar, you can milk the festive season for all it's worth. Most advent calendars are filled with chocolates or toys, but for those who like to turn their celebrations up a notch we've rounded up the best boozy advent calendars. Pre-order one now so that you can taste top-notch beers, wines, ciders and spirits throughout December. And if you're feeling generous, these make great gifts too.  Looking for other great gift ideas? Check out our round-up of the best Christmas hampers in Melbourne or go shopping at the best Christmas Markets in Melbourne. 

Put on your Santa hat and don your finest fake white beard for it's time for you to play Saint Nick. These small businesses have made everyone's lives easier by putting together things like premium wine, ham, locally sourced cocktail ingredients and even beach essentials into beautiful boxes or hampers. All that's left for you to do is add it to your cart and send it to your loved one. That includes the person in your family who makes all the snacks in the house disappear. This one is especially for them.  Looking for fun things to do this summer? Check out what's on in Melbourne between Christmas and NYE, or how about a boozy advent calendar? 

At the beginning of spring when the sun comes out to play, Melbourne's glorious rooftop bars draw in flocks of thirsty revellers with their crisp, cool bevvies and sweeping city views. Maybe it's the higher altitude, but drinking is just more fun from above. So start climbing those stairs – or keep your fingers crossed for a lift – and check out Melbourne's 26 best rooftop bars now.  Looking for an après-drink bite? Check out Melbourne's best late-night eats. How about another drink somewhere different? We've rounded up our favourite laneway bars in the city.   See full screen

Melburnians certainly know how to ride the wave of a good food trend, but one phase that has stuck around is our collective love and appreciation for the humble sandwich. And for that, we are thankful. Arguably the most versatile food, you can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and the possibilities for fillings and combinations are endless. Start your day with a breaky sanga filled with ooey-gooey eggs, bacon and cheese, munch on a meatball sub for lunch, and get a lil' fancy with a croque monsieur for dinner. However you take yours, it seems the sandwich trend is not going anywhere for a while, so work your way through our round-up of the best sangas in town.  Looking to change up your usual sandwich routine? Check out the best bahn mi in Melbourne. Wash it all down with the best ice cream and gelato around town. 

Trying to choose the 50 best pubs in Melbourne is like trying to choose the 50 best taco stands in Guadalajara or the 50 best sushi joints in Tokyo. That is, it’s near impossible because there are just so many damn good ones. From the casual local boozers to the world-class gastropubs to the rocking live music venues, we believe that our great city boasts some of the best pub culture in the world outside the British Isles (you win Dublin, we guess), and we’ll gladly die on that hill.  What makes each of these pubs great is variable - perhaps it is located in a historic building, offers entertainment such as live music and trivia, and serves up quality food that you want to keep coming back for. Perhaps it has a stellar selection of beers on tap, great service and a community feel, or maybe it is welcoming to your four-legged furry friends or kids. No matter what the reason, these 50 pubs are the ones that we rely on, that we depend on like a close mate, that we keep coming back to again and again for just one more frothy, and that we are so thankful to have in our neighbourhoods.  Take your drinking to new heights at the best rooftop bars in Melbourne, or explore the best beer gardens across the city.  

"You choose the place" is a phrase that hardly anyone wants to hear when it comes to arranging the perfect date – the pressure! Your choice of spot can really make or break the evening, so let us help you with our fail-proof list of romantic spots. We've rounded up the best spots specifically for your first to eighth dates – should things go that well! Whether you're searching for a quiet spot to share snacks and get cosy over a bottle of wine, a fun and rowdy place to laugh and have a good time, or a fancy spot to try and impress, use our list below to take the hard work out of choosing and save your energy for finding the right outfit or thinking of some engaging conversation starters. Good luck out there, daters. Successful evening? Take it to the next level with our list of the best hotels in Melbourne. Or go one step further in these luxury Melbourne hotels.

The unmistakable smokiness and charry, rendered skin are the best things about charcoal chicken, and these qualities are what sets charcoal chook apart from its roasted relatives. It has to be moist and tender with concentrated flavour. But it’s not all about the chicken – no one goes to the chicken shop without ordering a few sides, whether it’s chips, salads or a potato cake. And we are here to judge it all.  We've rounded up our top picks below to ensure you're getting the best crispy, smokey chook that Melbourne has to offer. Prefer your chicken with cheese and passata? These are Melbourne's best chicken parmas. Like your meals cheap? Here are our favourite meals on a budget. 

If you can't be front row to the action, catching the game on a large-screen TV is the next best thing. And sure, you can always watch it on your home TV from the comfort of your couch while sipping on a cold tinnie, but if you're keen to recreate that buzzing sports stadium atmosphere, sports bars just hit differently. Picture this: multiple big screens with booming surround sound, a frothy pint of Carlton poured fresh from the tap and an energised hoard of frenzied fans. And let's be real – you may even enjoy a better view of the game from the pub. With the FIFA Women's World Cup kicking off on July 20, head to these sports bars and pubs to see the action and cheer on the Matildas. Looking for a bar to kick on after the game? These are the best late-night bars in Melbourne. 

Sometimes a brown bag packed with last night’s leftovers or a peanut butter sandwich just isn't going to cut it for lunch. And in a city with so many options for reasonably priced, tasty and interesting food, you shouldn't have to settle. However, with the cost of living constantly rising, it would be remiss of us not to mention that scouring the city for dishes that come in strictly under $15 has never been harder. While some of your favourites may have slipped off the list, we empathise with the hospitality industry trying to keep up with costs while still trying to retain customers with fair prices.  We've stuck to our budget and rounded up a list of the best cheap lunches in the CBD for under $15, so you can take your next mundane workday up a notch. Keep your week interesting and go for a gözleme on Monday, a noodle soup on Tuesday, a tofu curry on Wednesday, a bánh mì on Thursday and dumplings on Friday.   Work your way through all the best budget-friendly spots in town, with our list of the 50 best cheap eats in Melbourne. 

Wesley Place precinct is a time portal back to ye olden days, with preserved heritage buildings and conservation efforts paying tribute to an important historical moment in time for Melbourne. Nestled humbly within this precinct, behind the Wesley Church and beside a resilient olive tree with origins dating back further than 1875, is the Caretaker’s Cottage. It's now a bustling, albeit pint-sized public bar where you can feel part of Melbourne’s history, and its future, all at the same time.  While the outside of the cottage may say "Gothic Revival architecture", the inside says "intimate house party at your parents’ cool friend’s house". Stepping across the threshold, the D’Angelo record blasting through imposing speakers (from Tasmanian company Pitt and Giblin), built-in turntables and mixer behind the bar, and an envy-inducing vinyl collection make it clear that while the drinks comes first, music is a close second here. Just like any good house party really.  The drinks menu is strictly curated. Just three classic and three contemporary cocktails; a rotating Martini and Milk Punch (the latter an ode to its English pub inspirations); six varieties of wine by the glass; and a slightly larger selection of beers, with the Guinness on tap being a house favourite. That we need not spend an hour poring over the drinks menu, we are relieved.  Waitstaff and bartenders, clad in white aprons, well-informed and just the right level of friendly and attentive, are themselves a drawcard

Sometimes you just need to start your morning with a stack of fluffy pancakes, a greasy cheeseburger, a side of crispy bacon and a chocolate milkshake. Because you know, balance. And when that’s all served up alongside a retro-chic, old-school diner fitout with a welcoming service you’re not left wanting much more.  Operator Diner, nestled in the dynamic Wesley Place development opposite Caretaker’s Cottage (one of our city's great bars), is bringing something different and exciting to the Melbourne café scene. The team from Operator25 takes us on a journey with this new venue, not only to the US of A, but also back in time, to the good ol’ days of jukebox-playing, pie-slinging, neon-lit diners. A considered design by architects We Are Humble, which brings brown-leather banquettes, cafeteria-style chairs, and orange and yellow '70s sunshine tones to life, manages to achieve a playful and charming atmosphere that doesn’t feel gimmicky or overdone.  On weekday mornings, the café bustles with office workers lining up for a takeaway coffee and breakfast roll or a chocolate hazelnut croissant (from AM Bakehouse in Glen Iris). By the time the weekend rolls around, crowds arrive looking for a hangover cure, and to share stacks of pancakes with Nutella sauce, cookie crumbs and vanilla ice cream.  The breakfast menu runs all day and puts diners in a pickle trying to choose between French toast with cinnamon and maple syrup or a triple-cheese grilled sandwich served alongside a tomato

*May 15 2023 update: One of Axil Coffee's baristas Jack Simpson has just been crowned the Australian Barista Champion at the ASCA National Coffee Championships. Jack will now go on to represent Australia at the World Barista Championship in Athens, Greece, in late June. Fingers crossed for Jack!  The priority at Axil Coffee Roasters is high-quality, ethical coffee. And when Axil's Anthony Douglas took out the number one spot at the 2022 World Barista Championship, it helped solidify the business as one of the pre-eminent coffee purveyors in a city that takes its caffeine awfully seriously. As per the recent update at the top of this piece, yet another Axil barista has taken out the gold medal in 2023. In other words, if you haven't tried the coffee here yet – where the heck are ya? Earlier this year during Random Acts of Kindness Week, which ran from February 13-17, Axil helped rejuvenate the city by handing out 25,000 free coffee cards across the CBD. Each day, the team postes clues on social media for where the team would be handing out free coffee cards at landmark locations. "We want to give back to the city that has helped us get where we are today, [as] without the support of our customers and the wider coffee community, we wouldn't be the Axil we are today," said founder Dave Makin. "[W]e are excited to give back to the community and treat them to a free cup of coffee." Axil's environmentally and socially friendly beans are labelled Direct Trade, which means they must

Melbourne's giant beer, cider and fun festival is back for 2023, so get ready to get sipping.  Sure, it's an opportunity to go on a deep dive with pretty much every local, interstate and even a fair few international brewers (we see you, Kiwi cousins in hops) getting in on the action. But the serious drawcard of GABS each year involves the roster of never brewed before, never to be seen again beers and ciders made just for the fest. The bonkers beer festival will showcase 1,200 fresh kegs from 120 different breweries. Served from 240 taps, the best way to sample as many of the creative brews as possible is to go for a taster paddle featuring five different beers at a time. Wondering what will be on offer across the weekend? Well, as is the case with GABS every year, the brewers are showing us the sky really is the limit when it comes to beer. How about a peanut butter brownie stout? Or a molecular bubble tea IPA that tastes like a milkshake? We've also got our eye on a nitro cinnamon pastry stout, a jam donut-inspired golden ale and a banana Pina Colada sour.  If all that's not weird and wacky enough, there's a pizza beer from Frexi Brewing set to turn heads (or stomachs) on the day. Talk on the town is that this sour gose is infused with flavours of tomato, oregano, basil, and salt. Yuck or yum? You be the judge! But it's not all about trying funky beers at GABS. There will also be masterclasses, roving entertainment, panel discussions, silent discos, eating competitions and

Note: due to unforeseen circumstances, the Melbourne International Dumpling Festival has been postponed until further notice. We will keep you posted regarding rescheduled dates. From xiao long bao and ravioli to gyoza, pierogies, momos and matzah balls, it's hard to go wrong with a dumpling in all its delightful doughy goodness. They truly make the perfect lunch, dinner, drunk late-night snack and really anything in between. After a few years away, Queen Victoria Market is once again playing host to the Melbourne International Dumpling Festival, which aims to showcase dumplings in all their glorious global forms and celebrate multicultural Australia. Alongside the smorgasbord of snacks there will also be plenty of entertainment and performances for all ages to enjoy.  The event runs from 4-10pm on March 22, and you can register for free entry to the festival now.  Have dumplings on your mind? Check out 18 of Melbourne's best dumplings here. 

While our city is filled with a labyrinth of outstanding and historic establishments, few really deserve the coveted title of being a Melbourne culinary institution – an overused and often meaningless phrase. However, after experiencing a meal in the tranquil yet dynamic dining room at Kenzan, the Collins Street restaurant that has been serving traditional Japanese fare since 1981, you leave with the feeling that there aren’t many ways more apt to describe the place.  The restaurant's modest nature begins with the nondescript glass entrance within the Collins Place food court. A carpeted dining room gives away its age, and while there isn’t much going on in terms of décor, the gentle touches of low-hanging lanterns and traditional Japanese flower arrangements help create a grounded and serene space within which it feels wrong to be wearing your outside shoes. Its fitout, or lack thereof, is an undeniable part of Kenzan’s charm.   Arriving for the early sitting on a school night, the quiet is almost jarring; having become so used to the distraction of riotous playlists and chaotic fitouts in modern restaurant spaces, it is a welcome reprieve to engage in old-school dinner conversation as we sip on a cold semi-dry Sho-un Junmai Daiginjo sake. The service is impeccably understated; there is not much in the way of conversation, but you are never left wanting, or waiting. The drinks list is extensive, and the menu is self-explanatory: rotating specials such as scampi sushi and lob

Whether you are into the race or not, it is undeniable that the Grand Prix brings an electric and exhilarating atmosphere to Melbourne that gets everyone revved up and ready to go. If you're bursting with pent-up energy and excitement, there is no better place to release it than the Middle Park Hotel's Grand Prix Street Party. The walk-in-only street party at the Middle Park Hotel has become synonymous with the great event that graces our shores every April (well, those years sans global pandemics), as it has all the makings of a great day out: free-flowing booze on tap, plentiful snacks, live music and DJs on the main stage. But don’t forget what you came for - of course, all the F1 racing action will be playing live and loud from the big screens. Enjoy beers on tap with tasty eats while soaking up the atmosphere as Armstrong Street is taken over by merry Melbournians and international racing fans. A combination of fast cars, attractive foreign drivers, rivalries on the track, booze, burgers and entertainment is just the right formula for an adrenaline-pumping day out with your mates. Be sure to get down to the Middle Park Hotel next weekend to get in on the action. Looking for more things to do? Check out our round-up of the best things happening in Melbourne this week.

Red Spice Road has been serving Melburnians bold, flavourful and creative modern Asian food for over a decade. The restaurant's long-standing popularity can be attributed to its fuss-free dining style and commitment to traditional flavours. This is the kind of restaurant where diners will need to bring as many friends as possible to make sure they can sample as many dishes as possible. Expect staple dishes such as pork belly with tangy apple slaw (a Red Spice Road winner since day one), and inventive plates such as rockling with watermelon, chilli, lemongrass and herb salad, fried cauliflower with miso, sansho pepper and furikake and lamb meatballs with peanut Massaman curry. Finish on a sweet note with passionfruit pannacotta, coconut water sago, pandan ice cream and caramel popcorn.  With several banquet menus available, including vegetarian options, this is a great place for a celebration with friends and family or even your next work event.  Looking for more of Melbourne's best food? Check out the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne. 

He's been dubbed the first 'celebrity chef', and the only person who makes Gordon Ramsay shake in his boots. Marco Pierre White – chef, restaurateur and television personality – is heading Down Under, and he's bringing his first live-on-stage tour, Out of the Kitchen, to major cities across Australia.  You can catch White (who, as a 33-year-old, became the first British and youngest chef at the time to be awarded three Michelin stars) live on-stage discussing everything from his humble beginnings to the classical culinary training he undertook with Albert and Michael Roux at Le Gavroche. It's set to be an evening dedicated to determination, grit and the endless pursuit of personal fulfillment, as well as a love for the magic of food and the allure of restaurants and kitchens.  And it's not just Ramsay who holds White in such high esteem. The late Anthony Bourdain said, "Marco Pierre White gave us all voice, gave us hope, a new template for survive[al]. [He] gave us power. It all started here.” Jock Zonfrillo, MasterChef judge and restauranteur, says that “of all the chefs I worked for, he was the greatest teacher”.  White will be on stage at Sydney's State Theatre on May 25. General public tickets are on sale now. Don't miss the opportunity to see one of the world's top chefs in person and get your tickets ASAP.  Inspired to check out some of the city's greatest culinary institutions? Work your way through the best restaurants in Sydney right now.

While we certainly have no shortage of excellent ice cream and gelato stores in Melbourne, Sweethearts Gelato, which is landing in Preston, is upping the cool factor: it's officially 100 per cent plant-based. Founder Ellie Maron – who, as the owner of local joints Fried Hustle and Cornutopia, is already very familiar with the Preston foodie scene – is passionate about bringing food that's good for the planet to the people of Melbourne. Maron's gelato is free from dairy, eggs and other animal products, but full of love, flavour and only the freshest ingredients. Sweethearts Gelato uses organic, locally sourced produce with sustainable packaging, ensuring your next sweet treat is one you can feel good about, too.  So gone are the days when all vegans could expect was a few token sorbet flavours. At Sweethearts Gelato, you can enjoy creamy eco-friendly scoops like dirty peppermint, roasted almond, caramel sea salt, Biscoff cream dream, caramelised pear and bitter chocolate. And for those looking for a lighter lick, there are plenty of fresh fruity flavours to choose from such as bloody orange, mango heart and strawberry sunshine.  Pop down to Preston on the grand opening weekend of February 18-19, and celebrate with $2 scoops! For more information on all the details, flavours and more, head to Sweetheart Gelato's Instagram page. Looking to explore more of Melbourne's sweetest treats? Check out the best patisseries in Melbourne. 

You know you're a force to be reckoned with when you're perhaps the only person who makes Gordon Ramsay shake in his boots. Dubbed the first 'celebrity chef', Marco Pierre White – chef, restaurateur and television personality – is heading Down Under and bringing his first live-on-stage tour, Out of the Kitchen, to major cities across Australia.  You can catch White (who at just 33 years old became the first British and youngest chef at the time to be awarded three Michelin stars), live on stage discussing everything from his humble beginnings to the classical culinary training he undertook with Albert and Michael Roux at Le Gavroche. It's set to be an evening dedicated to determination, grit and the endless pursuit of personal fulfillment, as well as a love for the magic of food and the allure of restaurants and kitchens.  And it's not just Ramsay who holds White in such high esteem. The late Anthony Bourdain said, "Marco Pierre White gave us all voice, gave us hope, a new template for survive[al]. [He] gave us power. It all started here.” Jock Zonfrillo, MasterChef judge and restauranteur, says that “of all the chefs I worked for, he was the greatest teacher”.  White will start his Australian tour in Brisbane, before heading to Sydney and finally to Melbourne's Hamer Hall on May 30. Presale tickets are available now, and general public tickets go on sale on February 17. Don't miss the opportunity to see one of the world's top chefs in person and get your tickets ASAP.  Insp

We can't resist the allure of a hidden bar, and now Melburnians have another secret hideout to add to their repertoire: the Valiant. The new event space sits inconspicuously above a convenience store on Queen Street, with an intriguing entrance in a car park on Little Collins.  The Valiant is set to become your go-to venue for parties and private functions, offering creative cocktails, fine wines and a speakeasy vibe. Jean Phillipe, the Valiant's bar manager, has designed a curated cocktail menu shining a light on local producers. Get intimate with the Lovers Passion, a mix of vodka, lychee liqueur, passionfruit pulp, lime juice, sugar syrup and Grenadine. Or splurge on the Millionaire, a tasty tipple of apricot brandy, Gold rum, Sloe gin, lime juice, and Grenadine, finished with dried petals. Snack on one of the platters on offer as you sip your sophisticated drinks, such as the sardine platter served with toasted sourdough bread, or the retro sharing platter with cheddar, cabana, crackers and quince paste.  Look out over Melbourne's laneways through the floor-to-ceiling windows as you soak in the Valiant's retro palette and gradually work your way through the spectacular drinks list. The venue can accommodate 20 to 120 people, for an array of functions – book now to plan the party of your dreams. If you're looking for other interesting drinking venues, check out Melbourne's best rooftop bars.