Jade Solomon

May 2024: In a famous food city like ours, how on earth do you decide which restaurants are the best of the best? Of course, depending on your individual tastes, culture, budget, location and other factors, such a feat is impossible. But here at Time Out, we certainly do try – in fact, our critics are out dining and drinking every week of the year to deliver you an ultimate guide to only the finest eating experiences in Melbourne. Keep a note of this list to see which ones are exciting us the most right now. 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 2024'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. And as for the brand new restaurant and bar openings catching our eye? Check out this guide instead. 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

Whether you're coupled up, single or looking to spend Valentine's Day with your friends, there's something for everyone in Melbourne this February 14. From romantic dinners to bougie hotel stays, this city will be leaning into love, no matter what form it comes in. Check out our complete guide to Valentine's Day in Melbourne, where you'll find everything from Melbourne's best date night restaurants to the best places for a cheeky pash. 

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 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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

What is it with corporate cafes in the CBD and high-calorie focaccias the size of your face that somehow still taste like nothing? To love your lunchtimes again, let's liven it up a bit. Whether you’re watching your waistline or simply searching for a light and fresh meal that won’t plonk you into an afternoon slump, this is the list to bookmark. Looking for something lighter on the wallet? Check out the 20 best lunches in the CBD for less than $15. 

You swipe right and hit it off, but then what? Picking the right bar for a first date isn't easy, especially in a city like ours with so many options. To take the stress out of finding the perfect spot to get to know someone, we've put together a list of Melbourne's most romantic bars to ensure you have a memorable first date. And hopefully, if things go well, you can plan your next date at one of the best date night restaurants in Melbourne.  Take your next date night up a notch at one of the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne. 

April 2024: From big heritage boozers that have been given a fresh lick of paint and new owners, to the old-school suburban watering holes you can always rely on for a parma and a pint, our fair city's full of world-class pubs. Here's our current round-up of the best of them. 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 and 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's 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's 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.  

Someone somewhere once said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While recent studies suggest that this may be a load of poppycock, a notion first popularised by cereal marketers (or some poor hungover bloke having a religious experience with an egg and bacon sanga), we tend to agree. In any case, there’s no reason why breakfast can’t at least be the most exciting meal of the day. And in a city like Melbourne, that’s not hard to achieve. We Melbournians take the ritual of breakfast very seriously, with the café scene developing an almost cult-like following over the years. While many of us only have time for coffee or vegemite on toast during the week, the weekend is when we cut loose in the wild and take part in that sacred collective mission: the hunt for Melbourne’s most extraordinary breakfast. It’s too hard to crown just one as top dog, but we reckon all of the cafés in this list are well worth making time for, lining up for, and spending your hard-earned dollarydoos on. Give 'em a shot! Like your breakfast with a boozy boost? Check out our favourite bottomless brunches in Melbourne. And if you're a sweet tooth, you've also gotta check out the best pancakes in Melbourne.

While many restaurants offer solid vegetarian options these days, there are some spots that know how to elevate vegetarian food to the point that even carnivores forget there is no meat involved. From fancy dining to cheap eats, Melbourne serves up excellent vegetarian fare any time of the day, any day of the week. Here are the best restaurants dishing up plant-based meals. Want more? These are the best restaurants for vegans in Melbourne. Wanting to explore the town? Check out the best cheap eats in town. 

When visiting a new city, it’s highly likely that, at some point, you’ll find yourself standing in front of a big and beautiful museum or gallery. Come rain, hail or shine, these brilliant buildings are the place to brush up on historical happenings and learn a thing or two about local heritage.  Inside you’ll find some of our country’s greatest treasures and a huge diversity of subject matters too, ranging from natural history and cultural artefacts to science marvels and sporting achievements. Don’t wait until the next rainy day to explore Australia’s best museums with this ultimate guide.  RECOMMENDED: The 18 best art galleries to explore in Australia.

It’s a pub! It’s a hotel! It’s a bar! It’s a restaurant! It’s basically the most versatile venue in St Kilda, given that it encompasses most of the block and contains The Prince Hotel, Prince Dining Room, Prince Public Bar, Little Prince and Prince Bandroom. See developers, we can all get along. The Prince Hotel manages to straddle that cool, inner-city vibe with luxury suites – and it all begins from the first entrance. You'll see art installations projected on the wall in the reception area before heading to modern rooms that still have a little art deco flare. The hotel is bigger than you might think, with an array of room options (with decent-sized balconies too, might we add). And, although it's located on St Kilda's bustling Acland Street, noise doesn't seem to travel up to your room. The bathroom is stocked up with lush Grown Alchemist products too, so all you really need to do is show up and the rest is taken care of. It makes for the perfect city escape – be it midweek or on a weekend. Book a room before heading down to Prince Dining Room, where chef Dan Cooper whips up a seasonal, ingredients-driven menu. If casual drinks are more your thing, the Atrium is what feels like an outdoor rooftop terrace – except it's inside and covered so you can stay warm and enjoy a cosy, moody and intimate vibe. Prefer staying in? Pop down to Little Prince Wine and grab yourself a bottle of something from their impressive cellar, and make your way back to your room to sit back, relax

Abbotsford residents should count themselves lucky to call Lulie Tavern a local. With its prime piece of Johnston Street real estate, Lulie Tavern brings unpretentious good times and rock'n'roll vibes to the area.  Lulie Tavern is the passion project of friends and business partners Jon-Lee Farrell and Brendan Kennedy, which they have nurtured into the dream saloon they always hoped it would be. The walls are adorned with neon signs, gifts from patrons and its favourite collections of memorabilia. Lulie Tavern is the kind of place you can settle in for an extended drinking session with mates – moving between the pool table, stopping for a dance, catching a selection of local bands and DJs and of course eating and drinking plenty along the way.  Burgers are the name of the game at Lulie. Go for the TJ's Famous Whopper, with beef, cheddar, onion, lettuce, tomato and house sauce, or the Dead Ringer, where fried chicken sits alongside cheddar, pickles, jalapeño mayo and shredded lettuce. Special shout out to the Veggie Whopper – it is one of the best iterations of a beyond meat patty burger going around Melbourne at the moment.  And in late 2022, Lulie Tavern opened its very own rooftop bar: Full Moon Fever. Set to carry Lulie's great vibes just a few floors higher, the drinks menu boasts a top-quality Tommy's Margarita, as well as a range of saloon-style cocktails that'll get the party going. Our picks? The Dusty Bird made with bourbon, house sour mix, bitters and soda, and the

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

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

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.

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. 

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. 

Bowltiful Lanzhou Noodles is setting up a third shop at 249 Swanston Street, and it's celebrating by slinging 249 free bowls of noodles.  Bowltiful needs no introduction, but for the uninitiated, it is one of the city's most popular noodle purveyors. Chewy hand-pulled noodles find their perfect home inside a bowl of rich broth, beside chunks of tender halal beef, which are topped with fresh, tingling chilli oil and herbs. All Bowltiful chefs train for at least six months to become experts in crafting the noodles, and each serve of noodles is hand-pulled to order.  The menu boasts many tempting dishes alongside the popular braised brisket noodle soup, such as braised lamb flap noodle soup, dry noodles, stir-fried tomato, egg and soybean paste sauce, and minced beef with soybean paste and noodles. The Lanzhou-style lamb burger is stuffed with spicy three-hour braised beef brisket and makes the perfect side dish, and for only $8.80 is a real steal. There are also excellent vegetarian dishes available including dry noodles with stir-fried mixed vegetables or hot chilli oil spill dry noodles.  What better way to celebrate the new opening than with oodles of FREE noodles. Over the course of three days, from February 18, Bowltiful will be handing out free noodle bowls to the first 249 customers from noon daily. Get in line to slurp up this unmissable deal.  Looking for more tasty eats? Check out the 50 best cheap eats in Melbourne.