Lauren Dinse

Here's your ultimate guide to the city's most exciting recent restaurant and bar openings, updated regularly for your reading (and tasting) pleasure. With this list on hand, you'll be the first to know where to find the hottest brunch spot, vino bar or fine diner – all sussed out by our fastidious team of writers and critics. Note: we generally include venues that are only twelve months (give or take) young in this list.  Ready to make a booking somewhere spesh? Read on. Still hungry? These are the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne right now. Fancy a tipple? Check out the 50 best bars in Melbourne. Lauren Dinse is Time Out Melbourne’s Food and Drink Writer. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

There's no denying that Korea is the king of the grill. A champion of communal dining, Korean barbecue is all about gathering around a flaming hot grill and passing smoky cuts of beef between friends. As with most Korean cuisines, the sides are part of the main event, and the best barbecue restaurants are the ones dishing out the tasty banchan dishes.  Our guide is ever-evolving as new Korean barbecue joints open and some older ones close or change locations, so be sure to bookmark this list to keep on top of our favourites.  Hungry for more Korean cuisine? Check out our list of the best Korean restaurants in Melbourne. Or for our ultimate guide to Melbourne's dining gems, take a look at our top 50 restaurants. 

May 2025: Yeowch, it's getting chilly! Warm up with a brisk walk to one of these local gems: all beloved community faves for a reason. At these cosy spots, you can get a good cuppa or caffeine fix, a welcoming face that'll remember your name if you're a regular, plus tip-top brekky and lunch plates to fuel you for the day.  There's a lot to love about Melbourne's world-class café scene. Wickedly good coffee. Creative brunch dishes that taste as good as they look, fresh from the minds of some of the city's top talent. And of course, the vibes. Discovering hot new cafés is almost a competitive sport in a city with AM dining of this calibre, so we've scoured Melbourne to bring you a guide to the finest of the lot. Looking for dessert that masquerades as breakfast? Check out the best doughnuts in Melbourne. Prefer a healthier feed? Try our pick of the best healthy lunch eats in the CBD.

May 2025: If the looming winter ahead is having you hankering for that mid-year holiday (Euro summer, anyone?), you're probably keeping an eye on your bank account. Sun-chasers, savers and those simply on a tight budget right now, we know the spots around town where you can eat well without breaking the bank.  The late and great respected chef Anthony Bourdain once famously said: “I'd rather eat in Melbourne than Paris." It goes without saying that Melbourne has long been revered as one of Asia Pacific's most exciting food cities, but that status isn't just attributed to our fancy restaurants – special as many of those upper crust institutions may be. Our laneways and hidden alcoves are brimming with cheap street eats, smashable pub deals and dinner options you can enjoy for $20, $15 or even under $10, so you can stop counting your hard-earned pennies and start eating instead. Lauren Dinse is Time Out Melbourne’s Food and Drink Writer, and has spent an impressive time scouting for the city's tastiest cheap eats – from her early student days spent wandering around Carlton and the CBD in search of a pocket change lunch, to the present day covering fun new openings for Time Out.  For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. Don't want to spend a cent? We've got you covered with our guide to the best things to do for free in Melbourne.

May 2025: While we may be experiencing a rather unusually warm autumn, Melbourne's weather is a fickle beast and we're now weeks away from winter. It won't be long before beer gardens' heat lamps are ablaze and fireplaces are roaring once more around town. This list is your map to Melbourne's tried-and-tested spots boasting the greatest vibes, tastiest pub grub and excellent drinks lists – sometimes with mulled wine, stout and hot toddies this time of year to keep you extra-cosy. From historic boozers to gastropubs and rocking live music venues, we believe that Melbourne boasts some of the finest pub culture in the world outside the British Isles, and we’ll gladly pass out on that hill. Our pub traditions are diverse and many – the weeknight chicken parma special, boisterous trivia nights, open mic gigs, friendly (read: competitive) pool games and that ever-wholesome Sunday roast. But every liquored-up local has its own unique set of drawcards and that's what makes this scene so fun and diverse. Looking for somewhere you can bring your doggo? We know the pubs that'll greet your pooch with a smile. Want a pub where you can drink outside and soak up the rays? Our beer gardens are some of Melbourne's loveliest drinking playgrounds. And if you're looking for a pint with a side of history, we've got the intel on this town's oldest pubs. So how did we come up with this list of the very top 50 in Melbourne? Well, we've spent years drinking our way around the city, of course. We've

It's cold. You're hungry. Need a pick-me-up? Nothing hits the spot quite like a saucy, smoky, red-hot Korean feast. Pair the bright zing of housemade kimchi with bibimbap cooked in a steaming stone dish; hit up authentic vendors for golden-fried chicken or flavour-packed army stew; get fired up with a coal-fuelled Korean barbecue gathering; or treat that sweet tooth to fruit and mochi-topped bingsu (drool) after midnight. Melbourne's Korean food scene is so much more diverse, generous and delicious than it's ever been before – and we can't get enough! Our top picks below offer an abundance of hot soups, hearty proteins and noodle dishes to warm your cockles on chilly city nights, plus every type of banchan imaginable. What are you waiting for? Time to plan your next feast. Looking only for Korean barbecue? We've got a whole guide dedicated to Melbourne's best. After something sweeter? Here are the city's best dessert bars.

More than just a bread roll, the bagel is the ultimate soft, chewy and versatile vessel, no matter the time of day. Whether you take yours plain or flavoured, loaded with lox and schmear, or made in Montreal or New York – Melbourne is boiling and baking bagels for everyone. Here’s a wrap on the best in Melbourne.  Looking for more? Check out the best breakfasts in Melbourne, or take things up a notch with the best bottomless brunches around town. 

There's cake, and then there is cake. If you're in need of a lip-lickingly good, and highly 'grammable cake, then you've come to the right place. These are our favourite party cakes in Melbourne which you can order for your next celebration, with everything from traditional layer cakes and OTT creations to cheesecakes and even sneaky ice cream cakes.  More of a pastry person? Check out the best patisseries in Melbourne. We wouldn't mind a few glazed goodies from the city's best doughnut shops either. We're not picky.

Melbourne doesn't have a large South American food scene but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. Thanks largely to expats looking to recreate a taste of home in Australia, you can eat your way through Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and Brazil within 10km of the CBD. We've rounded up the city's best for when you want to go on a dining chair tour of the continent. From arepas to ceviche and even Brazilian sushi, you can find it all here. Prefer a Euro getaway? Try Melbourne's best Greek restaurants. Or for something spicier, these are the city's best Indian diners. 

Since the 1960s, Lygon Street has been known and loved as Melbourne's Little Italy precinct. Locals and tourists alike flock to the leafy strip – abuzz on weekends with the roaring of fancy cars and roaming of uni students, teens and families – for proper espresso, pasta and cake, and a true taste of Italian-style al fresco action.  Sure, you might get a bit of hassle from the sales-y footpath waiters trying to lure you in, but true Melburnians know that's a part of the street's charm. And though much has changed in the last decade, there's no doubt that if you want to sit out on a terrace with a pizza bigger than your head or sip Spritzes on a rooftop, Lygon Street is still the place to be.  In 2024, there's a much larger and more diverse culinary offering in this area than ever before. Particularly on the southern end of the Carlton stretch, you'll discover incredible eateries for Egyptian, Japanese, Indian, Thai, plus a variety of other cuisines. No longer just the domain of spaghetti and salumi, Lygon Street is now also worth heading to for a bangin' biryani or world-class Asian fusion. And that's not all. Take a stroll up towards Brunswick East and you'll discover trendy wine bars, pubs with live music, American barbecue, Polish dumplings, Sicilian food and one of the best taco joints in town. Hungry yet? Let's go for a wander! We've listed Lygon Street's best restaurants in Google Maps-checked order so you'll know where to find them. Looking for the cream of the crop?

May 2025: If March is Mad and April is All Over the Place (what with two long weekends and hence two shorter weeks), then hopefully May is... well, hopefully Mellow? Mellow May: does that work? Nevertheless, while this time of year in town may dial down along with the temps, we've all still got to eat and it's always way more fun to eat out – especially in Melbourne, where excellent restaurants abound. If you're looking for somewhere bold, beautiful, knock-your-socks-off good or simply reliable enough to impress someone else over your next dinner, then this is the list you should choose from.  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, including Time Out Melbourne's Food and Drink Writer, Lauren Dinse, have curated 2025's most delicious and divine, innovative and imaginative, comforting and familiar, memorable and magical dining experiences right here at your fingertips. From culinary institutions like Flower Drum and France-Soir, to emerging standouts and instant icons such as Serai, Gimlet and Kafeneion, 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

Off the back of Taylor Swift's euphoria-inducing tour Down Under last year, fans might have been wondering where she chose to wine and dine. While room service was probably the ticket here in Melbs, we do know where she visited in Sydney. But that got us wondering: when superstars touch down at Tullamarine after a long flight, where are they opting to spend their dosh on food and drinks? There have been a few sightings over the years, so we've rounded them all up here. Keen to check out a new place to eat? Here's our round-up of Melbourne's recent hot openings. For more music, here are the gigs happening in Melbourne this month.

May 2025 update: Yes, the rumours are true! One of Melbourne's OG American BBQ faves is celebrating International Briskey Day this Wednesday May 28 with free brisket sangas all day long, from noon until sold out. The signature 12-hour smoked 'Wanderer' brisket comes piled high on a classically American and ultra-soft Martin's potato roll. Plus, with each free brisket sandwich you get a complimentary drink voucher redeemable at sister venue Springrock next door. What a hump-day deal! - Lauren Dinse Read on for our original listing from Fred Siggins in December 2016. ***** While neon signs and posters advertising blues concerts long past used to line the wood-panelled walls in Fancy Hank's Queen Victoria Market location, its Melbourne CBD home is more polished. Taking over the former Tuscan Bar location, Fancy Hank's is more a restaurant than a smokehouse pub, with leather-lined seats and tables facing out to Grossi Florentino's glowing red neon signage.  Most people will be here for the excellent barbecue. The smoky beef brisket is as great as ever, as is the pulled pork shoulder and whole rack of pork ribs. Try the crisp-skinned buttermilk brined chicken if you need a break from the red meat. The sides are plenty here, so go big on the potato salad, mac and cheese, and Kentucky-style coleslaw. There's also the option on a smoked vegetarian option for the non-meat eaters.  The other drawcard here is the rooftop bar above the restaurant, Good Heavens, which will be pouring cock

Prepare to enter the pearly gates of doughnut heaven, sweet Melburnians. Queen Victoria Market's free Donut Festival is back for its fourth year, from Saturday May 31 to Sunday June 1. It's bigger and better than ever before in 2025, with eleven of Melbourne's most dough-licious creators and bakers set to make an appearance, plus a fun program that features roving entertainment, a huge 4-metre inflatable donut and even a pop-up Milo Mocktail bar to add to the fun.  Choose a churro bowl with creamy vanilla ice cream or take a walk on the wild side with savoury spaghetti and mac and cheese doughnuts from Pasta Face. If you're loopy for loukomades, try a few from St. Gerry's with a variety of different toppings. The friendly faces at Jamm'd Dessert Bar will be serving up hot Danish dougnuts, cheesecake and sundaes, while G-Free Donuts and OMG Decadent Donuts cater for the oft overlooked gluten free, vegan and nut free crowds (and reach OMG levels of delicious). And if you like your doughnuts on the boujee side, Shortstop Donuts is the vendor to visit for classy artisanal flavours (last year, they were slinging brown butter and maple walnut, vanilla and Aussie honey and sea salt doughnuts – yum). There are also three brand new traders to the fold this year, so be sure to check out Walker's Doughnuts for classic glazed and cinnamon-dusted options; Crème Brûlée Doughnuts unique flame-brûléed treats; and cult fave Gotham Doughnuts, who'll be bringing their popular range of Biscoff,

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. If you were to plan the perfect Melbourne night out for a first-time visitor, what would you include in the itinerary? I love this question, since it’s not only a great conversation starter, but there’s also something inherently romantic in the exercise. Seeing a city’s virtues through another’s eyes tends to make you fall in love with it anew. My ideal night starts on the Paris End of Flinders Lane in the form of your classic ‘dinner and a show’. After all, you can’t go wrong with a meal at Cumulus Inc, the winner of our Legend Award in 2018 and the first hugely successful Melbourne bar and “eating house” from legendary local chef Andrew McConnell (whose hospo empire today includes the likes of Supernormal, Cutler, Marion, Gimlet and Apollo Inn – all respective Melbourne icons in their own right). And after dessert, you needn’t go far for entertainment. Simply descend into the basement of Fortyfivedownstairs, also housed in Collins Place, to feed your second stomach – your stomach for life, of course – with a program of independent art, theatre and music. This is exactly the evening I’d planned a few months ago to coincide with my tickets to a performance of Hamlet presented by the Melbourne Shakespeare Company. While the latter turned out to be extraordinary, a cocktail and snack (spring garlic and ricotta co

Attention, sweet tooths: the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie are bringing back the annual Rocky Road Festival this May. It’s predicted that more than a whopping 100,000 handmade blocks will be churned out across the 31 days, using a base recipe that’s every rocky road lover’s match made in heaven: fluffy housemade marshmallow and smoother-than-satin couverture chocolate. You'll be able to sample something new, get your hands on a made-to-order one-kilogram block or try a kooky creation at one of the interactive tasting sessions.  How does a rocky road hot chocolate or ice cream sundae sound? There will also be a special limited-edition dessert menu inspired by the classic Aussie treat. The European chocolatiers plan to rock your palate with 31 distinct festival flavours, including Dubai chocolate, Biscoff honeycomb, caramel Toblerone, mango chipotle, peanut butter pretzel and many more. Those with the unfortunate dual diagnosis of an intolerance and a sweet tooth are in luck. Vegan and gluten-free creations will be available for tasting across the three chocolateries so nobody needs to miss out. Could it get any sweeter?  Click through to the website here for more information. Those who can’t venture out to the Yarra Valley, Surf Coast and Mornington Peninsula can get their fill of the festival’s chocolates straight to their door thanks to a delivery service.   Looking for more things to do? Check out our round-up

The annual Good Food and Wine Show – now in its 25th year! – is returning to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 30 to June 1 for a globally diverse foodtopia of epic proportions. You’ll get to hear from hundreds of local makers, producers and growers from across the country; see and meet your fave chefs; taste fabulous wines that you can take home; and the best part: eat! There'll be more than 300 exhibitors showcasing the best in local and international cuisine this year. From Italian arancini and Greek loukoumades to candy and condiments, the show is set to be a food lover's heaven and the perfect opportunity to expand your culinary horizons. Over at the main stage, a stellar line-up of celebrity chefs will share their top secrets via live demonstrations, including Miguel Maestre, George Calombaris, Shannon Bennett and Kirsten Tibballs. Also featuring on the jam-packed program is a chocolate appreciation masterclass, interactive wine tastings and cheese pairings, and the new Sonos Sound Bar – a curated line-up of expert-led sessions set to the ambient sounds of Era 100 and Era 300 Premium Smart Speakers. It all goes down at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Wharf, so grab your ticket and a friend to tag along. You can buy tickets here. There's lots more happening around Melbourne this month – check out the best things to do here. 

May 2025 update: Your Cinco de Mayo celebrations aren't complete without tacos, of course – and who better in Melbourne to serve up these bad boys than our very own birria heroes Dingo Ate My Taco? Once again this year, they're cranking it up a notch by teaming up with the US-style pizza geniuses (and winners of Time Out Melbourne's People's Choice award for Best Restaurant) at Deep End to serve up a birria pizza flavour explosion.  The limited-edition invention combines Deep End's famous Detroit-style pizza base (gluten-free is available, too) with flavour-packed birria to create a cross-cultural flavour sensation that sold out repeatedly during its first run in 2023. It's only available until the end of June, so don't miss your chance to try it – make a booking at the restaurant here. Deep End Pizza's passionate head chef Paul Kasten shares, "Going into testing, we were confident our Detroit-style base would complement their birria taco toppings perfectly. While I've seen birria done on NY-style pizzas, the fluffy crust on our squares is ideal for soaking up that rich consommé. Even we were surprised by how magnificently it all came together once we topped it with their brisket, Oaxacan cheese, and signature toppings. We can't wait for taco and pizza enthusiasts to experience this fusion! And keep watching – this collaboration has inspired us to develop more dipping-focused pizzas in the future." Read on for our original listing of Deep End by Adena Maier. ***** In Americ

May 2025 update: Could Ishizuka have created the most stunning Mother's Day gift box in Melbourne? We certainly think so. Check out their limited-edition floral-decorated package of castella cake and special gyokuro tea. Executive chef Katsuji Yoshino’s beloved Japanese dessert is reminiscent of a honey sponge cake. Spoiler alert: we taste-tested it and it's insanely impressive – a not-too-sweet, cloud-like fluffy rectangle of pure technical mastery.  The handcrafted box is topped with a vibrant floral arrangement, and also encloses two bottles of premium green tea from the heart of Kyoto, so you can enjoy the ritual with mum over a cuppa. Go here and scroll down to the Mother's Day gift box for more details.  Read on for our original review of Ishizuka from December 2024. ***** Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. Searching for Ishizuka feels a bit like geocaching. On a stroll up Bourke Street, you take a sharp right into a nondescript apartment building and then punch a code into a lift before being buzzed in. Down you plummet into a subterranean foyer and even then, the restaurant is still concealed behind an ethereal white dome that’s like a giant Japanese lantern. It’s otherworldly down here. But once your host checks your reservation and lets you in, you’re met with a familiar sight: a lon

May 2025 update: Can we give it up for good ol' Vic Churchill? This tiny 12-seat deli just stood out on the world stage to take out 18th place in the world's mightiest global steakhouse ranking. Get the full story here.  - Lauren Dinse Read on for our original listing of Victor Churchill by Jade Solomon from February 2023. ***** Victor Churchill has established itself as Melbourne's most bougie butcher. With floors made of deep green Verde marble and fine copper arches, the space pays homage to the owner's Croatian heritage and bears almost no resemblance to your local butcher shop.  The multisensory, theatrical-like space features a dry ageing room with floor-to-ceiling Himalayan salt bricks, a charcuterie counter displaying top quality cured meats (featured between two original non-restored Berkel slicers), custom fridges storing fresh meats, sausages, terrines, housemade parfaits, sauces and even desserts, and an extensive range of gourmet pantry items (even stocking local favourite Baker Bleu bread).  Offering only the highest-quality cuts of meat, Victor Churchill has sourced its products from suppliers including Stone Axe Fullblood Wagyu and premium grass-fed Black Angus beef by O’Connor in Gippsland. Walking through the butcher's shop, you'll find a horseshoe-shaped cocktail bar at the back. The bar seats 12 people in an intimate setting so customers and bar-goers alike can enjoy a glass of Champagne or a cocktail. The head chef has curated an offering of luxe menu i

May 2025 update: Congrats to Proud Mary for ranking as the fourth best coffee spot in a global round-up! Find out why it's considered one of the world's greatest here. We last visited the venue in April 2025 for a caffeine fix and a bite to eat, and yep, we still rate the place a red-hot five stars. - Lauren Dinse Read on for our original listing written in 2015. ***** It started out as one of the first cool, third-wave cafes in Melbourne. Now it’s a coffee empire. Proud Mary, she wears many fancy hats: unbelievably popular warehouse style café in Collingwood, wholesale coffee roasters stocking some of Melbourne’s best venues and training ground for award winning baristas (alumni including Kris Wood of South Melbourne’s Clement and John Vroom of Kew’s Ora.) Coffee is a glorious and ever evolving affair here – pour over, syphon, French press, espresso, stove top, aero drip – this is where we go to watch and learn. If you can get a seat on the mothership we suggest you get something to eat too. The menu favours breakfast. Goes well with coffee, natch. Years into their tenure nothing’s slipping ­– the Proud Mary crew are showing us how it’s done. In fact, they were recently named in a list of the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops as the fourth best across the globe.  Thirsty for something stronger? These are the best bars in Melbourne right now.  

Reside or work south of the CBD and keen to try one of Melbourne's best bánh mì? You're in luck! Iconic Vietnamese food icon Luke Vu has just opened a brand-new bakery on Clarendon Street in South Melbourne. Expect the same delicious bánh mì that the OG purveyor on Puckle Street in Moonee Ponds is famous for, with a little extra love. There's a brand new recipe at this Southside spot: housemade chicken, corn and cheese spring rolls (think crisp cylinders of salty, sweet, cheesy heaven). Mr Vu credits his influence to a childhood spent in his family’s woodfired oven bakery in Vietnam: “My cultural heritage has always been a constant source of inspiration from the very beginning”. As a boy, he'd sell and deliver the freshly baked loaves of goodness to vendors on his bicycle, gaining a deep understanding of the local fervour for one of the world's favourite sandwiches.  Beyond the new Clarendon Street spot, Luke's is also planning to expand with additional locations on Bay Street in Port Melbourne and in the CBD. Watch this space for more details as they unfold. There's no shortage of secrets to how the immensely popular bánh mì sangas at Luke's are made, with Vu creating all of the dough for his excellent Vietnamese bread, protein marinades, sauces and pickled veg from his very own Ghost Kitchen. Melburnians have long raved about the painstaking edge-to-edge spread of mayo and páte, the fresh quality ingredients and the generous scattering of pickled veg that the Luke's brand

Everyone loves good food but not everyone has the privilege to afford it. It's a sad reality for many but difficult to overlook, so some of Australia’s top chefs have decided to do something about it. On Saturday, May 17, they'll be joining forces with Aussie food relief charity Alex Makes Meals to present Feast to Feed: a five-course degustation dinner that raises funds to support those struggling across Greater Melbourne.  You'll taste signature dishes from foodie royalty Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston, Ross Magnaye (Serai), author Alice Zaslavski, Telina Menzies (Hotel Esplanade, The Prince Hotel, Garden State Hotel) and head chef Lee Dang from the Hardware Club.  Hosted by respected journalist and Masterchef judge Sofia Levin at St Kilda Town Hall, the dinner will go from 6pm until 11pm and will be accompanied by premium wines from Yalumba and TarraWarra, Antipodes Water and Hopr drinks.  Tickets cost $230 each and include a seat at the five-course degustation event, all drinks and an awesome goodie bag. All funds from the sales will go to the efforts of Alex Makes Meals.  Alex Makes Meals was born in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when a university student started to make meals for medical staff. It has since grown into a charity that helps ease food insecurity for homeless and disadvantaged youth by providing nutritious, tasty meals. Through the charity's work, every $1 donated turns into one meal for a vulnerable community member. Tickets are limited and running

There's no better time of year for Melbourne's beer lovers than the autumnal months of April and May. We've got GABS. The Aussie International Beer Awards. And of course, Pint of Origin: the ten-day event that turns the entire city into a brew-tiful playground.  Running from May 9-18 this year, the 2025 edition of Pint of Origin promises to showcase the biggest collection of beers at any one festival. First conceived in 2012 by the folks at local craft beer publication the Crafty Pint, IT will soon be popping up at some of our favourite pubs and bars around the city, and we can't wait to taste the wacky and wonderful creations on offer across the week. Wondering how the event works? It's simple: across the ten days, around 800 beers from more than 200 breweries will hit the taps at 23 Melbourne venues. Each venue's mission is clear: to host a different region of Australia or part of the world for ten days.   Participating venues will run pairing events, themed tap takeovers, degustations, launch parties and opportunities to meet the brewers. Safe to say, there'll be no shortage of beer-soaked events throughout the program to take your fancy.  Pint of Origin 2025 Melbourne venues: The tap dancers from Beermash in Collingwood will be pouring Scandinavian beers. Benchwarmer in West Melbourne is showcasing Japanese and Korean brewers. Our friends at Bridge Road Brewers in Brunswick will be spotlighting Victorian beers from regional destinations. Aye-aye, Captain Melville will be

For those who've been following Melbourne's unfolding Koreatown story, the news that we're joining global cities like Los Angeles, Toronto and New York in having our very own flavour-packed Korean food precinct isn't exactly new news. The City of Melbourne revealed in 2024 that Healeys Lane in the CBD, credit to its density of vibrant Korean businesses (mainly restaurants), had been the front-runner for our very own designated Koreatown for some time. Last September, the decision was made to formalise the precinct – and only as of now, the process is finally complete! Recognition of the laneway (affectionately known as 'Kimchi Lane') has just been finalised in a joyous opening ceremony, complete with cultural performances, bibimbap tastings, and most significantly, Australia's very first traditional Korean jang seung: a set of signature totem poles hand-crafted by Korean artisan Jong-yeon Kim. Inspired by the real structures erected around Korean villages, the jang seung are carved to protect the community while serving as meaningful symbols to mark Koreatown's territory.  “Officially unveiling the jang seung at Koreatown fills me with so much jabusim – pride,” shared Lord Mayor Nick Reece on the opening day. “Our growing Korean community is a vital ingredient in the successful melting pot that is multicultural Melbourne.” “Standing at almost three metres tall, the jang seung will welcome people to the precinct and create iconic moments for visitors to share with the world.

Sushi Jiro just opened Melbourne's longest sushi train at The Glen shopping centre and our chopsticks are at the ready. The brand new light-filled diner, which overlooks Sneddon Drive, features a large and diverse selection of all your favourite sushi treats, comfy booth seating and capacity around the 67-metre sushi train for up to 100 diners. Anticipate a fun, modern take on sushi (crowd faves include soft shell crab 'noritaco' and the nacho cheese signature tuna roll), however the biggest drawcard of all may just be Sushi Jiro’s first-ever Japanese soft serve station. It's a $10 all-you-can-eat dessert experience showcasing a rotating selection of flavours like vanilla and matcha, plus a colourful topping station that features 30 different options. Robots are on hand to look after your orders, thanks to cutting-edge technology that's increasingly being used in hospitality venues around the world. Simply order via the tablet, then sit back and relax as your dish comes whizzing out to your table. Photograph: Supplied / Sushi Jiro CEO Anna Kasman acquired her first Sushi Jiro in September 2022, and has since worked to expand the brand rapidly.  “The demand for sushi train dining experiences continues to grow across Australia, and we’re thrilled to offer something special here in Melbourne,” shares Anna. “The Glen restaurant has been designed to offer a more spacious and immersive experience and is the perfect evolution of the Sushi Jiro brand and offering." You can find th

Ever found yourself leafing through a book-length wine list, wishing you could taste from some of the weird, whimsical or wildly expensive bottles priced in the hundreds? Alas, many drops of the fancier kind are often only available by the bottle – and who's ready for that level of commitment? Certainly not this generation. That's why we're absolutely thrilled that one of Melbourne's very finest wine bars, the inimitable Clover, is participating in the Coravin World Wine Tour to offer its guests exclusive glass-only access to its entire wine list. But we'd hurry up and pencil a date in asap, since the tour (and Clover's by-the-glass-offer) concludes at the end of May. "The by-the-bottle menu leans French, Italian and local, and will satisfy even the most cultivated drinkers," commented our critic Emily Morrison of the wine list, who reviewed Clover in 2023 and swiftly rated it five stars. "It's a good mix of old-world elegance and surprise gems."  The Coravin World Wine Tour is a global affair all about celebrating great wine-soaked moments and excellent producers. Real wine nerds will recognise the brand for its clever wine preservation system, a way to pour wine from the bottle without removing the cork. The invention allows you to enjoy wine by the glass (including rare and high-end wines) without spoiling the rest of the bottle. If you're guilty of drinking the vinegary last drops of a bottle left in the fridge too long, then this is something you'll definitely appreciat

Now here's some mouth-watering news meat lovers will be happy to sink their teeth into: six Melbourne restaurants have just ranked in an epic round-up of the world's finest dining destinations for steak in 2025. We already knew our carnivorous game is strong in this town, from our much-loved barbecue joints – both American and Korean – to our fabulous steakhouses, but it's still wonderful to be recognised on a global scale.  London-based media company Upper Cut Media House has just released its esteemed list of the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants for 2025, and not only did six of our restaurants make the top 101, but one even made the top 20. The top Aussie gong actually goes to Sydney, with Neil Perry’s Double Bay fine diner Margaret voted the second best steak restaurant in the world for 2025 – and the best in Australia. But Melbourne wasn't far behind, with Armadale's Victor Churchill ranking 18th place. The judges praised the restaurant for continuing "to blur the lines between artisanal butchery and high-end gastronomy – with breathtaking precision and undeniable flair".  "The dry-ageing programme, now even more developed," the verdict continues, "lends depth and complexity to each bite – every steak a moment of balance between smoke, salt and buttery tenderness."  Steer Dining Room in South Yarra was voted the 37th best steak restaurant in the world, and second best in Melbourne (ninth best in the country). Steer was commended for its selection of premium steaks, w

Set to reopen in May 2025 after significant refurbishments, Parkville's Potter Museum of Art is about to unveil one of the more interesting new restaurants in town: Residence. The idea is simple. Each year, a new chef takes the helm to introduce a new concept in the space. The annually rotating Chef in Residence program doesn't just treat Melbourne diners to an ever-evolving dining experience year after year; it also supports some of the nation's best up-and-coming chefs in manifesting their wildest restaurant dreams – from mood to menu – into customer-facing reality. Each chef also gets intensive mentorship and a financial stake in the restaurant. Together, Residence's co-founders Nathen Doyle and Cameron Earl bring more than two decades of industry experience to the table. Doyle played an integral role in launching hip Carlton spots like Heartattack and Vine and Sunhands, plus inclusive wine events operator Good Booze Blind, while Earl (who started his career at age 13 as a kitchen hand) has earned his stripes working for some of Melbourne's best-loved venues: Carlton Wine Room, Embla and St. Ali. Doyle and Earl have recently announced that the inaugural head chef hired to kick off Residence's debut is Robbie Noble.  Originally from northern England, Noble brings professional kitchen expertise from his time working across the UK, Paris and Melbourne. From three years at England's Michelin-starred Northcote and a red-hot stint at Paris' cult seafood bar Clamato to a senior

Collingwood just got even cooler, thanks to a lively new haven on Smith Street for all things Latin American and tasty. Holy Guacamole is a relaxed cantina founded by cousins Laurent Linares and Leidy Avila, who together share a vision to shine a light on authentic Mexican and Colombian cuisine in Melbourne. The star of the show, of course, is the signature guacamole – handmade at your table in a molcajete (Mexican stone tool) with red onion, lime, jalapeños, garlic and Morita chilli pepper oil. The rest of the menu covers handcrafted street-style tacos, arepa chip nachos, housemade salsas, cassava fries and South American classics like burritos, quesadillas and enchiladas – all made fresh, and served up in style with authentic mezcal- and tequila-based cocktails, spirits and beers. Ingredients are hand-picked from the Footscray Market by Linares herself, who shares: “We’ve poured our hearts into creating a space that truly reflects the flavours and traditions we grew up with. From the way we prepare each dish to the warm, lively atmosphere, Holy Guacamole is all about sharing the best of Latin America with Melbourne." Photograph: Supplied / Holy Guacamole An impressive drawcard for aspiring home cooks, Il Mercadito is the venue’s in-house specialty grocer, where you can stock up on Colombian coffee, premium tequila, rare snacks, spices, sauces, condiments and a diverse array of quality imports. Here, you'll also find an acai bar serving up organic bowls on-site, so you can

Think of your traditional cellar door experience and rolling hills, lush vineyards, long drives and rustic farmhouses probably come to mind – which makes it all the more intriguing that a sleek new urban winery is coming to Melbourne's CBD to turn that provincial association on its head. Named Melbourne Winery, it’s the CBD’s first ever winery and will bring a cornucopia of wine lovers’ experiences to the table – from immersive educational sessions and sensory workshops to a wine-led dining experience where each dish is designed to elevate the glass. The space will also boast a dedicated wine lab, cheese cellar and oyster bar, as well as rotating art exhibitions and large-scale photographic installations. Artistic render: Supplied / Melbourne Winery “Melbourne Winery isn’t about tradition – it’s about transformation,” says a spokesperson from Melbourne Winery. “We’re creating a space where people don’t just drink wine, they engage with it. Every bottle tells a story, and we’re giving our guests the chance to be a part of it.” Make no mistake; this isn’t just a tasting room or wine-centric restaurant. It’s a fully functioning winery, developed and run by a multi-skilled team of hospitality, viticulture and design creatives. Melbourne Winery’s own wine label is exclusively available in-house and online, starting with 32 varietals as part of its initial range.   “Drinking wine is deeply personal. It’s like art – how you experience it, how you interpret it, is completely your

Even though Melbourne has just been named the third most affordable major city in Australia for 2025, the cozzie livs crisis is still hitting hard for many of us – and forking out for a meal at a fancy restaurant is certainly not a regular activity amongst the majority of the population. So on the rare occasion you want to splash out on a special dining experience, it's important to make each dollar count. But picking where to go isn't an easy feat.  Do you go with a long-standing legend that's been wowing diners for decades, try a hip new wine bar that's trending on the 'gram, or take a recommendation from those in the business of adjudicating the best of the best? If you go for option three, your dinner dilemma could be easily solved by the Restaurant and Catering (R&CA) Hostplus Awards for Excellence. These prestigious nationwide awards recognise the top hospitality businesses across various categories in both metropolitan and regional areas. One of the highlights of the ceremony is the Best Premium Restaurant category, which in 2024, showcased a compelling selection of exceptional venues across the country. Lucky for Victorians, one of our very own stood out from the rest! The top gong went to Cape Restaurant on the Mornington Peninsula, which won Best Premium Restaurant in 2024. Hidden within the walls of RACV Cape Schanck Resort, this fine diner only opens for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday nights.  Photograph: Supplied It's an all-round sensory experience, with a

If you're a fan of Lune's ever-evolving pastry specials, this is definitely a loyalty card you'll want to add to your Apple or Google wallet: the Lune Passport. It's the croissant wizards' latest tasty creation, a way you can unlock exclusive perks, priority access and special gifts designed to make your Lune experience even sweeter.  How does the Lune Passport program work? Similar to other loyalty programs, the Lune Passport incorporates a points system that rewards your account each time you make a purchase. For every dollar spent at a Lune venue, you'll earn a Zont Mile. Once you reach 200 Zont Miles, you'll get $10 off your next purchase.  You'll also enjoy other benefits from signing up, such as a complimentary birthday treat each year, plus front-of-the-line access to exclusive events and retail drops.  Photograph: Pete Dillon “We’re super excited to finally announce the Lune Passport loyalty program," says Lune's owner and founder Kate Reid. "It feels like a fitting way to reward and thank all our guests who have supported us over the years, and also a lovely way to introduce those that are brand new to Lune! The Lune Passport will allow guests to experience the best of Lune, first." Keen to start earning some Zont Miles right away? Signing up to Lune's email newsletter will nab you a cool 25 Zont Miles, no sweat. You'll also earn 50 Zont Miles when you sign up and make your first purchase. For the full rundown on how the program works, check out the website. How to

We’re close enough to Easter now that we can taste it. It seems every bakery, café and chocolatier is crafting something special this year and who could blame them? April brings out the sweetest of notes: sugar, spice and all things nice (read: lots and lots of chocolate). Below are our favourite Easter treats in town for 2025. Churro and chocolate Easter egg from Beatrix Bakes x Melbourne Cocoa Photograph: Supplied Natalie Paull from Beatrix Bakes has collaborated with Melbourne Cocoa once again this year to craft a milk and white chocolate egg that made its sell-out debut in 2024. You'll detect festive notes of cinnamon, sweet vanilla and caramelised waffle in the delicious egg – all inspired by the flavour of churros, one of the recipes from Beatrix's cookbook, Another Slice. They’re available for a limited time only at select retailers or online at the Melbourne Cocoa website. Hot cross doughnut from Pidapipo Photograph: Supplied / Pidapipo Ice cream maven Pidapipo Laboratorio may tempt you to shirk the traditional hot cross bun this Easter, thanks to their heavenly, sugar-dusted 'ultimate non-hot-cross-bun'. Made to order and available exclusively at the Fitzroy Laboratorio, the fresh doughnuts come topped with fior di latte gelato and spiced caramel sauce. If these look much too decadent for your taste, never fear; Pidapipo's much-loved bags of dark and milk chocolate eggs are back in 2025 – each beautifully packed in wrapping from Studio Ongarato for that ultra-b

If nothing gives you greater pleasure than sinking those carnivorous canines into a juicy, melt-in-your-mouth cut of A-grade steak, then drop everything right now. One of our most marvellous steakhouses Meatmaiden has just announced it will be teaming up with Restaurang AG from Stockholm for a series of immersive steak dinners right in the heart of Melbourne. Home to the largest selection of premium beef in all of Europe, Restaurang AG was ranked number nine in the World's Best Steak Restaurants list for 2024 and is widely renowned for its cutting-edge Scandinavian steakhouse smarts – so you can bet the chops are going to be, well, off chops. Throw Meatmaiden's passion for crafting steak at the highest level into the mix, and there's no limit to what these twin powerhouses will achieve when they join forces.  What's the occasion? Well, it's only the Aussie debut of the world-famous Rare Tour, a globally celebrated dining series that brings together world-class chefs, steak education and expert grilling techniques to respected steak restaurants around the world. So in other words, it's a huge deal – at least for die-hard meat lovers. The dinner series is running for three consecutive nights from Tuesday April 29 to Thursday May 1 and you can be one of the lucky 500 to attend by making a booking here. Photograph: Supplied / Meatmaiden The cleverly curated six-course menu will showcase a super-luxe range of rare cuts and exclusive pairings, including AG’s striking interpretati

Holy moly! Gone are the days when, mid-shop and feeling hungry, all you could find at your local shopping centre was the somewhat satisfying-yet-predictable trifecta of basic fast food outlets. From the 2014 unveiling of Emporium's glam food court to the post-pandemic opening of Grazeland in the west, today's dining-scape of foodie wonderlands around Melbourne is broader and brighter than ever before – and the newest addition to our very own suburban 'fashion capital' is no exception.  That's right, folks. Chadstone has just opened the floodgates to a sprawling new haven for all your epicurean shopping and dining needs. At 26,500 square metres, the Market Pavilion is technically larger than the MCG! But size aside, what can you actually eat and buy here?  For starters, there's a Champagne and oyster bar (fancy!), expert fishmongers, a pristine new Brunetti Oro, chocolate lovers' paradise Mork, a wine boutique and even a cute sweet treat shop from Thai legends Homm Desserts. A high-end sushi train, plus restaurants for yum cha, Korean hotpot and Japanese ramen are just a few of the venues now open in the adjoining dining laneway, which has just been reinvigorated to coincide with the Market Pavilion's debut. Other highlights in the line-up feature NY-inspired bagel joint Hanks, Cannoleria, Green Cup, Yo-Chi, Gewurzhaus, the Oakleigh Doughnut Co and Koko Black. All up, the Market Pavilion boasts about 50 popular retailers offering artisan-made meals and treats, fresh produce a