Lauren Dinse

Winter 2025: Yeowch, it's chilly out there! 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. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Looking for dessert that masquerades as breakfast? Check out the best doughnuts in Melbourne.

There’s always time for a tipple when you’re travelling around Australia. Our thirsty country is swimming in stellar watering holes that are loved by locals and tourists alike. We’ve even got a handful of contenders on the World’s 50 Best Bars list to back us up. Whether you’re looking for a fancy spot for cleverly crafted cocktails or a natural wine bar with superb snacks, our local Australian editors and drink writers have curated this list of all the best bars in Australia right now. Of course, Sydney and Melbourne's Bar of the Year winners from Time Out's Food & Drink Awards 2025 – Pleasure Club and Caretaker's Cottage – made the list. But there are so many more gems to explore! 🍽️ The best restaurants in Australia🍷 Australia's best wineries☕️ Where to find the best coffee in Australia

Winter 2025: 'Tis that cosy time of year again when 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 to keep you extra warm. 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 fostered a connection with the great local watering holes since the very beginning, firm in the knowledge that they're some of our most b

July 2025 update: It's that time of the year when all you want to do is settle by a cosy fireplace or in a quiet booth and sip delicious bevvies with the people you love. Luckily, this list is chock-full of charming spots where you can do just that. Our tip for a winter bev? If there's mulled wine or hot cider, always order it. Melbourne has some of the greatest bars in the world, whether you're looking for the laser-like focus of 16-seater Above Board or the rock‘n’roll ‘she’ll be right’ spirit of Lulie Tavern. You can find temples heroing whisky and palaces dedicated to gin, hole-in-the-wall nooks for sipping natural wines or classy spots for suited-and-booted cocktails. How about a prawn club sanga and a bottle of Champers from tiny charmer Apollo Inn? Or crocodile bites and ice-cold Martinis from Black Kite Commune?  If it's sky-high action you're after, then take a squiz at our guide to Melboune's best rooftop bars instead. For tipples a bit more out-of-the-box, we've got the scoop on some of Melbourne's weirdest drinking experiences. Yep, your options in this town are truly endless – even if you don't drink booze, since most bars in Melbourne have seriously upped their mocktail game in recent years. We've rounded up the top 49 bars that we're really loving right now – and we're sure you will, too.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READ: Hungry? We've got you covered  with

July 2025 update: Wanna know the cure to the winter blues? Eating your way through all the cosy, warming dishes at Melbourne's top restaurants. So chuck on that North Face puffer jacket and get out there – there's a Sunday roast, aromatic laksa or fresh-outta-the-oven apple pie just waiting to be devoured. 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. 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 to get through!  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READ: Don't want to break the bank? Check out Melbourne's best cheap eats.

There are sharp distinctions between the regional fare of the Middle East, but there is also a lot of common ground, especially when it comes to a love of chickpeas, tomato, parsley, pickles, garlic, lemon, proteins grilled over coals and falafel. Whether you're specifically in the mood for some Lebanese fare with enough garlic toum to offend your dining partner, or open to whoever is doing the best hummus in town, Melbourne boasts a swag of ace Turkish, Israeli, Lebanese, Persian, Syrian or Palestinian restaurants to sort out your craving for Middle Eastern food.  Feeling more Mediterranean? Here's Melbourne best Greek restaurants. Or for a curry, try Melbourne's best Indian restaurants. 

Red wine and spices are the base ingredients for this European winter warmer – but from there, anything is possible. You'll find mulled wine in bars and pubs all over Melbourne in the colder months, and let's just say it's the drink equivalent of a crackling fireplace. Rather make your own? The at-home mulled wine kits from cult fave spice house Gewürzhaus are great. Or, if you don't like your wine warm, check out some of Melbourne's best wine bars. 

For dog owners, one of the hardest parts of a night out on the town is thinking about your beloved furry friend sitting at home alone. Luckily, these pubs let you bring Fido along while you relax with a pint and a parma. And even if you don't have a four-legged companion of your own, these are the best spots to sneak in some pats and get some slobbery kisses.  More of a cat person? Check out these cat cafés for a purrfect way to spend your afternoon. 

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?

There are a few things we take seriously in Melbourne: coffee, the footy, tram etiquette and in more recent years, bread. The humble loaf has been elevated to new heights with specialty and gourmet bakeries popping up around town, and everyone from your mum to your next-door neighbour is likely to have a strong opinion on where to find the best bread in Melbourne. We've eaten our fair share of baguettes, sourdough, bagels and olive loaves, and collated a list of the best of the best. Slices from these top-notch bakeries are sure to improve your next avo on toast, grilled cheese toastie or Sunday morning French toast sesh.  While you're at it, check out the best patisseries in Melbourne. 

South Indian, North Indian, Malaysian-Indian, Indo-Chinese, Indian fusion – Melbourne has it all. Australians’ perennial favourite butter chicken can, of course, be found at a lot of these restaurants but we encourage you to expand your palate. There's a whole world of ingenious, time-honoured dishes hailing from every regional pocket of the subcontinent. Our team of writers have kept an eye on Melbourne's Indian food scene over the years, trying out new suburban joints, casual diners and some of the newer 'mod-Indian' restaurants that have popped up in the last few years. The results? We've compiled our fave spots here for your eating pleasure. Go on and spice up your life. Looking for budget-friendly meals? Here are the best cheap eats in Melbourne.

It's amazing that pastry, at its simplest, is just flour, lots of butter, sugar and maybe an egg or two. Yet Melbourne's best patisseries have crafted a diverse range of treats from these raw ingredients, including what could be the best croissants in the world and old-school cakes you'll want to take home to your grandmother. Melbourne's speciality patisserie landscape continues to evolve and expand, and we're thankful for it.  Need a sweet treat to impress your guests? These are the best takeaway cakes in Melbourne. 

Aren't we Melburnians just a lucky bunch? After its delicious debut, Australia's very own chocolate festival is back in town for its second year. The event, which features chocolate makers from ten countries (including Ecuador and Samoa), will be hosted at the Seaworks Maritime Precinct in Williamstown from July 5 to 6. Ticketholders will be treated to free choccy samples and insightful chats with the creators of the world's favourite sweet treat. There'll also be demonstrations on how the beans are made into chocolate – so if you've ever been curious about that amazing, alchemical process, here's your chance to learn about it firsthand! There's even an option to add a wine pairing experience to your day. Expect to enjoy 70 different tastings from 42 exhibitors on the day, many of which are offering no-sugar-added, all-natural, organic, vegan, gluten-free and kosher products. Note that sample sizes will be bite-sized and if you enjoy what you taste, you're welcome to purchase products directly from the makers to take home with you or give as gifts. Chocolate in its purest state is an experience not to be missed, so bring along your most passionate foodie friends and family for what's sure to be one of Melbourne's sweetest days out this winter. You can nab a ticket to the event here. For more info about the festival and the different ticket types available, visit the official website. Need to warm up? Here's where you can find Melbourne's tastiest hot chocolates. For something

After years of success, refined Italian eatery Cucinetta has brought back its famous cheese wheel for the 11th edition. Once again, the team is serving the traditional meal of fettuccine cacio e pepe, a simple yet sophisticated pasta dish made with quality cheese and lashings of pepper. Served out of a wheel of parmigiano reggiano (as all pasta should be served), it’s a cheese-on-cheese affair. Why, you may ask? Well, no raison d'etre is needed because who doesn't love a cheese wheel? To get your share of the marvelous cheese-sauced ribbons, all you need to do is make a booking and head down to Cucinetta's dining room in South Yarra on your chosen date. The wheel will be up and running July 31. A serving costs $36 and it's available on the menu over lunch and dinner. Want to get in on the carby goodness? Stop salivating, start booking.  Craving Italian now? These are the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne.

Marnong Estate's sophisticated contemporary Italian restaurant has fast been gaining critical acclaim, especially since the appointment of Greg Feck as executive chef.  From the picturesque rolling hilltop views and crowdpleasing Italian-inspired eats to the great wines produced on-site and cosy lounge spaces, this restaurant is perfect for a long and indulgent lunch.  Get the seasonal mushroom risotto if it's still on the menu – it was one of the most generous, comforting, flavour-bomb takes we've ever tried. Other highlights include the Ora King salmon gelato served in a charcoal waffle cone (it sounds weird, but it's genius), the tonno crudo with nashi pear and stracciatella and the ‘Vittore’ carpaccio inspired by the famous painter from Harry's Bar, Venice. The latter comes as a gleaming display of Wagyu beef, spiced walnuts, Warragul greens and 1950’s ‘Universal Sauce.’  All pasta is either hand-folded or bronze extruded 'fatto in casa', with free-range eggs sourced from the chooks of the estate. Most of the restaurant's meats are grilled over coal and local woods (think red gum or jarrah) to lend a distinct complexity to each dish. La Vetta is open Thursday to Sunday, for lunch (excluding Thursday) from noon and for dinner from 5-9pm. If you're looking for other out-of-town adventures, check out the best day trips from Melbourne. 

Located in a former metalworks factory on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy, Cutler (formerly Cutler and Co) is the flagship restaurant of Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann. Since opening in 2009, it's consistently been at the top of Melbourne's luxury dining game, winning our Best Fine Diner Award in 2017 and continuing to wow both loyal and new guests 15 years on. While the venue may have somehow relaxed its sense of formality in line with current dining trends, crucial aspects of the experience remain: world-class service, a creative yet comforting menu that makes use of Australia's superb produce, and – yep, we're calling it – the best long Sunday lunch in Melbourne. A glorious afternoon may be spent here sampling the delights of wood-grilled Corner Inlet calamari tossed through a duo of punchy green romesco and aioli; fresh sashimi-grade tuna served on brittle, buttery shards of 'toast' with crème fraîche, marinated bullhorn peppers and horseradish; and creamy abalone katsu sando bites; all while washing the goodness down with Champers and expertly crafted cocktails like the Turtle Dove (that one's a knock-out).  Steak lovers can't go wrong with the dry-aged rib eye, a staple on the menu since the beginning, though specials of the day are always a must-try. On our last visit in 2024, a stunning duck pithivier with prosciutto took our gong for one of the best dishes we tried all year.  Better yet, the restaurant treats every guest with a kindness and attention to detail that's rar

Since 1870, this local boozer has been well-loved for nailing the basics: good times, cold drinks and hearty food.  These days, it's a tad more upmarket than its days of yore, offering up fancy-fied bar snacks like corn and scamorza croquettes, Asian-inspired crispy chicken ribs and a delectable little lobster and prawn roll with salmon caviar.   But if you're after some no-nonsense pub grub, you can't go wrong with the juicy Wagyu cheeseburger or beer-battered fish and chips with mushy peas. The Vic's hand-crumbed parma is another winner, while hearty protein mains like the Otway pork cutlet, 300-gram rostbiff and 250-gram scotch steak will keep the meat lovers happy While the menu may be updated to reflect modern tastes, the pub's timeless charm remains with stripped wooden furnishings, a spacious main bar and a welcoming, no-frilles vibe all year round. A solid drinks list covers the gamut, with a broad offering of mainly Australian wines (plus a smattering of European drops), local-heroing beer taps selection, spirits and expertly mixed cocktails. For more info, visit the website. Looking for a pub that'll welcome your pet? Here's our round-up to Melbourne's best dog-friendly pubs.

Unleash your inner sushi master in an exciting masterclass with Kisumé head sushi chef Toaki Kyo. The intimate series of classes across winter are designed for a small number of lucky guests, ensuring those joining get ample one-on-one attention and guidance from Kyo. It's an opportunity to indulge in one of the world’s most prized fishes prepared by an esteemed sushi chef and to learn some highly sophisticated culinary skills in the same afternoon. You'll watch as the restaurant's master chef breaks down a whole bluefin tuna, before you sit down to indulge in the three different cuts — akami, chu-toro and o-toro — straight from the chef’s blade. The front-row experience offers a once-in-a-liftetime insight into the precision and artistry involved in the process, as well as a rare chance to discover the different flavour profiles and markers of quality from a passionate, nationally renowned expert. From the accompanying five-course menu, you'll get to taste top seasonal produce prepared in some of Kisumé's most masterful dishes, from tuna sashimi and A5 Wagyu with tuna dashi to a delicate chocolate and sobacha dessert to round out the experience. This rare and special dining experience costs $215 per person and you can make a booking at the website. Move fast! Spots are limited and expected to sell out quickly.  Looking for a more casual seafood experience? That's OK, hop aboard these sushi trains in Melbourne instead. 

Winter is here but that doesn’t mean you and the family need to stay at home. Rug up and head west to Grazeland to find your fave foodie precinct utterly transformed into a winter wonderland that will impress both kids and the young at heart. Each weekend from July 4 to 20, the epic culinary playground will be decked out with dreamy white snow, neon lights and cosy vibes.  As the days get shorter and the temps drop to new lows, there’s never been a better excuse to venture out and have a cosy night by the river. Warm up with mulled wine by the fire pits and dig into a diverse array of international eats, including aromatic laksa, New Orleans-style chicken, chicken satay rice, Turkish gozleme, dumplings and epic mac and cheese plates. Craving dessert? Try a winter-friendly warm apple pie or street crepes to finish your meal on a sweet note. With roving performers, live bands and interactive DJs providing plenty of entertainment, have a dance by the magical snow machine or treat the kids to a face painting session and playtime in the fun zones.   When it’s time to sit back and relax, warm up those mitts with a spice-infused mulled wine. Don't miss the kick-off Block Party event on Friday night, July 4, where Frosty the Snowman will be making an appearance and live sets will set the street party mood (no bookings required). Christmas may be far away yet, but when there’s an opportunity to have a white Christmas in July – we’ll take it! Looking for more fun things to see and do t

June 2025 update: For the third year in a row, Axil Coffee's barista Jack Simpson has just been crowned the Australian Barista Champion at one of the nation's fiercest espresso-fuelled competitions: the ASCA National Coffee Championships. Simpson will now go on to represent Australia at the World Barista Championship in Milan, Italy, in October. Fingers crossed!  The priority at Axil Coffee Roasters is high-quality, ethical coffee. 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 update at the top of this piece, three years on Axil still stands out with legend Jack Simpson carrying the torch.  Axil is recognised all over Melbourne for more reasons than just its award-winning baristas. Axil once 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. Axil's environmentally and socially friendly beans are labelled Direct Trade, which means they must meet certain criteria. For example, Axil has guaranteed to pay 25 per cent more than the fair trade price to develop stronger, long-term relationships with the producers.  The Axil empire has continued to expand, with stores popping up across all corners of Melbourne, from Flinders Lane and Bour

For the twelfth year, Fitzroy's beloved Builders Arms Hotel is once again devoting ten days to sausages in June, celebrating everything from classic bratwurst to smoked frankfurters. Make a lunch or dinner booking anytime from Thursday June 12 to Sunday 22 to taste your fave sossies from the special festival menu.  The carnivorous array include spicy 'nduja rolls glazed with local honey; Spanish-style morcilla blood pudding hash brown Benedict; grilled bratwurst skewers with curry sauce; smoked cheese kransky hotdog with sauerkraut and chilli; an Alsatian-inspired trio of smoked frankfurters, Toulouse and Lyonnaise sausages on a bed of baked sauerkraut; and Modena-style cotechino with cime di rapa and baked polenta.  While we love a Bunnings sizzle as much as the next person, there's no doubt this menu takes it to the next level. The incredibly talented Troy Wheeler and his team from Meatsmith are making all the sausages from scratch, so you can expect proper juicy ones of an exceptional quality and with all the complementary accoutrements.  Kicking off the celebrations, there's a festival launch happy hour on Thursday June 12 from 5-7pm with free sausage snacks – and for a bit of extra fun, the program includes a special sausage-themed edition of Trivia with Cam Smith on Thursday evening, June 19. Call up your most competitive foodie friends, establish a team and prepare yourself for a night of obscure sausage facts, general snag knowledge and plenty of laughs all around. M

May 2025 update: Phwoar, talk about a hot winter pub deal! The North Fitzroy Arms Hotel's legendary rendition of South Australia's famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) pie floaterr is now available every Tuesday for just $25. This ain't no servo sludge, but rather a delicious O'Connor's beef cheek and Guinness pie, served with pea soup, mash and the pub's yummo housemade tomato sauce.  Fun fact: did you know the original pie floater originated in Adelaide in the 1800s? It was sold from street carts as a beef or lamb pie in a pool of pea soup. Now in 2025, this pub is serving 500 of these bad boys a week! The recipe is a traditional one taken straight out of a Country Women's Association cookbook from the '30’s.  Pie Floater Tuesdays starts this winter, available weekly from 5pm.  - Lauren Dinse Read on for my original review in November 2024. ***** 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. It’s almost as if a bunch of jaded publicans recently got together at a committee meeting and unanimously agreed: the old-school Aussie pub experience needs to come back. Such is the revival of the vintage pub (pubcore?) experience in Melbourne right now, one can’t help but muse at the irony of something built on reversing trends… well, becoming somewhat of a trend.  But hey, we’re not complaining. It’s about time you could once again get a proper VB or Ca

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. It’s no secret that Carlton North, Brunswick East, Northcote and Fitzroy North are Melbourne’s holy quadrants for wine bar-seeking pilgrims. On every corner in these parts, it seems, there’s a reliably schmick one that can be counted on. Eight years on, Henry Sugar – a wine and cocktail bar named after a character from a Roald Dahl short story – stands up to the quality of its Northside neighbours both old and new. There’s an appealing edginess to the bar; gloomy industrial ‘80s new wave music murmurs out onto the street and the lighting inside is dim but tastefully warm. It’s three parts quaint, elegant and a little punk, and you can’t help but wonder why more people aren’t talking about it. Especially when you consider Henry Sugar’s cracker ‘No Waste’ Monday night deal. Since a different $45 menu is served every Sunday lunch (“because it’s fun and keeps us on our toes,” executive chef Mike Baker explained), a snack menu is then created from the leftovers the following day. These small plates range in price from just $5 (a bowl of braised chickpeas) to $14 (a kangaroo skewer with tomato chutney).  Now I wouldn’t normally recommend starting your week with a whole lot of liquor, but the drinks list at Henry Sugar is hard to resist. By-the-glass options lean Victorian, while signature cocktails make creative use o

It's ironic that most modern convenience stores aren't always, well, so convenient. Sure, you can pick up a bottle of Dare and a sossie roll made from anything but real meat, but perhaps suburban neighbourhoods around Melbourne deserve something a bit more spesh. Enter Breadcetera, a new modern market-style shop from the hospo experts behind Riserva, Baia di Vino and one of Melbourne's hottest new restaurants right now, Lucia. It's not a café and neither is it a supermarket, but rather more like a new-school milk bar – with a handy grab bag of all sorts of both edible and non-edible knick-knacks. Its Instagram bio sums its selection up as "the best of what you're looking for and things you never knew existed." Co-owner Frank Ciorciari shares the idea was driven by a desire to pick up day-to-day essentials, on-the-go: “I not only work in the area but live in Malvern East with my family – and it’s always been missing a place where you can pick up those last-minute specialty ingredients, take-home meals and of course, delicious coffee. We didn’t want to overcomplicate it. Great bread, coffee, and food made fresh every day. That’s the core – everything else is just a thoughtful addition”. Located just two doors down from Riserva, Breadcetera stocks fresh bread (hence the name), plus an assortment of quality pantry staples and specialty gourmet goods – think fancy pastries from Austro, jams and preserves, takeaway pasta, pre-mixed aperitifs and boutique liqueurs. There's even a d

If you still refuse to throw away your childhood dolls (cough, guilty) or you haven't quite recovered from the Barbie film fever that struck the world in 2023, you're not alone. That special connection to Barbie is hard to shake, even though the long, joyous days of prancing and play-acting her around our bedrooms may be over. In fact, some folks are so obsessed with the lore and look of the world's most popular doll, they've been collecting versions of her since she first sprung into the world in the '70s. But wherever you may sit on the Barbie devotion spectrum – and how much pink you have in your wardrobe will give you a good indication of that – there's no denying it: this Malibu Barbie-themed café coming to Melbourne soon is a girly girl's 'grammable dream come true. Photograph: Mushroom Creative House - Marten Ascenzo After a spate of hugely successful pop-ups across various cities in the US, we're lucky to get Mattel's very first international run of the concept right here at Chadstone Shopping Centre. The two-storey family-friendly destination is set to open its doors on Friday, June 27, and will feature the ultimate Barbie dining experience and cocktail bar, plus a dreamy roller skating rink, exclusive merchandise (life-sized Barbie doll box, anyone?), a visual installation showcasing the Barbie brand's evolution throughout the decades and fun photo opps galore. Just look at that adorbs Barbie boat of desserts! Photograph: Mushroom Creative House - Marten Ascenzo

Melbourne loves a visually dramatic restaurant opening – from Reine and La Rue's breathtaking reveal in the city's historic former Stock Exchange building to Yugen's stylish subterranean debut in South Yarra, golden orb, shimmering chandelier and all. So it seems natural that in searching for a permanent space for Sri Lankan import Ministry of Crab, hospo group H&J Restaurants would select somewhere with sufficient swank factor. Flinders Lane's newly restored Invicta House was the ticket and now, months later, the team have opened a second restaurant in its basement as promised. Let's just say, it's looking very swish indeed.  Under the watchful presence of an imposing bull sculpture, guests descend the tunnel staircase before unearthing a striking centrepiece stone bar in the world below. Beyond, a fiery open kitchen reveals the chefs' craftsmanship, a culinary show that plays until midnight. The 115-seater space is decked out in dramatic reds, charcoals and deep blues to set a moody tone – courtesy of top-notch design and architecture firm Air Studio.  Photograph: Tim Sonmez The new dining destination promises to simmer with sexy, after-dark Melbourne energy – but what can guests expect to eat and drink here? One clue lies in its mysterious name: II II VI (or if reading Roman numerals hurts your brain, Two-Two-Six). In ancient Roman times, food was primarily prepared in open fires and ovens, fuelled by natural elements like charcoal and wood. This is the type of smoky, ch

If you haven't had your second coffee of the day yet, here's a triple shot of good news to put a spring in your step. For the third year in a row, local Melbourne barista Jack Simpson from Axil Coffee Roasters has just been crowned the Australian Barista Champion at the nation's fiercest espresso-fuelled competition: the ASCA (Australian Specialty Coffee Association) Australian Barista Championship. With talent like this working in our cafés, it's no wonder Melbourne is consistently ranked among the world's best cities for coffee. The final verdict was handed down after 5pm on Sunday, June 15, after the judges spent an entire day pondering expertly prepared brews from Australia's top six competitors. Every year, each entrant has only 15 minutes to impress the judges through creating their very best milk-based coffee, espresso, and signature drink. The latter aspect of the challenge, in particular, is a chance for the baristas to showcase their creativity. This year, Jack rose to the occasion with a coffee from Colombian specialty producer Jonathan Gasca, leveraging its natural notes of pineapple, raspberry kombucha, cola, and peach, as well as honey vinegar, cascara and passionfruit husk in order to highlight the utility of so-called 'waste' products. Photograph: Supplied Jack tells Time Out that while Melbourne's coffee culture is thriving, he believes specialty coffee is booming everywhere around the world right now. "I've noticed the emerging coffee scene in Montréal,

Calling all Jedis! If you or someone you know is a major Star Wars fan, then in the words of Yoda: very good news, we have. Australia's first official Star Wars café opened its doors at Melbourne Museum on June 7, a one-of-a-kind pop-up to delight children and adults alike. While it's a pity it couldn't have opened on May the 4th to coincide with the day the nerds among us say to each other "May the fourth be with you", we couldn't be more excited to board this culinary spaceship. Museums Victoria has worked together with both Disney and Lucasfilm to bring the immersive eatery – an idyllic lunch spot to grab a blue milk and a bite to eat before or after you've viewed the museum's Lego Star Wars exhibition – to life, with fans of all ages set to feel like they're dining in a galaxy far, far away.  The Star Wars Galactic Café invites visitors to dine aboard the Corellian Star Cruiser and we're told there may be Stormtroopers about – so remember to bring your light saber! The menu features kooky options like the vegan Sorgan Burger (a chickpea and kale patty stacked with greens, avocado and pickles inside a potato bun), the Vietnamese-inspired Naboo Garden Vermicelli (a noodle dish featuring plump prawns, fresh herbs, nuoc cham, shallots and a sprinkling of toasted peanuts), and a zingy Outer Rim chicken katsu. Gluten-free options are available, and for a salty side, try the Asteroid Fields golden sweet potato wedges and sour cream. Whatever you do, don't skip dessert: a rich bi

Newly reopened after significant refurbishments, Parkville's Potter Museum of Art has unveiled 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. 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 sous chef role at fine diner Vue de Monde, Noble's scope of e

Whether you're a Docklands lover or hater, there's no denying it: this end of the CBD gets a lot of foot traffic due to throngs of Southern Cross Station commuters, footy fans headed to Marvel Stadium and the suited and booted corporate folks. So it's only fitting that the city's newest after-work spot should land right in the middle of all the action. Contemporary three-storey pub Quarterhouse – set in the Melbourne Quarter precinct, hence the name – promises to be a touch more stylish than your average sports bar on this end of the CBD (Think DJ sets! Rooftop views! Wagyu skewers!). But not too fancy to alienate those simply seeking a fuss-free drink in a comfy, welcoming space.  With its plentiful booths, banquettes and umbrella-shaded street-side tables, the ground floor is your new home for frosty pints and approachable grub like burgers, parmas and fries. Huddle in with the crowd and catch a game on the four-metre-wide LED screen, or if you've popped in on a Sunday arvo, treat yourself to a proper hangover-curing roast (it's $35 and includes all the trimmings, plus bottomless gravy).  It's the top level where things get a little sophisticated, thanks to a stylish rooftop bar with an open-air wrap-around terrace playing host to long lunches, acoustic artists and DJs on weekends. This part of the pub opens out onto the brand new Sky Park, suspended above Collins Street, and tides its guests over all week long with tasty wood-fired pizzas, share-style snacks and larger gas

Japanophile foodies, this one's for you. What would you do if we said you could now get premium Wagyu, artisanal matcha, picture-perfect baked treats and quality saké in Melbourne's CBD – all under the one roof? If the answer is call a friend and jump on the tram for a lunch date asap, then you'll want to keep reading. Cult fave eatery Omi has just opened its flagship destination, Omi 380, a multi-sensory space offering five distinct Japanese dining specialties: Wagyu, bēkarī (bakery), matcha, gelato and saké.  Photograph: Supplied / OMI 380 Over at Omi 380's Wagyu station, tuck into a mouth-watering meal of your choice – from signature donburi and premium A5 Wagyu cuts to izakaya-style plates and steaming hotpots. This is where your journey begins, but it doesn't stop there. For dessert, you're spoilt for choice at the bakery; think tasty sweet morsels like the mini pan pan, just-baked shokupan and canelés made fresh daily. If a frozen indulgence is more your jam, don't skip a visit to the gelato station, where East-meets-West scoops celebrate inventive and matcha-inspired flavours. Note: there are three levels of intensity to dial up the matcha magic. Photograph: Supplied / OMI 380 Since we're on the topic of matcha, trust that true enthusiasts can enjoy the ingredient in drinkable form with traditional matcha lattes and 'grammable new creations like the Matcha Daydream, plus house-made speciality coffees like the Misty Forest. While Omi's much-anticipated saké experi

Keen to crack open a super spesh bottle of vino for your next celebration, wine bar date or BYO restaurant booking? Though making a selection can be tough, expert help is fortunately at hand. The highly anticipated 2025 Top Wineries of Australia ranking has just dropped, and there are plenty of gems ripe for your tasting. But no time to stop and smell the rosé – let’s dive into the results. For the eighth annual Top Wineries of Australia round-up, the judging panel from The Real Review swirled, sipped and scored more than 15,000 wines from across the country – yep, cool job alert! Winners were crowned across eight categories, including best vigneron, sparkling, white, red and rosé. Plus, more than 400 producers – roughly 15 per cent of Australia’s 2,700 producers – were awarded a coveted Top Wineries Certification, just proof of how good Australia’s wine scene really is.  Now, let’s uncork the results! Victoria has extended its five-year winning streak, with Geelong’s Wine By Farr taking home the title of Australia’s Winery of the Year for 2025. It’s a repeat victory for the family-owned winery, which also snagged the top gong in 2022.  “This year, the wines that clinched the title for By Farr were the statuesque 2022 vintage of Côte Vineyard RP Pinot Noir (99 points), the stunningly beautiful 2023 Côte Vineyard GC Chardonnay (98 points), the opulent 2022 Tout Près Pinot Noir (98 points), and the gorgeously spicy 2022 By Farr Shiraz (98 points),” said The Real Review’s leadin

No topic ruffles the feathers of our food-obsessed readers quite like the humble burger. From where to find the best ones to whether the fancy-ish takes at Bistra, Gimlet and Maison Batard are good enough to rival your classic Aussie fish and chip shop burg (fried egg, pineapple and all) – everyone has got their own opinion.    But if there's one opinion we really trust when it comes to the matter of meat between two buns, it's that of Jimmy Hurlston AKA Jimmy's Burgers on Instagram – one of Australia's most prolific burger reviewers since 2012, author of The Burger Book and co-founder of Collingwood trailblazer Easey's. Last week, Hurlston was one of the judges at the inaugural Australia's Best Burger Awards at the hospo trade show Food & Hospitality Week, where he lent his expertise in crowning one winner to rule them all for 2025. Drumroll, please... are you ready for it? Let's give it up for chef Jonathon Donovan from CBCo Brewing Port Melbourne! The official winner of the highly coveted National Burger Award, Donovan was praised by the judges for his 'Fillet-O-Shrimp' burger, a next-level ode to the the Maccas fish fave. The brewery's yummy two-hander features a panko-crumb prawn patty, lettuce, onion, and a creamy ranch and Japanese Mayo sauce. Not sure about you, but we know exactly what we're ordering next time we pop in for a brew!  Photograph: Supplied / CBCo Brewing “It's phenomenally hard to cook in a kitchen that’s not yours under such pressure, yet all the co

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