8 Must-Book Restaurants in Melbourne CBD
Spice Temple offers modern Chinese dining in a spectacular riverside setting for your next private function. Awaken the palette with a tart pickled dish, followed by a raw yellowfin tuna or beef tartare, Xinjiang style. The best restaurants in Melbourne, as reviewed for our annual Restaurant Guide. There are old favourites, new trailblazers, and a lot of dining out to be done. The Best Restaurants in Melbourne’s CBD Hand-pulled noodle houses in Chinatown.
David’s Master Pot branch in Glen Waverley recently renovated their beer garden located at the rear of the restaurant. After choosing your favourite ingredients from the open fridge, follow the neon signs to the cosiest outdoor area, full of gas heaters and artificial grass. Our tip is to try its signature stir-fry spicy pot – it’s a dry version of their famous soup base that uses over 20 kinds of Chinese herbs 墨尔本川菜 and spices for a fiery kick. Remember to ask for a complimentary bowl of steamed white rice for a match made in malatang heaven. If lunch time queues at the CBD branch are any indication, Tina's noodle soups are worth the wait. It's a quick and easy affair once you find a seat though, the giant bowls of still simmering noodles covered in chilli oil will hit the table almost as soon as you get your drink.
You will be given a buzzer that will alert you to when there is seating available. If you love the vibrancy of Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese and more cuisines, see our guide to the Best Asian Fusion Food in Melbourne. Experience a variety of tastes and textures at Bistro Gitan, the Reymond family restaurant. Ambitious young owner-chef Charlie Carrington changes the cuisine every four months.
The Greek flatbread saganaki, seasoned with lemon, is served with it. Tzadziki and baba ganoush are only two of the many dips that accompany the main meal, which is made out of olives, cooked octopus and cut bits of parsley, olive oil, and lemon juice. Jim's frantic service and the lack of a menu add to the appeal.
The menu is centred around robatayaki, a style of cooking in which different cuts of meat and vegetables are skewered, grilled over charcoal and paired with a dressing to enhance their flavours. Snacky and interactive, you’ll love washing down bite-sized pieces of pork belly, wagyu and chicken, alongside delicious sushi, Japanese beers and fruity cocktails. The sleek venue seats over 100 guests, but the most sought after spots are at the kitchen bar, where you’ll get a close-up view of chefs working the grills.
And just to triple your burning pleasure, order thin slices of lamb encrusted in cumin and laced with chilli. Upmarket DIY dining is the order of the day at Dainty Sichuan Box Hill. This Chinese restaurant modernises the age-old concept of eating from a communal hotpot, refining the idea to include individual hotpots that bubble away on a hotplate before you, filled with your choice of base broth. Large platters of dunkable ingredients are beautifully presented on the table to share.
Centred around Middle-Eastern flavours and drawing on Delia's own heritage, Maha is a spice-filled journey into his own interpretations on regional specialities and staples. Featuring a deli, a restaurant, and a rooftop there’s plenty to experience. All menus have been inspired by founder and executive chef Alejandro Saravia Pastuso, and offer a taste into culinary-rich Gippsland through tasting plates and wines. It may be new but the concept and execution of Farmer’s Daughters have cemented it as one of the best restaurants in Melbourne's CBD.
It’s also dog-friendly, so your furry friend might be begging tableside for a bite. It’s a tiny spot, but the romantic, elbow-to-elbow ambience at Thirty Eight Chairs increases the chances of getting to know your neighbours – and maybe even sharing a bottle of wine with them. Pastas pay homage to all the family classics and are made from scratch. An intimate, 12-seat omakase bar, where no two meals are the same. Experience 20 or more individualised courses while being entertained by the chefs' playful banter. Expect top-quality seafood that might be squid, sea urchin, salmon roe, King George whiting or bluefin tuna.
I’d heard a lot of good things about Sichuan House and was glad to finally get around to eating here. Dainty Sichuan is still at the top of my list for Sichuan food in Melbourne however I’d have no complaints about eating at Sichaun House again. There were a lot of things on the menu that looked interesting and next time time I’ll make sure I bring a few friends along so that we can order a wider variety of dishes and actually get through the big servings. Pawa brings Indigenous ingredients to familiar dishes to create unique and exciting flavours. Where to order Filipino street food, traditional dishes and authentic desserts.
Experience Melbourne’s only duck blood tofu hot pot restaurant, where so... Respected Melbourne chef Alejandro Saravia has brought his vision to establish an embassy for Gippsland in the heart of the CBD. All areas of the striking three-level Farmer's Daughters champion the true essence of Gippsland, celebrating the diversity and richness of produce from the region. You'll find the restaurant on the middle floor, and the food is more formal; best suited to long business lunches, formal dinners, and special occasions. The open kitchen is fuelled by charcoal and wood, bringing a sense of theatre to the rustic yet elegant dining room.
A cold refreshing beer is the perfect thing to go with our dishes. Give the gift of a Shu Restaurant dining and complimenting wine experience gift card. The interior design might be a bit dated, but the cooking is very authentic. If you can’t tolerate a decent hit of spice, this probably isn’t the best Chinese restaurant for you to try. This is a great choice for some of the best Sichuan food in Melbourne if you’re looking to fill up on a budget. Brisbane has a great selection of Dumpling restaurants to try.
David’s Master Pot branch in Glen Waverley recently renovated their beer garden located at the rear of the restaurant. After choosing your favourite ingredients from the open fridge, follow the neon signs to the cosiest outdoor area, full of gas heaters and artificial grass. Our tip is to try its signature stir-fry spicy pot – it’s a dry version of their famous soup base that uses over 20 kinds of Chinese herbs 墨尔本川菜 and spices for a fiery kick. Remember to ask for a complimentary bowl of steamed white rice for a match made in malatang heaven. If lunch time queues at the CBD branch are any indication, Tina's noodle soups are worth the wait. It's a quick and easy affair once you find a seat though, the giant bowls of still simmering noodles covered in chilli oil will hit the table almost as soon as you get your drink.
You will be given a buzzer that will alert you to when there is seating available. If you love the vibrancy of Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese and more cuisines, see our guide to the Best Asian Fusion Food in Melbourne. Experience a variety of tastes and textures at Bistro Gitan, the Reymond family restaurant. Ambitious young owner-chef Charlie Carrington changes the cuisine every four months.
The Greek flatbread saganaki, seasoned with lemon, is served with it. Tzadziki and baba ganoush are only two of the many dips that accompany the main meal, which is made out of olives, cooked octopus and cut bits of parsley, olive oil, and lemon juice. Jim's frantic service and the lack of a menu add to the appeal.
The menu is centred around robatayaki, a style of cooking in which different cuts of meat and vegetables are skewered, grilled over charcoal and paired with a dressing to enhance their flavours. Snacky and interactive, you’ll love washing down bite-sized pieces of pork belly, wagyu and chicken, alongside delicious sushi, Japanese beers and fruity cocktails. The sleek venue seats over 100 guests, but the most sought after spots are at the kitchen bar, where you’ll get a close-up view of chefs working the grills.
And just to triple your burning pleasure, order thin slices of lamb encrusted in cumin and laced with chilli. Upmarket DIY dining is the order of the day at Dainty Sichuan Box Hill. This Chinese restaurant modernises the age-old concept of eating from a communal hotpot, refining the idea to include individual hotpots that bubble away on a hotplate before you, filled with your choice of base broth. Large platters of dunkable ingredients are beautifully presented on the table to share.
Centred around Middle-Eastern flavours and drawing on Delia's own heritage, Maha is a spice-filled journey into his own interpretations on regional specialities and staples. Featuring a deli, a restaurant, and a rooftop there’s plenty to experience. All menus have been inspired by founder and executive chef Alejandro Saravia Pastuso, and offer a taste into culinary-rich Gippsland through tasting plates and wines. It may be new but the concept and execution of Farmer’s Daughters have cemented it as one of the best restaurants in Melbourne's CBD.
It’s also dog-friendly, so your furry friend might be begging tableside for a bite. It’s a tiny spot, but the romantic, elbow-to-elbow ambience at Thirty Eight Chairs increases the chances of getting to know your neighbours – and maybe even sharing a bottle of wine with them. Pastas pay homage to all the family classics and are made from scratch. An intimate, 12-seat omakase bar, where no two meals are the same. Experience 20 or more individualised courses while being entertained by the chefs' playful banter. Expect top-quality seafood that might be squid, sea urchin, salmon roe, King George whiting or bluefin tuna.
I’d heard a lot of good things about Sichuan House and was glad to finally get around to eating here. Dainty Sichuan is still at the top of my list for Sichuan food in Melbourne however I’d have no complaints about eating at Sichaun House again. There were a lot of things on the menu that looked interesting and next time time I’ll make sure I bring a few friends along so that we can order a wider variety of dishes and actually get through the big servings. Pawa brings Indigenous ingredients to familiar dishes to create unique and exciting flavours. Where to order Filipino street food, traditional dishes and authentic desserts.
Experience Melbourne’s only duck blood tofu hot pot restaurant, where so... Respected Melbourne chef Alejandro Saravia has brought his vision to establish an embassy for Gippsland in the heart of the CBD. All areas of the striking three-level Farmer's Daughters champion the true essence of Gippsland, celebrating the diversity and richness of produce from the region. You'll find the restaurant on the middle floor, and the food is more formal; best suited to long business lunches, formal dinners, and special occasions. The open kitchen is fuelled by charcoal and wood, bringing a sense of theatre to the rustic yet elegant dining room.
A cold refreshing beer is the perfect thing to go with our dishes. Give the gift of a Shu Restaurant dining and complimenting wine experience gift card. The interior design might be a bit dated, but the cooking is very authentic. If you can’t tolerate a decent hit of spice, this probably isn’t the best Chinese restaurant for you to try. This is a great choice for some of the best Sichuan food in Melbourne if you’re looking to fill up on a budget. Brisbane has a great selection of Dumpling restaurants to try.
Replies