Although it might seem rather niche, we thought that having a curated guide on where to find the best toasties in Melbourne was a good idea. Why? Well, absolutely no self-respecting Aussie would ever say no to a perfectly layered grilled cheese sandwich.
But these aren’t the way mum used to make them. Gourmet grilled cheese toasties are nothing less than an art form and it requires plenty of experimentation to find the right blend to slap between those slices. From Maker & Monger to Bad Frankie, these are our favourites.
Where To Find The Best Toasties In Melbourne
Best Toasties In Melbourne
1. Maker & Monger, South Yarra
It’s tempting to try the signature fondue toastie at Maker & Monger, but that’s not even the best option at this South Yarra ‘Chapel of Cheese’. The long-running fromage business obviously has plenty of hats to throw in the ring when we’re talking about the best grilled toasties in Melbourne, but it’s always worth skipping the signature and checking out what monthly special is on the menu. The kitchen is prolific when it comes to big-name chef collaborations
2. Palette, North Melbourne
Any grilled toastie fans wandering around North Melbourne would be wise to head to Palette on Queensberry Street. The kitchen does a few Korean-style brioche sandwiches, but the best would be the one with scrambled eggs, corn, candied bacon, sliced cheese, and chilli jam on a toasted brioche for $16.50.
3. Wild Life Bakery, Brunswick East
Wild Life Bakery is a powerhouse in Brunswick, not only sporting a seriously cool aesthetic in an old mechanic warehouse on Albert Street, but a highly tempting menu focused on simplicity and quality. Just bite into one of their kimchi and cheddar grilled toasties and you’ll surely agree; the deliciously smooth blend of comte, cheddar and asiago cheeses (sometimes subbed out for cashew mozzarella) flecked with texturally rich kimchi is a revelation.
4. Union Kiosk, Melbourne CBD
The diminutive Union Kiosk on Howay Place is a favourite for lovers of comforting vegan food. Central to this is the huge list of jaffles, both savoury and sweet, that includes rotating specials and signatures like the tofu scrambled with ham, cheese and hollandaise, and the vegan bolognese option with mozzarella and garlic butter.
5. Beneath Driver Lane, Melbourne CBD
Beneath Diver Lane has you covered for those late-night grilled toastie cravings. Not only is this a wise choice for a tipple, top-shelf wine list, and a respectable whisky program, but the kitchen has aced its toastie offering. The signature here is a raclette cheese toastie with marinated roast peppers and caramelised onions served on Rustica sourdough. Absolutely delicious.
6. Bad Frankie, Fitzroy
Here’s another bar renowned for some truly scrumptious jaffles. You’ll find this watering hole in Fitzroy, and whilst the signature cocktails are all worth a shot, if you’re not ordering up one or two jaffles for yourself then you’re simply doing it wrong. The kitchen prides itself on these shelled toasties, the best being the Not Butter Chicken with Murgh Makhani curry, pumpkin, cauliflower, potato and carrot with vegan cheese.
How Boss Hunting Chose Melbourne’s Best Toasties
While our office is based in Sydney, we’re lucky enough to head to Melbourne frequently throughout the year for both business and leisure. Between us, we’ve always tried to maximise our time in Melbourne by checking out new restaurants, bars, museums, hotels and visiting old favourites. I’d say we’ve all eaten around the city more than enough times to be considered experts when it comes to directing people to the “best of” pretty much anything in Australia’s Second City.
Toasties are no exception. We can’t get enough of the classic comfort food so on this list you’ll find our top recommendations.
To find out more about how we put together lists like this, please have a read of our editorial policy.
Did you find this toastie guide helpful? Check out some of our other Melbourne content:
- Best New Restaurants In Melbourne
- Best Bao Spots In Melbourne
- Best Ramen Restaurants In Melbourne
- Best Italian Restaurants In Melbourne
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Melbourne bar serves the best toasties?
Beneath Driver Lane serves up a great three-cheese toastie alongside those excellent signature cocktails.
