Melbourne is known around the world for the quality of its restaurants, both for the near-peerless breadth and depth of cuisines on offer in the Victorian capital. But what are the best restaurants in the CBD of Melbourne?
The city’s heart houses some of the finest eateries Melbourne has to offer, catering to legions of travellers, hungry office workers, and locals alike. There’s a lot of choice: thankfully, the BH editors have rounded up the top picks so you’re only dialing in the best and avoiding the rest. Let’s dig in.
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The Best Restaurants In Melbourne’s CBD
Reine & La Rue
One of the most highly anticipated restaurant openings of 2023, Reine & La Rue enjoys a spectacular setting in the former stock exchange on Collins Street and has assembled a stellar team to manage the 140-seat venue.
Serving French cuisine with a classically Melbourne approach, mains you can’t miss include any of the 6 woodfired grill-cooked cuts of steak; half-duck; or one of the many whole fish options.
With more than 2,000 bottles on the wine list, you’ll want to be thirsty before walking through those vaunted double doors.
Address: 380 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (02) 9280 3395
Opening hours: Monday — Thursday (12 PM — 10 PM); Friday — Saturday (12 PM — 10:30 PM); Sunday (12 PM — 10 PM)
Flower Drum
A true Melbourne institution, Flower Drum is a family-run restaurant that has been serving some of the best Chinese food in the city (hell, the entire country) for nearly five decades.
Drenched in throwback grandeur — the restaurant has remained something of a time capsule, in the best possible way — you can expect all of the classics within the Cantonese canon. Wok-fried paspaley pearl meat and the ethereally thin seafood soup dumpling are all crowd pleasers, but whatever you do, don’t skip the Peking Duck: it’s incredible.
Address: 17 Market Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9662 3655
Opening hours: Monday — Saturday (12 PM — 3 PM, 6 PM — 11 PM); Sunday (6 PM — 10:30 PM)
Grossi Florentino
As one of Melbourne’s best-known chefs, trust Guy Grossi to reliably serve up some of the best classic Italian cuisine in Melbourne. Grossi Florentino is the quintessential Italian dining experience in Melbourne, and we’re not just talking pasta, either.
The kitchen takes produce quality very seriously here, with a menu designed around simple, well-loved dishes including Agnello Arrotolato, Tortellini in Brodo, and Maialino al Latte. If you’re after an unforgettable meal, Grossi Florentino won’t disappoint.
Address: 80 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9662 1811
Opening hours: Monday — Saturday (9 AM — 10 PM)
The European
With a quarter-century of history behind it, The European is a bastion of old-world charm and one of the first restaurants in Melbourne that sowed the seeds of its world-renowned dining obsession.
A part of the group that also owns the Melbourne Supper Club, Siglo and Spring Street Grocer, The European serves up a hybrid of continental cuisines that spans French, Spanish, Italian, Greek and beyond. Expect high-quality pasta, premium cuts of meat and a robust wine selection.
Address: 161 Spring St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9654 0811
Opening hours: Monday — Thursday (12 PM — 11 PM); Friday — Saturday (12 PM — 12 AM)
Gimlet
Pulling people to the corner of Russell Street and Flinders Lane is the latest opening from Andrew McConnell, Gimlet at Cavendish House. Out of all the new restaurants to open in Melbourne across the past few years, this is arguably the most famous: having been named in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants longlist back in 2022.
Aside from the elegantly decorated interior and quick-footed service, the food and wine have drawn consistent nods across the board.
One of the keys to this success is the protein that McConnell has turned into a cornerstone of the menu: in this case, a dry-aged O’Connor T-bone, weighing a mammoth 900g.
Address: 33 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9277 9777
Opening hours: Monday — Thursday (12 PM — 12 AM); Friday — Saturday (12 PM — 1 AM); Sunday (12 PM — 12 AM)
Embla
I still remember the first time I went to Embla — almost entirely because of the smokey barbecued broccoli and house-made bread slathered in garlic butter — because it had all the hallmarks of a future institution.
A restaurant that also moonlights very successfully as a wine bar, there’s a distinctly Melbournian charm to Embla. That might have something to do with the friendliness of the staff, or the deceptively roomy dining room; but if you’re in the Melbourne CBD, it should definitely be on your hitlist.
Address: 122 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: 0455 122 121
Opening hours: Monday — Tuesday (3 PM — 12 AM); Wednesday — Saturday (12 PM — 12 AM); Sunday (12 PM — 5 PM)
Longrain
Owned by the legendary Melbourne restauranteur Scott Pickett (behind Estelle, Smith St Bistrot, Matilda, and more), Longrain is a well-known gem blending traditional Thai cuisine with contemporary flair.
Located on Little Bourke Street, this dining spot is celebrated for its vibrant atmosphere, chic modern interior, and sharing-friendly menu.
Longrain’s dishes are always crafted with the freshest ingredients and combine a range of different flavours, paying homage specifically to Thai culinary traditions while introducing a classic Melbourne twist.
Address: 40/44 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9653 1600
Opening hours: Monday — Thursday (5:30 PM — 10 PM); Friday (12 PM — 3 PM, 5 PM — 11 PM); Saturday (5 PM — 11 PM); Sunday (5 PM — 10 PM)
Cookie
Cookie is another venue that focuses on Thai cuisine with a classic “Asian-fusion” twist, located in Swanston Street’s Curtin House in the heart of the CBD. With sibling venues in Magic Mountain Saloon and The Toff, Cookie is arguably the most exciting of them all thanks to its enormous open-plan setting, innumerable international beers on tap and a cocktail list that brings Thai flavours into your glass.
It’s relatively casual as far as venues on this list go, making it the perfect destination for after-work drinks and a meal, or even a proper night out on the town.
Address: 52 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9663 7660
Opening hours: Monday — Wednesday (12 PM — 12 AM); Thursday — Saturday (12 PM — 1 AM); Sunday (12 PM — 12 PM)
HER
Self-described as a “vertical laneway dedicated to food, drinks, music & art,” HER BER enjoys the bottom floor of a multi-venue establishment that includes Music Room Melbourne, BKK, and one of the nicer rooftop cocktail bars in the CBD. Opened in recent years, the fit-out is tastefully modern, with beautiful timber panelling and painted walls, with attention to detail in all the right areas.
While it’s predominantly a bar, the menu is no joke, serving up Angelachu Cantabrian anchovy fillets, BBQ Fremantle octopus, and a 250g Black Angus sirloin. As you’d expect, the wine list is very solid and the seasonal cocktail list is excellent, however, avoid the tapped cocktails if you can (they’re missing that bartender flair).
Address: 270 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9997 0437
Opening hours: Monday — Wednesday (11:30 AM — 12 AM); Thursday (11:30 AM — 2 AM); Friday — Saturday (11:30 AM — 3 AM); Sunday (11:30 AM — 1 AM)
Pellegrini’s
“Institution” is a word that’s getting used a lot in this list, but there’s almost no other noun that more accurately describes Pellegrini’s place in the Melbourne hospitality scene. A family-run Italian venue that’s been serving CBD visitors for decades, it’s another time capsule of a venue that’s so well loved it doesn’t need to change or adapt — Pellegrini’s doesn’t even have a website. It’s far from fine dining, but with classic pasta staples, Italian espresso and the kind of barstool seating that transports you back in time, it’s a rare treat.
Address: 66 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9662 1885
Opening hours: Monday — Thursday (8 AM — 9 PM); Friday — Saturday (8 AM — 10 PM)
Supernormal
Andrew McConnell is the man behind many of Melbourne’s best restaurants (Gimlet at Cavendish House, Cutler & Co., Builders Arms Hotel, and many more), with Supernormal being one of the finest gems in his crown. With a slick Japanese-inspired feel to the venue itself, influencing a number of the dishes too, there are also distinctly Korean and Chinese elements to the menu such as house-made kimchi and Szechuan white cut chicken. Melbourne is known for its “Asian-fusion” scene, but Supernormal is indisputably one of the stars of the city.
Address: 180 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9416 5055
Opening hours: Monday — Sunday (12 PM — 12 AM)
Dom’s Social Club
A relative newcomer to the CBD, Dom’s Social Club operates across three levels that include a pizzeria, a public bar and a rooftop cocktail spot. The pizza is excellent, from the quality of the dough and oven to the creativity of the ingredient combinations and the wines to pair, you won’t leave hungry or disappointed.
We didn’t stop for a drink at the public bar, but are happy to report the rooftop to be an ideal — and as yet relatively unknown — spot for an after-work cocktail. If one negroni turns into three and you’re after some food, simply order up to the rooftop, or pop downstairs to satisfy your hunger.
Address: 1/301 Swanston Street, Melbourne, 3000
Contact: 0401 605 845
Opening hours: Wednesday — Thursday (5 PM — 11 PM); Friday — Saturday (4 PM — 1 AM)
The Moat
The Moat remains one of Melbourne’s best-hidden gems — literally. Tucked away beneath the Wheelers Centre in The State Library, the entry courtyard forms “the moat,” while the red-carpeted interior and gold-leaf-covered walls combine to create an elevated intimacy you’ll struggle to find anywhere else.
With plenty of quirks on the menu (including tap beer served in beakers from a science lab), the 12-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder has been on the menu for at least a decade with good reason — it’s incredible. From the regular literary events and poetry readings that are held inside, to the friendly staff and hearty menu, it’s a lunch or dinner spot that you need to visit.
Address: 176 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9094 7820
Opening hours: Tuesday (4 PM — 10 PM); Wednesday — Friday (12 PM — 10 PM); Saturday (4 PM — 10 PM)
Cumulus Inc.
Another Andrew McConnell venue that helped set the tone for Melbourne’s bustling hospitality scene, Cumulus Inc. doesn’t let any pretentiousness get in the way of its main focus: great food. The menu experiments to create surprising fusions of flavour and texture, but not to the point of being distracting or unfamiliar, while the 25-page wine list has been carefully selected to arm you with a perfect pairing no matter what your food order looks like.
Address: 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9650 1445
Opening hours: Monday — Sunday (12 PM — 11 PM)
Kisumé
The Lucas Group is another of Melbourne’s most successful and well-regarded venue owners (including spots like Chin Chin, Baby, and Society), with Kisumé arguably the sleekest of the bunch. There are several different ways you can enjoy the contemporary approach to Japanese cooking at Kisumé — from the private dining room to the New York-style sushi bar — but an experience you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the city is the “The Chablis Bar” that pairs your choice of 80 different chardonnays with seafood.
Address: 175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9671 4444
Opening hours: Monday (5 PM — 11 PM); Tuesday — Sunday (12 PM — 3 PM, 5 PM — 11 PM)
Society
The Lucas Group’s latest offering to hungry Melbournians is the elevated fine-dining restaurant Society, where a set of Louis XIV-worthy chandeliers and smoky mirrored ceilings cast a shadow over the dining room.
Predictably, the service is solidly polished, while the menu includes sharing plates such as boeuf en croûte, Margra lamb rack, and Angus tenderloin: suitable fodder for a wine cellar that boasts over 10,000 bottles.
Address: 80 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 8618 8900
Opening hours: Tuesday (5 PM — 11:30 PM); Wednesday — Sunday (12 PM — 11:30 PM)
Vue de monde
Widely considered one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, Vue De Monde more than earns its place on this list (especially for its incredible steak offering). The acclaimed fine diner has just undergone a significant refit and is invariably best experienced with the chef’s menu, which changes so often that it’s tiring to keep up with Executive Chef Hugh Allen and his passionate expression of Australian native ingredients.
Address: Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9691 3888
Opening hours: Wednesday — Thursday (6 PM — 12 AM); Friday — Saturday (12 PM — 4 PM, 6 PM — 12 AM)
Maha Restaurant
You might recognise Maha Restaurant chef Shane Delia from the SBS cooking show Spice Journey (after cutting his teeth at Le Restaurant in the Sofitel). His menu serves up familiar Middle Eastern flavours and textures, with a range of different set menu options and a decent wine list, while the fit-out feels contemporary without demanding your attention. If you’re after something other than the quintessential Melbourne Asian-fusion or French-inspired offerings, Maha Restaurant is well worth your time.
Address: 21 Bond St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9629 5900
Opening hours: Monday — Sunday (12 PM — 3 PM, 6 PM — 10 PM)
Chin Chin
Without getting too excited, it’s hard to understate the impact that Chin Chin has had on Melbourne’s dining scene. Thanks to the no-reservations policy, the venue has had a line snaking out of its doors for more than a decade, with locals and tourists alike waiting patiently for their chance to enjoy a fresh — but enduring — interpretation of modern Thai cuisine.
Address: 125 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 8663 2000
Opening hours: Monday — Sunday (11 AM — 11 PM)
Mamasita
An ode to Mexico City dining, Mamasita has established itself as one of the go-to spots for compelling Mexican cuisine with a contemporary angle on what’s being served. The menu features refreshed classics like slow-cooked beef short ribs, Yucatán ceviche, and chargrilled corn, while for those keen to wet their whistle, the range of tequila and mezcal is almost peerless in the CBD.
Address: Level 1/11 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9650 3821
Opening hours: Monday — Thursday (12 PM — 9 PM); Friday — Saturday (12 PM — 10 PM); Sunday (12 PM — 9 PM)
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