Foodie Finds: Melbourne’s Tasty Treasures

Melbourne is brimming with top-quality restaurants that offer everything from fine dining experiences to casual, family-friendly eateries. As the city’s food scene continues to expand and evolve, having so many options but no idea where to start can seem both a blessing and a curse.

With a seemingly endless array of international offerings, plenty of neighborhood favorites championing only the best in local produce and ingredients, and an abundance of hotspots across the city to enjoy a relaxing glass of Sisters Run red wine at the end of a busy day, it is no surprise that Melbourne is a food lover’s dream.

Reine & La Rue

Reine & La Rue has worked hard to earn itself the accolade of being one of Melbourne’s finest dining spots. Located in the heritage-listed stock exchange building on Collins Street, this exquisite French restaurant offers diners an elite menu, with rich marrow and mash, queen scallops, and premium steaks among the top dish selections.

And for anyone who prefers to skip a traditional sweet dessert, be sure to try the cheese trolley created by Make & Monger. Furthermore, the in-house bar offers some of the best snack food and drinks in the city. What more could you possibly want from a night out?

Stokehouse

Stokehouse is by no means new to the food scene in Melbourne. In fact, the luxury beach house charms of the coastal restaurant have mesmerized patrons for decades and show no signs of slowing down. The multi-level building is the ideal location to escape the hustle and bustle of Melbourne’s busy lifestyle in exchange for the calming nature of an Australian seaside escape.

With panoramic ocean views, award-winning seafood that couldn’t possibly be any fresher, and a sustainable business practice that understands the importance of ethical and sustainable fishing, there are so many things to love. A quality and diverse wine list and premium customer service only add to the overall dining experience.

Warabi

When you enter Warabi, it feels like the ultimate blend of a luxurious Japanese banquet and only the finest offerings in performance art and theatre. The dining experience here is a masterclass in showmanship and skill, but Warabi does a wonderful job of deformalizing the entire experience by encouraging patrons to interact with the chefs throughout their time there.

Despite the cross-counter chatting, Warabi operates like a well-oiled machine. Twice a night, 12 lucky patrons are taken on a culinary adventure with a highly specialized two-hour chef show that transports you to the glittering streets of Toyko’s Ginza and back again.

Flint

Flint, along Smith Street in Fitzroy, is all about the flame. Everything they offer is cooked over a custom-built hearth, delivering a flavor profile that traditional cooking methods simply can’t match. If you enjoy a great steak cooked to perfection, you will be eager to try their 5+ wagyu, a premium cut of beef that will take your eating experience to new levels.

The beauty of this restaurant is that even the most basic ingredients are transformed into flavor bombs. Something as simple as carrots is fermented, smoked, and charred to perfection. Standout options include pickled kohlrabi and beef tartar with beetroot cashew cream.

O.My

O.My may have been established over a decade ago, but its chokehold on fine dining in Melbourne is showing no signs of loosening, so much so that the restaurant nabbed Time Out’s Restaurant of the Year award in 2023. The farm-to-table restaurant kitchen spends the time, energy, and money needed to source only the best in local ingredients and produce from nearby Cardinia.

At first glance, it is immediately evident that the chefs at O.My love and appreciate organic and local ingredients, which are used to elevate even the humblest of produce to new heights. Don’t be surprised if you are delivered a dish so beautifully presented that it feels criminal to disturb.

Malin

Malin, located in Carlton North, is best described as a mini fine diner. Relatively new to the Melbourne food scene, it delivers mouth-watering dishes and decor that will make you feel like you are dining in a souk in Marrakech.

Although simple in appearance, the dishes are technically complex, with everything from chicken ballotine, a crown favorite, to beef and oyster tartare topped with sabayon and a hibachi-kissed octopus, to name a few. With the perfect combination of fine dining, quality customer service, and a menu to match, you will find yourself returning time and time again.

Serai

As the winner of Time Out websites’ 2022 Restaurant of the Year, Serai injects a new level of life into the city’s food culture. Inspired by chef Ross Magnaye’s Filipino heritage, the fire-licked restaurant is an inviting and fun environment that introduces Melbourne locals to an entirely new cuisine of flavor.

Supported by a natural-leaning wine list and plenty of buzz, the menu feels like an endless list of dishes you want to eat. Whether you want to indulge in roasted free-range pork accompanied by a spicy-sweet palapa space or an enigmatic scallop burger, the most difficult part of Serai is trying to get a table.