Time Out Food & Drink Awards 2023: People's Choice

Melbourne loves to talk big about its multicultural credentials but until now, there’s been a Philippines-sized gap in the city’s eating CV. We’re totally down with Thai jungle curries, Shanghainese xiao long bao and Malaysian char kway teow, but the Filipino dinuguan, kinilaw and sinuglaw have flown under the popular radar in defiance of Australia’s fifth-largest migrant community. It’s double the reason to immediately fall in love with a restaurant delivering such a catchy modern hook on Pinoy cuisine you can almost dance to it. Oh, and did we mention it was our Restaurant of the Year in 2022 – yep, this sure it one of our city's most celebrated spots.

Convoy is a bright and airy corner café and takeaway coffee shop in the heart of Moonee Ponds, recently opened after an ambitious 18-month renovation. The team behind the project is responsible for the success of fellow brunch darlings Terror Twilight, Hi Fi and Tinker, with Convoy fast joining those ranks. Despite its large size (it seats close to 150), the modern space manages to feel cosy, warm and convivial at the same time. The café focuses on sustainably driven eats and top-notch coffee just as you like it, which you can enjoy either inside or on the move via takeaway from the window. What more could you want? We're not surprised brunch connoisseurs have fallen in love with this charming neighbourhood eatery.

Something truly special has hit ACDC Lane. From the creative minds behind Eve Bar, Bar Bambi is here to revive Melbourne's nightlife with a mixture of fantastic food and enthralling entertainment. It has taken over the old site that housed Cherry Bar, and has been designed for a mature market (millennials and older). This European-inspired lounge combines Italian share plates, live music and a Negroni and Spritz list that will keep you coming back for more. The line-up depends on the night, but that's part of the appeal. One night you might be serenaded by a piano singer, the next it might be a DJ. The vibe changes with each performer, but the menu remains the same, and it's delicious. A deserving winner indeed.

In Melbourne’s fast-paced hospo scene, it’s easy to take for granted the local haunts we frequent over the years and have come to know and love. Bright, shiny openings dominate our feeds, and, especially in the food space, there’s always somewhere new and compelling to visit. But some places seem to maintain an indistinguishable allure, bolstered by their persistence to keep things fresh and their loyal patrons happy – and judging by Marquis of Lorne’s consistently packed-out capacity since its 2014 refurbishment, it’s one of them. We're not surprised the people of Melbourne voted this one their fave – it's also ours, having also taken out the title of Best Casual Drinking Venue in this year's awards. Bravo!

It takes a full day to dine at Brae. A meal at one of Victoria’s most highly decorated fine dining institutions fits a micro holiday into the hours needed to get out to the gently sloping paddocks of Birregurra (an easy two-hour drive from Melbourne), dine in rural splendour at an appropriately relaxed pace at Dan Hunter’s famous farmhouse restaurant, and return home. You could make it a genuine mini-break should your budget stretch that far, but it’s hard to think of a more pleasant day trip than one centred around the country’s pre-eminent dining experience. Now excuse us while we try and score a booking before everyone else does.