Jade Solomon

March 2025: And just like that, summer was over. We could be dramatic and insert a few crying emojis here, but luckily, Melbourne's a town that thrives in all seasons. Where we might lack in great beaches and reliably sunny weather compared to our capital neighbours, we make up for with a perennially buzzing events program – for example, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival this month – and a rip-roaring restaurant scene that keeps us entertained (and well-fed) all year long. Not sure where to book your next dinner date? This guide has you covered. The continually evolving and expanding dining scene in Melbourne is both a blessing and a curse: how do you choose between so many incredible restaurants? Well, that's where we come in. Stop endlessly scrolling, and commit to making your way through Time Out’s list of the best restaurants in the state right now. Our always-hungry local experts, including Time Out Melbourne's Food and Drink Writer, Lauren Dinse, have curated 2025's most delicious and divine, innovative and imaginative, comforting and familiar, memorable and magical dining experiences right here at your fingertips. From culinary institutions like Flower Drum and France-Soir, to emerging standouts and instant icons such as Serai, Gimlet and Kafeneion, we've got it all covered here. And as for the brand new restaurant and bar openings catching our eye? Check out this guide instead. Get out, and get eating! You've got a lot to get through!  RECOMMENDED READ: Don't wan

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre's (ASRC) Feast for Freedom is back from March 31 to April 30 this year.  Now in its seventh year, the Feast gives you the chance to cook a cuisine you mightn’t have experimented with before, and the excuse to host your loved ones for a meal all in the name of raising funds for the ASRC. Recipes for the Feast are generously gifted by refugees and local chefs. This year's Feast will feature recipes by Jane, a Malaysian-Tamil local who'll share her family's delicious Indian recipes and Lidys and Jose from Colombia, who together are bringing rich, vibrant Colombian flavours to Aussie tables.  The initiative also welcomes two exciting guests this year: chef Kishwar Chowdhury (who you might recognize from Masterchef Australia) and Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM, ASRC’s CEO and founder, who'll be respectively sprinkling some Bangladeshi and Greek recipes into the mix. We're ready to cook up a storm! You can register to host a feast via the website. The ASRC will email you a personal fundraising page and send you a hosting kit that includes all of the recipes and the stories of the chefs behind them. All that's left to do is plan your dishes, invite your guests and host your Feast for Freedom.  The funds raised will enable the ASRC to provide food, shelter, healthcare and other vital services to over 7,000 people seeking asylum every year. Since 2019, more than 4,500 people across Australia have hosted a Feast for Freedom raising over $2 million. Find

Whether you're coupled up, single or looking to spend Valentine's Day with your friends, there's something for everyone in Melbourne this February 14. From romantic dinners to bougie hotel stays, this city will be leaning into love, no matter what form it comes in. Plus, heaps of our city's most beloved attractions will be hosting special V-Day events, so there'll be plenty of fun ways to feel the love. If you're tight on budget – that's okay! Here are some cheap and free date ideas. And if you're looking for ways to keep the spark alive beyond just one day of romance, here are the most romantic things to do in Melbourne.  Check out our complete guide to Valentine's Day in Melbourne, where you'll find everything from Melbourne's best date night restaurants to the best places for a cheeky pash. 

This year, Lunar New Year falls on Wednesday, January 29, and rings in the Year of the Snake. For many, this is a time to get together with friends and family to wish for good luck and a prosperous year ahead. We've rounded up some of the best Lunar New Year festivities on offer across Melbourne, so gather your loved ones and book ahead to ensure you don't miss out. Kung hei fat choy!  Lunar New Year is a great time to explore the best Chinese restaurants in Melbourne, and to eat your weight in dumplings at the best dumpling spots in town. 

February 2025: If you're anything like us, the thought of it being February already will have you reaching for a froff. The summer holidays are officially over, we're trying to get back into the swing of that work-life routine and the next vacation feels far, far away. Our advice? Wash away those worries with a visit to one of Melbourne's top watering holes. Trust us, a cheeky bev or two with your mates in a leafy beer garden or a steak at a swanky gastropub is just the thing to perk you right up. Cheers!  From historic boozers to gastropubs and rocking live music venues, we believe that Melbourne boasts some of the finest pub culture in the world outside the British Isles, and we’ll gladly pass out on that hill. Our pub traditions are diverse and many – the weeknight chicken parma special, boisterous trivia nights, open mic gigs, friendly (read: competitive) pool games and that ever-wholesome Sunday roast. But every liquored-up local has its own unique set of drawcards and that's what makes this scene so fun and diverse. Looking for somewhere you can bring your doggo? We know the pubs that'll greet your pooch with a smile. Want a pub where you can drink outside and soak up the rays? Our beer gardens are some of Melbourne's loveliest drinking playgrounds. And if you're looking for a pint with a side of history, we've got the intel on this town's oldest pubs. So how did we come up with this list of the very top 50 in Melbourne? Well, we've spent years drinking our way around

There seems to be a high correlation between bars that are hidden away and hard to find, and bars that are serving some of the best drinks, vibes and service in town. Sure these laneway spots may require Google Maps to locate, but the promise of a top-quality hand-crafted cocktail or cold frothy is sure to be ample rewards for the journey.  Looking to kick on? Check out the best late-night bars in Melbourne.  

Melbourne's ice cream and gelato scene has evolved significantly over the last few years. The past was uncomplicated: decisions such as cone or cup, vanilla or chocolate, and Flake or no Flake were as flamboyant as things got. Now we have choices like ice cream brioche or tacos, fairy floss clouds or candied bacon, and charcoal, sea salt or ube. No matter how you roll, here are the super-duper scoopers serving Melbourne’s best ice cream, gelato and soft serve.  Looking for somewhere to eat your ice cream? These are the best beaches and the best picnic spots in Melbourne. 

Put on your Santa hat and don your finest fake white beard for it's time for you to play Saint Nick. These small businesses have made everyone's lives easier by putting together goodies like premium wine, ham, locally sourced cocktail ingredients and even jewelry into beautiful boxes or hampers. All that's left for you to do is add it to your cart and send it to your loved one. That includes the person in your family who makes all the snacks in the house disappear. This one is especially for them.  Looking for fun things to do this summer? Check out what's on in Melbourne between Christmas and NYE, or how about a boozy advent calendar? 

No matter where you live in Australia, we take our baked goods very seriously. Between our sourdough-centred meals, we all need a little sweet treat (trust us, you deserve one). Luckily for us, Australian bakers are giving Parisian pâtissiers a run for their money, creating their own takes on classic baked goods to create one-of-a-kind products.  You’ve undoubtedly heard of the big players (hello Lune Croissanterie), but there are plenty of neighbourhood gems to spend your hard-earned dough. While we wish we could shower love on every flaky, buttery layer of pastry, we’ve narrowed it down to a few of our favourite bakeries in Australia. 🥧 The best pies in Australia☕️ Australia's greatest coffee shops and roasters🥪 The best cafés in Australia

At the beginning of spring when the sun comes out to play, Melbourne's glorious rooftop bars draw in flocks of thirsty revellers with their crisp, cool bevvies and sweeping city views. Maybe it's the higher altitude, but drinking is just more fun from above. So start climbing those stairs – or keep your fingers crossed for a lift – and check out Melbourne's best rooftop bars now.  Looking for an après-drink bite? Check out Melbourne's best late-night eats. How about another drink somewhere different? We've rounded up our favourite laneway bars in the city.   See full screen

There's more to St Kilda than Luna Park and the fairy penguins (as cute as they may be). The seaside suburb just seven kilometres from the CBD is popular with everyone from backpackers to beachgoers. St Kilda's dining options are as eclectic as the suburb's visitors and residents, with a wide variety of options that includes beachside restaurants, vegetarian diners and fine dining institutions. Whether you're after a quick post-swim meal or an anniversary dinner with sunset views of the bay, here are some of the best restaurants St Kilda has to offer.  Looking to explore more of Melbourne's best dining options? Check out the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne. 

Chapel Street has always been a lively, rowdy and unpredictable destination for dining and drinking at all hours of the day and night. But how do you avoid tourist traps, poorly concocted (read: headache-inducing) cocktails and other soulless pitfalls of the strip if you're new to the area?  Well, we've made our way from South Yarra to Windsor checking out all the drinking holes the iconic street has to offer just to help you out. So without further ado, here's our verdict on the best of the best – in perfect Google Maps-checked order.  From the music and vibes to the fitout and bevvy game, these spots just have that certain je ne sais quoi, which if you're a Northsider, make crossing the river well worth it. And if you're a Southsider? Then you're dang lucky to have these drinking holes on your doorstep. We'll see you there on the next big night out. Keen to kick on? Check out the best late-night bars in Melbourne. 

Abbotsford residents should count themselves lucky to call Lulie Tavern a local. With its prime piece of Johnston Street real estate, it brings unpretentious good times and rock'n'roll vibes to the area.  Lulie Tavern is the passion project of friends and business partners Jon-Lee Farrell and Brendan Kennedy, which they have nurtured into the dream saloon they always hoped it would be. The walls are adorned with neon signs, gifts from patrons and its favourite collections of memorabilia. It's the kind of place you can settle in for an extended drinking session with mates – moving between the pool table, stopping for a dance, catching a selection of local bands and DJs and of course eating and drinking plenty along the way.  Burgers are the name of the game at Lulie. Go for the Whopper, with beef, cheddar, onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato and house sauce, or the Dead Ringer, where fried chicken sits alongside cheddar, pickles, jalapeño mayo and shredded lettuce. Special shout out to the Veggie Whopper – it is one of the best iterations of a beyond meat patty burger going around Melbourne at the moment.  In late 2022, Lulie Tavern opened its very own rooftop bar: Full Moon Fever. Set to carry Lulie's great vibes just a few floors higher, the drinks menu boasts a top-quality Tommy's Margarita, as well as a range of saloon-style cocktails that'll get the party going.  Full Moon Fever is going to be just the place to continue the Lulie party long into the night.  If all this talk o

Update October 2024: This review was originally written in 2022, so please be aware that some elements may have changed since. Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. There are not many ways more wondrous to while away a wintery day in Victoria than to wine and dine at the Lake House restaurant. Inextricably linked to Daylesford – which it undoubtedly helped put on the map – the Lake House is the Wolf-Taskers' enduring masterpiece that spearheaded the farm-to-table movement several decades ago, and which continues to assert its dominance in an ever-expanding landscape of regional fine diners.   We arriving on a bone-chilling, six-degree afternoon, but the crackling fires, plush couches and busy bookshelves filled with treasures and trinkets in the Argyle Library bar at the entrance to the Lake House make it feel like a warm and welcome embrace. One can’t help but imagine that this must be what the Wolf-Taskers' living room feels like.  The dining room is all crisp white tablecloths and plush carpets. Coats are taken, napkins are laid on laps. Knowledgeable and diligent, formally dressed waitstaff, enthusiastically guide us through the menu. The sparkling rosé produced by Cope Williams for the Lake House, enjoyed alongside a few memorable Merimbula oysters to start, proves to be an excellent choice from an intimidating 42-page wine list. While you exp

August 13 2024 update: In devastating news just in, the Black Star Pastry crew has announced they'll be shutting down all Melbourne stores due to tough trading conditions. The final day of service is on Sunday, August 18, so here's your chance to stock up on as many Black Star goodies as possible. Is it goodbye to the beloved brand forever? Fortunately, its stores in Sydney will still be running – so you can still get your strawberry wetermelon cake fix somewhere, somehow. Read Black Star's full statement at the official Instagram account here. Black Star Pastry, home of the wildly popular (and extremely 'grammable) strawberry watermelon cake, has reopened its doors in St Kilda after undergoing a complete reconstruction. The renovation has brought in a modern new look: shiny silver countertops, a monumental mirror installation, minimalist interiors and sleek neon lights.  The Acland Street shop was Black Star Pastry's first permanent Melbourne home, being described as the "soul of our business in Melbourne" by general manager Danielle Laskovsky, who is excited to start serving "Bayside again, and welcome back the St Kilda locals who supported us through a stop-start few years”. The reopening of the store has also seen the initiation of new services including Cake Concierge, a pick-up service where customers who have pre-ordered cakes can have their cakes conveniently delivered to their cars (however, we do recommend at least popping in to check out the new industrial-chic fit

It’s a pub! It’s a hotel! It’s a bar! It’s a restaurant! It’s basically the most versatile venue in St Kilda, given that it encompasses most of the block and contains The Prince Hotel, Prince Dining Room, Prince Public Bar, Little Prince and Prince Bandroom. See developers, we can all get along. The Prince Hotel manages to straddle that cool, inner-city vibe with luxury suites – and it all begins from the first entrance. You'll see art installations projected on the wall in the reception area before heading to modern rooms that still have a little art deco flare. The hotel is bigger than you might think, with an array of room options (with decent-sized balconies too, might we add). And, although it's located on St Kilda's bustling Acland Street, noise doesn't seem to travel up to your room. The bathroom is stocked up with lush Grown Alchemist products too, so all you really need to do is show up and the rest is taken care of. It makes for the perfect city escape – be it midweek or on a weekend. Book a room before heading down to Prince Dining Room, where chef Dan Cooper whips up a seasonal, ingredients-driven menu. If casual drinks are more your thing, the Atrium is what feels like an outdoor rooftop terrace – except it's inside and covered so you can stay warm and enjoy a cosy, moody and intimate vibe. Prefer staying in? Pop down to Little Prince Wine and grab yourself a bottle of something from their impressive cellar, and make your way back to your room to sit back, relax

Sometimes you just need to start your morning with a stack of fluffy pancakes, a greasy cheeseburger, a side of crispy bacon and a chocolate milkshake. Because you know, balance. And when that’s all served up alongside a retro-chic, old-school diner fitout with a welcoming service you’re not left wanting much more.  Operator Diner, nestled in the dynamic Wesley Place development opposite Caretaker’s Cottage (one of our city's great bars), is bringing something different and exciting to the Melbourne café scene. The team from Operator25 takes us on a journey with this new venue, not only to the US of A, but also back in time, to the good ol’ days of jukebox-playing, pie-slinging, neon-lit diners. A considered design by architects We Are Humble, which brings brown-leather banquettes, cafeteria-style chairs, and orange and yellow '70s sunshine tones to life, manages to achieve a playful and charming atmosphere that doesn’t feel gimmicky or overdone.  On weekday mornings, the café bustles with office workers lining up for a takeaway coffee and breakfast roll or a chocolate hazelnut croissant (from AM Bakehouse in Glen Iris). By the time the weekend rolls around, crowds arrive looking for a hangover cure, and to share stacks of pancakes with Nutella sauce, cookie crumbs and vanilla ice cream.  The breakfast menu runs all day and puts diners in a pickle trying to choose between French toast with cinnamon and maple syrup or a triple-cheese grilled sandwich served alongside a tomato

Note: due to unforeseen circumstances, the Melbourne International Dumpling Festival has been postponed until further notice. We will keep you posted regarding rescheduled dates. From xiao long bao and ravioli to gyoza, pierogies, momos and matzah balls, it's hard to go wrong with a dumpling in all its delightful doughy goodness. They truly make the perfect lunch, dinner, drunk late-night snack and really anything in between. After a few years away, Queen Victoria Market is once again playing host to the Melbourne International Dumpling Festival, which aims to showcase dumplings in all their glorious global forms and celebrate multicultural Australia. Alongside the smorgasbord of snacks there will also be plenty of entertainment and performances for all ages to enjoy.  The event runs from 4-10pm on March 22, and you can register for free entry to the festival now.  Have dumplings on your mind? Check out 18 of Melbourne's best dumplings here. 

While our city is filled with a labyrinth of outstanding and historic establishments, few really deserve the coveted title of being a Melbourne culinary institution – an overused and often meaningless phrase. However, after experiencing a meal in the tranquil yet dynamic dining room at Kenzan, the Collins Street restaurant that has been serving traditional Japanese fare since 1981, you leave with the feeling that there aren’t many ways more apt to describe the place.  The restaurant's modest nature begins with the nondescript glass entrance within the Collins Place food court. A carpeted dining room gives away its age, and while there isn’t much going on in terms of décor, the gentle touches of low-hanging lanterns and traditional Japanese flower arrangements help create a grounded and serene space within which it feels wrong to be wearing your outside shoes. Its fitout, or lack thereof, is an undeniable part of Kenzan’s charm.   Arriving for the early sitting on a school night, the quiet is almost jarring; having become so used to the distraction of riotous playlists and chaotic fitouts in modern restaurant spaces, it is a welcome reprieve to engage in old-school dinner conversation as we sip on a cold semi-dry Sho-un Junmai Daiginjo sake. The service is impeccably understated; there is not much in the way of conversation, but you are never left wanting, or waiting. The drinks list is extensive, and the menu is self-explanatory: rotating specials such as scampi sushi and lob

He's been dubbed the first 'celebrity chef', and the only person who makes Gordon Ramsay shake in his boots. Marco Pierre White – chef, restaurateur and television personality – is heading Down Under, and he's bringing his first live-on-stage tour, Out of the Kitchen, to major cities across Australia.  You can catch White (who, as a 33-year-old, became the first British and youngest chef at the time to be awarded three Michelin stars) live on-stage discussing everything from his humble beginnings to the classical culinary training he undertook with Albert and Michael Roux at Le Gavroche. It's set to be an evening dedicated to determination, grit and the endless pursuit of personal fulfillment, as well as a love for the magic of food and the allure of restaurants and kitchens.  And it's not just Ramsay who holds White in such high esteem. The late Anthony Bourdain said, "Marco Pierre White gave us all voice, gave us hope, a new template for survive[al]. [He] gave us power. It all started here.” Jock Zonfrillo, MasterChef judge and restauranteur, says that “of all the chefs I worked for, he was the greatest teacher”.  White will be on stage at Sydney's State Theatre on May 25. General public tickets are on sale now. Don't miss the opportunity to see one of the world's top chefs in person and get your tickets ASAP.  Inspired to check out some of the city's greatest culinary institutions? Work your way through the best restaurants in Sydney right now.

Red Spice Road has been serving Melburnians bold, flavourful and creative modern Asian food for over a decade. The restaurant's long-standing popularity can be attributed to its fuss-free dining style and commitment to traditional flavours. This is the kind of restaurant where diners will need to bring as many friends as possible to make sure they can sample as many dishes as possible. Expect staple dishes such as pork belly with tangy apple slaw (a Red Spice Road winner since day one), and inventive plates such as rockling with watermelon, chilli, lemongrass and herb salad, fried cauliflower with miso, sansho pepper and furikake and lamb meatballs with peanut Massaman curry. Finish on a sweet note with passionfruit pannacotta, coconut water sago, pandan ice cream and caramel popcorn.  With several banquet menus available, including vegetarian options, this is a great place for a celebration with friends and family or even your next work event.  Looking for more of Melbourne's best food? Check out the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne. 

While we certainly have no shortage of excellent ice cream and gelato stores in Melbourne, Sweethearts Gelato, which is landing in Preston, is upping the cool factor: it's officially 100 per cent plant-based. Founder Ellie Maron – who, as the owner of local joints Fried Hustle and Cornutopia, is already very familiar with the Preston foodie scene – is passionate about bringing food that's good for the planet to the people of Melbourne. Maron's gelato is free from dairy, eggs and other animal products, but full of love, flavour and only the freshest ingredients. Sweethearts Gelato uses organic, locally sourced produce with sustainable packaging, ensuring your next sweet treat is one you can feel good about, too.  So gone are the days when all vegans could expect was a few token sorbet flavours. At Sweethearts Gelato, you can enjoy creamy eco-friendly scoops like dirty peppermint, roasted almond, caramel sea salt, Biscoff cream dream, caramelised pear and bitter chocolate. And for those looking for a lighter lick, there are plenty of fresh fruity flavours to choose from such as bloody orange, mango heart and strawberry sunshine.  Pop down to Preston on the grand opening weekend of February 18-19, and celebrate with $2 scoops! For more information on all the details, flavours and more, head to Sweetheart Gelato's Instagram page. Looking to explore more of Melbourne's sweetest treats? Check out the best patisseries in Melbourne. 

You know you're a force to be reckoned with when you're perhaps the only person who makes Gordon Ramsay shake in his boots. Dubbed the first 'celebrity chef', Marco Pierre White – chef, restaurateur and television personality – is heading Down Under and bringing his first live-on-stage tour, Out of the Kitchen, to major cities across Australia.  You can catch White (who at just 33 years old became the first British and youngest chef at the time to be awarded three Michelin stars), live on stage discussing everything from his humble beginnings to the classical culinary training he undertook with Albert and Michael Roux at Le Gavroche. It's set to be an evening dedicated to determination, grit and the endless pursuit of personal fulfillment, as well as a love for the magic of food and the allure of restaurants and kitchens.  And it's not just Ramsay who holds White in such high esteem. The late Anthony Bourdain said, "Marco Pierre White gave us all voice, gave us hope, a new template for survive[al]. [He] gave us power. It all started here.” Jock Zonfrillo, MasterChef judge and restauranteur, says that “of all the chefs I worked for, he was the greatest teacher”.  White will start his Australian tour in Brisbane, before heading to Sydney and finally to Melbourne's Hamer Hall on May 30. Presale tickets are available now, and general public tickets go on sale on February 17. Don't miss the opportunity to see one of the world's top chefs in person and get your tickets ASAP.  Insp

We can't resist the allure of a hidden bar, and now Melburnians have another secret hideout to add to their repertoire: the Valiant. The new event space sits inconspicuously above a convenience store on Queen Street, with an intriguing entrance in a car park on Little Collins.  The Valiant is set to become your go-to venue for parties and private functions, offering creative cocktails, fine wines and a speakeasy vibe. Jean Phillipe, the Valiant's bar manager, has designed a curated cocktail menu shining a light on local producers. Get intimate with the Lovers Passion, a mix of vodka, lychee liqueur, passionfruit pulp, lime juice, sugar syrup and Grenadine. Or splurge on the Millionaire, a tasty tipple of apricot brandy, Gold rum, Sloe gin, lime juice, and Grenadine, finished with dried petals. Snack on one of the platters on offer as you sip your sophisticated drinks, such as the sardine platter served with toasted sourdough bread, or the retro sharing platter with cheddar, cabana, crackers and quince paste.  Look out over Melbourne's laneways through the floor-to-ceiling windows as you soak in the Valiant's retro palette and gradually work your way through the spectacular drinks list. The venue can accommodate 20 to 120 people, for an array of functions – book now to plan the party of your dreams. If you're looking for other interesting drinking venues, check out Melbourne's best rooftop bars.