Lauren Dinse

Look, it really isn’t a secret that we Aussies love a good pub. Whether you like bonding over schnitties at Trivia Tuesday or downing pints with a hearty Sunday roast, pub culture has something for everyone, every day of the week. Our expert local writers have eaten and sipped their way across the city and the outback to bring you this list of Australia's greatest pubs. These legendary venues see it all: post-work bevvies, celebration dinners, darts competitions and even Hollywood movie crews. If it's ace food you're after, you'll want to visit one of the most charming pubs in regional NSW for grub crafted by a celebrated Sydney chef. Craving a cold pint of Guinness? A tiny beer garden in Hobart might be calling your name. Prefer your pint with a side of live music? Well, there are plenty of places to tick that box. Find your nearest one with our ultimate guide to the best pubs in Australia right now. 🍹 Australia's best rooftop bars🥧 The best pies in Australia worth travelling for🍷 Where to find Australia's best wineries

Whether you've got a spreadsheet full of present ideas finalised in October, or you're the type to wait for inspiration to strike on December 24, we've got a gift guide to suit all your gift-giving, stocking stuffing needs.  Want some more festive sparkle? These are the best places to see Christmas lights. Plus, where you can buy a real Christmas tree in Melbourne.

There’s something irresistible about dining or drinking outside, and catching up with friends while soaking up the fresh air and sunshine. While picnics fit the bill on warmer days, the hassle of flies, untimely gusts of wind and lugging blankets and baskets around aren’t always the most fun. So opt for a venue instead – one with a nice al fresco dining area fit with all the frills and no fuss.  As the weather warms (or even if it doesn’t!), these al fresco dining spots let you enjoy the outdoors in comfort.  Looking for other outdoor activities? Check out Melbourne's best beaches or Melbourne's secret gardens.

December 2024: Jiminy cricket! Is it really the end of the year already? What a whirlwind! Last month went by as fast as a flash – or maybe we should say a splash, since our calendar featured some fun pool bars. We hung out at Afloat (where we got to meet Mr. Gordon Ramsay himself), and we also checked out a glamorous hotel's rooftop pool bar – now open to the public for the first time ever this summer. Other exciting events included the launch of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2025 program and an incredible lunch at the CBD's red-hot new French restaurant Maison Bâtard. Young spots like Reed House and Lucia also blew us away. But for now, we take a break for silly season. Until next year, dear readers! Here's your ultimate guide to Melbourne's most exciting recent restaurant and bar openings, updated monthly for your reading (and tasting) pleasure. With this list on hand, you'll be the first to know where to find the hottest brunch spot, vino bar or fine diner – all sussed out by our fastidious team of writers and critics. Note: we generally include venues that are only twelve months (give or take) young in this list.  Ready to make a booking somewhere spesh? Read on. Still hungry? These are the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne right now. Fancy a tipple? Check out the 50 best bars in Melbourne. Lauren Dinse is Time Out Melbourne’s Food and Drink Writer. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Whether you like yours thin and crisp or deep-dish, hot from the oven or straight from the fridge with a glass of OJ, there’s no denying the universal appeal of pizza. Outside of Italy, we reckon Melbourne pumps out some of the best pies in the world, and we've eaten our way around the city to find the very best. In no particular order, here are our favourite pizza restaurants in Melbourne. Looking for more? Check out Melbourne's best Italian restaurants. Can't decide what you feel like? These are the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne. 

Take your pick from the likes of Scandinavian and German feasts, boozy rooftop parties with snacks galore, punchy Asian-style banquets, seafood spreads and an ultra-glamorous subterannean soirée to usher in 2025. Book your spot, don your fancy clothes and brace yourself for the party of the year.  Keen to kick on? These are the best New Year's parties and events to bring in 2025. Drank too much? Cure your hangover at one of these restaurants and cafès open on New Year's Day. 

Whether you've got a spreadsheet full of present ideas finalised in October, or you're the type to be hanging out waiting for inspiration to strike on December 24, we've got a gift guide to suit all your gift-giving, stocking-stuffing needs. Spread the festive cheer with our round-up of goodies to suit every personality type. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Need to cool off after a big Christmas lunch? Hit up one of Sydney's best beaches.

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. 

One fell madly in love with a sumptuous sundae-style dessert at a new French restaurant, another just couldn't get enough of a pop-up's fried chicken burgers. But no matter what dishes sent the Time Out team into a scrumptious spin, one thing's for sure: it would be selfish to keep them a secret! So read on for a hit list of everything we tried in 2024 that had us swooning, so you can go and have a taste, too. Still hungry? Check out the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne right now. And if you're thirsty, these are the 50 best bars in Melbourne right now.

It’s been a fantastic year for new music. We’ve had long-running artists finally break through (hello, Chappell Roan), what felt like the longest and most carefully calculated album roll-out of all time (Charli, we’re looking at you), as well as niche new finds and epic comebacks from old faves (The Cure).  As the year draws to a close, it’s time to share our favourite albums of 2024. From intergalactic post-punk to gritty, lyrical hip hop, dance floor-ready pop and everything in between, grab your best headphones or line up the speakers: these are the albums Time Out had on repeat this year. RECOMMENDED:The best movies of 2024The best TV shows of 2024 you need to streamThe best songs of 2024

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? 

Perhaps you’ve arrived at this list in a panic because you've been delegated dessert duty this Christmas, but have no idea what it means to ‘fold’ the batter. Fear not and leave it to the professionals. Melbourne is home to many artisanal bakers cooking traditional – and not-so-traditional – sweets across all cuisines. They're working hard this time of year so you can tick one thing off your to-do list. But don’t leave it too long, these stand-out desserts are selling fast! Need lunch taken care of, too? These restaurants are taking bookings on Christmas Day.

Melbourne's giant beer, cider and fun festival GABS is back for 2025, so get ready to get sipping. In previous years, the cult fave event has been held at the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Showgrounds, but for this edition, it's landing with a frothy splash at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Despite the rotating digs, the GABS brief fortunately remains the same: go on a deep dive with some of the best and most experimental local and interstate brewers on the scene right now. Each year, breweries are invited to submit an expression of interest to create a GABS Festival Brew, but only 120 make the cut. Famed for their weird and wonderful flavour combos (think sushi beer, cookie stouts and lollipop sours), some of the exclusive Festival brews have gone on to become top sellers. For 2025, several exciting European guest breweries have been confirmed in the program already. Bamburg's famous smoked beer brewery, Schlenkerla, will be crossing the oceans to showcase their offerings while the fest will also be joined by the world's oldest brewery Weihenstephan (who had so much fun in 2024, they're coming back!) And of course, the serious drawcard of GABS each year involves the roster of never brewed before, never to be seen again beers and ciders made just for the fest. In 2025, the bonkers beer festival will showcase more than 500 beer taps, cocktails, whiskies, wines and non-alcoholic beauties to discover. There'll also be brass bands, circus performances,

Caught up in the demands of fast-paced urban life, many of us wish to embrace the tenets of ‘slow living’ – a lifestyle choice that encourages taking a moment to smell the roses and reconnect with the tranquil beauty of nature. Though one doesn’t necessarily need to put on a nice shirt and make the two-hour drive to Brae to join the resistance cohort, it’s hard to think of a more seductive destination to unplug and reunite with the potency of the present. Here, culinary excellence is coupled with the serenity of the Birregurra countryside in the form of a leisurely five-hour degustation lunch from powerhouse chef Dan Hunter. If you’ve got the capacity (or will) to splurge, an overnight stay at one of Brae’s six peaceful suites will allow you to bask in the magic a little longer – but my friend and I feel lucky enough to be booked in for a meal. On the drive up, the atmosphere in her car is charged with breathless chatter and anticipation; after all, Brae is arguably Victoria’s most decorated regional establishment. It might be oxymoronic, but we’re chomping at the bit to slow down and take in every second of the experience. Brae is a fine diner, to be sure, but there’s a relaxed ambience to the restaurant that feels immediately soft and welcoming; a fireplace crackles softly in the foyer where low lounges beckon a pre- or post- luncheon drink, and our host is charming and naturally convivial. I say “naturally” because there’s more to the staff here than just polite friendline

The question Melbourne Place’s receptionists must get asked the most often is: “What is that amazing scent?” A signature woody black tea fragrance designed exclusively for the hotel is the first to cosset your senses when you walk through the door, and it’s a seductive prelude to one of the most talked-about openings in the city right now. It’s been a while since a new hotel created such a stir, but when you consider Melbourne Place’s long list of lures, it’s no surprise. Leading design firm Kennedy Nolan has spearheaded both the architecture and tastefully luxe fitout. Interior collaborators are a who’s who of internationally renowned creatives and makers. There’s also effortlessly glamorous Mid-Air on the rooftop – a Mediterranean-leaning restaurant and bar curated by hatted chef Nick Deligiannis. Acclaimed restaurateurs Ross and Sunny Lusted have swooped in on the ground floor to set up their suave Portuguese restaurant Marmelo, while subterranean cocktail bar Mr Mills slings cool drinks and hot snacks below until late.  And that’s not to mention the maze of 192 spacious rooms and suites, each adhering to its own earthy colour palette, the highlight of which is an epic, sun-drenched penthouse with a dozen-seat private dining space and baby grand piano – the apex of modern-day luxury (and the chosen accommodation for a recently visiting celebrity, I’m told). But it’s the culinary offerings that pricked this food writer’s ears, and so off I went for an investigative dinner a

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. How often is it in Melbourne that you walk into a bar on a Monday night and it’s almost completely full? No matter which ‘burb you happen to frequent, the answer is not very – as good an indication as any that Bar Bellamy is an exceptionally well-loved local. We’ve slipped in at around 7pm on the first day of the week, ready to immerse ourselves in the kind and charming spirit of this neighbourhood bar, which is named after an anglicised amalgamation of the French words ‘bel’ (beautiful) and ‘ami’ (friend).  Softly buzzing on leafy Rathdowne Street, Bar Bellamy immediately gets the ‘cool’ tick of approval; lighting is golden-warm and moody, the small space is cosy yet not at all squishy and tasteful custom artworks give the impression of a thoughtfully curated offering to come. The bar is run by married couple Danielle and Oska Whitehart, who together bring experience from a variety of popular Melbourne venues – Archie’s All Day, the Everleigh and Gimlet, to name just a few.  Martinis are known to be a specialty here, so we ask for one first off the bat.  We’re twiddling our thumbs for a little while but the wait is well worth it. The bang-on perfect Martini is far more interesting than your average stock standard, a creatively mixed blend of Never Never Triple Juniper gin (arguably one of the best right now), o

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. Searching for Ishizuka feels a bit like geocaching. On a stroll up Bourke Street, you take a sharp right into a nondescript apartment building and then punch a code into a lift before being buzzed in. Down you plummet into a subterranean foyer and even then, the restaurant is still concealed behind an ethereal white dome that’s like a giant Japanese lantern. It’s otherworldly down here. But once your host checks your reservation and lets you in, you’re met with a familiar sight: a long wooden counter behind which chefs busily prepare food and serve just 16 customers at a time. At each setting, I note beautiful bonsai structures releasing scented vapours. My senses are already being charmed, though nothing yet has met my lips. The restaurant’s offering is a hyper-seasonal, degustation-style kaiseki menu. Sometimes referred to as ‘Japanese haute cuisine’, kaiseki is a centuries-old Japanese culinary art designed to celebrate the purity of fresh ingredients through a meticulously prepared sequence of dishes. Having trained at several of France’s Michelin-starred restaurants, executive chef Katsuji Yoshino comes highly equipped with skills in both innovative European and time-honoured Japanese techniques.  The journey begins with ‘zensai’, a flower-painted, multi-dish stack of delicate appetisers that are almost to

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. On the first day of winter in 2023, husband-and-wife team Alex Back and Sophie Machin opened a cosy pub on Grey Street in St Kilda – perhaps a risky proposition in a suburb known for its summertime appeal. But Back’s 20 years of experience managing popular venues around the UK (the Boundary Rooftop in Shoreditch, Badger and Co in Edinburgh, among others) and his recent stint with the Stomping Ground Group have certainly helped get things off to a rip-roaring start. Machin has brought her graphic design and art direction skills from the advertising world to renovate the handsome space – and just like that, the Lion and Wombat has rocketed up the ranks to become one of Melbourne’s most respectable watering holes for traditional British pub food and drinks.  Friends of mine – an English couple from Norwich – recommended it to me out of the blue on a night out. “You’ve got to go in and review this place,” they said. “It’s just like being back home.” In my experience, it’s always the loveliest kinds of places that spread via word of mouth. “Best Scotch egg I’ve ever had in Australia,” one happy customer wrote online (though perhaps they ought to try the one at Reed House, too). Consider us curious. Blown in from the bitter chill, we’re glad to be seated swiftly at a candlelit table next to the window. Exposed brick w

Get ready to dive into the hottest season of the year at Le Splash – the swanky pool bar at Le Méridien Melbourne. Formerly only open to the five-star hotel's guests, Le Splash will welcome the public onto its stunning rooftop for the first time ever this summer.  Le Méridien's signature Au Soleil program is all about cool Euro summer vibes – think vibrant Mediterannean-inspired cocktails, live DJs and stunning 360-degree views of the prettiest corner of the CBD. Yep, we can't think of a sweeter spot to soak up the rays. And if the temps are too hot during the day? Luxuriate in the frosty delights of a Whispering Angel rosé sorbet or the exclusive Limoncello Drop from the comfort of your very own sun lounger by the pool. Maybe you'd also like to graze from the bar's sophisticated food menu (lobster rolls or pommes frites, anyone?), or head downstairs post-swim to elegant subterannean restaurant Dolly for a swish dinner. There'll also be poolside games like backgammon and a calendar of special curated experiences to make the most out of your summer in style. And don't forget a scoop of the hotel's famous gelato for dessert – after another year around the sun, you deserve it. The summer splash pass is available from Monday to Thursday all summer long. Each pass entitles you to pool access from 10am to 2pm (so that's four hours of sweet sun and swim time) and it's $70 per person – inclusive of a complimentary drink. And that aforementioned gelato? That's included in the ticket

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. Lagotto is not a new restaurant by Melbourne standards. It was 2019 when it opened as a contemporary Italian café-slash-deli on the bottom floor of a Fitzroy North apartment complex. What followed was the hellscape we grimly remember as 2020 – year of the Black Summer bushfires and the first wave of pandemic lockdowns. A tumultuously timed opening is perhaps one reason why the venue went so unnoticed by those outside its five-kilometre radius for so long. Or perhaps, simply, the offering took a little while to find its feet. But as we come to discover one Sunday afternoon, Lagotto is now in a golden era.  It’s always been a handsome space, artfully designed by Flack Studios and boasting a rich burgundy terrazzo with marble inlays. Sunlight bounces off the restaurant’s timber and peachy pink walls, and the vintage Italian aesthetics evoke an old-timey cinematic glamour. For all its design award-winning elegance, there’s an irresistibly casual feel to the fitout. This is a place just as suitable for an afternoon wine with a gaggle of pals as it is for anniversaries and the like.  Upon arrival, we’re escorted to the bar and armed with a drinks list to get the party started. It’s awesome to see what I remember in its early days as a fairly sleepy-looking restaurant pumping now at full capacity. Staff whizz across th

When the sun's shining, all you really need are a few ingredients for the perfect summer party: good food, beer and music. The Suburban, an independently owned pub in Ringwood, totally got the memo – which is why it's collaborated with the good folks at Mountain Culture Beer Co to host a super cool pop-up – 'the Backyard' – until the end of February.  Every Wednesday to Sunday from noon until late, Ringwood's Civic Lane will be home to 10 taps of Mountain Culture's best-loved craft beers, DJs and live musicians, and heritage-listed street art. Brimming with cool warehouse vibes, the Backyard is set to be the number one hang-out spot for Ringwood locals and those sensing the pop-up's bright aura from further afar. Street foods on offer include classic burgers (we're drooling over the smash patty and the KBBQ chicken options), hearty rice bowls (pick tofu, salmon or beef), sea salt-dusted hot chips, ice cream and more.  Love an ice-cold pint or two? Mountain Culture Beer Co has won the GABS Hottest 100 for the past two years in a row, so you can bet a frothy one here will hit the spot. “To partner with Mountain Culture, one of the best breweries in Australia, showcasing 10 taps of their incredible beers is very exciting for us at the Suburban," says Andy Croucher, the pub's director. "This worldclass street art has been largely unseen. Written on one of the walls is: ‘Stories have to be told, or they will fade away,’ and I think that says it all. There are stories in this Bac

Those who've visited and loved Taxi Kitchen or Lucy Liu over the years will be be no strangers to British restaurateur-slash-chef Michael Lambie's masterful takes on Southeast Asian flavours. Juni is the first Melbourne restaurant in four years from Lambie, and we couldn't be happier he's returned to our fair city.  "I’m thrilled to be back cooking in Melbourne – it’s become my hometown – and I’ve wanted to open up a restaurant here again for a long time," shared Lambie. Sir, consider your citizenship request granted. The restaurant is named in honour of his mother June, who passed away earlier this year. With head chef Hendri Budiman (formerly of Coda) joining him in the kitchen, Juni is set to offer visitors an exciting taste of what two hospo greats can achieve when they join forces. Large plates include a dry-aged half Chinese duck with cucumber, pickled daikon, spicy hoi sin and pancakes; steamed barramundi fillets with black bean, ginger flower and leeks; and fragrant lamb shoulder with Malaya curry, chilli sambal and condiments galore (if you order this one, you'd better share – it's for two people or more). Plant-based eaters will no doubt order the all-vegan Japanese pumpkin and eggplant red curry with lychee and hot mint. Only planning to stop in for a drink? The bevs on offer will cater to every kind of liquor (and non-alc) lover. There's a generous selection of global wines, beers and spirits, but why not wet your whistle with an Asian-inspired cocktail or mockt

  Something mouthwatering and magical's a'brewing. In the former home of Mary's Melbourne on Franklin Street, a brand new New Orleans-inspired restaurant has pranced onto the scene, bringing all the spirit and tastiest recipes of the American South in tow.   If you're salivating just thinking about classic Creole food, you'll be in good hands at Voodoo Bar and Grill. The concept and menu is from Benjamin Clark who formerly owned and operated two of London's award-winning venues for Southern fare (Nola London and Nola Roman Road).    At this jazzy new spot, you'll want to bib up before saucing up those paws with a kilogram of glazed pork wings, chowing down on cornbread, slurping on shrimp étouffée (a spiced Cajun-style vegetable and rice stew) and smacking your lips on lavish lobster tails – drenched in confit garlic butter, of course.   Other highlights of the menu include slow-cooked brisket, 800-gram slabs of bone-in rib eye steak and popcorn shrimp served with citrus and aioli. Going in a group? Get the four-person share platter, which generously includes a selection of the above.    Now it wouldn't be a true ode to New Orleans without a selection of luscious libations thrown into the mix, too, so there'll be plenty of those on hand – think Southern classics like Sazeracs, Boulevardier Hurricanes, Hard Iced Tea and house-created Voodoo Teapots to share, alongside a range of ice-cold beers, wines and spirits. And look out for the daily specials which are sure to be a treat

North Melbourne is having a moment. In the last eighteen months, locals have been blessed with a spate of of exciting gastronomic events: the renewal of Italian restaurant Sosta Ristorante; the cosy refurbishment and reopening of the Courthouse Hotel; the location migration of Moroccan Soup Bar; and the sustainable reno and menu glow-up at the historic Central Club Hotel. And that’s without even paying mention to the openings of funky new vino spots Pour Diane and Lumen People. The latter is where we’re shining a light today – a sleek day-to-night café and wine bar from Emma Sheahan and Marichi Clarke.  We arrive on the dot at 6pm one Friday night to discover a quiet atmosphere – it looks and feels like your typical inner-city brunch café, except one that’s strangely open after dark. Soulful jams fill the space, and we sneak a peek at the bags of coffee beans for sale along the walls. The Scandi-leaning decor is clean and minimal, almost as if to seem purposefully bare. But those who don’t know Lumen People in its night mode are missing out; what follows is an intentional and touching wine bar experience. But first, a cocktail. After chatting about all the different kinds of Martini types with our generous and personable hostess, she asks me how I like mine and so I opt for a dirty gin Martini. It’s slippery and flawless with a big fat green olive at the bottom. I totally needed this after a long day, and I melt into the wooden chair. I’m in good hands here. The wine chat i

If aliens were to beam down to our city to pick up some Melbourne artefacts, no doubt they'd swing by the American Doughnut Kitchen van at Queen Victoria Market. These sugar-dusted hot jam doughnuts have been giving Melburnians their sweet-and-fried fix since 1950, and we've even crowned them as one of Melbourne's must-try eats. In case you've been living under a rock (or don't obsess over doughnuts as much as we do), let us share the good news that the beloved vintage van has a glossy new bricks-and-mortar store at Prahran Market. Here, you can pair your doughnut with a delicious cup of coffee for the ultimate market breakfast. They've also just announced for the very first time ever new doughnut fillings beyond raspberry jam! Not that we don't adore the OG ones, you can now fill a box with salted caramel, Biscoff, vanilla custard doughnuts and more. We'll take a box, please! There's also a new menu of nostalgia-inducing classic milkshakes and iced drinks. Photograph: Supplied / American Doughnut Kitchen And don't just expect another van. The new shop features a fit-out that pays homage to the truck, with the same open workstation so you can watch all that glorious doughnut magic take place – from the cutting and cooking, to the royal filling and sugar treatment. It's an immersive in-store experience guaranteed to enthral old-timers, little ones and kids at heart alike.  As for the celebrity-status jam doughnuts, not much needs to be said if you've tried them. They've got

Let's give it up for the legends over at 400 Gradi, with the pizza masters once again garnering glowing praise on the world stage for their authentic Italian fare. The 2024 edition of the Top 50 World Artisan Pizza Chains has just dropped, and it awarded 400 Gradi the eighth spot on the global list. It's the third year in a row the restaurant chain has landed in the top ten, after it placed in sixth place in both 2022 and 2023. This incredible achievement means that 400 Gradi is officially regarded as Australia's numero uno pizza and pasta chain right now – but long-time followers and fans will hardly be surprised. Photograph: Supplied / 400 Gradi The pizzeria and pasta restaurant led by Johnny di Francesco is no stranger to global wins. It was the first Australian pizza restaurant to be certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (the True Neapolitan Pizza Association), winner of best pizza in the world for its classic Margherita in 2014, and winner of the 2022 Made in Italy Latter Sorrentina Award for its menu of classic Italian delicacies. Given the fierce global competition at this annual event, the fact that 400 Gradi has once again stood out among the rest is no small feat. Since opening in 2008 on the Brunswick East end of Lygon Street, 400 Gradi has evolved into a global brand with locations spanning Victoria and South Australia, plus Dallas in the United States. Hungry to join in the celebrations? We'll catch you at 400 Gradi of world-class 'za! You can f

Australia’s dining scene is by far one of the best in the world – and this fact has once again been confirmed by La Liste, a highly regarded Paris-based restaurant ranking guide that’s just revealed its picks for the top 1,000 restaurants from around the world. This ranking is based on aggregated data from thousands of publications, hundreds of guidebooks and millions of online reviews – so you know if you make the cut, it's a pretty big deal. For 2025, 18 Australian restaurants secured spots in the top 50, proving once more that we live in one of the most delicious parts of the globe. Photograph: Jason Loucas The biggest win of the night went to Melbourne’s legendary fine diner Vue de Monde, which was crowned as the joint fifth-best restaurant globally for 2025. In our Time Out Melbourne Food and Drink Writer Lauren Dinse’s recent review, she wrote that "after a kiss of new life, one of Melbourne’s long-reigning royals of the fine dining scene has awoken from its three-month beauty sleep a stunner". So, we're not surprised it's getting a whole lotta love on the global stage right now. Hot on Vue de Monde's heels in tied sixth place was Sydney’s Oncore by Clare Smyth – a fancy five-star diner helmed by the first British-born woman to earn three Michelin stars. Melbourne’s Attica in Ripponlea was crowned the eighth-best restaurant in the world, while Sydney’s finest diner Quay took out the 11th spot. Regional Victoria’s modern Australian restaurant Brae and Adelaide’s native

Every year, La Liste – a Paris-based restaurant ranking guide – reveals its picks for the top 1,000 restaurants and top 1,000 hotels from around the world. This ranking is based on aggregated data from thousands of publications, hundreds of guidebooks and millions of online reviews – so you know if you make the cut, it's a pretty huge deal. That's why we're super stoked for Melbourne's legendary fine diner Vue de Monde, which has just ranked fifth globally in the 2025 list! This means La Liste currently considers Vue de Monde as the best restaurant in Australia. In our recent review earlier this year, we wrote that "after a kiss of new life, one of Melbourne’s long-reigning royals of the fine dining scene has awoken from its three-month beauty sleep a stunner". So, we're not surprised it's getting a whole lotta love on the global stage right now. It's a remarkable new era for the CBD restaurant, which has recently benefitted from state-of-the-art renovations and exciting menu updates from executive chef Hugh Allen. Photograph: Vue de Monde So which other restaurants caught the eye of the La Liste team?  Hot on Vue de Monde's heels, superstar Attica in Ripponlea took out eighth place in the world (so that's third in Australia). Next we had beautiful Brae ranking at number 14, with Japanese sushi haven Minamishima also making the top 30 at 30th place – a tie with Mornington Peninsula's enchanting winery restaurant Ten Minutes by Tractor. In fact, pretty much all of the restau

Every year, La Liste – a highly regarded Paris-based restaurant ranking guide – reveals its picks for the top 1,000 restaurants and top 1,000 hotels from around the world. This ranking is based on aggregated data from thousands of publications, hundreds of guidebooks and millions of online reviews – so you know if you make the cut, it's a pretty big deal. Now, nine Sydney restaurants made the top 50 for 2025, reaffirming our belief that we live in a delicious part of the world. Tying in sixth place with a near-perfect score of 97 per cent – and taking home the title of the best restaurant in Sydney by La Liste – was Barangaroo’s Oncore by Clare Smyth, a swish fine diner with five-star service, rocking snacks and sparkling views.  Photograph: Supplied In 11th place was Peter Gilmore’s forever-brilliant Quay overlooking Sydney Harbour, followed by The Bentley boys' flagship diner, Bentley Restaurant & Bar, in 33rd place, then our restaurant under the white sales, Bennelong, in 37th position. Josh Niland’s seafood palace, Saint Peter, which recently reopened in Paddington’s Grand National Hotel, was next up, awarded the 38th best restaurant in the world for 2025, with Stanmore’s set-menu stallion Sixpenny coming in at 40th place. Hot on its heels was waterfront pasta haven Ormeggio at the Spit (42nd place); fire-fuelled Rockpool Bar & Grill (45th place); and Pyrmont’s jewel LuMi Bar & Dining (47th position). Photograph: Supplied/Ormeggio at The Spit Congrats to all Sydney re

It's nearly time to bib up, folks! Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (MFWF) has finally unveiled its exciting 2025 program and we're feeling hungry already.  The mega ten-day festival will return to the city on March 21 with all of your fave MFWF events (World's Longest Brunch in the Royal Botanic Gardens, anyone?), plus heaps of special activations, global chef appearances and collaborations, special one-off culinary creations and other unforgettable food and drink adventures. There's more than 200 events to choose from, so we recommend checking out the program now and filling in your calendar asap. “We’re thrilled to be back in 2025 with a truly special program of events right across Melbourne and regional Victoria,” said Anthea Loucas Bosha, CEO of Food and Drink Victoria. “Melbourne’s very own Curtis Stone is headlining the World’s Longest Lunch presented by La Trobe Financial, and one of our country’s most successful cookbook authors, Julia Busuttil Nishmura, is taking charge on World’s Longest Brunch, which has been reinvented for 2025, and that’s just the opening weekend." Photograph: Supplied /MFWF The Special Events Program in 2025 (presented by Square) will see more than 175 events sweep across Victoria with tons of regional action and fun workshops featuring hat-making and winemaking, hands-on tattoo education (with sliders and drinks, of course!) and extraordinary one-off evenings featuring some of the nation's brightest culinary talents. There'll even be

Cozzie livs hitting you hard? We totally get it – it's becoming increasingly harder to find a cheap meal in Melbourne, especially if you don't know where to look. Lucky for you, we've done the hard work to bring you loads of amazing spots that are serving up tasty dishes spanning a range of cuisines.  From old-school institutions to exciting newcomers, if you're after a frugal feed check out these Time Out Melbourne Recommended Cheap Eats for 2024. (Time Out Recommends 2024 is presented in partnership with Tyro.) A1 Bakery Andrew’s Hamburgers Banh Mi Stand Ca Com Banh Mi Bar Café Sunshine and Salamatea Candied Bakery Cookshop Rotisserie Dodee Paidang El Columpio Good Times Göz City Half Moon Café Hank’s Café and Bagelry Hanna’s Kebab Hot Star Large Fried Chicken I Love Pho Khao Man Gai Malaymas Mr Lee’s Foods Northern Soul Pho Hung Vuong Saigon Pizza Pizza Pizza Ras Dashen Soi 38 Vola Foods Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDS: The 50 best things to do in Melbourne for 2024 The 49 best restaurants and bars in Melbourne for 2024 The 15 best regional venues in Victoria for 2024

Forget what anyone (*cough* Sydneysiders *cough*) try to tell you: Melbourne really is the culinary capital of Australia. The city is home to a growing smorgasbord of excellent drinking and dining options, with spots that are innovative, creative, exciting and downright delicious. And while it's hard to narrow it down, here are a solid mix of the restaurants and bars that tick all our boxes right now. So if you're looking for a tasty recommendation, check out these Time Out Melbourne Recommended Restaurants and Bars for 2024. (Time Out Recommends 2024 is presented in partnership with Tyro.) 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Above Board Al Dente Enoteca Anchovy Babaji’s Kerala Kitche Bansho Bar Josephine Bianchetto Black Kite Commune Black Pearl Brico Caretaker’s Cottage Clover Cumulus Inc Eat Pierogi Make Love Enoteca Boccaccio Etta Farmer's Daughters Flower Drum France-Soir Gerald’s Bar Greasy Zoe’s Hotel Esplanade Japanese Teppanyaki Inn Johnny’s Green Room Johnny, Vince and Sam’s Lagoon Dining Leonard’s House of Love Lulie Tavern Madame Brussels Minamishima Molly Rose Brewery Moroccan Soup Bar Movida Navi Neighbourhood Wine Olivine One or Two Panda Hot Pot Pipi’s Kiosk Ponyfish Island Public Wine Shop Purple Pit Serai The Abyssinian Toddy Shop Waygood Yakikami Young Hearts Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDS: The 50 best things to do in Melbourne for 2024 The 25 best cheap eats in Melbourne f

Cricket is like a religion in India, the beloved sport uniting folks from every region, class and creed across the nation. Following independence, the Indian community reclaimed their Bengali cricket clubs and members bars – and now Melbourne's about to have one of its very own. Award-winning chef Mischa Tropp (Toddy Shop) is partnering up with Southbank's Crown complex to open Kolkata Cricket Club on December 7. His biggest project to date, the 150-seater restaurant will see pan-Indian and Bengali-influenced fare at the forefront, including Tropp's irresistibly good butter chicken (IYKYK), meats hot out of the tandoor oven, naan, seafood and a long list of beer-friendly snacks – perfect for long boozy afternoons. Photograph: Chege Mbuthi There'll be two distinct dining spaces to choose from: the Sporting Bar and the KCC Dining Room. At the bar, you can complement your ice-cold pints with beer-battered fries and curry sauce, kulcha breads stuffed with saffron-braised duck and beautifully prepared thali plates. The restaurant is a little fancier – think of it as your destination for a full sit-down meal. Our eye's on the epic Feed Me set menu, which will showcase the best of dishes from the tandoor and fire pit, plus sides galore. Crown hasn't been the most fashionable dining spot in recent times, but with exciting new venues like Kolkata Cricket Club (and soon the Henley and Marmont – more news on those to come), it's starting to feel like a bold new era for the riverside c

Victoria is a vast and diverse state, with a bounty of regions all offering rich hospitality experiences. From coastal spots like the Great Ocean Road and the Mornington Peninsula to road trip hotspots like Daylesford, Gippsland and Nagambie, we spent a lot of time exploring our backyard this year – and these are our favourite pubs, restaurants, cafés, distilleries and fine diners that we found along the way. So if you're keen to get outside the city limits for a fantastic feed, check out these Time Out Melbourne Recommended Regional Venues for 2024. (Time Out Recommends 2024 is presented in partnership with Tyro.) Audrey’s Black Cat Truffles Brae Elsewhere at SAM The Farmers Arms Daylesford Lake House Messmates Dining Moonah No. 7 Healesville Rare Hare Tahbilk Winery Tedesca Osteria The Pig and Whistle Tavern The Whiskery Totti’s Lorne Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDS: The 50 best things to do in Melbourne for 2024 The 49 best restaurants and bars in Melbourne for 2024 The 15 best arts and culture venues in Melbourne for 2024

Hot on the heels of Chris Lucas' Japanese project Tombo Den comes yet another venue from the prolific restaurant group. But this isn't just another flashy spot. Rather, it's the lifelong dream of the famous Melbourne restaurateur, and something he's been working on for close to a decade: a four-level French dining destination in the heart of the CBD called Maison Bâtard. Situated at a dreamily transformed heritage site on 23 Bourke Street, the ambitious maze of a venue will feature a two-floor restaurant, a late-night supper club in the basement and a chic rooftop terrace – perfect for taking in those city views under the stars.  “Our historic buildings are critical to the identity of Melbourne,” says Lucas on the restoration. “The opportunity to bring new life to this significant and beautiful building for future generations has been an act of remembrance, marrying the history with what is to come.” And the food and drink? Well, Lucas has long been a pro at assembling a winning hospo team, and Maison Bâtard is no exception. The impressive line-up of culinary talent poised to hit the ground running includes executive chef Adam Sanderson (formerly of Ten Minutes by Tractor and the recently closed La Luna Bistro, with experience at some of the world's most critically acclaimed restaurants including Noma and Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck), Lucas Restaurants' head of culinary Damien Snell and Michaela Kang, the pastry wizard behind that tiramisu at Grill Americano. Visitors

Adding to his stable of top restaurants around Melbourne, hotshot restaurateur Chris Lucas (Society, Kisume) has announced yet another new project to get excited about. Positioned on the Windsor end of Chapel Street, it's an izakaya-inspired, two-storey venue called Tombo Den – a snapshot of Japan's vibrant urban nightlife in the heart of Melbourne's hottest after-hours district. Not to be confused with this lovely furniture shop in Fitzroy North, which also features the Japanese word 'Tombo' (translating to 'dragonfly' in English) in its name, Tombo Den neighbours Lucas’ popular pan-Asian eating house Hawker Hall and channels the raucous grit of Tokyo's alleyway eateries with a sophisticated, Lucas-style Melbourne twist. Expect a stunning sushi counter, a sake-centric beverage program, intimate dining and karaoke rooms and even a unique 'design your own cocktail' experience.  The food offering is led by chef Dan Chan, a culinary gun whose impressive resume includes stints at Michelin-starred Yardbird in Hong Kong and Melbourne’s own Supernormal. Chan's menu lasers in on casual, street food-style eats from Tokyo, plus a range of mouthwatering small plates, fresh seafood, and charcoal-barbecued meat and vegetable dishes. Photograph: Supplied / Tombo Den At the sushi counter, you’ll find a rotating selection of nigiri, handrolls and other creations, carefully prepared by sushi masters Toaki Kyo and Carlos Lopez. The drinks list, a thoughtful selection of sakes, wines and cock