Lauren Dinse

'Chinese food' is a broad catch-all term for a region that more resembles a continent than a country. China is blessed with countless regional variations of noodles, dumplings, bread and rice dishes that extend far further than Australian-Chinese iterations of honey soy chicken and Mongolian beef. The best part is that you can find many of these dishes right here in Melbourne. Here’s a list of our favourite Chinese restaurants in Melbourne, spanning from Sichuan and Guangzhou to Shandong and Xinjiang, among many more provinces.  If all you want are dumplings, we've rounded up a list of the best dumplings in Melbourne. Feel like a drink? Check out our list of Melbourne's 50 best bars.

January 2025: What a thriling year of hosp openings we were treated to in 2024! If you haven't had time tick them off your bucket list just yet, make sure you check out ritzy French restaurant Maison Bâtard, trendy CBD newcomer Reed House and the relaxed fine diner that's got everyone talking right now, Lucia. Stay tuned for more to come...  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.

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. 

Some things just go together: Batman and Robin, death and taxes, and our personal favourite, fish and chips. It doesn't matter how you take them; we can all agree that fish and chips are the ultimate dynamic duo. With Melbourne's prime location as a coastal city, it's no wonder we're serving up some decent parcels. From old-school chippies to the more bougie newcomers, we've rounded up our top picks, so you can spend your time doing more important things – like working your way through all of them.  Need somewhere to eat your fish and chips? These are the best beaches in Melbourne. Want to take things up a notch? These are the best beachside restaurants in Melbourne. 

There’s always time for a tipple when you’re travelling around Australia. Our thirsty country is swimming in stellar watering holes that are loved by locals and tourists alike. We’ve even got a handful of contenders on the World’s 50 Best Bars list to back us up. Whether you’re looking for a fancy spot for cleverly crafted cocktails or a natural wine bar with superb snacks, our local Australian editors and drink writers have curated this list of all the best bars in Australia right now. Start drinking your way through it! 🍽️ The best restaurants in Australia🍷 Australia's best wineries☕️ Where to find the best coffee in Australia

January 2025: Happy New Year and bottoms up, Melbourne! Even if your 2025 resolution was to cut back on the grog (ours, too), these brilliant bars are still worth a visit. Thanks to mouthwatering mocktail magic, sensational snacks and a new wave of low-alc libations in the mix, all kinds of drinkers (and eaters) are welcome at Melbourne's best watering holes. Melbourne has some of the greatest bars in the world, whether you're looking for the laser-like focus of 16-seater Above Board or the rock ‘n’ roll ‘she’ll be right’ of Lulie Tavern. You can find temples heroing whisky and palaces dedicated to gin; you can sip naked wines or suited-and-booted cocktails, grab a craft beer and a parma or a late-night Gimlet and a Euro-leaning cheese platter. Or how about a prawn club sanga and a bottle of Champers from tiny charmer Apollo Inn?  If you're looking for a bar to head to, we've rounded up the top 50 bars that we're really loving right now – we're sure you will, too.

January 2025: Whether your New Year's resolution is to rein in your spending once and for all, or you simply want to eat out without crying when you look at the receipt, we've got you!  The late and great respected chef Anthony Bourdain once famously said: “I'd rather eat in Melbourne than Paris." It goes without saying that Melbourne has long been revered as one of Asia Pacific's most exciting food cities, but that status isn't just attributed to our fancy restaurants – special as many of those upper crust institutions may be. Our laneways and hidden alcoves are brimming with cheap street eats, smashable pub deals and dinner options you can enjoy for $20, $15 or even under $10, so you can stop counting your hard-earned pennies and start eating instead. Lauren Dinse is Time Out Melbourne’s Food and Drink Writer, and has spent an impressive time scouting for the city's tastiest cheap eats – from her early student days spent wandering around Carlton and the CBD in search of a pocket change lunch, to the present day covering fun new openings for Time Out.  For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. If you'd rather not spend any money at all right now, we've got you covered with our guide on the best things to do for free in Melbourne.

There’s just something superior about sipping an Aperol Spritz high in the sky rather than on solid ground. Maybe it’s the stellar skyline views and the magic of golden hour, or perhaps it’s just the alcohol talking – either way, we can’t resist the temptation of a top-notch rooftop bar. Luckily, Australia is spoiled for choice with spectacular spots to drink and dine in the sky. Our expert local writers have risen (quite literally) to the occasion to bring you this list of the best rooftop bars across the country. From a trendy terrace with an infinity pool to an open-air oasis with 360-degree skyline views, these are the trendiest spots to be seen or not be seen by the revellers down below. 🍹 The best bars in Australia🍺 Australia's greatest pubs for a pint🍷 The best wineries to visit Down Under

Not to toot our own horn, but Australia’s coffee scene is unbeatable. Our laid-back café culture is underpinned by vast caffeine consumption, with most locals kicking off their day with a good ol' cup of Joe. Our thriving industry of roasters and baristas earns international acclaim year after year, and Sydney and Melbourne have even been named among the top ten cities for coffee worldwide.  We've tapped into the wisdom of our most devoted coffee enthusiasts and writers around the country to bring you this list of Australia's best coffee roasters. These masters of the craft excel in every part of the process: from sourcing and roasting beans to ultimately brewing them expertly. Whether you're a fan of Ona and Industry Beans, or swear by Sample and Single O, here's our pick of the top coffee suppliers in Australia right now. 🥐 The best croissants in Australia🍹 All the best bars for a boozy night🥖 Our favourite bakeries in Australia right now

Whether you like yours thin and crisp or deep-dish, hot from the oven or cold and leftover from the night before (hey, we don't judge), 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. 

We’ve all been there: the clock has struck 12, but unlike Cinderella, you’re not ready to go home. Luckily, some of Melbourne’s best nightlife comes alive in the wee hours of the morning, and we know where to find it.  Rather a bevvy at home? Check out our guide to Melbourne's late-night bottle shops. Still keen to kick on? Pop into one of the city’s best bars for dancing.

Melburnians are almost as passionate about their cocktails as they are about their coffee. What's the proper way to make a Martini? Gin or Vodka Gimlet? And should a cocky ever be on tap? Though if there's anything we love more than these heated debates about drinks, it's putting an end to all that nonsense and simply enjoying them – whether alone, with friends or sitting opposite a lovely date. Wondering where to try next? We've sipped our way around this great city to find the bars with the best atmosphere, the most creative (or at least, the most welcoming) bartenders and of course, the finest drinks. Go forth, dear readers – you may just discover your new signature tipple.  If you're keen on exploring the world of vino instead, head to Melbourne's best wine bars. 

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. Find out more here. To describe Annie Smithers as accomplished is an understatement. She’s a force of nature: overseeing an expansive farm, authoring books, writing for The Saturday Paper, and somehow finding time to shape one of the most revered dining experiences in regional Victoria. To this day, she still does all the cooking at Du Fermier – from baking baguettes in the morning to offering a menu du jour that features veggies from her own kitchen garden (picked on the day!), along with meats and poultry from the local area. Just ten minutes from Trentham, Smithers’ small farm and home, Babbington Park, is where she grows her own food. The culmination of a career that includes formative years as an apprentice to Stephanie Alexander and head chef at Daylesford’s Lake House, her approach to cooking is rooted in a deep respect for the farm-to-table philosophy.  Du Fermier is the place where it all comes together. It’s a charming and rustic-looking restaurant with weathered floorboards and cute little knick-knacks dotted about the dining room. Decorating the shelves alongside my table, I spy stacks of beautiful ceramics, lovely books (one of them titled Recipes for a Kinder Life), bottles of chablis and jars of jam I want to take home with me. The table is adorned with a vase of fragrant roses – a sentimental an

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. Find out more here. Birra. Biscotti. Bolognese. Bresaola. Bruschetta. There are countless awesome Italian things that begin with the letter ‘B’, but if you love wine, barolo has got to be near the top of the list. And now we can also add Bar Olo – a snazzy new Carlton bar playfully named after the Piedmont grape varietal. Both locals and curious passersby have been smitten from the moment its mysterious sheer white curtain was first swept back in April 2024. So what’s all the fuss about? Well, first of all, there’s the Scopri connection; the bar’s big sister restaurant is a short walk down the road, and is one of Carlton’s longtime favourites for old-school Italian hospitality and special occasion dining. Bar Olo may have been fated to be just another restaurant outpost (a recent trend that’s seen many venues add little bars next door as a kind of footnote to their central offering), but it’s immediately clear that this one plays no second fiddle.  Upon entry, you’ll fall in love with the beautiful classiness of the 40-seater. It’s stylish and sophisticated with white cloth-draped tables and a tastefully warm and handsome design, plus a welcoming team of well-groomed staff ready to make sure you’re taken care of right away. In a similar vein to fellow recent-ish openings like Apollo Inn and Bianchetto, there’s a

January 2025 update: Amaru is teaming up with Florilège to host a one-of-a-kind dining experience as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival this year. Go here to get a seat at the table. The review below describes a Chef's Counter experience in late 2023. From the moment you book the full seasonal tasting experience on Amaru’s website, you know you’re in for an odyssey. It’s the restaurant’s most extravagant offering, after all – with five snacks, seven courses and petit fours, plus optional drink pairings. Skipping brekky isn’t a bad idea, but that’s not to say the food at Amaru will be dense or cumbersome – the progression of light to heavier dishes is carefully designed, a thoughtful pacing that allows you to take as long as you please in comfort. Situated on a leafy boutique strip in Armadale amidst bridal shops and delis, the 34-seat venue is surprisingly low-key inside. Behind the sheer curtains concealing it from the outside world, you’re met with a starkly understated dining room accented with natural timber, earthy textiles, brushed grey walls and a statement vase of native flowers. The tables are widely spaced apart, offering a private sanctuary for languid, leisurely dining – which you’ll certainly need to fully immerse yourself in every bite that comes your way. Despite being a fine diner, there’s a mostly relaxed feel to Amaru, only interrupted when you sense a brief rush or moment of tension in the kitchen.  Curious about the housemade and fermented drinks

If you were the type of old club head to trawl the pubs on Brunswick Street for pints, chats and boogie opportunities, you’ll probably remember the Punters Club of yore. While it was gone for a while, we can now confirm: yes, it’s back – and better than ever. A beloved live music venue from the time before anyone had a mobile phone, and before it was Bimbo (and then Kewpie), the Punters Club has come back to the future with a fresh lick of paint, stacked live music program and an inspired menu of nostalgia-inducing pub grub. For the latter, think a salt and vinegar chip packet full of tuna tartare (trust us, it's better than it sounds), South Melbourne Market dim sims with Lao Gan Mai chilli oil and an old-school banana split for dessert. If that all sounds too fancy, you can also order a 'roo schnitty, fried chicken or a damn tasty cheeseburger.  While it might not be exactly the same as the good ol' days (I mean, do we really miss smoking inside?), trust that the new owners are a formidable team. There’s Jason Cameron of Near and Far, Matt Francis from Garage Project and Marquis of Lorne, head chef Dylan Marshall (formerly of the Scenic Hotel in South Australia and Marquis of Lorne), musician Mark Wilson, creative agency specialist Britt King, and Nathan Farrell and Adam ‘Weez’ Booth from music management dynamo CLBR. They've described the renovation as a "labour of love", having meticulously sourced artwork, vintage lighting and memorabilia to craft a space that embodies t

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. Find out more here. When Molly Rose Brewery first opened its doors in 2019 in a Collingwood backstreet, northside craft beer lovers rejoiced. Though it’s not difficult to find the local brewer’s creations at bars and good bottle shops around town, there’s something to be said for drinking at the spot where all the beer alchemy takes place – from the fermentation process to that final frothy pour.   In March 2023, the brewery enticed locals further with an ambitious expansion involving a takeover of the building next door, the add-on of a leafy beer garden and the hiring of creative new Thai-born chef, Ittichai Ngamtrairai, who dished up arguably one of the city's best value Chef's Table experiences. Though Ngamtrairai may have since left Molly Rose to return to Scott Pickett's Matilda, the magic of the unique brewery-slash-gastropub-slash-bar remains. From Wok Wednesdays and Sip and Slurp laksa nights on Thursdays (and even the hosting of a culinary star-studded laksa festival) to custom gin-making masterclasses and workshops run by local creatives, there's always something cool happening at this inner north hive. The venue itself is hard to define, a narrow warehouse hodgepodge of drinking and dining areas, each with a different sense of purpose. If you’re all about a beer-matched meal, here you can enjoy a ver

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. Find out more here. It's been almost eight years since Mr West swung open its doors to astonished Footscray locals. Some, rightly so, feared the young bar marked the beginning of the 'cray's dangerous edging into hipster territory. Others, also rightly so, encouraged naysayers to live a little. The latter camp welcomed a new casual drinking home for excellent craft beer, cocktails and locally produced wines – a friendly place where staff could talk tipples with anybody and everybody curious enough to step in for a drink. So how does Mr West fare in 2025? Has it seamlessly woven its offering into the colourful patchwork of Footscray's spirit? It certainly has, and it's still, simply, one of the best in the west. What started as a humble watering hole has transformed beautifully into a jack-of-all-trades: an indie bottle-o (if you're a lover of low-intervention drops and crafty brews, this is the place to shop), a cocktail bar shaking up more interesting spirits than most and a BYO dinner joint. Importantly, this venue supports local restaurants and eateries around Footscray by allowing visitors to order takeaway directly to their tables. Broken rice, bánh mì, dumplings? You got it. And maybe that's part of the reason why it's fit in so well. My partner and I have swanned in on a warm January weeknight, ready for

Just off the main road of Heathcote, the state’s gilded home of top shiraz, there’s a small yet stately Georgian sandstone structure that looks like something out of a Jane Austen novel. In 1835, it was the office of early town surveyor Phillip Chauncy. Today, it’s home to one of Victoria’s most inviting countryside restaurants. It’s run by French native Louis Naples (ex-head chef of Grossi Florentino) and his partner Tess Murray (ex-sommelier at Supernormal), one of the most naturally enthusiastic sommeliers I’ve had the privilege to encounter in some time. They opened Chauncy together in 2021. Turning into the heritage-listed building’s driveway, you’ll first spot an organic garden abloom with life. Its towering sunflowers look so yellow and cheerful it’s as if they’re beaming at us, even welcoming us in. My partner and I are lucky to have arrived 15 minutes before our booking, so we wander leisurely among the happy bees and “ooh” and “aah” at all the fresh produce nestled amidst the leaves – zucchini flowers, pumpkins, spinach and lots more that the restaurant cultivates and prepares in its kitchen. Provenance-conscious dining is nothing new in Victoria in 2025, so I’m curious about how the afternoon will set Chauncy apart from the rest. Fresh flowers, tall arched windows and an antique mirror and chandelier mark the dining room as the dream parlour of any respectable high tea hostess. “I’d like this to be my lounge room,” I murmur to my partner. We’re started off with a c

It's hard not to love Melbourne's annual Wine and Cheese Fest, an event that brings together all the best cheese producers, wine and cider makers and other small goods producers. And for its twelfth iteration at Timber Yard in Port Melbourne this March, it's back bigger and better than ever.  The one-day festival is set to be a 'gouda' time, with more than 50 local wineries, cheesemakers and artisan producers gathered under one roof. Learn techniques from on-stage masterclasses conducted by experienced chefs and cheesemongers and enjoy plenty of free tastings throughout the day.  This year, the likes of That's Amore Cheese, Boatshed Cheese, Milawa Cheese Company, Rob Dolan Wine and Witchmount Estate will be exhibiting their goods, among many more exciting names on the line-up. DJs and roving artists will also be around to keep the vibes high, and your little ones can hang out in the dedicated kids' zone complete with face painting, lawn games and more. Best of all, the annual Grape Stomp Competition is back. If you're up for some fun and want to try your hand at making some wine the traditional way, sign up here. Tickets to the Wine and Cheese Fest are on sale here and start at $55, and this year attendance will be split between two sessions: one from noon to 3:30pm and another from 4pm to 7:30pm. Every ticket includes free tastings, a tote bag, a festival glass and all the live entertainment on the day.  After more fine vino? Here are the best Yarra Valley wineries and cella

2024 update: This pizzeria was ranked highly among the best in the world in Italy's most prestigious pizza competition. Congratulazioni! The below review was written by Kelly Eng in September 2015. Prepare to be charmed when you call +39 to make a reservation. No doubt you’ll hear a gorgeous Italian accent and shouts of ‘ciao!’ in the background. A valuable addition to Melbourne’s burgeoning pizza scene, +39 is open for lunch and dinner daily and embraced by CBD workers as evidenced by the deafening noise on a Thursday night. The long rectangular shaped restaurant has stark white walls, an exposed ceiling and a glass cabinet full of giant Italian cheeses and cured meats (vegetarians may need to avert their eyes). Although pasta dishes are available, pizza is the darling here. We go for the tartufata: truffle paste, topped with sliced mushrooms, finished with parmesan cheese and a little bundle of rocket in the centre. The bases at +39 are outstanding. They’re thin, chewy, beautifully puffed up round the edges with a wonderful buttery flavour. A side of radicchio salad is also lovely: it’s fresh, sweet with a truffle honey dressing. Looking for a NY-style slice instead? Here's our ultimate guide to different types of pizza in Melbourne.

Greek food's so hot right now. From last year's Kafeneion craze to Yarraville's Tzaki and Oakleigh's new wine bar Olympia, a fresh spate of offerings is meeting Melbourne's craving for a contemporary style of Greek cuisine – recipes that have been reimagined or revitalised for this time and this place, while redolent of their history and tradition. Astoria Bar Kè Grill is the newest venue to join the Hellenic boom, a sleek and relaxed restaurant from hospo veteran Nik Pouloupatis. Here's a restaurateur who once worked front-of-house for Grossi Florentino, armed with a resume that spans the likes of Attica and Vue de Monde. Bringing to the fore 17 years' worth of experience as a chef (in addition to his many other hats), Pouloupatis has earned a unique 360-degree perspective on the makings of a venue's success. But at its heart, his new restaurant is a deeply personal project. “After years in the hospitality industry, I know that my passion for food and community is inseparable. The idea of being a small business owner has always appealed to me, and I feel a deep connection to my roots," he shares. "I still have my parents around to draw inspiration from, allowing me to learn and cherish the old dishes, techniques, and traditions that have been passed down which, in turn, fuels my desire to share those comforting flavours with a new generation."  The beautiful Victorian terrace space once occupied by Shadowboxer is where Astoria's chapter begins. Guests can expect classics di

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. 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

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

2024 was a massive year for Moon Dog, with exciting new openings in both Footscray and Docklands dominating our feeds – but little did we know, they weren't done yet! Right before Christmas, the craft brewers quietly opened Moon Dog Beach Club on the Nepean Highway in Frankston: a sprawling 2000-square-metre wonderland complete with cabana huts, a giant balcony beer garden and four fully-stocked bars, plus a main stage with a rotating line-up of local DJs.  Photograph: Instant Crush Creative Perfect for summer catch-ups and boozy day sessions, the lively new venue – the fifth from the Moon Dog crew – brings the breezy, glamorous energy of the world's famous tropical beach clubs to Port Phillip Bay. Think cocktails with umbrellas, cushy daybeds and buckets of prawns and beers galore. Wandering in through the lush, foliage-lined entryway, you'll feel like you've stepped into a laidback day party in Copacabana instead of just another bayside bar. Photograph: Instant Crush Creative Grab a friend and tuck into a lavish seafood tower, or bring the whole family along for crowd-pleasing pub eats like fresh fish and chips and parmas, with the fried prawn tacos and Big Kahuna burger also set to be surefire hits. For drinks, expect Moon Dog's signature craft beers and seltzers, along with a selection of spirits, wines, non-alcoholic options and tropical-themed cocktails like Mojitos, Mai Tais and boozy slushies.    Want to dance the night away? The bar is open seven days a week, and

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

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