Lauren Dinse

Someone somewhere once said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While recent studies suggest that this may be a load of poppycock, a notion first popularised by cereal marketers (or some poor hungover bloke having a religious experience with an egg and bacon sanga), we tend to agree. In any case, there’s no reason why breakfast can’t at least be the most exciting meal of the day. And in a city like Melbourne, that’s not hard to achieve. We Melbournians take the ritual of breakfast very seriously, with the café scene developing an almost cult-like following over the years. While many of us only have time for coffee or vegemite on toast during the week, the weekend is when we cut loose in the wild and take part in that sacred collective mission: the hunt for Melbourne’s most extraordinary breakfast. It’s too hard to crown just one as top dog, but we reckon all of the cafés in this list are well worth making time for, lining up for, and spending your hard-earned dollarydoos on. Give 'em a shot! Like your breakfast with a boozy boost? Check out our favourite bottomless brunches in Melbourne. And if you're a sweet tooth, you've also gotta check out the best pancakes in Melbourne.

April 2025: Cafés in Melbourne are no longer just spots to catch up for a cappuccino or a bite to eat; they're workshops for single-origin tasting sessions, day-to-night cocktail bars and cruisy panini shops soundtracked by daylong DJ sets. Hybridity is a movement that's taken off in other parts of the world long before us, but we're happy we've finally joined the party. That said, sometimes all you want is a friendly face, a doggo-friendly space and a Melbourne Magic coffee order done just right. So for spots that nail the basics, look no further. There's a lot to love about Melbourne's world-class café scene. Wickedly good coffee. Creative brunch dishes that taste as good as they look, fresh from the minds of some of the city's top talent. And of course, the vibes. Discovering hot new cafés is almost a competitive sport in a city with AM dining of this calibre, so we've scoured Melbourne to bring you a guide to the finest of the lot. Looking for dessert that masquerades as breakfast? Check out the best doughnuts in Melbourne. Prefer a healthier feed? Try our pick of the best healthy lunch eats in the CBD.

Looking to plan a special meal for mum this Mother's Day? Whether you're thinking a casual afternoon lunch, or you'd rather splash out on something a bit extra like a fancy dinner with flowers delivered to the table, you'll get loads of ideas from this list. We've rounded up our favourite restaurants around Melbourne that have created set menus, exclusive cocktails, sweets and more – all in honour of mum. Does your mum love fresh blooms? These are the best flower delivery services in Melbourne.

Can we tempt you with a smoked salmon and cucumber sandwich? How about a mini cupcake while a tea sommelier helps you choose from a list of 20-plus different varieties of tea? One of the best things about taking high tea is the undeniable feeling of old-world luxury – not to mention justifying a meal comprised mainly of cakes. Melbourne loves an afternoon tea, so we road-tested the best to find out where you should get your fresh scone fix. For more special occasion dining ideas, try one of Melbourne's best restaurants. Or for something a little more low key, how about breakfast at one of these excellent cafés? 

Melburnians are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding an ideal drinking spot to catch up with mates, toast to the weekend or celebrate a special occasion. But while most bars and pubs offer up a cheap vino or half-price pint in the early hours of the evening, there are some venues where you can get the best (or most) booze for your buck. From a sky-high staple to an inner-city institution, we’ve rounded up the best happy hours on offer across the city so you know where to knock off next. After more fun for less? Check out our guides to the best cheap eats and BYO restaurants in Melbourne.

If you're feeling motivated to do more than sit at home and eat chocolate eggs and hot cross buns over the four-day long weekend, we've rounded up a list of cafés, bars and restaurants that will be open. Whether you're after a bougie brunch on Easter Sunday, a late-night snack on Good Friday or a cheeky drink on Saturday night, look no further than this list. For more Easter fun, check out our guide to the best hot cross buns in Melbourne. 

April 2025: Since our last update, we've added up-to-date opening hours, addresses and how much you should expect to pay at each spot, along with our top tip for each restaurant to ensure you have the best dining experience. What’s the secret recipe for crafting an exceptional dining experience? In coming up with Time Out’s list of the best restaurants in Australia, we considered a mix of ingredients. Talented chefs? Stylish decor? Lively ambience? Top-notch drinks? And of course, food that you can’t stop thinking about for days, months, or even years. Luckily, Australia’s restaurant scene is sizzling with spots that check all these boxes, plus so much more. Our nation’s top restaurants are a celebration of Australia’s native ingredients too. From an intimate 34-seat dining room cut into the rolling hills of South Australia's countryside to a 30-year-old institution overlooking Sydney’s sparkling Bondi Beach, these are the restaurants Time Out Australia’s team, including resident foodie Melissa Woodley, recommends for your next culinary adventure. 🍹 The best bars in Australia⭐️ Australia's most luxurious hotels🥐 The best bakeries Down Under For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines.

Melbourne doesn't have a large South American food scene but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. Thanks largely to expats looking to recreate a taste of home in Australia, you can eat your way through Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and Brazil within 10km of the CBD. We've rounded up the city's best for when you want to go on a dining chair tour of the continent. From arepas to ceviche and even Brazilian sushi, you can find it all here. Prefer a Euro getaway? Try Melbourne's best Greek restaurants. Or for something spicier, these are the city's best Indian diners. 

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

What’s not to love about a doughy, spicy, fruity, buttery ball of joy, warmed to perfection in the toaster or the microwave, and slathered liberally with salted butter? Melbourne has a wealth of brilliant bakers, all of whom have been elbow-deep in flour, sugar and spice, perfecting their recipes for Easter. We’ve rounded up our favourite floury heroes and where to get them below. Knead more dough? These are the best bakeries in Melbourne.

At the feverish heights of the Victorian Gold Rush, Ballarat was considered the richest city in the world. While more than 150 years have passed since those heady days of yore, it remains a magnetic place to visit for weekender tourists and seachange seekers alike. From historic sites, wineries and natural wonders to daring restaurants and buzzing bars, there’s no shortage of treasures to discover in Victoria’s third largest city. The last few years in particular have seen a large number of Melburnians make the move out west, with Ballarat's population climbing by almost 6,500 between 2020 and 2023. Thanks to this new wave of young artists, chefs, winemakers, artisan tradespeople, families and professionals, Ballarat today is brimming with more life than ever before.  This itinerary guides you through some of the highlights of the inland city, including where to explore, eat, drink and stay. Whether you’re arriving by car or via the convenient V-Line train, we’ve got your Ballarat getaway sorted. Check out our other weekend getaway guides to South Gippsland, the High Country, the Great Ocean Road and the Mornington Peninsula.

April 2025: We may still yet have a few warm days ahead of us, but there's no denying it: Melbourne's skies are taking on a grey-ish look and you may want to bring a jacket before heading out for a night on the town. Autumn is the perfect season for cosy cocktail lairs and wine bar catch-ups to turn that post-summer frown upside down.  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’ spirit of Lulie Tavern. You can find temples heroing whisky and palaces dedicated to gin, hole-in-the-wall nooks for sipping natural wines or classy spots for suited-and-booted cocktails. How about a prawn club sanga and a bottle of Champers from tiny charmer Apollo Inn? Or crocodile bites and ice-cold Martinis from Black Kite Commune?  If it's sky-high action you're after, then take a squiz at our guide to Melboune's best rooftop bars instead. For tipples a bit more out-of-the-box, we've got the scoop on some of Melbourne's weirdest drinking experiences. Yep, your options in this town are truly endless – even if you don't drink booze, since most bars in Melbourne have seriously upped their mocktail game in recent years. We've rounded up the top 50 bars that we're really loving right now – and we're sure you will, too.  Lauren Dinse is Time Out Melbourne’s Food and Drink Writer. Having visited some of the best bars around the globe (from Berlin to Bangkok), she still reckons the ba

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. Those of you who live on Instagram already know Maison Bâtard. As the vibey new meeting spot for the who’s who of Melbourne’s society people, the swanky four-level restaurant on Bourke Street has been trending online since it opened in November 2024.  So months after opening, can we yet crown it a success? And what’s it actually like to dine at? We head in, suitably glammed up, to find out via a light dinner. First of all, some appreciation must be paid towards the look and feel of this restaurant. It’s really, really lovely. From the stately foyer and the bustling, high-ceilinged dining room to the modern art splashed across the walls and the glamorous Audrey Hepburn-reminiscent menu design, everything just sings fabuleuse. If some of the cocktails aren’t your jam (though my fruity-loving friend is suitably satisfied with her super-sweet Passionfruit 75), a diverse drinks list of quality wine and liquor allows you to explore beyond this territory. My Picon Biere with Kronenberg is a perfectly cool and crisp beginning to the night.  And so the food part begins. A divine air-soft cheese souffle has us swooning. An impeccably cooked fillet of King George whiting is salted just right, lifted with lemon. And though the ratatouille Provencale’s presence of herbes d

In news that's surprised basically everyone, the world is going through country music fever right now – and Melbourne's no exception, with record numbers of young folks boot-scootin' their way to live dancing classes around town and filling their Spotify playlists with major pop stars' country-fied new albums. If that's your jam, and you also happen to love live tunes, wine and rollicking mystery musical bus tours, then we have just the Anzac Day long weekend plans for you: Heathcote's Stars and Bars event. This two-day party is a hybrid of a country music festival, food and wine festival and regional bus tour and heck yeah, it promises to rock your socks off. Friday night, April 25, kicks off with a family dinner and show at the Union Hotel. The following day, guests will then hop into the Heathcote Express for an epic bus tour that includes musical performances, guided vino tastings, afternoon tea and an evening brewery sesh with three live bands and a DJ.  As you taste and explore, your ears will be in for a sonic multi-scape treat of alt country, americana, rootsy folk, rock'n' roll and more. The line-up includes the Drunken Poachers, Bog Log III, Mightiest Of Guns, Karl S. Williams and Sally Wiggins, Ezra Lee and His Boogie Woogie Band, Annie-Rose Maloney, Paper Jane, Ally Row and special guest DJ Chunky Love. Tickets run from $20 to $145 (plus booking fee), depending on how many sessions you want to attend on this raucous road trip. For more information and to purchase

It seems Victoria has a foodie fest for every type of eat: ice cream, dumplings, rocky road, mussels – heck, even garlic bread! But if it's the humble potato that holds the key to your heart, then make sure you check out the Great Trentham Spudfest this year.  This annual tater-ific festival takes place in the charming small town of Trentham from May 3 to 4, with a program packed with fun, food, wine, music, kids' activities, history, potato eats and tons more. Spud and spoon race? Of course, that's on the agenda. Blind spud tasting challenges? Yep, you'll get the chance to discern your désirées and Dutch cream tots in the 'Name that Spud' game. Proceedings kick off at 10am on the Saturday at the festival's beloved street fair with a Welcome to Country ceremony and an official welcome from the organisers. From there, there are several fabulous foodie precincts to explore. Check out what's happening on the main stage or enjoy a potato scone at the Railway Precinct, then make your way to the Market Street Precinct to meet some artisan makers and stock up on gifts and goodies. Brimming with lively bars and eateries, the High Street Precinct is perfect for lunch and a drink or two, while the Town Square Precinct is where you can fill a basket with some of the finest fresh produce from the region.  There are free potato-related activities and the spud Olympics, a music program, and even the Spudfest Ceilidh (traditional Gaelic dance). On Sunday, highlights include the annual Spudf

March 2025 update: Holy smokes, Brunswick East Village is about to fire up! On Sunday, March 30, the super-cool community hub is about to transform into a great Aussie barbecue bonanza. From organic, high-quality sausage sizzles that put Bunnings to shame (no shade) to grilled prawn rolls, smoky lamb shawarma and burgers, the arvo is yours to sink your teeth into and explore from the village's finest foodie purveyors. There'll even be live performances, face-painting for the kiddos, vino tastings by Blackhearts and Sparrows from 1pm to 3pm, and a chocolate-themed makers market! For all the tasty details, visit the website now and start planning your visit.   If only all of our apartment complexes were this cool – and convenient! In the last few years alone, East Brunswick Village has transformed into an idyllically situated apartment building (just 6 kilometres from the CBD) into the inner-city retail and foodie hub of our dreams. East Brunswick Village is a space designed to be an "urban village", with open spaces and amenities for the whole community. And it's central to everything you could want — a market-style supermarket, an artisan bakery, a microbrewery, a boutique cinema, charming cafes, a day spa, a fitness center, a medical center and pharmacy, restaurants and much more. Also inside East Brunswick Village are captivating public art installations and gardens.  Hip Lebanese wine bar? Of course that's here – welcome to Rocket Society, run by the same folks who operat

Effervescence enthusiasts and bubbles buffs, it's time to whip out your flutes. A popular festival entirely dedicated to sparkling wine and Champers is returning to Melbourne this year, and yes, we'd like a top up, please. Melbourne first hosted the Bubbles Festival in 2017, and since 2021 it’s cemented itself as a national festival, with this year’s shindig landing in a swanky new venue overlooking the Yarra and city skyline. Gather your fellow bubble-loving friends: the event is taking place on May 3 at Rivers Edge Events. Sparkling wines from Victorian producers will be showcased at The Bubbles Festival, as will bubbles from across Australia, and international sparkling wines including Champagne. Each ticket includes a two-hour tasting session where you’ll enjoy more than ten types of sparkling in a Riedel Champagne tasting glass, and get to meet and chat to the growers and producers. Plus, tasty canapés will be available to pair with your glasses. There's even an option to bump up your experience to VIP, offering you priority access with a private tasting of a special cuvee prior to doors opening and a Riedel Extreme Champagne glass twin pack (valued at $85). A small portion of every VIP upgrade ticket is donated to the Dine with Heart program with Sacred Heart Mission for Melbourne. Whether you’re a fizz connoisseur or looking for something fun to do with a fellow wine-loving pal, it's sure to be a luxe day out. Tickets to the fizz fest start at $129 per person, plus boo

If your idea of heaven includes live music, rivers of beer and food galore, you can't miss Beechworth's High Country Hop Festival. From Friday 21 to Sunday March 23, Beechworth's historic precinct will pay tribute to some of the state's best brews, while festival-goers can explore a variety of drinks, eats and live music performances. Best of all, the first night is totally free entry! On the Friday evening, Movida's founder and chef Frank Camorra is bringing his Spanish fare to the beer garden while artists Sudanese-born Ajak Kwai and the Jarabi Band play some beautiful tunes. We can't not clue you in on the music deets for the rest of the weekend, since this year's lineup is an absolute ripper. Aussie synth-pop royalty Cut Copy will be headlining during Saturday's main event, along with Tokyo's garage punk surf queens, the 5.6.7.8s (remember them from Kill Bill?), ARIA award-winning soul artist Kaiit and more musical acts to soundtrack the weekend. Tickets are also available for a chill Sunday sesh the next day, with fun live jazz and delicious eats from a former Stokehouse head chef. As for good liquor? You're spoilt for choice at this popping party, with Mountain Culture Beer Co and Bridge Road Brewers – don't miss their collab brew, the annual Hazy Harvest Fresh Hop IPA – plus an exciting variety of independent brewers and wineries all set to make an appearance across the weekend.  Tickets are available through the High Country Hop website.  Planning a weekend away? Per

Add some spice to your weekly cooking repertoire at Free to Feed, a not-for-profit social enterprise founded by community worker Loretta and her husband Daniel Bolotin. The classes are run by refugees and asylum seekers, for whom Free to Feed may be their very first job in Australia, and it's an incredible opportunity for Melburnians to learn more about a diverse array of cultures and life experiences up close – all through the universal power of food. Hailing from Syria and Latin America to Sri Lanka, Iraq and beyond, each instructor is passionate about teaching guests how to make authentic dishes that are dear to their hearts, such as Tamil curries, Iranian desserts and Egyptian vegetarian dishes. The teachers share stories of their experiences as refugees as they sit down to dinner with fellow cooks, making the experience more than just your average cooking class. It's a unique opportunity to connect and share in the power of community. Want to learn more about Free to Feed's cooking instructors? We interviewed asylum seeker Mahshid Babzartabi from Iran about her journey to Australia and her Free to Feed story.  The organisation has delivered some pretty special dining experiences during its time, including rotating seasonal programs of dinner events at its cosy second space in Fitzroy North, a catering stint at the Aussie Open and a Sri Lankan summer pop-up feast. You can get catering, grazing boxes, event spaces and more through Free to Feed, and the Northcote space has

Calling all fromage freaks and pinot lovers: the team behind beloved cheese festival Mould and booze festival Pinot Palooza has revealed that an epic fusion of the two events will be returning to Melbourne in 2025. Following the success of last year’s hybrid celebration, events powerhouse Revel will be uniting wine and cheese lovers once more with an unmatched foodie tour that offers double the indulgence. For anyone who's ever paired a creamy camembert with quality pinot, this makes total sense! The program will offer world-class Australian artisan cheeses to sample – from the creamiest to the stinkiest (and always the tastiest, of course) – along with some of the finest pinot noir in the land.  New head of Revel Jessica Audas said, “More than just a tasting experience, this event is about discovering the magic of perfect pairings—where the right cheese and pinot can elevate each other in unexpected and unforgettable ways.” An excellent grape-stained handful of award-winning wineries will be in attendance, such as Innocent Bystander, Vinteloper and Yering Station, and more. Meanwhile, on the dairy front, the lauded Milawa Cheese and Bruny Island will be generously offering some of their best products for tastings.  Whether you prefer oozy camembert or nutty gruyères, we can guarantee there'll be something you'll want to add to your next cheese board.  Tickets cost $59 plus booking fees and include festival entry, all cheese and pinot tastings (no tokens needed!), a wine gla

Adored for its buzzing atmosphere, friendly service and one of the best pints of Guinness in Melbourne right now, St Luja is a little St Kilda cocktail bar with massive amounts of heart. Are you absolutely devoted to your Guinness obsession? Then you ought to pay these folks a visit, since on your 100th pint, they'll welcome you into their famous 100 Guinness Pint Club where you get your name on the board and your very own engraved Guinness pint glass.  While the rest of the drinks list leans towards good quality whiskey, there's also a broader selection of cocktails to cater to all tastes. Every Friday, there's even a two-for-one Tommy's Margarita deal so you can grab a friend and get on the plonk at happy hour. Or how about the ultimate Irish pairing: a pie and a pint? You can get both for just $23 on a Sunday. If you fancy a night of comedy to go along with your drinks, St Luja often hosts some pretty hilarious stand-up; the best way to see who's performing soon is to follow the bar's Instagram page.  Looking for more sweet spots 'round St Kilda? Here's our guide to the suburb's best restaurants and bars.

Looking for something fun, educational, tasty and family-friendly to do this Labour Day weekend in 2025? A quirky garlic festival will be taking over the small regional Victorian town of Korumburra on March 8 and if it's anything like previous annual editions, it's going to be a glorious (albeit pungent) day out. The South Gippsland Garlic Festival, formerly the Meeniyan Garlic Festival, is back. It's Victoria's largest celebration of Aussie garlic and a great excuse to learn more about this long-prized culinary stalwart and fill a basket with some of Gippsland’s best produce. Predicted to bring over two tonnes of garlic to the people from different growers from across Victoria, the aromatic festival will take place from 9am to 6pm at the Korumburrra Showgrounds on Saturday, March 8. There'll be about 80 stallholders this year, plus lots of live entertainment and fun kids' activities to fill out the day. Of course, Bluey will be there. Adults will want to check out the festival bar, which showcases celebrated Gippsland winemakers brewers, and distilleries - including Fleet Wines, Gurneys Cider, Burra Brewing and more. Meanwhile over at the kitchen, former Masterchef contestant Simon Toohey, Gippsland Food and Beverage ambassador Alejandro Saravia, and local chefs like Jodie Odrowaz and Michael Clark (Messmates) will be making an appearance to deliver expert cooking demonstrations.  But it doesn’t stop at the festival grounds! Yep, the entire town of Korumburra will join in

Forks at the ready! The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is returning with its annual jam-packed program from March 21 to March 30. Featuring a star-studded line-up of chefs, local food heroes and special dining experiences, it's a full-throated celebration of Melbourne’s food and drink scene – and we couldn't be more excited (or hungry!). The ten-day event kicks off with the festival's signature World’s Longest Lunch, spearheaded this year by none other than Melbourne-born culinary legend Curtis Stone. Another favourite is the World's Longest Brunch, which this year is being reimagined by beloved author and food personality, Julia Busuttil Nishimura – expect a moving feast celebrating the city's brunch culture. Other highlights include Dim City, which celebrates 80 years of the delicious pork parcel (fun fact: dim sims were invented in Melbourne) with a giveaway of dimmies by chefs Rosheen Kaul (Etta), John Rivera (Askal) and Eun Hee An (Moon Mart). Best of all, it's free! And you won't want to miss Something Saucy, a pasta pop-up in Whitehart Lane or Tacos and Toum, which will see Raph Rashid team up with hummus king Tom Sarafian to explore these two grand culinary traditions. Also returning for its third year is Baker's Dozen. The free event at Fed Square brings together the city's finest bakers and cakers – including Madeleine de Proust, Lune, Tarts Anon, All Are Welcome and Baker Bleu – to whip up some delicious creations. Plus, if you love a cheeky cardamom bun, don't m

Melbourne's giant beer, cider and fun festival GABS is back for 2025, so get ready to get sipping. Wacky flavours have just been announced, featuring brews inspired by peanut and butter, vegemite toast, rainbow ice cream cones, gingerbread pastry and warheads. Sign us up! 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 bonke

Think of your traditional cellar door experience and rolling hills, lush vineyards, long drives and rustic farmhouses probably come to mind – which makes it all the more intriguing that a sleek new urban winery is coming to Melbourne's CBD to turn that provincial association on its head. Named Melbourne Winery, it’s the CBD’s first ever winery and will bring a cornucopia of wine lovers’ experiences to the table – from immersive educational sessions and sensory workshops to a wine-led dining experience where each dish is designed to elevate the glass. The space will also boast a dedicated wine lab, cheese cellar and oyster bar, as well as rotating art exhibitions and large-scale photographic installations. Artistic render: Supplied / Melbourne Winery “Melbourne Winery isn’t about tradition – it’s about transformation,” says a spokesperson from Melbourne Winery. “We’re creating a space where people don’t just drink wine, they engage with it. Every bottle tells a story, and we’re giving our guests the chance to be a part of it.” Make no mistake; this isn’t just a tasting room or wine-centric restaurant. It’s a fully functioning winery, developed and run by a multi-skilled team of hospitality, viticulture and design creatives. Melbourne Winery’s own wine label is exclusively available in-house and online, starting with 32 varietals as part of its initial range.   “Drinking wine is deeply personal. It’s like art – how you experience it, how you interpret it, is completely your

Even though Melbourne has just been named the third most affordable major city in Australia for 2025, the cozzie livs crisis is still hitting hard for many of us – and forking out for a meal at a fancy restaurant is certainly not a regular activity amongst the majority of the population. So on the rare occasion you want to splash out on a special dining experience, it's important to make each dollar count. But picking where to go isn't an easy feat.  Do you go with a long-standing legend that's been wowing diners for decades, try a hip new wine bar that's trending on the 'gram, or take a recommendation from those in the business of adjudicating the best of the best? If you go for option three, your dinner dilemma could be easily solved by the Restaurant and Catering (R&CA) Hostplus Awards for Excellence. These prestigious nationwide awards recognise the top hospitality businesses across various categories in both metropolitan and regional areas. One of the highlights of the ceremony is the Best Premium Restaurant category, which in 2024, showcased a compelling selection of exceptional venues across the country. Lucky for Victorians, one of our very own stood out from the rest! The top gong went to Cape Restaurant on the Mornington Peninsula, which won Best Premium Restaurant in 2024. Hidden within the walls of RACV Cape Schanck Resort, this fine diner only opens for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday nights.  Photograph: Supplied It's an all-round sensory experience, with a

If you're a fan of Lune's ever-evolving pastry specials, this is definitely a loyalty card you'll want to add to your Apple or Google wallet: the Lune Passport. It's the croissant wizards' latest tasty creation, a way you can unlock exclusive perks, priority access and special gifts designed to make your Lune experience even sweeter.  How does the Lune Passport program work? Similar to other loyalty programs, the Lune Passport incorporates a points system that rewards your account each time you make a purchase. For every dollar spent at a Lune venue, you'll earn a Zont Mile. Once you reach 200 Zont Miles, you'll get $10 off your next purchase.  You'll also enjoy other benefits from signing up, such as a complimentary birthday treat each year, plus front-of-the-line access to exclusive events and retail drops.  Photograph: Pete Dillon “We’re super excited to finally announce the Lune Passport loyalty program," says Lune's owner and founder Kate Reid. "It feels like a fitting way to reward and thank all our guests who have supported us over the years, and also a lovely way to introduce those that are brand new to Lune! The Lune Passport will allow guests to experience the best of Lune, first." Keen to start earning some Zont Miles right away? Signing up to Lune's email newsletter will nab you a cool 25 Zont Miles, no sweat. You'll also earn 50 Zont Miles when you sign up and make your first purchase. For the full rundown on how the program works, check out the website. How to

We’re close enough to Easter now that we can taste it. It seems every bakery, café and chocolatier is crafting something special this year and who could blame them? April brings out the sweetest of notes: sugar, spice and all things nice (read: lots and lots of chocolate). Below are our favourite Easter treats in town for 2025. Churro and chocolate Easter egg from Beatrix Bakes x Melbourne Cocoa Photograph: Supplied Natalie Paull from Beatrix Bakes has collaborated with Melbourne Cocoa once again this year to craft a milk and white chocolate egg that made its sell-out debut in 2024. You'll detect festive notes of cinnamon, sweet vanilla and caramelised waffle in the delicious egg – all inspired by the flavour of churros, one of the recipes from Beatrix's cookbook, Another Slice. They’re available for a limited time only at select retailers or online at the Melbourne Cocoa website. Hot cross doughnut from Pidapipo Photograph: Supplied / Pidapipo Ice cream maven Pidapipo Laboratorio may tempt you to shirk the traditional hot cross bun this Easter, thanks to their heavenly, sugar-dusted 'ultimate non-hot-cross-bun'. Made to order and available exclusively at the Fitzroy Laboratorio, the fresh doughnuts come topped with fior di latte gelato and spiced caramel sauce. If these look much too decadent for your taste, never fear; Pidapipo's much-loved bags of dark and milk chocolate eggs are back in 2025 – each beautifully packed in wrapping from Studio Ongarato for that ultra-b

If nothing gives you greater pleasure than sinking those carnivorous canines into a juicy, melt-in-your-mouth cut of A-grade steak, then drop everything right now. One of our most marvellous steakhouses Meatmaiden has just announced it will be teaming up with Restaurang AG from Stockholm for a series of immersive steak dinners right in the heart of Melbourne. Home to the largest selection of premium beef in all of Europe, Restaurang AG was ranked number nine in the World's Best Steak Restaurants list for 2024 and is widely renowned for its cutting-edge Scandinavian steakhouse smarts – so you can bet the chops are going to be, well, off chops. Throw Meatmaiden's passion for crafting steak at the highest level into the mix, and there's no limit to what these twin powerhouses will achieve when they join forces.  What's the occasion? Well, it's only the Aussie debut of the world-famous Rare Tour, a globally celebrated dining series that brings together world-class chefs, steak education and expert grilling techniques to respected steak restaurants around the world. So in other words, it's a huge deal – at least for die-hard meat lovers. The dinner series is running for three consecutive nights from Tuesday April 29 to Thursday May 1 and you can be one of the lucky 500 to attend by making a booking here. Photograph: Supplied / Meatmaiden The cleverly curated six-course menu will showcase a super-luxe range of rare cuts and exclusive pairings, including AG’s striking interpretati

Holy moly! Gone are the days when, mid-shop and feeling hungry, all you could find at your local shopping centre was the somewhat satisfying-yet-predictable trifecta of basic fast food outlets. From the 2014 unveiling of Emporium's glam food court to the post-pandemic opening of Grazeland in the west, today's dining-scape of foodie wonderlands around Melbourne is broader and brighter than ever before – and the newest addition to our very own suburban 'fashion capital' is no exception.  That's right, folks. Chadstone has just opened the floodgates to a sprawling new haven for all your epicurean shopping and dining needs. At 26,500 square metres, the Market Pavilion is technically larger than the MCG! But size aside, what can you actually eat and buy here?  For starters, there's a Champagne and oyster bar (fancy!), expert fishmongers, a pristine new Brunetti Oro, chocolate lovers' paradise Mork, a wine boutique and even a cute sweet treat shop from Thai legends Homm Desserts. A high-end sushi train, plus restaurants for yum cha, Korean hotpot and Japanese ramen are just a few of the venues now open in the adjoining dining laneway, which has just been reinvigorated to coincide with the Market Pavilion's debut. Other highlights in the line-up feature NY-inspired bagel joint Hanks, Cannoleria, Green Cup, Yo-Chi, Gewurzhaus, the Oakleigh Doughnut Co and Koko Black. All up, the Market Pavilion boasts about 50 popular retailers offering artisan-made meals and treats, fresh produce a

If you're a big fan of South Yarra's premium Japanese restaurants Yakikami or Wagyu Ya, then you'll be stoked that a delightful new specialty udon shop from the same hospo crew has recently opened in the CBD – and it's slinging satisfying lunch eats at a much wallet-friendlier price. Some folks are even already crowning these noods the best udon in Melbourne, and they start at just $19 a bowl. You've got two types of udon noodle to choose from at Yamamoto Udon: the delicate ribbon-like himokawa udon or the bouncy sanuki style. Both are available in 18 traditional and new-school flavours, from simple dipping-style udon (we likes ours cold!) to steamy dashi soup udon – perfect as the temps drop into the autumn and winter months. You can even add crispy tempura or juicy chicken karaage for a crunchy kick, while rich flavours like creamy carbonara udon and Japanese curry are guaranteed to deliver lunchtime comfort by the bowlful.  Photograph: Jamie Alexander All the noodles are freshly handmade daily from natural ingredients in a limited batch of just 70 servings, free from additives and aged for two days for maximum flavour. Yamamoto Udon's head chef Ryosuke Yasumatsu describes his craft as “a tradition that takes skill and patience”. “Our team at Yamamoto brings years of experience in handmaking udon, staying true to the techniques that have been passed down through generations while sharing them with Melbourne,” shared Yasumoto. “We’re all about combining high-quality ingr

When it comes to brunch, everyone has their favourite go-to dish. My sister can't say no to smashed avo, my mum's a porridge fiend, my fiancé has his eye on a saucy brekky burger and my dad always opts for the chilli scramble. Me? I rarely select the latter – but a recent visit to Como Lane may have just turned me into a convert for life. The brand new South Yarra café's perfectly fluffy scrambled eggs come served with Longrain's signature umami-bomb XO sauce, crispy chilli oil and the bright zing of pickled mushrooms – and let me tell you this recipe has been perfected. Poached peach pancakes with whipped vanilla cream also had us on cloud nine, and we certainly weren't mad about two tip-top toasties – a seeded mustard-slathered tuna melt and an ultra-creamy croque monsieur – courtesy of genius breadmakers Cobb Lane. Photograph: Alex Squadrito It's hardly a surprise Como Lane is magicking up some serious brunch brilliance, thanks to a very clever crew at the helm. There's Scott Pickett, the man responsible for bringing Longrain, Matilda, Smith St Bistrot, Estelle and Chancery Lane to Melbourne's dining playground, group executive chef and menu co-designer Stuart McVeigh, plus the duo's right-hand man on the pans  – Como Lane's head chef Adam Lai (ex-Hardware Societe).  Slosh into the mix an ice-cold latte made with freshly brewed beans from Merchant Coffee Roasters and you're guaranteed a cute date made in heaven. And heaven is no hyperbolic overstatement, considering th

In what's set to be one of Melbourne's biggest restaurant openings of the year, Vue de Monde's critically acclaimed executive chef Hugh Allen has announced plans to open his first restaurant this spring. Yiaga, an Indigenous word meaning 'to seek and find', is the chosen moniker for Allen's new venture, which will be situated in the heart of East Melbourne's lush Fitzroy Gardens.  The restaurant will showcase Australia's abundant diversity of native ingredients – from wild game to rare berries and local seafood – and diners can expect an exquisite multi-course tasting experience. Allen and his team are still deep in the research phase of creating the menu. But it's not going to be somewhere to just have lunch or dinner; it'll also be a space for learning, community and meaningful exchange. "Once we're fully operational, we aim for Yiaga to become more than just a dining experience," explains Allen. "We want as many people as possible to feel connected to Yiaga, whether visiting for dinner, attending a talk, or participating in a workshop. Ultimately, we would love and envision Yiaga evolving over the years into a vibrant campus of gastronomy." Photograph: Robert Blackburn An old pavillion, located next to Fitzroy Gardens' Tudor model village, will be transformed to house the new restaurant. The site has lived many lives, originally built in 1908 as tearooms, and expanded with a dining room in the '20s. Though a fire damaged it in the '60s, a second building was constructed

Hello pizza lovers: if you’re reading this, you’re likely a fan of all things crust, cheese and carbs. It’s also likely that you have a go-to spot for your pizza fix in Australia – but does it rank among the world’s best? It’s time to find out… The list of Asia-Pacific’s 50 Top Pizzas has just dropped, and ten Aussie pizzerias made the cut for 2025. The winners are determined based on a mix of votes from a panel of expert inspectors and anonymous reviews, which look at everything from the quality of the pizza to the service, atmosphere, wait times and beverage list. For the second year running, The Pizza Bar On 38th in Tokyo has been crowned the best pizzeria in the Asia-Pacific region. But let’s turn our attention to the Aussie winners, with four from both Melbourne and Sydney, and one each from Adelaide and Perth. Coming in at fifth, we have Melbourne’s Shop225 – a Pascoe Vale South favourite that's climbed a whopping 27 places in the space of a year. A big congrats to Shop225, who are now considered numero uno in all of Australia! Judges were impressed with Shop225's authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, making specific reference to the flagship Zio Pino (stracciatella, mushrooms, truffle oil, parsley, and grana cheese). "There is a lot of attention to the dough and high-quality ingredients," the panelist remarks. Photograph: Supplied / Shop 225 It's also the first pizza shop to receive gluten-free accreditation from Coeliac Australia. Here, you can grab one of the tastiest

Attenzione pizza fans! It's that tasty time of year again when the Italian judging panel that determines the 50 Top Pizza list decides which pizzerias from around the world are the best in the business. The 2025 results for the greatest pizzas in the Asia-Pacific region have just dropped, and we're excited to see a floury handful of our local dough masters make the cut.  Coming in at fifth, we have Shop225 – a Pascoe Vale South favourite that's climbed a whopping 27 places in the space of a year. A big congrats to Shop225, who are now considered numero uno in all of Australia! Judges were impressed with Shop225's authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, making specific reference to the flagship Zio Pino (stracciatella, mushrooms, truffle oil, parsley, and grana cheese). "There is a lot of attention to the dough and high-quality ingredients," the panelist remarks. It's also the first pizza shop to receive gluten-free accreditation from Coeliac Australia. Here, you can grab one of the tastiest slices in Oceania, and have all your dietary requirements (including halal) catered for.  "Being listed alongside some of the world’s best pizzerias is truly an honor and we will happily attend the Top 100 World this September in Napoli” said Lorenzo Tron, owner of Shop225. 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar is no stranger to the 50 Top Pizza list, having ranked best in Oceania in 2021 and slipping to fourth in 2023. Fast forward to 2025, this much-loved pizzeria is still managing to impress the most dis

There's a new kid on the Collingwood block and she's no short runt. Playfully named Slowpoke Lounge and Lookout (a nod to Looney Tunes character Slowpoke Rodriguez), the cosy rooftop watering hole treats visitors to panoramic views of Melbourne's inner-north and city skyline. On March 1, it landed right in the heart of all the action – between hip co-working space the Commons and dreamy wellness centre Inner Studio (post-sauna Margarita, anyone?). Founders Bradley Wynne, Gabe Neri and Dustin Hefford share backgrounds in events and immersive experiences – Neri and Hefford are the brains behind Daybreak Festival – with Wynne describing their shared intention for "Slowpoke to feel like an extension of your living room – a cosy, familiar place where both old and new friends can gather, reflect, and dream."  Photograph: Harry Burmeister Ever heard of a 'third place'? Distinct from most humans' typical home and work spaces, a third place is designed to be somewhere you can regularly connect with other folks away from the humdrum of domestic and professional duties. Slowpoke's crew are shooting for exactly this: a warm hive where Melburnians can come together, feel a sense of community and share "the weirdest possible version of themselves" with those who've come from near and far.  Wynne designed the bar's aesthetic to feel whimsical, glamorous and refined all at once – from a nostalgic service station sign at the entrance (cute!), to marble tabletops and plush leather lounges so