Lauren Dinse

April 2025: If the looming autumn and winter months are having you hankering for that mid-year holiday (Euro summer, anyone?), you're probably keeping an eye on your bank account. Sun-chasers, savers and those simply on a tight budget right now, we know the spots around town where you can eat well without breaking the bank.  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. Don't want to spend a cent? We've got you covered with our guide to the best things to do for free in Melbourne.

April 2025: Whether you're catching a show or two at the Melbourne Comedy Festival this month, arranging a long overdue catch-up with a friend after all that beginning-of-year madness, or simply keen to try out a restaurant you've never visited before, consider this guide your ultimate hit list. These are the spots we're loving right now. The continually evolving and expanding dining scene in Melbourne is both a blessing and a curse: how do you choose between so many incredible restaurants? Well, that's where we come in. Stop endlessly scrolling, and commit to making your way through Time Out’s list of the best restaurants in the state right now. Our always-hungry local experts, including Time Out Melbourne's Food and Drink Writer, Lauren Dinse, have curated 2025's most delicious and divine, innovative and imaginative, comforting and familiar, memorable and magical dining experiences right here at your fingertips. From culinary institutions like Flower Drum and France-Soir, to emerging standouts and instant icons such as Serai, Gimlet and Kafeneion, we've got it all covered here. And as for the brand new restaurant and bar openings catching our eye? Check out this guide instead. Get out, and get eating! You've got a lot to get through!  RECOMMENDED READ: Don't want to break the bank? Check out Melbourne's best cheap eats.

A cuisine that lends itself to long, leisurely meals shared with others, Italian usually doesn't stop at just one course. So, do as the Romans do: start with an aperitivo – and an antipasto spread – before a primo course (cue the pasta), secondo (a meat dish), contorno (a side, or three) and of course, something dolce (sweet). The Time Out team have spent years scouring the city for Melbourne's best Italian food, and while restaurants (and writers) may come and go – there are a few spots that consistently deliver. So if you're looking for an Italian feast that'll knock your socks off, look no further – we've rounded up Melbourne's best Italian restaurants for you to try in 2025. Buon appetito! If you're after more Italian cuisine, visit our guides to Melbourne's best pizza and gelato.

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.

If you're not familiar with the amazing concept of a cat café, it's basically a magical place where cat lovers can get their feline and caffeine fixes at the same time. There are very few joys in life greater than sipping a hot cuppa while petting a purring furball, so we've rounded up a couple of cafés in Melbourne to help you on your quest for a purrfect afternoon.  And if you thought it couldn't get any better than that, most of these spots have adopted their fleet of cats from a shelter or operate as shelters themselves. Fall in love with a particular furball? Take them home and let them be your fur-ever friend.  More of a dog person? Hit up one of Melbourne's pooch-friendly pubs. Looking to take care of a cute creature in need? Here's where you can adopt a pet in Melbourne.

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? 

Whether you're looking for a bar in the north, south, east, or west of our fair city, Time Out Melbourne has got all points of the compass covered. Walk into any of these top-notch wine bars and you're guaranteed service by staff who know what they're talking about, a great atmosphere, and of course, a solid wine list. And being the snack-loving city we are, you can bet these venues are no slouch in the kitchen, either. For more carefully curated guides to Melbourne's drinking culture, head to our favourite cocktail bars, rooftop bars and whisky bars.  

For the entire month of April, South Yarra Italian restaurant Cucinetta is bringing back its epic gnocchi dish made with a whopping 29 kinds of cheese. Cucinetta conceived this wild idea a few years ago, and in response to overwhelming demand, the team’s putting it back on the table – but only until April 30! The dish is made in collaboration with dairy geniuses That's Amore Cheese, so you know it’s going to be ooey-gooey heaven.  OK, so what are the cheeses? Here they are: fior di latte, buffalo mozzarella, burrata, scamorza bianca, caciotta, pepper caciotta, chilli caciotta, truffle Caciotta, ricotta delicata, ricotta salata, mascarpone, squacquerone, buffalo bocconcini, buffalo ricotta, buffalo caciotta, smoked buffalo mozzarella, smoked bocconcini, smoked scamorza, smoked caciocavallo, diavoletto, That's Amore's limited-edition 'Secret of the Forest', drunken buffalo, lavato, panettone, panettone with truffle, caciocavallo, bufalotto, blue cheese and formaggio di vacca. Phew... we didn't even know some of these existed!  You may wonder why the dish features 29 kinds of cheese specifically, and we have your answer: the number represents the pint-sized restaurant's 29-square-metre space (also reflected in the 29 wines-by-the-glass list).  The cheese-loaded dish will set you back $36.90 per serve and will be available for both lunch and dinner, available alongside the restaurant's other favourites. Just like when Cucinetta's parmesan cheese wheel special sold out, we suspect

March 2025: The Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Moomba. The F1. The Food and Wine Fest. Is there anything not happening this month? Melbourne in March is a mad one, so if you feel that you need a break from the action, why not pop into a nice bar for a drink? We've got you covered with this recently updated round-up of the best in town. 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 reck

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

If you love the craic, you're probably be familiar with knocking back a whiskey and a Guinness on St Patrick's Day like all good Irish folk do. In 2025, the day falls on Monday, March 17, and we're sure Melbourne's pubs and bars will be getting into the St Paddy's spirit with plenty of Irish pub grub and pints upon pints of Guinness, Kilkenny and Magners. Wear your greenest outfit and head to these venues – they'll be putting on some of the liveliest parties for St Patrick's Day. Love beer? You'll love Melbourne's best pubs and our list of the 50 best bars around the city.

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

We hope you're hungry, because the Port Phillip Mussel and Jazz Festival is back for a celebration of music and molluscs. On March 8 and 9, the South Melbourne Market will come alive as some of the market's best loved restaurants shell out (see what we did there?) plenty of dishes showcasing mussels.  This year, vendors involved include Claypots Evening Star, Simply Spanish and Bambu. But if seafood's not your thing, you can also feast on French pastries, porchetta rolls, German street food, cannoli and a whole lot more. Cecil Street will be closed to traffic, and there'll also be free cooking demonstrations, workshops, roving performers, giveaways and fun activities for the kids.  Best of all, the festival is once again teaming up with the Nature Conservatory and supporting the 'Shuck Don't Chuck' campaign. Festivalgoers are encouraged to dispose of their mussel shells in special bins so that they can be turned into habitats for baby mussels and oysters to grow on.  On the music front, it's all about the city's best jazz and soul musicians, with the line-up including acts like Charlie Needs Braces, Miss Lizzy and the Night Owls, Noria Letts and Hoodoo Mayhem. For more info and to see the full program, head to the website. Starry-eyed for seafood? These are the best fish and chips in Melbourne. 

Are you sick of salad? Maybe you’d like to kill kale? Perhaps you hunger for something with a little more meat on its bones? Well, hunger no more! Meatstock lands in Bendigo on March 14 and 15 to satisfy all your carnivorous cravings, and it's bringing along an unmissable program of rocking music, wild attractions and nail-biting competitions this year.  "If an offset smoker and an electric guitar had a baby, it would be Meatstock," is how the festival describes itself. Sounds legit.  Some of the best pitmasters in the barbecue biz will be serving up food throughout the weekend including Get Smoked, Hoy Pinoy, Carolina Smoke, Phat Boyz BBQ, Black Iron Smokers, Hangry Wolf BBQ and more, with plenty of drinks stalls to wash it all down. Entertainment will come by way of many local artists and bands playing on the main stage, including Lane Pittman, Chase Rice, Oliver Anthony, Redferrine, Bella Mackenzie, Piper Rodrigues, Dakota East and Taylor Moss. You can head over to the expo portion of the event to pick up everything from barbecue rubs, cooking appliances, barbecues, hot sauces and heaps more, but don't stop there. Whether to spectate or take part, you're also encouraged to hit up the competitive eating zones where pale-faced attendees will be showing off their bottomless bellies when it comes to throwing down sozzie sizzles, burgs or red-hot hot wings.  The Professional Bull Riding will also be back this year, where cowboys (and cowgirls, of course) will be challenged 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. Find out more here. “In fact,” the Burger Shack employee murmurs from his drive-through window in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. “Just thinking about those tender little White Castle burgers with those little, itty-bitty grilled onions that just explode in your mouth like flavor crystals every time you bite into one... just makes me want to burn this motherfucker down.” Ever since watching (and laughing a lot) at that scene in the 2004 stoner comedy, I’ve looked high and low for an experience that would make me think so lovingly about onions that I refer to them in my mind as “flavour crystals”. Well, my search is complete: the Cevapi Project is that experience. Scooped up with the wood-fired artisan bread pockets and authentic Bosnian-style cevapi (to the uninitiated, that’s a traditional grilled beef mince sausage), those “itty-bitty” raw white onions are so tasty you’ll want to kiss someone – even if they run away from your breath. Though this item on the menu, origigi (street slang for ‘original’), is the trademark attraction at the Cevapi Project, there are plenty of add-ons and other dishes you can order to jazz up your meal.  Try the ajvar (a type of capsicum and eggplant relish), which owner Goran Kapetanovic makes himself. It’s a chunkier, more home-style preparation than the smooth pastes you’d f

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

The Point was one of Melbourne’s favourite spots for special occasions for over two decades, thanks to its breathtaking views over Albert Park Lake and an impressive rotation of hospo talent; Ian Curley, Scott Pickett and a former Vue de Monde alum are among the chefs who manned the helm at various times throughout the restaurant’s tenure.  In 2018, the owners announced the closure of the Point and a Chinese fusion restaurant operated in its place until 2021. The space has largely remained under the radar ever since. But the next exciting chapter now awaits for the prominent lakeside venue, courtesy of an ambitious new partnership between Parks Victoria and Australian Venue Company (AVC).  The two parties are planning to reopen the site as Albert Park Lake House – a sleek new contemporary restaurant and hub for functions and events. A casual bistro will feature on the ground floor, complete with a balcony overlooking the lush, sweeping parklands, lake and Melbourne CBD skyline. Image: Supplied / Parks Victoria AVC will be investing a reported $3.4 million into the project and renovations are expected to begin later this year or early 2026. Evan Gargaro, the Victorian state manager for AVC, commented, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Parks Victoria on this iconic project. The team is looking forward to bringing the reimagined Albert Park Lake House to life." Albert Park Lake House is anticipated to open its doors by mid-2026. For more information as details are release

It's easy to overlook the wonder that is Flinders Street Station. When passing through its busy Myki gates at rush hour or using the clock at the top of the stairs as an easy-to-find meeting point, who's thinking about history? But deep behind its walls, throughout its sprawling ballroom and long-abandoned vaults, there's a fascinating trove of spaces and stories to unearth here. Miss Gunn's, a brand new bar that's just opened down in the station's rediscovered basement, pays homage to one such story – that of Ada May Gunn (nicknamed 'Dolly' or 'Miss Gunn'). Ada opened a place called the Loungers' Club in 1909, popular with busy working girls and women of the time. It was designed to be a sort of ladies' social club, a serene haven where you could flip through books and magazines, chat over an afternoon tea or refresh yourself before a trip to the theatre (so in this writer's opinion, basically heaven).  While the new Miss Gunn's may be in a different part of the station, the spirit of its namesake lives on through calm, welcoming vibes and the promise of relaxation at the end of a hectic Melbourne day. It's a modern version of the old-school urban lounge, complete with relaxing jazz, a snacky menu and top-tier cocktails mixed at the bar.  Photograph: Supplied / Miss Gunn's Care for a post-train journey tipple? Try the Distant Memories, a concoction of Never Never gin, yellow Chartreuse, rhubarb stew and lemon juice. Or the fruity Dolly, an expertly mixed blend of spiced r

Bib up and take a bow, Melburnians! Not that we needed the proof, but our fair city has just been ranked the world's hottest destination for food-obsessed travellers. Leveraging a blend of social media data and insightful metrics on dining affordability and cuisine diversity, a brand new study from British company Travelbag reveals exactly where Melbourne stands among the world's top gastronomic destinations in 2025 – and yep, we're sitting pretty at numero uno. But is it really any surprise? From our globally acclaimed dining scene (after all, we've got some of the best restaurants in the world) to the multicultural array of cuisines dotted around our neighbourhoods, there's no question that we're living in a food lovers' wonderland. And with the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival ready to go in March, this town's on standby to get a whole lot tastier. So with all this deliciousness in mind, let's take look at the study's results! With over 100 different cuisines and an average dining cost of £57 for two people in a mid-range restaurant (it's a British study, so that translates to about $113AUD as per current conversion rates), Melbourne ranked highly compared to other cities on these metrics alone – but it's our social media popularity that really rocketed us up the rankings ladder.  How about all the love we get on the 'gram, for example? We're the most popular food destination in the world – a tie with London. Both cities were found to have a cool 3 million Instagram pos