Quincy Malesovas

February 2025: Love is in the air this month, and we all know the way to a person's heart is through their stomach – which means it's time to get eating! Whether you're after a special date night restaurant, somewhere to slurp pasta with the girls or just want to treat yo' self to a solo dining sesh, this guide has you covered with options galore. Melbourne and food – it's a match made in heaven, if you ask us. 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 Attica, Stokehouse and Flower Drum, to emerging standouts and instant icons such as Serai, Gimlet and Amaru, 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.

The nominees in the Best Wine Bar category have varied and interesting wine lists that offer something different for drinkers at all levels. These bars are noted for their attractive and convivial environments and knowledgeable wine professionals who provide excellent service. These days, Australian wine bars also tend to serve up fantastic food along with the drinks, so the food menus of nominees in this category have also been considered. The winner will be announced on March 17. To see nominees for all categories, click here. 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.

The Relaxed Dining Venue nominees for 2025 recognise exceptional restaurants in the mid-price-range bracket – the sort of places you could go for a celebration, but also a mid-week catch-up with a mate. All nominees in this category have relaxed and inviting environments, well-curated drinks lists and dishes that set them apart from the rest.  The winner will be announced on March 17. To see nominees for all categories, click here. 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.

January 2025: What a thriling year of hosp openings we were treated to in 2024! If you haven't had time tick them off your bucket list just yet, make sure you check out ritzy French restaurant Maison Bâtard, trendy CBD newcomer Reed House and the relaxed fine diner that's got everyone talking right now, Lucia. Stay tuned for more to come...  Here's your ultimate guide to Melbourne's most exciting recent restaurant and bar openings, updated monthly for your reading (and tasting) pleasure. With this list on hand, you'll be the first to know where to find the hottest brunch spot, vino bar or fine diner – all sussed out by our fastidious team of writers and critics. Note: we generally include venues that are only twelve months (give or take) young in this list.  Ready to make a booking somewhere spesh? Read on. Still hungry? These are the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne right now. Fancy a tipple? Check out the 50 best bars in Melbourne. Lauren Dinse is Time Out Melbourne’s Food and Drink Writer. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

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

Can you believe Christmas is almost here? If you haven't already done so, now is the time to start planning your festive get-togethers. If you or someone you love wants to take a well-deserved break this year and leave the cooking and cleaning to someone else, we’ve got some fab suggestions for where you can book a holiday feast to remember. Whether you’re spending the day with friends or your extended family, here are some fun spots to gather this Christmas Day, no matter your taste or budget. Looking for more ideas? Here are the restaurants and eateries staying open on Christmas Day. Feeling a bit Grinch-y this year? Here's what you can do on December 25 if you don't celebrate Christmas.

Whether it’s a mid-morning pick-me-up, an after-dinner treat or a late-night spot that’s not all about alcohol, dessert bars are the answer. And lucky for us, Melbourne has plenty. From shaved ice to Thai-style toast and pandan pudding, here are some of the best desserts in Melbourne and where to find them. All about pancakes? Here's our round-up of the best fluffy stacks around Melbourne right now.

Since the 1960s, Lygon Street has been known and loved as Melbourne's Little Italy precinct. Locals and tourists alike flock to the leafy strip – abuzz on weekends with the roaring of fancy cars and roaming of uni students, teens and families – for proper espresso, pasta and cake, and a true taste of Italian-style al fresco action.  Sure, you might get a bit of hassle from the sales-y footpath waiters trying to lure you in, but true Melburnians know that's a part of the street's charm. And though much has changed in the last decade, there's no doubt that if you want to sit out on a terrace with a pizza bigger than your head or sip Spritzes on a rooftop, Lygon Street is still the place to be.  In 2024, there's a much larger and more diverse culinary offering in this area than ever before. Particularly on the southern end of the Carlton stretch, you'll discover incredible eateries for Egyptian, Japanese, Indian, Thai, plus a variety of other cuisines. No longer just the domain of spaghetti and salumi, Lygon Street is now also worth heading to for a bangin' biryani or world-class Asian fusion. And that's not all. Take a stroll up towards Brunswick East and you'll discover trendy wine bars, pubs with live music, American barbecue, Polish dumplings, Sicilian food and one of the best taco joints in town. Hungry yet? Let's go for a wander! We've listed Lygon Street's best restaurants in Google Maps-checked order so you'll know where to find them. Looking for the cream of the crop?

Melbourne has a thriving Vietnamese community that has only continued to grow since the 1970s. And the city’s wealth of Vietnamese restaurants has grown right alongside it. From the outer suburbs to the CBD, you’ll find a treasure trove of regional Vietnamese eats from Hanoi-style beef pho to caramelised seafood claypots and chewy banh cuon (a delightful steamed and stuffed rice roll). There’s plenty to explore, so dive into our picks for Melbourne’s top Vietnamese eateries. If it’s specifically bánh mì that you’re craving, here are our picks for the best rolls around. If it's a sweet deal you're after, check out the best cheap eats in Melbourne.

Whether it's rain, hail or shine, when you've got a hankering for laksa, nasi lemak, roti, curry or some other soul-warming Malaysian dish, you've got to make a beeline for one of these eateries. And if you've got a sweet tooth, keep reading – we've popped some proper Malaysian dessert havens in this list, too. Still hungry? Check our list of the best Chinese restaurants in Melbourne, plus our guide to the top African restaurants.

Street food is an integral part of many countries’ culinary landscapes, providing fast, fuss-free and typically low-cost sustenance without the need for involved setups. While Australia's strict food safety rules have put a bit of a damper on our street food scene, plenty of local spots have taken matters into their own hands, whipping up classic street eats in their own unique way – even if it’s from behind a restaurant counter instead of a street cart. Merriam-Webster defines street food as “prepared food typically sold to customers on a street or sidewalk and that is often designed to be carried and eaten while walking”. We’ll roll with that, but for this list, we’re going beyond the pavement to include grab-and-go bites and dishes that capture the spirit of street food, even if it’s not literal. From the CBD to the suburbs, here are a few of our favourites. After a day of exploring street eats, enjoy a drink at one of Melbourne's best rooftop bars.

From the United States to Korea and Taiwan, fried chicken spans nearly every country and culture. Not everyone can meet their fierce standards, but these joints have come pretty damn close to perfecting the ancient art of battering and deep-frying poultry. Want more tasty bites? Check out Melbourne's best Korean barbecue joints. Looking for gut-friendly alternatives? These are the best gluten-free eateries in Melbourne.

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. It feels ironic, almost cruel, that it’s a blistering 40-degrees when we visit Tzaki, which translates to “fireplace” in Greek. The Yarraville newcomer is named for the blazing hearth at its centre – the tool chef-owner Alex Xinis uses to prepare nearly every dish on the menu, roasting octopus and smoking saganaki as 15 diners sit around him and watch. Despite the heat, the restaurant is packed. Perhaps it’s the warmth radiating from within that attracts people. When the hostess hesitated over whether there was space for two walk-ins, Xinis stepped in to personally usher us in with front-row spots at the counter.  The menu is concise with a balanced mix of vegetable and meat-forward dishes. No matter where your preferences lie, the psomi (flatbread) is an excellent starting point. We weren’t asked if we wanted the optional $5 red pepper and feta butter, but it arrived anyway – a small faux pas that turned out to be a blessing. The bread alone is exceptional with its chewy, doughy interior and blistered, herb and oil-slicked crust. But the butter is a revelation with the sharp tang of feta and sweet acidity of roasted capsicum spun into a perfectly spreadable accompaniment. Another standout is the revithia, inspired by a dish from Athens institution Diporto. It

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. At a time when Brunswick’s Levantine dining scene was largely defined by traditional, family-style eateries along Sydney Road, Joseph Abboud broke new ground with Rumi, his modern interpretation of the region’s cuisine on Lygon Street. Drawing deeply from his Lebanese heritage, Abboud’s concept reimagined the Levantine dining experience for a contemporary audience. Nearly two decades, a cookbook, and a loyal local following later, Abboud has relocated Rumi to its new home at the East Brunswick Village development on Nicholson Street. The high ceilings, dark, untarnished timber, and sleek gold-accented bar mark a departure from the more rustic charm of its former space. Yet with Abboud still in the kitchen preparing many of the dishes that made Rumi an institution, its heart and soul remain.  What’s striking about Rumi is that, while food and service receive maximum attention, it’s far from serious or stuffy. Staff are all dressed in matching Adidas tees reminiscent of '70s-era Lebanese soccer uniforms. And water is poured from decanters that our server stretched their arm up high to pour like the Arabic ritual of aerating coffee or tea. Like most venues that stand the test of time, Rumi has retained several signature dishes that have become integral to its identity – too iconic and painstakingly refined to remov

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. In ancient Greece, Olympia was considered the valley of the gods. While Melbourne’s version – a wine and cocktail bar perched above the suburban bustle of Oakleigh’s main street – might not reach such divine heights, there’s something undeniably celestial about it that makes the name feel apt. The venue is split between an indoor wine bar on the first level and a rooftop space that’s the real showstopper. Set atop a section of the carpark above Oakleigh Market, the open-air bar leans heavily into the area’s Greek heritage and the owners’ roots. Whitewashed walls, olive trees, and rustic accents evoke a classic Santorini taverna – though instead of ocean views and whitewashed cliffside homes, the outlook of power lines and palm trees are decidedly Melbourne. We arrive outside of peak hours, but Olympia’s flexible setup lends itself to all occasions: casual lunches, afternoon drinks, or aperitivo, which began in Greece despite being popularised by Italy. As is common in Greek cuisine, dishes are designed to share, though Olympia opts for a small-plate format rather than the supersized portions typical of Oakleigh’s other Greek eateries. Don’t expect towering platters of grilled meats or hefty slices of moussaka. With the exception of the lobster and prawn rolls, most offerings fall squarely into the snack category

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. January 2025 update: The below review was originally written in December 2023. Please note that beloved chef Rosheen Kaul (whom this review references) departed the restaurant in April 2024, with new head chef Lorcan Kan now steering the ship. We have since re-visited the restaurant and believe the quality of its offering continues to warrant a five-star rating. Etta has been hot on everyone’s lips since it entered the Brunswick East dining scene –particularly since head chef Rosheen Kaul joined the kitchen in 2020. In the culinary world, countless awards and glowing reviews often breed scepticism but a recent Tuesday evening dinner proved the praise is just as warranted as ever. We were seated in a cosy corner nook decked out with decorative pillows, ideal for soaking up the scene (to the left, the bar and open kitchen; the right, Lygon street passersby; and to the front, a solo diner in for an early drink and snacks followed by a couple on date night – both common finds at this venue).  Though Etta is a restaurant, strictly speaking, it's frequently mistaken as a wine bar. Perhaps because it has a list to stand up among the best of Melbourne's wine bars. Bottles range in price, region and style with a largely Victorian focus. Whether you want old-world or new-age, there’s something for everyone. But it pays t

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. It’s 6 kilometres from the nearest beach. Yet Chinatown boasts not one, not two but three dedicated oyster bars within a two block radius. Pearl Diver was first to enter the scene in 2021, specialising in oysters and cocktails of all varieties. The similarly named Pearl Chablis and Oyster Bar was next, offering an impressive raw bar and French wine. Then finally came Muli Express, the smaller and more casual outpost of Rathdowne Street live seafood restaurant, Muli. Overkill it is not. Muli Express offers a unique offering to its predecessors with a brisk but friendly, standing-only service style that sets it apart from the crowd. We visit late on a Tuesday afternoon yet we’re put on standby as the place is completely full. And at roughly 18 square feet, it’s easy to see why. The pint-sized venue does not have a liquor license – there’s just a small fridge full of soft drinks and Heaps Normal – so we duck around the corner for a beer. By the time we circle back, we’re able to snag a spot “at the bar”, peering over dozens of live oysters with owner Van Tran as our guide. Her eagerness to offer assistance is much appreciated. There are roughly twenty oysters on offer at any given time with nicknames like “Rock Hard”, “Angel’s Happy Tears” and “Tarzan”. While they’re labelled by provenance and sorted by price, it’s

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. We all know the meaning of hidden gem, an arguably overused phrase in the Melbourne culinary zeitgeist. But what’s the term for a venue that’s exposed but not widely known, existing right beneath your nose without due recognition? Perhaps we can dub it Wasshoi. For eight years, the sumibiyaki (chargrilled meat) bar has existed right in the centre of Prahran Market, led by Ikeui Arakane (otherwise known as Kinsan) and his son. For years, it flew under our radar, the draw of bratwurst and gozleme a greater sell. Perhaps it's because market goers are time-poor and overstimulated. The beauty of Wasshoi is not glaringly apparent at first glance, but it deserves some time set aside to truly appreciate it. That’s what we do when we settle into a spot at the bench on a bustling Saturday afternoon. After ordering at the counter and receiving the yuzu-shaped table number, it’s a gamble whether you’ll be able to snag a seat but the casual nature of the eatery makes turnover pretty quick.  We're lucky to snag a spot right in front of the kitchen, if you can call it that. It’s primarily a charcoal grill that gets used to torch thinly sliced beef kalbi, twice-cooked beef brisket, hefty chunks of pork belly and slow-cooked chicken fillet. Yes, you can take your order away if there’s a queue to sit but watching the chefs expert

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. Something about Melbourne’s dining scene is that, whether self-inflicted or forced upon by customers, most tend to eventually become pigeonholed by cuisine or concept. But Vex has withstood that pressure. Vex is elusive. Is it a wine bar? Sort of. Is it a farm-to-table restaurant? It’s close. But the talented crew have also been hosting game meat lunches on Saturdays and barbecue pop-ups on the footpath. And the menu straddles the line between Aussie comfort foods and Scandi-Med minimalism, with a touch of Austrian influence from chef Florian Ribul. In other words, the venue can’t be boxed. The jury is out on whether that works in its favour but from our perspective, it’s (mostly) a plus. To play devil’s advocate – the menu, at first glance, is a little confusing. We love dietary inclusivity and an emphasis on produce but when roughly 40% of the globe doesn’t eat pork and likely just as many don’t love seafood, pork chop and flathead as the only two main proteins feels a tad limiting. The rest of the offering is mostly vegetable-based. That said, the idea that menus should follow the tired format of chicken, fish, beef and sides is outdated and it's refreshing that Vex is flipping the formula on its head.  The chargrilled leeks, cooked in chicken fat and sprinkled with sunflower and caraway seed crumb, packs a s

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. If you’re unfamiliar with Chino Latino or 'chifa' cuisine, Casa Chino may seem like just another fusion restaurant. But it’s rooted in history, drawing inspiration from the large Chinese diaspora who live in Peru and around Latin America. It’s a daring concept for Melbourne, which hasn't historically shown a strong reception to or understanding of Latin cuisine. But it’s also a smart one, using far more familiar Chinese dishes as a Trojan horse of sorts. Most dishes will look pretty familiar to anyone with a grasp of Cantonese food – siu mai and dumplings, bao, fried rice – but there are Latin American influences sprinkled throughout. And for the most part, the two pair wonderfully. The best way to order, it seems, is from across the entire breadth of the menu. We start with something from the Barra Crudo (or Raw Bar) section, an obvious choice as ceviche is Peru’s biggest culinary claim to fame. Our tuna rendition is not lightly cured like we expect but instead loaded up with avocado cream and chilli oil and roasted Incan corn, a nod to the classic Peruvian ceviche garnish. Traditional it's not, but it's loaded with flavour and texture that leaves a lasting impression. The sambal chicken and leek siu mai are equally maximalist, dressed in a garlic soy sauce inspired by pollo a la brasa (Peruvian-style roast chi

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. As (typically) hours-long affairs, omakases tend to be an evening activity but Uminono is only open by day. That’s not the only way this chirashi bar deviates from convention. The restaurant exclusively serves raw seafood plus accouterments – no other protein in sight. And the chef doesn't even have a Japanese background; he’s French with classical training. But despite the odds, Uminono is a star. When we visit on a Saturday the 12-seat chef’s table is fully booked, naturally. After settling in, we seek the guidance of the sake sommelier who provides tailored and well-informed suggestions based on how many total glasses we’re after and our preferred flavour profiles. As soon as the Abe Green genshu hits the table, floral and fruity with hints of melon and peach, the dishes start to roll out. A beautiful dashi, rich and savoury thanks to an aged snapper bone jus, to sip between courses. Then the box of fish we’ll be eating is presented – salmon aged for ten days; kingfish aged for seven; alfonsino, a deep sea snapper only available a few weeks a year. It’s given its due respect with a light torch and a hint of wasabi to complement its sweetness. The prawn is a very pleasant surprise with the delightful nuttiness of sesame miso. And the Ora King salmon, rich and soft, is counterbalanced with rice topped with cris

Piccolo Panini Bar is a place whose reputation precedes it, its strong social media presence and blocks-long queues garnering a lot of hype. Despite entering the scene at the later end of the sandwich wave, Piccolo developed a chokehold on loyalists from the inner east and those willing to travel for a good panini. Needless to say, the bar was set high when we visited on a Friday at 8am. The venue was nearly empty save for a few takeaway coffee customers, allowing us to fully soak up the ambience (custom-branded soccer jerseys on display, cannoli at the counter, music pumping) before the lunch rush. The board behind the deli case of marinated vegetables, salumi and cheese, listed six filling options, only one of which was vegetarian and most of which fell around $16. Each sandwich could also be customised with additional accoutrements for an extra cost of $1.5 to $6 more. But a shop’s signatures are the best judgment of their quality so we went with the cotoletta and the salami, plus coffee. The latter came first, milk well-frothed and coffee strong but not bitter. The food was served around ten to fifteen minutes later. We denied the offer of a carry bag and regretted it once realising the sandwiches weighed what felt like a kilo each, but quickly found a sunny nearby park to dine at. There are only a few outdoor tables at Piccolo in clear line of sight of the staff and passersby, which is not ideal for those who prefer to dine with some semblance of privacy. Both sandwiches

Yarraville is a charming suburb that feels far more quaint and idyllic than its five stops from the city by train might suggest. Perhaps that's why it was named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world in 2020! And its dining offering is a reflection of the community – wholesome, familiar, and relaxed yet refined. While there are a few chains, owner-operated venues like Ms Botanica, the brainchild of friends Stacie Sinclair and Scott Rice, are what make the local hospitality scene so special. The menu was developed by prolific chef James Cornwall, and now Chris Krugal is looking after the offering, which was designed to suit the gin-led cocktail program. Though there are a few larger dishes on the menu, including a $45 wagyu special on Wednesdays and Thursdays, his offering is heavy on the snacks. They're very approachable at around $6 a pop. We start with the olive, pickled mussel and tuna gilda, a safe and delicious choice that is fairly similar to the one formerly offered at Gimlet. Ms Botanica’s is far more generous for the same price, but the quality of ingredients is a notch lower than the McConnell rendition.  The rest of our snacks are a series of smash hits and near misses.  Free-range pork slider? Hit. The mini brioche bun and creamy slaw combo might bring to mind function canapes, but the tender, crisp, not-too-fatty slab of pork belly and dash of blood plum proves that looks can be deceiving. It's fantastic. Steak tartare? Not quite there yet. The marinade o

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. Balwyn may not have the same culinary cache as some of its surrounding suburbs, but there are a few hidden jewels tucked around its leafy streets and relative newcomer Enoteca Boccaccio is one of the brightest. It opened last year above Boccaccio Cellars, a 60-year-old bottle shop and Italian grocer run by the multigenerational D'Anna family. Ascending the stairs, constructed from pale pink marble that perhaps intentionally resembles mortadella, feels like you’re being let in on a secret – push open the door to reveal a sleek, buzzy venue you’d never know existed from ground level.  We’re greeted cordially and seated towards the back with a full view of the space. With concrete walls, marble benches and tile floors, it's cool but not austere. Thanks to the talents of Mim Design in bringing the D'Anna family's vision to life, the space has already won an interior design award within its first six months of opening. The fact that it's full on a Thursday night helps enliven the vibe. It also reinforces just how small the space actually is, but with coats collected and bag stools provided, the team are conscious of eliminating any potential discomforts.  There’s a wine fridge on entry that’s reflected in the extensive (and not inexpensive) selection. By the glass,