Melbourne Eating: 32 Best Local Restaurants & Cafes in Melbourne

Chadstone Shopping Centre

By Sask

Biggest & best shopping centre

Chadstone Shopping Centre

5

Everything you could want in one place. Love the food court here. They have great options for ALL tastes (even vegans!) Great cinema here (recliner seats in normal cinemas) and they even have a LEGO museum for kids to enjoy!

S

by Sask

Federation Square

Nightlife 14 3

By Leah

Where Melburnians go to meet

Federation Square

14

Federation Square- an eyesore, or the heart of Melbourne’s cultural scene? This debate has divided Melbourne’s locals since Federation square was opened in 2002. ‘Fed’ Square is a paradox- Melbourne’s 2nd most popular tourist attraction with 9 million visitors in 2011, and a complex often voted one of the world’s ugliest buildings or attractions.

by Leah

Collingwood Children's Farm

Eating 8 2

By Leah

Visit a farm without leaving the city!

Collingwood Children's Farm

8

Only 5km from the the Melbourne CBD, just on the Yarra River is an oasis of seven hectares of paddocks, gardens, orchards, rustic buildings and shady trees. The Collingwood Children's Farm is a not-for-profit community resource providing country experiences for city people. The onsite cafe is also a great place to go for breakfast!

by Leah

Melbourne's laneways

Lounges 18 5

By Leah

Get lost in Melbourne's laneways

Melbourne's laneways

18

Sometimes a little daunting, and often missed by visitors, Melbourne's unique laneways are a treasure trove of food, drinking and shopping! There's something for everyone in Melbourne's laneways, and even locals sometimes find they have difficulties re-finding that cute little store/restaurant/cafe that they could swear was there last week!

by Leah

Abbotsford Convent

Eating 11 3

By Leah

Abbotsford Convent

11

The Abbotsford Convent is a multi-faceted arts and culture precinct, an oasis away from the busyness that surrounds it. The Convent was established in 1863 by four nuns from the Good Shepherd Order as a place where they could care for women. After it was sold, in 1975, locals fought hard to keep it from being developed into apartments and won!

by Leah

Jimmy Grants

Eating 6 2

By Paul

Genuine Greek Souvlakis

Jimmy Grants

6

Jimmy Grants, whose name comes from the rhyming slang for "immigrants", is the latest project by renowned local chef George Calombaris. With the most authentic Greek street-food this side of the Equator, the tiny restaurant is the hippest place to eat cheap in Melbourne.

by Paul

Siglo Bar

Nightlife 5 5

By Dave

Rooftop dining

Siglo Bar

5

Siglo has a very European vibe like many places in Melbourne, but also sits across from the Parliament house on Spring Street and is one of the few rooftop bars at this end of town. Whilst the food selection is minimal, there is a great selection of wines and spiritis and cigars.

by Dave

Seven Seeds

Eating 6 4

By Paul

One of Melbourne's Sexiest Roaster-Cafés

Seven Seeds

6

Melbourne is famous for its coffee culture, but that also means that every man and his dog owns a coffee shop. Seven Seeds stands out as one of the coolest little roasters, nestled amongst the former industrial buildings of Melbourne's inner city. The best thing? Only the coolest sort of people know it's here.

by Paul

Mamasita

Eating 6 4

By Leah

Visit Mexico in Melbourne’s CBD

Mamasita

6

As multicultural as Melbourne is, it’s only recently that quality Mexican food has been popping up in the city. The place that started the trend is Mamasita. To find it, you must go through a hidden doorway and upstairs on Collins Street, in the ‘Paris’ end of town. They also have around 100 choices of tequila!

by Leah

Moroccan Soup Bar

Eating 6 4

By Georgia

Dinner in the Park

Moroccan Soup Bar

6

Deceptively, this place doesn't serve soup! At least I don't think they do... But what we really love about this place is the takeaway situation. You can bring your own takeaway containers (very eco-friendly!) and the lovely ladies at the Soup Bar will fill them with Moroccan delights for about $10 per person!

by Georgia

Pellegrini's Espresso Bar

Eating 5 2

By Paul

Melbourne's Most Famous Little Café

Pellegrini's Espresso Bar

5

Pellegrini's is the café that could. The shopfront is small: blink and you might miss it. Yet it's almost always packed with locals, hanging out with the perfect coffee. Nestled lengthwise along an alley off busy Bourke Street, Pellegrini's also provides a full array of food on its traditional menu.

by Paul

Lentil as Anything

Eating 3 2

By Leah

Pay what you think your meal's worth!

Lentil as Anything

3

Lentil as Anything is a truly amazing business/concept/social enterprise. Started in 2000, this not for profit organisation introduced pay as you feel restaurants to Melbourne where customers give what they feel the food is worth, contributing to a world where respect, generosity, trust, equality, freedom and kindness play an important part.

by Leah

Bimbo Deluxe

Nightlife 5 2

By Leah

$4 pizza with a rooftop beer garden

Bimbo Deluxe

5

Melbourne can be quite an expensive place to eat (and live!), which is why Bimbos is so popular! This pub/bar is famous around the local crowd for its $4 pizza. Not only is it cheap, it's also tasty (two things that don't always go together)! There's a range of different toppings, and you'll find that it caters to a wide clientele.

by Leah

Italian Waiters Club

Eating 3 1

By Leah

A Melbourne Tradition

Italian Waiters Club

3

by Leah

Patricia Coffee Brewers

Eating 2 1

By Georgia

Top-End Coffee

Patricia Coffee Brewers

2

There are a million *perfect* cafes in Melbourne, but you'll never find another quite like this... This is where the busy business-folk get their premium-quality coffee. It was even recommended to me by the Concierge of the Stock Exchange!

by Georgia