Global visitors flock to Melbourne for a taste of their food—not just fine dining restaurants, but for one of the best examples of the effect of the cultural melting pot. On just one corner, you can taste a sample of a dish from practically every nationality that could be represented, alongside some of Australia’s best examples of a cultivated Modern Australian menu. You’re never short on options in Melbourne when it comes to food.
Amaru is Melbourne’s most critically regarded restaurant, receiving a 19 out of 20 score from the Australian Good Food Guide, a feat only achieved by two other restaurants in the whole nation. The inner-city restaurant is intimate, seating only 34 diners at its maximum capacity, making it all the more exclusive to dine there. Their hatted menu is comprised of Modern Australian dishes, offered in a seasonal tasting of up to seven courses that utilize local ingredients paired with international technique, like mud crab prepared with Shaoxing for one. If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury experience and prepared to splash out, the Chef’s Counter Experience sees you able to observe the kitchen and chefs up close. Other Melbourne restaurants that benefit from three hats include Minamishima serving Japanese, and Vue de Monde and Attica serving Modern Australian.
There are several restaurant precincts to explore if you’re after more casual dining, the convenience of your options being in one place, or simply the satisfaction of ticking each restaurant off the list. Federation Square is one of Melbourne’s busiest areas right in the heart of the CBD, and isn’t short on restaurant options. Chocolate Buddha serves Japanese on a bespoke sushi train, while Taxi Kitchen offers up Modern Australian accompanied by skyline views of the CBD, Yarra River and Arts Precinct. Bars are plenty here, too, if you’re looking for a stiff drink.
About a seven-minute walk from Fed Square is Flinders Lane, another amazing dining precinct. For lunch spots, Elio’s Place is famous for its location in the iconic Flinders House, but the best option will always be Bahn Mi Stand, with the best crispy pork crackle in Melbourne. For your dinner plans, there are so many cultures on display, with Lebanese, Thai, Middle Eastern and Japanese all on the one strip. Gimlet at Cavendish House is classy for a celebratory dinner, inspired by Chicago and found in a historic 1920s building.
Other precincts where you won’t be stuck looking for somewhere to eat are the precincts at South Wharf and Box Hill. All the best South Wharf restaurants are on the riverside, where Box Hill is known for the influence of the Chinese population on their restaurants.