MELBOURNE'S
best FOOD &
BEVERAGE
MELBOURNE'S FOOD & BEVERAGE SCENE IS A THRIVING MIX OF RESTAURANTS, BARS, MARKETS, WINE BARS AND COFFEE SHOPS. A RICH CULINARY CULTURE THAT CATERS FROM CASUAL BITES TO FINE DINING EXPERIENCES.
DAISY BROWN'S TOP PICKS
From a young age I built my career in the hospitality industry, learning how to deliver warm, attentive service and how to create memorable experiences through delicious food, cocktails and coffee. Over the years I have managed many bars and restaurants in Australia and overseas, gaining deep appreciation for delicious food and impeccable service.
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HERE ARE MY FAVOURITE VENUES IN MELBOURNE TO ELEVATE ANY OCCASSION:
(these exceptional establishments all require a reservation in advance...)
A contemporary destination where native ingredients meet Asian flavours, Aru, centrally located on Little Collins Street showcases fire, smoke, and fermentation in a moody, wood-fired setting. With polished service, an inventive drinks list, and a warm yet sophisticated atmosphere. Approx $70 per head. Perfect for a date night.
Open Wednesday through Saturday, Farmer’s Daughters delivers a true paddock-to-plate experience across its deli, restaurant and rooftop bar. With produce sourced directly from local farms and refined seasonal cooking, it celebrates the essence of farm-to-table dining in the heart of Melbourne CBD. Approx $80 per head.
A contemporary destination where handmade pasta meets Italian tradition, Tipo 00 on Little Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD is a beloved pasta bar known for its warm atmosphere, refined flavours and polished service, making it a staple of Melbourne’s dining scene. Average $65 per head.
A contemporary destination where Spanish tapas meets rooftop vibes, Bomba in Melbourne’s CBD pairs bold, seasonal dishes and a lively ground-floor bar with a rooftop offering city views, cocktails, and sangria. A favourite of mine for Spanish tapas and late-night drinks. $29 workers lunch | $49 pre theatre menu | $75 set menu.
A contemporary destination where seasonal Australian produce meets wood-fired cooking, Hazel on Flinders Lane offers refined yet unpretentious dining in a warm, historic setting, with a focus on sustainability, provenance and exceptional service. Hazel offers a great insight to modern Australian cuisine. Approx $60 per head.
Travellers favourite, Chin Chin on Flinders Lane bursts with South-East Asian flavours, eclectic art and a buzzing atmosphere (very loud) that makes dining feel like a cultural event. Beneath it, the moody GoGo Bar serves inventive cocktails and late-night energy, perfectly complementing the restaurant’s vibrant vibe. Approx $45 person.
WHAT IS A CHEF'S HAT?
In Australia, a Chef's Hat is a prestigious culinary award given by the 'Australian Good Food Guide'.
Similar to Michelin Stars, the AGFG recognises excellence in food, service and overall dining experience.
​Restaurants are rated on a 20-point scale, awarded with chef's hats, every year.
1 chef's hat
15 - 16 POINTS
A restaurant of high quality.
2 chef's hats
17 - 18 POINTS
An exceptional dining experience.
3 chef's hats
19 - 20 POINTS
The best restaurants in Australia.
CHEAP & CHEERFUL
Wouldn't call yourself a foodie but want to find somewhere to eat with flavour-packed food at great value - without any of the fuss? Look no further... these spots guarantee a good time (and a full belly)! These places accept walk-ins.
Plant-based cafe dedicated to enhancing wellbeing through nutritious food, exercise and education. Their menu features dishes rich in trypotophan, an amino acid linked to serotonin production, to promote mood stabalisation and happiness. Serotonin Eatery fosters a holistic approach to health, supporting the body, mind and Mother Earth.
FISHBOWL
Japanese / Hawaiian inspired salad and grain bowl chain serving fresh, healthy and customisable bowls. Everything is made fresh daily using local, high-quality produce. With quick service, it’s a go-to spot for flavour, value and convenience. Dine in or take-away from multiple venues around Australia, including Melbourne CBD.
Walk in only (no reservation required). Approx $15 - $22 per person.
Green Man’s Arms in Carlton is a vegetarian pub with Israeli-inspired dishes like falafel and eggplant schnitzel, paired with craft beers, vegan wines, and cocktails. With trivia nights, live music, and a warm community feel, it’s a lively spot where pub culture meets plant-based dining. Meat eaters enjoy this place too! $20 - $60 per head.
best COCKTAIL bars
Enter this hidden speakeasy cocktail bar through a red door and secret mirror inside a vintage dressing room. Set in a heritage bluestone building, the bar has a moody, luxurious feel with leather chairs, antique décor and jazz tunes. Smart casual dress-code and I recommend making a booking. Not appropriate for large groups.
Bouvardia on Bourke Street is moody and offering highly experimental cocktails made with local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients. Drinks come with scientific detail (ABV, pH, allergens) and the menu often features unusual but beautifully balanced flavours. Perfect for date nights or anyone who loves creative mixology.
A cheeky little laneway cocktail bar and rooftop Situated in Melbourne's Chinatown serving up the finest cocktails, craft beers, gin, rum, loud shirts and old school hip hop. Think modern tiki-style cocktails, botanicals, shrubs, and fresh fruit. The gin inspired rooftop bar is a great spot for casual drinks with friends, especially on warm nights.
Aster Cocktail & Wine is a cozy loft bar on Tattersalls Lane in Melbourne’s CBD, set in a heritage space with exposed brick, warm timber, and a balcony overlooking the laneway. It’s known for creative cocktails, a strong local wine list, and artisanal spirits, paired with small plates like cheese and charcuterie.
A moody cocktail and wine bar that takes inspiration from early 20th-century supper clubs featuring a dark interior, low lighting, intimate booths, upstairs loft, a leafy terrace and a luxe golden bar. Cocktails are made with native Australian ingredients and rare spirits. Wines are organised by texture and flavour. Food is forever changing but think wild boar croquettes, crocodile and emu small plates. Bookings can be made via email bookings@blackkitecommune.com or call (03) 9639 4472.
WINE BARS
Melbourne’s passion for natural and organic wine is thriving, with countless bars pouring both local gems and international drops. Here are my favourite wine focussed bars to check out during your time in Melbourne:
PERSONALLY RECCOMENDED
Specialising in organically farmed additive-free wines; everything this wine bar stocks is made with minimal intervention. The space is cozy and relaxed with communal tables, outdoor high tables and vinyl records to set the mood. Food is seasonal, sourced from local farms, serving share-style plates, paired wonderfully with wine.
Chic European-style bar and bistro known for its thoughtful wine list spanning old and new world bottles, with plenty by the glass and a menu of French-inspired share plates like oysters, charcuterie and burrata. The atmosphere is intimate and stylish, with both indoor and laneway seating that makes it feel like a slice of Paris in Melbourne.
No bookings taken - walk ins only.
Think bottle shop meets wine bar, located in the heart of Melbourne CBD on Little Collins. It’s a walk-in-only venue (no bookings) open daily from noon to 1 am. You can buy bottles to take away until about 11 pm, or stay to enjoy wine, cocktails, spirits and snacks in-house. The ambiance is cosy and library-inspired, with wine shelves from floor to ceiling, tall ceilings, and warm lighting, giving you the feel of a tucked-away wine sanctuary.
