Yet another hit from legendary chef Andrew McConnell (Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, Marion), Gimlet is a suave Melbourne restaurant and cocktail bar located in the 1920s-built Cavendish House. The luxe menu boasts lots of European influence, deftly mixing old-world elements with a touch of modern flair. You'll also find some of the city's finest steaks here, plenty of lobster and truffles, plus a special cheeseburger that's only sold after 10pm.

When Minamishima first opened in 2016, it didn't take long for people to notice. Let’s be clear — this is not a cheap night out. The two dining options (they differ if you sit at the bar or in the dining room) cost $295 each, with matching sake or wine for another bump of cash. But it is sushi as you rarely experience it outside Japan. Here, standards are high, and perfection is desired — it is Melbourne's greatest showcase of Japanese cuisine and one of the very best restaurants in Melbourne.

A true legend of the game, France-Soir has been dishing up French-accented goodness in Toorak since 1986. It’s considered a go-to for timeless, expertly executed French classics; from escargots and white wine mussels to steak frites and duck a l’orange. A study in essential Euro flavours, done well but without unnecessary fanfare. But it’s about more than just the food — France-Soir’s intimate, understatedly elegant atmosphere and old-school hospitality is nearly impossible to replicate.

From the minds behind Sunda, this top Melbourne restaurant draws culinary inspiration from those early days of trade between Indonesian seafarers and northern Australia, championing the flavours of Southeast Asia, Japan and China, alongside our own native ingredients. The kitchen is guided by ancient techniques like curing and smoking, with a woodfired hearth and an on-site dry-ageing room that turns out the likes of cured pork and Viet-style duck sausage.

Opening in 2017, Brunswick East’s Etta was an instant hit among both local food and wine lovers. Hannah Green (Rosetta) runs the show, and is supported by Rosheen Kaul in the kitchen and Ashley Boburka in the wine cellar. The trio champions all things local, fresh and seasonal (with a strong focus on small producers), meaning change is a big part of everything here. Kaul’s Kashmiri, Peranakan, Chinese and Filipino heritage inspires the food menu, while wine is a mostly Australian affair.

A small, but mighty production, chef Julian Hills’ sleek 25-seat dining room has been impressing Melburnians since 2018. Here, at one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, a passion for top local produce, creative technique and unique flavour pairings is showcased via a multi-course tasting menu, celebrating an oft-changing lineup of small plates and matched sips. Navi’s never afraid to push the envelope, so expect dishes that blend unusual ingredients, flavours and cooking skills together.

The brainchild of chef Ben Shewry, Attica lays claim to being one of Melbourne’s best-known and most celebrated fine diners. And the buzz is certainly not unwarranted. Located behind an unassuming shopfront on Glen Eira Road, the restaurant has been a regular among the annual World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Nowadays, it may have dropped off said list, but it really hasn’t lost its shine. It’s still one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, just prepare to pay handsomely when trying it out.

The team behind South American restaurants San Telmo, Pastuso, Palermo and Asado has taken a jaunt to Japan for this Tokyo-accented eatery set within a playful, minimalist space sporting futuristic elements and neon lights aplenty. It’s embracing the art of charcoal grilling, with Japanese techniques and traditions at the forefront and a custom-built robatayaki grill taking centre stage in the kitchen. Expect some traditional Japanese eats alongside a few reimagined classics.

This Melbourne wine bar and restaurant is a destination for flavour lovers who aren’t afraid to try a few new things. Sure, you could stick with your favourite rosé and a spread of charcuterie and leave (very) happy, but creativity reigns supreme on both the menu and drinks list, so it’s well worth digging a little deeper. The sommelier will wheel around an old-school globe bar trolley to tempt you with the evening’s pouring wines while the chefs pump out some extraordinarily creative eats.

Kenzan is a proper Melbourne dining institution. For over 35 years, it has led the Japanese restaurant scene in Melbourne, training up some of the best Japanese chefs in the country — who have gone on to work at spots like Usami and Minamishima. Traditional Japanese cooking skills are on full show here, used to create both simple and inventive dishes. It serves up a whole host of Japanese eats, but it is really well known for being one of the best sushi spots in Melbourne.

This ambitious Melbourne restaurant champions Victoria and its diverse regions. Overlooking the Yarra, it’s a tasty, multi-faceted homage to our state’s produce, people and places. Earthy-hued interiors celebrate our regional landscapes; a hand-carved, interactive ‘Ingredients Table’ displays each season’s highlight produce, and the dedicated wine library showcases over 3000 local bottles. The ever-evolving food offering hops right across the state, promising plenty of theatrical flair.

Freyja provides Melbourne with a sophisticated taste of contemporary Nordic cuisine thanks to executive chef Jae Bang, who's worked at several global award-winning restaurants — most notably, Norway’s Michelin-starred Re-naa. Food-wide, traditional practices like pickling, smoking and curing are given a reawakening, heroed alongside native ingredients and a touch of contemporary flair. Meanwhile, the Melbourne restaurant boasts an impressive global wine program that’s heavy on ​​organic drops.

This relaxed fine-dining destination is set right on St Kilda Beach, boasting uninterrupted sea views. Food-wise, locally sourced seafood is the name of the game, turned into a huge range of creative and highly contemporary eats thanks to executive chef Jason Staudt. But if you’re in the mood for carbs over seafood, head downstairs to the Stokehouse Pasta & Bar for some of the best pasta in Melbourne.

Hazel graces two levels of the 1920s T&G Building, where the team is cooking with a woodfired grill and oven fuelled by Aussie ironbark. At Hazel, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, there are myriad things to tempt snackers and feasters alike, from crafty small plates to larger gems such as the wood-grilled seafood stew and a wood-roasted pork belly with charred leaks and wild garlic. The generous wine selection has broad appeal, as do the simple, yet snappy cocktails.

Lygon Street and its surrounds might once have been wall-to-wall, old-school Melbourne Italian joints, but a new wave of residents is slowly shaking up the demographic. One of these is Lagoon Dining. The menu is grounded in traditional Chinese sensibilities, though you’ll also spy plenty of other Asian influences, as well as a few clever riffs on Chinese food concepts plucked from further abroad. Pull up a seat at the bar and snack through an oft-changing menu while sipping on fine wines.

Although the Grossi family hasn’t always owned it, Florentino has stood at the 80 Bourke Street site since 1928. At this institution, expect the menu of classic Italian eats to change regularly, but we hope you catch its sopressini al ragu made with wild boar meat, oranges and pecorino. It might just be the very best ragu we've ever had in Melbourne. It's also slinging a huge range of regional Italian dishes featuring grilled meats, seafood and stacks of veg.

Internationally recognised for authentic Cantonese cuisine and exceptional service, Flower Drum’s menu emphasises fresh seafood and meats with a creative modern twist. You’ll find all the Cantonese classics at this lavish restaurant, from silky duck wontons and steamed tofu to delicate pieces of crab and tender Peking duck. It's a no-brainer for those wanting classic Chinese fare in old-school fine-dining surrounds.

The Carlton Wine Room had quite the shake-up when it reopened in 2018 — even if it did keep the same name — with new owners, a new look and a revamped offering. Wine is certainly still the star of the show here, but the food is anything but a mere second thought. The menu is designed to complement the 100-strong, ever-changing wine list and leans into European bistro territory. It can be tough to choose from all the dining options, hence why we opt for the $95 set menu every time we visit.

Owners Rebecca and Al Yazbek transformed the Adelphi Hotel’s lower ground floor into Nomad’s 100-seat southern iteration, replicating the ethos of the original Sydney restaurant while championing a whole new menu. Celebrated executive chef Jacqui Challinor works closely with Nomad Melbourne’s head chef Josh Moroney to develop the eatery’s signature offering, centred around the kitchen’s prized woodfired oven.

This authentic Thai street food restaurant in the CBD has an atmosphere that perfectly mirrors the vibrant hustle and bustle of a Bangkok market. With plastic stools and brightly coloured tables, this is the kind of place you come to experience classic yet tantalising flavours with genuine Thai ambience. The menu here never seems to end, staying true to the inventiveness of the country’s street food scene. The spot may not be all fine dining and glam, but it proves that it doesn’t need to be.