Getting seated at Vue de monde on the 55th floor of Melbourne’s iconic Rialto skyscraper is an experience in itself. Diners walk through a 5,000-bottle wine cellar before entering the dining room, which has panoramic views of the Melbourne skyline.

The accolades started flowing soon after Serai Kitchen opened in June 2022. Head chef Ross Magnaye packs punchy Filipino flavours and techniques with Australian produce, earning him distinctions including Best New Restaurant and One Hat from the Australian Good Food Guide.

Executive chef Jae Bang, formerly of MICHELIN-starred Re-Naa in Norway, brings the heat to the menu at this cinematic Nordic-inspired spot. Signature dishes such as the Freyja waffle with smoked sour cream, trout roe or osetra caviar; and duck with radicchio, pancetta, coriander, and lavender round out the Danish-accented menu.

Climb a narrow flight of stairs on Hardware Lane to find this bustling yet relaxed dining room. The adored European restaurant and bar is owned by industry vet Con Christopoulos and steered by celebrated chef Ian Curley. Market fish du jour, dry-aged duck breast with quince and chicory, and flavour-packed sides such as blackened Brussels sprouts with lardons are popular choices from the classic French menu. The wine list focuses on French aperitifs and wines by the glass alongside some standout

The Carlton Wine Room became a go-to neighbourhood destination soon after it opened in 2011. Diners can’t get enough of the restaurant’s superb seasonal fare, crafted with produce from local farms. Menu favourites include fried bread topped with ricotta, anchovy, and pickled cucumber and larger dishes such as rigatoni with pumpkin and sage— thought to sample the best of what the restaurant has to offer, get the tasting menu.

With its sunny sidewalk seating and Parliament House views, The City Wine Shop is known for serious outdoor swagger. The Italian wine bar and bistro doubles as a bottle shop with European and local wines offered by the glass or bottle (there’s a corkage fee if you want to drink at the restaurant). Pair your wine with dishes such as a whipped cod roe, caviar, potato, and horseradish blini; steak tartare; or chicken schnitzel with Italian coleslaw.

For a swanky meal in a lush dining room, look no further than award-winning chef Stephen Nairn’s Omnia Bistro & Bar. Get up close with the chef as he works in the open kitchen preparing European-accented dishes such as smoked trout cigars, dry-aged honey-roasted duck for two, and broccoli and gruyère tart. Or post up in the spacious atrium, ideal for celebrating special occasions. The wine list is extensive with bottles from around the globe, and the Champagne selection is just as stellar.

Cecconi’s is a Melbourne staple and the kind of place you can count on for a killer business lunch or special occasion meal. If you opt for an indoor table, expect extra attentive service from the charming staff who guide you through the Venetian menu, filled with favourites such as seared scallops with lemon curd and veal cotoletta. For a more casual meal, grab a perch on the terrace, equally suited for an espresso and pastry.

Head to Carlton’s Lagoon Dining for Chinese food that celebrates local ingredients. Owners (and Ezard alums) Chris Lerch, Ned Trumble, and Keat Lee serve a playful menu featuring hits such as crispy whitebait with salted duck egg yolk mayonnaise and beef short rib with Chinese celery and black pepper sauce. Though Lagoon Dining is a casual spot, it’s full of chic fixtures including Tasmanian oak tables and chairs, a black granite bar top, and brass light fittings.

It doesn’t get much better than the view at Donovans, which overlooks Port Phillip Bay and the beach in St. Kilda. Fittingly, there’s plenty of Mediterranean seafood on this menu, including spanner crab ravioli with lemon butter sauce, and English mains such as beer-battered fish and chips and chicken pie with a crisp pastry lid. The wine list is all about Victorian vineyards, with a few overseas options.

After a 30-year hiatus, celebrated restaurateur Rinaldo Di Stasio returned to the CBD in 2019 with Di Stasio Città. The upscale Italian restaurant is set in a brutalist space, featuring video installations by Australian artists on the walls, a baby blue chandelier from northeastern Italy, and crisp white linen-covered tables. The menu stars classics such as frittura di mare, housemade pasta, and duck breast with fennel salad.

The highly anticipated Lona Misa, a collab between acclaimed vegan chef Shannon Martinez and hospitality superstar Ian Curley, caused a stir when it opened in 2021. Set in the luxury Ovolo hotel, the all-vegan restaurant (with vegetarian options) is the first of its kind in South Yarra and earned a hat from 2023’s Good Food Guide Awards.