- Most Appetizing Waterfront Seafood Restaurants in Melbourne
- Melbourne Restaurants Specializing in Steak
- Melbourne’s Best Bars and Pub Food
- Melbourne’s Favorite Food Trucks
Melbourne is known as being one of the world’s most livable cities, as well as the unofficial sporting capital of Australia. But it’s also home to some delectable eateries. Whether you’re in the mood for dinner on the beach, a hearty steak, upscale pub grub or some gratifying street food, we’ve gathered the best restaurants in Melbourne, Australia.
Whatever you’re craving, you don’t have to look too far in Melbourne to find it. Use this food guide and then search for IHG hotels in Melbourne to help plan your flavorful trip.
Most appetizing waterfront seafood restaurants in Melbourne
As a coastal city, it only makes sense to spend an evening dining on fresh seafood. And to make your dinner taste even better, enjoy it with beautiful waterside views at one of these top-rated restaurants in Melbourne.
Cerberus Beach House
For a unique combination of views and venue, this is the supper spot. Secluded in Half Moon Bay, Cerberus Beach House offers a diverse modern Australian menu along with friendly service and picturesque views of the Red Bluff cliffs. They’re known for their fresh, crispy fish and chips or try the seafood linguine, we hear it’s a real crowd pleaser as well.
Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner during the summer and on Tuesday-Sunday the rest of the year.
Waterfront Southgate
An iconic seafood bar and grill with scenic views of the Yarra River and captivating city lights. Waterfront Southgate prides itself in in being a true “sea to plate” restaurant, making daily market trips and serving up only the best and freshest local seafood. Get a Waterfront Delux Platter, complete with tiger prawns, crab of the day, oysters, scallops, mussels and more, for the whole family or order fresh lobster from the live tank portion of their menu.
Open 7 days a week, 12 p.m. to late.
Hooks @ the Yarra
Hooks @ the Yarra delivers three must-haves for the price of one: a relaxed atmosphere, delicious cuisine and an amazing vista. You’ll find seafood, pasta, pizza, steak and more on their versatile menu, that pair great with a cold drink. And you can have an intimate dinner for two inside the restaurant or take your family outside on the beanbags to lounge under the palm trees.
Open Tuesday-Friday, lunch from 12 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., lunch from 12 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m.
Melbourne restaurants specializing in steak
Sometimes your hearty appetite requires a nice ribeye and baked potato. Lucky for you, if you get this craving while on vacation, Melbourne steakhouses can satisfy them.
Rare Steakhouse
With restaurants in downtown, uptown and most recently in midtown, Rare Steakhouse is a proven beef pleaser. Each location is committed to serving food in an enjoyable environment where guests can “savour the flavour of Australian beef at its very best.” Cut into a porterhouse, scotch fillet or rib-eye on the bone—you can’t go wrong either way.
Open Monday-Friday, midday to 3 p.m. for lunch, and Monday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to late for dinner.
San Telmo
One wouldn’t expect to travel to Melbourne and dine in Argentina, but that’s the taste and feel you get at San Telmo. The restaurant’s imported Argentine charcoal grill gives a really unique (in a good way) flavor to its locally-raised Hereford and Angus beef along with its other Argentine, sharing-style dishes. One local reviewer said San Telmo has the “best empanadas [and] perfect steaks. …will go there again.”
Open 7 days a week, 12 p.m. until late.
Steer Bar and Grill
A South Yarra gem, Steer Bar and Grill easily made our list with its modern dining experience coupled with its focus on Australian beef. Offering 20 different cuts of steak with a variety of savory sides, refreshing drinks and sweet desserts, you’re guaranteed to have a lovely meal with excellent customer service.
Open Wednesday-Friday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and Tuesday-Saturday from 6 p.m. to late for dinner.
Melbourne’s best bars and pub food
Mixed nuts in a bowl are no longer the norm for bar and pub grub. Some of Melbourne’s best bars have taken up their food game. So pull up a stool and enjoy good bar food along with your cold brew.
Little Drop of Poison
First-timers may come for the craft beer, but they’ll return for the flavorful and seductively presented bar food. To quote a recent reviewer of Little Drop of Poison, “delicious variety of drinks and just beautiful food – simple, delicate and so flavoursome.” And we couldn’t agree more.
Open Tuesday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Bad Frankie
Named after the infamous Governor John Franklin, who outlawed small pot stills in the 19th century, Bad Frankie is the Melbourne go-to for boutique Australian spirits and jaffles. We hear the Lamington jaffle and contagious atmosphere are what help make this a beloved Australian bar.
Open Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 to 11 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The Meatball & Wine Bar
One of the must-try restaurants in Melbourne’s CBD is also a bar, The Meatball & Wine Bar, on Flinders Lane. Get a pork, beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian ball or try their version of the classic spaghetti and meatballs. If you need more reassurance to visit, The Meatball & Wine Bar is doing so well, they also have locations in Richmond and Collingwood.
Open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Melbourne’s favorite food trucks
Up until about 5-6 years ago, food trucks weren’t highly sought after in Melbourne. But with all the different satisfying street foods offered now, many of Melbourne’s favorite foodie spots are on the move. Here are some of the city’s food trucks worth tracking down.
Round the Way Bagels
Breakfast or lunch—whatever time you start your vacation days, this New York street style food truck is here to feed you along with your morning cup of Joe. Get your typical classics, like a reuben or smoked salmon bagel, or heighten your taste buds with bagels overloaded with chicken marinated in spiced Cuban rum or cevapi beef.
Follow Round the Way Bagels on Twitter (@Round_The_Way) or Instagram (round_the_way) or check their Facebook page to see where their food truck is when you’re in town.
Taco Truck
For a quick meal that doesn’t skimp on the flavor or service, Taco Truck is your tasty taco stop. Try one of their special menu items or stick with the basics and get a soft shell taco and slather it in hot sauce. Taco Truck’s owner, Raph Rashid, also runs another food truck, the Beatbox Kitchen, deemed the first great food truck that really got the food truck wheels rolling in Melbourne. Some claim this one to be one of the city’s best food trucks, but we’ll let you be the judge of that.
Follow Taco Truck on Twitter (@tacotruckmelb) or check their Facebook page to find their day’s location and hours while you’re in Melbourne.
lil’ nomnoms
This Vietnamese food truck quickly became one of Melbourne’s four-wheeled friends with its tasty traditional cuisine and light street food options. Get your nom nom on by ordering steamed bao, banh mi sliders or one of their many other delectable offerings.
Track lil’ nomnoms movement on Twitter (@lilnomnoms) and Instagram (lilnomnoms).
