What Are The Best Restaurants & Cafes Melbourne Suburbs?

Living in Melbourne is a mouthwatering experience, and debates over who makes the best flat white have become a sort of national pastime.

If you're planning on relocating to Melbourne and are looking for a foodie hotspot, you can't go wrong with any of the neighbourhoods, as restaurants, bars, and cafes seem to grow right out of the sidewalks. However, there are a few 'burbs that really shine when it comes to their culinary achievements.

Melbourne's rich Australian heritage is combined with numerous cultures from around the world, earning it the city's well-deserved reputation as a cultural and traditional melting pot. The outcome is a one-of-a-kind, thriving neighbourhood with an ambience that can't be found anywhere else.

Melbourne's food scene is a major draw for visitors, even more so than the city's many sights. Those with a taste for fine dining will find plenty to enjoy in Melbourne, as the city's restaurants celebrate a diverse range of cuisines.

From Fitzroy's eclectic mix of affordable and high-end dining to the artsy and gastronomical South Yarra, the neighbourhoods below showcase some of Melbourne's most cherished foodie destinations; perhaps you'll find a few additions to make. Put it on your list!

Melbourne’s Best Foodie Suburbs

The Central Business District (CBD) has many wonderful establishments, but the best restaurants and nightlife in Melbourne can be found all over the city.

Explore the suburbs of Melbourne with these suggestions for the top eateries in each.

City

The fact that Melbourne has become a culinary hotspot is largely due to the city's own initiatives.

Drinking cocktails at the finest rooftop bars, dining at the many restaurants owned by AFL players, or checking out celebrity chef hotspots are just some of the activities you can do in the city.

Visit this restaurant, which also sells wine all day long, despite your lack of salivation.

North

• Carlton - Chapel St's Rambler has closed its doors and replaced its famous calamari noodles with pepperoni pizza, thanks to the efforts of its team.
• Diamond Creek - Leafy suburb of Melbourne's north-east has a plethora of culinary delights to be discovered, not to mention the best coffee you'll find 25 kilometres away from the CBD.
• Fitzroy - More is at this innovative and very exciting fine diner in Fitzroy, with plates busier than Shinjuku station.

South

• Berwick - Some of the city's best restaurants can be found in the suburbs. Here are some of the best burger joints, breakfast spots, and nightlife hotspots in and around Berwick, as recommended by a local chef.
• Caulfield - Start with a burger and "the best coffee ice-cream ever," then move on to "triple-cooked chips". Food and drink options are plentiful in Caulfield and its surrounding areas.
• Windsor - Danielle Colombo, the head chef at Tipico, shares her recommendations for the best places to eat and drink in Windsor.

East

• Balwyn - In an interview, Joseph Vargetto, a local chef, reveals where he gets his chicken and chips as well as his coffee and "pizza that reminds me of home".
• Blackburn - One can see why Blackburn is one of the most looked after postcodes in Melbourne, given the burgeoning cafe scene and easy access to some of the city's best schools and shopping.
• Richmond - Look no further than this Vietnamese restaurant for an authentic bowl of pho. It's no secret that Zico Lu is a big fan of Richmond's culinary scene.
• Ringwood - In this article, chef Wei-Qiang Huang discusses his family's favourite local yum cha spots.

West

• Ascot Vale - There's nothing better than sinking your teeth into a delicious sangria at this Ascot Vale cafe. The largest Reuben sandwich in Melbourne can be found right here.
• Braybrook - Are you a sucker for a tasty bbq? Locate a restaurant that serves succulent, fall-off-the-the-bone pork ribs.
• Maidstone - Locals in Melbourne's west have already made this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant their go-to hangout. Dan Stock, one of our staff food critics, explains why it's worth the trip.
• Werribee South - For a unique dining experience with spectacular views of the bay, head to the suburb's wood-fired pizzeria, housed in shipping containers.
• Williamstown - As diverse as the people who live there, the restaurants in Melbourne's inner-west are booming. Here is a list of restaurants in and around Williamstown where you can enjoy a variety of cuisines.

Regional

• Bright - In Bright, Victoria's high country, a new generation of food producers has transformed the town from a retirement community into a foodie hot spot.
• Geelong - If you're looking for a foodie paradise just an hour's drive down the Princes Freeway, you'll be in for a treat. One of Geelong's best sangas can be found here.
• Upper Yarra Valley - Forget the throngs, celebrities, and multimillion-dollar operations of the Yarra Valley. Consider instead a less-known wine region with small cellar doors that offer stunning mountain views and an unpretentious vibe.
• Sorrento - While the mussels alone are worth the trip to Sorrento, it's not the only reason to hop in the car and head to this new beachy bistro.
• Red Hill - Wine bar flair and bistro hits are brought to Red Hill by Sam Coverdale's Many Little, a Mornington Peninsula winemaker.

Top 10 Inner Suburb Restaurants

• Saint Crispin - Dining at this contemporary restaurant is an experience in itself, thanks to its focus on local and seasonal ingredients. For more information, go to the Saint Crispin School's website.
• Union Dining, Richmond - It's a beautiful European-style bistro that serves up delicious food and efficient service. A simple yet cost-effective menu features a la carte and shareable options..
• Charcoal Lane, Fitzroy - Disadvantaged youths serve innovative,modern, and contemporary Australian cuisine in a restored bluestone building. 
• Hell of the North, Fitzroy - We Know Melbourne's favourite French eatery is tucked away just off Smith St.
• Rumi, Brunswick East - Fantastic Lebanese tapas in a chic and comfortable setting.
• Cicciolina, St Kilda - At times chaotic, at times noisy, but always serving delicious Italian food in an evocative setting. A long wait for a table at this restaurant is worth it.
• Cutler & Co, Fitzroy - This fine dining establishment, also owned by Andrew McConnell, is a go-to for many Melbourne diners. 
• Newmarket Hotel, St Kilda - Latin street food, grilled meats, and spicy seafood can be sampled in a vibrant yet laid-back hotel setting.
• DOC, Carlton - Just a short walk from Lygon St., this restaurant serves delicious homemade pizza made with imported ingredients.
• Caffe e Cucina, South Yarra - An early pioneer of authentic Italian food and service in Melbourne's fashionable Italian neighbourhood.

What To Eat In Melbourne’s Outer ‘Burbs

In Melbourne's central business district and surrounding inner suburbs, you can always find a great place to eat. Finding good cafes, bars, and restaurants in the suburbs that sound like made-up countries from Game of Thrones can be more challenging (hey there, Maidstone). We can help with that.

Have some snacks ready, because we're going to explore the shadowy suburbs of Melbourne in search of the best food in the city. Weird place with cheap houses, nice people, and tyre shops on the side of the road.

Keilor East | One By One

One By One, a cafe in Keilor East, is a great example of Melbourne's brunch culture. Get your hands on some macadamias, mango sorbet, and rhubarb gel to make some fun desserts, or dig into some pressed lamb shoulder on minted peas with a minty pea salad and mint yoghurt.

Whatever you order, you'll want to come back for more time and time again.

Tullamarine | Hide and Seek

For the best fish and chips in Tulla, head to Hide and Seek Fish n' Chippery. Everything is available in classic packs, all deep-fried to golden perfection, however if you're looking for something more special, order the grilled squid with chilli dressing.

Very recent. We recommend the 'Phat,' which features a Wagyu beef patty with double cheese, bacon, chipotle mayo, jalapenos and caramelised onions on a brioche bun.

Essendon Fields | Mr McCracken

Which neighbourhood in Melbourne, Essendon Fields or Gowanbrae, do you prefer? Who knows? Mr McCracken, a modern gastropub, features live entertainment (Friday until Sunday) and delicious food. On Fridays, you can get a dozen oysters for just $2 at this restaurant.

A heartier option is to try the gnocchi served with Tuscan kale, pecorino romesco, hazelnuts and romesco tomatoes. They also make fantastic pizzas using dough that has rested for a week.

Eltham | Bar Piccolo 

There are times when you just don't want to leave your house, but you still want a drink. Same.

Bar Piccolo is just a short walk from your home in Eltham, so you don't have to go through all that hassle. After a long day at the office, stop by for a drink or two. In order to keep things fresh, the drink menu is constantly being updated.

Bayswater | The Hatter and The Hare

There's no denying that Bayswater isn't exactly the epicentre of cool right now. But a local cafe, the Hatter and the Hare, is excellent. It first opened its doors a little over one year ago, and since then, it has become a popular destination for hungry Melbourne residents.

It's hard to go wrong with any of the restaurant's many delectable lunch options, but you must sample at least one baked good from the on-site patisserie.

Belgrave | Earthly Pleasures

You've earned a reward for completing your 1000-step challenge (though you can always skip them if you prefer). Here, we don't have the authority to judge ( No matter what time of year it is, either coffee or organic porridge will do.

Vegan cranberry and seed banana bread is another option. Roasted field mushrooms, red cabbage, and Kale Slaw, and Vegan Aioli on a Ciabatta Bun with Ciabatta Bread. The Earthly Pleasures cafe in Belgrave has all of these things and more to choose from. This is something that you should not miss.

Sherbrooke | The Piggery

Extra space for food after the 1000th step. This is Shannon Bennett's latest creation (Vue de Monde, Iki-time and, of course, Masterchef). The Piggery Café is the quietest place to enjoy a cup of coffee and serves delicious breakfast foods and homemade pastries and bread.

Have your latte outside by the pig pen and lawn bowling, croquet, and bocce courts.

Sassafrass | Proserpina Bakehouse

Although the Dandenong Ranges are a sight to behold, not every day will be conducive to the baking of scones. Fortunately, the Proserpina Bakehouse offers a wide variety of delectable options, including freshly baked bread and cakes made with locally milled flour. In addition, there are savoury options such as salads, quiches, and egg and bacon tarts. It's a popular destination for locals.

Glen Waverley | YOMG

There is a wide variety of excellent restaurants in the Glen Waverley area, but when we're craving a burger, we can't go past YOMG. Yo My With Cheese is a simple dish that can be improved by adding pickles. Fries are a must-have; we can't quite put our finger on the secret to their seasoning, but we love them.

Glen Waverley | Glenny Kebabs 

At first glance, Glenny Kebabs may seem like an odd choice for late-night dining, but it's an excellent option for both lunch and supper. Even though it's beside a gas station, it's impossible to miss because of the constant stream of customers.

That, and the numerous muscle cars on display in front of the audience... Grab an HSP or a high-quality kebab like everyone else and enjoy your meal. Once upon a time, there was even merchandise for sale in the store! At your local kebab shop, there's nothing better than ordering some chips and hoodies. The legends of the Kebab Thyme deserve special attention. To put it another way, they're not slouches.

Rosanna | Sideshow Burgers

If you've never told of Rosanna, that's perfectly fine; it's actually part of the appeal. Sideshow Burgers, the brainchild of hospitality veterans Abbish Gupta and Julian Chew, would be a shame to miss.

It's a simple menu, with just six items, but each one has been carefully crafted and is made with high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. When it comes to toppings, the Fire Eater comes with three kinds of sauces and a beef patty topped with Sriracha, chipotle, and kewpie mayonnaise. Bring your own milk, please.

Rosanna | Miss Marie 

Abbish and Julian's other cafe, Miss Marie, should be mentioned while we are praising them. The "hey bloke" or strawberry and cream ricotta hotcakes with berries and white chocolate and strawberry compote along with gel and sherbet are two of our favourite breakfast items here, but you can also stop by for lunch and eat some of their delectable burgers and sandwiches. On a Sunday, what's the rush?

Mickleham | Marnong Estate 

Another pleasant suburb that few people have heard of. Although Mickleham is poor, it does boast the $35 million Marnong Estate as an important tourist attraction in Melbourne's far north-west.

The restaurant (and the nearby vineyard, microbrewery, and coffee roasting house) are still in the planning stages, so stay tuned for more updates. The scale of this one is unprecedented.

Moonee Ponds | Sorry, Miss Jackson 

Sorry In recent years, Moonee Ponds has become a better place, and Miss Jackson is just one example of this. It's a great place to go on a Friday evening when you don't have to worry about eating healthily. Get some hot and spicy fried chicken wings, as well as some tasty sides to go with them.

Moonee Ponds | Zeus Street Greek

It's Moonee Ponds again, this time with a classic. Zeus Street Greek has finally found a home in Moonee Ponds, Victoria, after searching the entire country. "Uncle Tzimmy" and "Zeus" are Zeus's signature pitas, which are also referred to as "souls" and gyros, respectively.

There is no better way to accompany your chicken or pork than with tzatziki, paprika, onion, and hot chips (roasted over a charcoal spit).

Mernda | Turner’s Bakehouse Eatery

Getting to the Dandenongs for a swift scone seems like too much of an ordeal sometimes, but sometimes good high tea is in order. Residents of the country's north-west should take a deep breath. Visiting Turner's is a must.

At Bakehouse Eatery in Mernda, a charming, historic stone farmhouse, relax with a cup of Devonshire tea. Grab a slice of sourdough or a savoury pastry on the way out; they're all baked in a 120-year-old wood-fired Scotch oven.

Maidstone | One for the Crow

Located in Maidstone (north-west Melbourne), One For The Crow is a plant-based café nursery serving up some of the best vegan food we've ever had. Soba noodles, mixed greens, a pickled daikon, carrot kimchi, and other delicious condiments can be imagined on top of the noodles.

Do you crave something sweet? They serve vegan waffles topped with house-made vegan Nutella, caramelised bananas, soy ice cream, and maple syrup (we know, it's amazing). That's a good start.

Hoppers Crossing | Morris and Heath 

Even though Hoppers Crossing has a shaky reputation, don't write it off just yet. Morris and Heath, on the other hand, are in the business of delivering the goods.

From the menu, you're unsure of what to order. Check out the hotcakes made lemon poppy seeds. They're served with espresso and vanilla mascarpone on top. Take a seat and enjoy a relaxing Friday night with it on your mobile device.

Eltham | Ginger Garlic

With so many excellent Indian restaurants in the area, it can be difficult for restaurants to stand out. Ginger Garlic in Eltham, on the other hand, has risen to the challenge. Fresh coriander was used in their restaurant's Beef Madras, which was among the best we've ever had.

For vegetarians, Tandoor Sabzi is a roasted capsicum filled with a mixture of paneer, masala aloo, and nuts served with mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, and onions in the Tandoor Sabzi Tandoor Sabzi.

Yarrambat | Tanck’s Corner

You won't find a much more beautiful weatherboard coffee shop in Melbourne. Go ahead. We'll wait patiently for you. When we visited Tanck's Corner for the first time, we couldn't be happier.

Founded by Chris and Sue, a married couple, the restaurant has become a popular local hangout since its opening in 2011. Stop by for meal and try the tacos made with slow-cooked beef that's been simmering for eight hours. That's a lot of good food.

Mitcham | Yo Mamma

A night out at a place with a name like this is sure to be a good time. Yo, Mamma is Mitcham's favourite pizzeria. Here, the pizzas are huge, and the toppings are piled high.

So, which one did we go with? The HSP Pizza, with its lamb, chips, and three different sauces, is free of embarrassment. Recommend going out for a night on the town strongly.

Conclusion

Despite the city's many attractions, Melbourne's food scene is a big draw for tourists. Fitzroy and South Yarra are two of Melbourne's most popular foodie neighbourhoods, each offering a unique mix of affordable and high-end dining options. The suburbs of Melbourne are home to some of the city's best restaurants. Danielle Colombo, Windsor's head chef, shares her favourite places to eat and drink. This is where local chef Joseph Vargetto gets his chicken and chips, as well as his coffee and pizza.

Top 10 Inner Suburb Restaurants in Melbourne's 'Burbs In a renovated bluestone building, young people from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare and serve contemporary Australian cuisine. In South Yarra's trendy Italian district, Caffe e Cucina serves authentic Italian cuisine. The best fish and chips in Tulla can be found at Hide and Seek Fish n' Chippery, a local favourite. Mr McCracken offers a dozen oysters for $2 on Fridays.

Stop by Bar Piccolo for a drink or two after a long day at work. The Piggery Café is a great place to start your day with a hearty breakfast and fresh-baked goods from the bakery. Freshly baked bread and cakes are just two of the delectable offerings at Proserpina Bakehouse. When you're in the mood for a burger in Glen Waverley, look no further than YOMG. It would be a pity to miss Abbish Gupta and Chew's Sideshow Burgers, the brainchild of seasoned hospitality professionals.

In Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Zeus Street Greek has finally found a home. Strawberry and cream ricotta hotcakes from Rosanna's are a favourite of ours for breakfast. Mernda's Bakehouse Eatery is a charming, old stone farmhouse. On your way out, pick up a sourdough or savoury pastry. Plant-based cafe nursery One For The Crow serves some of best vegan food.

In Eltham, Melbourne, Ginger Garlic is one of the best new restaurants. HSP Pizza, with its lamb, chips, and three sauces, is free of embarrassment. Tacos made with eight-hour-slow-cooked beef are a must-try.

Content Summary

• Melbourne's food scene is a major draw for visitors, even more so than the city's many sights.
• From Fitzroy's eclectic mix of affordable and high-end dining to South Yarra's gastronomic ambience, these neighbourhoods showcase some of Melbourne's most cherished foodie destinations.
• Some of Melbourne's best restaurants can be found in the suburbs.
• Head chef Danielle Colombo shares her recommendations for the best places to eat and drink in Windsor.
• Local chef Joseph Vargetto reveals where he gets his chicken and chips, coffee and pizza from.
• What To Eat In Melbourne's Inner 'Burbs: Top 10 Inner Suburb Restaurants.
• Disadvantaged youths serve innovative,modern, and contemporary Australian cuisine in a restored bluestone building.
• Caffe e Cucina serves authentic Italian food in South Yarra's fashionable Italian neighbourhood.
• If you're looking for the best fish and chips in Tulla, head to Hide and Seek Fish n' Chippery.
• The Piggery Café serves delicious breakfast foods and homemade pastries and bread.
• YOMG is the place to get a burger when you're craving a burger in the Glen Waverley area.
• Zeus Street Greek has finally found a home in Moonee Ponds, Victoria.
• Bakehouse Eatery in Mernda is a charming, historic stone farmhouse.
• One For The Crow is a plant-based café nursery serving up some of the best vegan food.
• Ginger Garlic in Eltham is one of Melbourne's best new restaurants.