What Are The Best Restaurants In Melbourne To Wine & Dine?

A meal at a winery has the power to transport you in a way that most restaurants in the city are unable to accomplish. The laid-back atmosphere, the comprehensive wine list, and the typically picturesque setting are what elevate the experience to a level that is superior to the sum of its individual components. And you can bet your bottom dollar that if a winery has gone to the trouble (and expense) of opening a restaurant, you can rest assured that it has done the thing correctly.

These days, winery restaurants are more than just a fantastic venue for demonstrating how well their wines go with various courses. The fact that many of Victoria's finest country eating establishments are housed within wineries has drawn some of Australia's most talented chefs away from the larger cities and into the countryside.

Wine lists can be broken down into two categories: Wine Lists and Wine Lists. The best menus in Melbourne are comprehensive, thoughtful, and reflective of the restaurant's guiding philosophy. They also feature a knowledgeable and, hopefully, unpretentious team that can assist you in making an informed decision.

Each list ought to include a variety of wines, ranging from those with reasonable prices to those of the highest quality, as well as a few obscure selections. We decided to brush up on our wine knowledge in preparation for the World's Best Sommeliers competition, which will take place in Australia in March. To do this, we tasted our way methodically through Melbourne's top wine lists.

Melbourne Restaurants With A Notable Wine List

Finding a wine that satisfies your preferences and is conveniently located in Melbourne can feel like searching for your favourite bottle of wine in a store while wearing blindfolds. On the other hand, you're in luck because we've removed the blindfold and guided you in the right direction—towards Melbourne's top wine bars.

Firebird

The Firebird Commune Group has a significant impact on Melbourne's culinary scene as the founders of Tokyo Tina, Hanoi Hannah, and Neptune, as well as their most recent venture, Firebird.

In the Prahran neighbourhood of High Street, you'll find this flame-driven restaurant serving Southeast Asian delicacies. Interior design by Ewert Leaf, a well-known architecture firm, was inspired by the smoky food stalls common in Vietnam and has resulted in an extremely modern space. This eatery can seat up to 110 people. If you'd like to eat at this hip restaurant, make a reservation as soon as possible on their website because it tends to fill up quickly.

Future Future

If you want a Japanese diner in Melbourne that is both simple and elegant, look no further than Future Future. The former home of an art gallery has been transformed into a hip restaurant that pays homage to the style and culture of Tokyo's street food vendors in Japan. Guests at Future are treated to a one-of-a-kind dining experience from the moment they take their seats in the elegant dining room.

Sweet potato crisps and green, or mandarin rind tea will be served as an appetiser. These will whet your appetite for the sumptuous meal to come.

Farmer’s Daughters

Farmer's Daughters is a venerable Melbourne institution that highlights the best of Victoria's Gippsland region's seasonal fare. "From the paddock to the plate" is the restaurant's motto, and it creates an unforgettable dining experience.

First visiting Gippsland on a food tour in 2016, chef Alejandro Saravia, the founder of Famer's Daughters, fell in love with its food and biodiversity. He first fell in love with Gippsland at this exact moment. That's why Farmer's Daughters was born earlier this year; we're grateful to him for that.

Society

Chris Lucas is the creative force behind some of Melbourne's most acclaimed restaurants, including this one, which draws inspiration from contemporary Australian culture. As a showcase of Australian styling and contemporary aesthetics on Collins Street, this elegant dining room features gray-toned drapes, plush circular booths, and crystal chandeliers as well as its prime CBD location.

If you're looking for a high-end dining experience, don't miss out on Society.

Hawker Hall

Another local restaurateur's most successful venture is Chris Lucas' upscale dining and drinking establishment. The Asian fusion cuisine served at Hawker Hall is some of the best in Singapore. For this reason, the restaurant is extremely popular with both locals and visitors alike: it was inspired by the bustling hawker centres of Singapore and Malaysia.

The food was excellent, and the atmosphere was just as good, with lots of people having a good time. At this point, is there anything else I can do to assist you?

Tres a Cinco 

Known for his acclaimed MoVida restaurant in Hosier Lane, Frank Camorra has opened a modern Mexican cantina there. An idea to sell food packs for takeout quickly evolved into the establishment of an actual Mexican eatery because of the overwhelming demand from customers.

There are many delectable options on the menu at Tres a Cinco, including tacos, tamales, and desserts inspired by Mexican cuisine. On the other hand, Tres a Cinco's carefully curated drinks menu features up to 20 cocktails featuring tequila or mezcal, including eight different variations of the classic Margarita. Tres a Cinco also has a carefully curated drinks menu.

Transformer 

Those of you on the prowl for a plant-based diet take note: On the extensive menu at Transformer, you'll find some of the most inventive plant-based and vegan dishes you've ever had your hands on. Located in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Transformer, a vegetarian restaurant run by Laki Papadopoulos and Mark Price, is widely regarded as the epicentre of seasonal dining. For this reason, customers can expect dishes that are as flavorful and flavorful as possible because the restaurant frequently purchases produce from local, small-scale farmers.

After you've finished your main course, don't forget to try some of their amazing and ever-changing desserts. Go ahead and do it. You have earned it.

Kappaya

Kappaya is the answer to your prayers if you're looking for a Melbourne restaurant that serves soul food along with beer, sake, and coffee. There is a hidden gem in Abbotsford Convent where you can find the best bento boxes as well as other Japanese cuisine in the area, and all of which will leave you feeling satisfied.

You can also find a wide variety of traditional Japanese beers at the nearby brewery of Sapporo, which is perfect for washing down your meal. Because there is no official website for Kappaya, the only way to know if there is room for you is to call.

Gimlet at Cavendish House

One of the most awaited restaurants to open in 2020 was Gimlet, which was recently introduced by Andrew McConnell (of Cutler & Co.). Cameron Paris, Gimlet's head bartender, also came up with the restaurant's catchy moniker. Local seafood, wood-fired mains and an extensive cocktail menu are all on offer at this 1920s-style Chicago-style restaurant, which is housed in the Cavendish House.

Embla

Embla, one of Melbourne's most unconventional restaurants, is a must-visit if you're looking for a truly one-of-a-kind dining experience. In this industrial-chic wine bar, you can enjoy delectable small plates while listening to live music. With the help of Executive Chef Dave Verheul and Wine Expert Christian McCabe, they've created one of the best wine bars in town that feels like an extension of your living room.

Is your stomach growling? With one of their starters, such as their quinoa and rosemary bread with grain mustard butter or their burrata and spring vegetables, pair one of their excellent French wines with one of their starters.

Wine preferences at Embla may be a little out of the ordinary, but the employees are confident that other customers will appreciate the unique offerings. Even though they do take reservations for lunch, especially for their Sunday set menu, walk-ins are the only way to dine in the evening. All of the staff, from the wine to the food, are bursting with personality and should not be overlooked.

Vesper Bistro and Bar

South Yarra's newest eatery, Vesper Bistro and Bar, specialises in European cuisine. Vesper Lynd, a Bond girl from the James Bond films, was the inspiration for the name of this establishment. Vesper Bistro and Bar's modern approach to fine dining will make you feel as if you've been transported to one of the many islands of the Mediterranean Sea, including Greece, Spain, Italy, or France. The cuisine of these countries' islands has inspired the restaurant's dishes, which are bursting with flavour and colour.

Reservations for up to six people can be accommodated on their menu, so get in touch with them as soon as possible.

HERO

ACMI's Hero can be found in a secret location. In order to create a meeting place for creative people, the concept of a film festival combines film, food, music, and art. The menu at this unassuming but classy cafe and bar is seasonal and made with fresh, local ingredients whenever possible. Karen Martini, a renowned local chef, has put together the menu. While you're here, be sure to try some of the bar's delicious and creative cocktails.

Al Dente Enoteca

Italian pasta chef Andrea Vignali opened Al Dente Enoteca in Melbourne in April 2020, right in the middle of a global pandemic. Due to the overwhelming demand of his side project, the proprietor of Al Dente Enoteca Vignail decided to transform his side project into a full-fledged restaurant called Al Dente Enoteca. 'Al Dente Enoteca'

Artichoke-stuffed tortellini and crab ravioli are two of the most popular dishes on the menu at this restaurant. Even just imagining it makes our tummies growl with hunger.

Radio Mexico

This St. Kilda-based institution has been serving up some of Melbourne's best tacos, margaritas, and beer since it opened in 2012. Radio Mexico serves up authentic Mexican fare with a kick to keep you on your toes and a kick in the pants. Radio Mexico devotes a great deal of time and attention to the finer points of Mexican cuisine.

At this Mexican restaurant, the bar has been raised to new heights, from the fresh-made salsa to the cheese nachos topped with roasted pumpkin and toasted pepita corns.

Epocha

Epocha is Melbourne's take on modern Greek cuisine that incorporates fresh Australian produce and is housed in a 19th-century building. The Carlton Gardens can be seen in all their glory from here.

Restaurant co-owners Angie Giannakodakis and Guy Holder have teamed up to offer diners an experience from a Victorian-era deck that has been renewed but still has some of its original features, such as wrought iron railings. There are Victorian relics scattered throughout the two-story terrace.

Aside from its delicious food, Epocha is well-known for its diverse wine list, which features bottles from all over Australia.

City Wine Shop

The City Wine Shop in Melbourne's Central Business District is more than just a wine bar, and it even goes beyond the scope of a traditional wine shop. You can get the most up-to-date information on viticulture here, as well as the most helpful advice on wine pairing, and a lesson on which wines you should purchase for your lady.

If you want your wine by the glass, the bottle, or even by the home-delivered case, City Wine Shop will make it happen for you in any of those three formats. Additionally, they hold regular events such as wine tastings featuring wines from specific regions or evenings with guest bartenders and servers. As if that weren't enough, in addition to that they also host events and provide certified WSET training.

Cumulus Up.

If you're looking for a delicious drop, you should definitely use Cumulus Up because it's the equivalent of levelling up in a video game. The ever-changing menu will never fail to delight because it features the finest produce available from local, small-scale farms.

A similar attention to detail was put into the creation of the menu, which features locally sourced ingredients such as scallops from Port Phillip Bay and duck from the Macedon Ranges. Discover for yourself the allure of this wine bar in Melbourne that is reminiscent of establishments in Europe.

The Alps Wine Shop & Bar

The Alps is exactly what you'd imagine the best wine bars in Melbourne Central Business District to be like: an unassuming location that spares no expense on its selection of fine wines. Touchwood, exposed brick, fireplaces, and steel can be found within the space, which was formerly a milk bar.

The wine selection places an emphasis on producing examples that are true to the origin of the grape, privileging straightforwardness over originality. As the name suggests, this region is particularly fond of wines that come from the foothills of the Alps, specifically those from the Jura, Savoie, and Burgundy regions.

If you want to learn even more from these viticultural experts, you can even attend casual masterclasses once a month that are held around a barbeque.

Marion

There is more to the town of Marion than just excellent wine and seasonal produce. It is a space that encourages you to stop for a moment and indulge in dishes that were designed to share regional and international blends that demonstrate the diversity that can be found in the world of winemaking. Deadman's Dozen is a mixed dozen wine selection that features mostly limited production wines and rotates on a monthly basis. It is the perfect way to bring a piece of your experience at this wine bar in Fitzroy back with you when you leave. If you subscribed for a period of six months, you would even be eligible to receive free home delivery.

Neighbourhood Wine

Neighbourhood Wine is made by combining the finest ingredients available during a specific time of the year to create something that is both visually appealing and aromatically pleasing to put on your plate. It is the belief of the proprietors of this wine bar in Fitzroy that adhering to the principles of low-interference winemaking, which allows the wine's origins to be more apparent, results in the best possible product.

The list that is curated by Simon Denman is in a constant state of growth and evolution, which means that each time you visit this fantastic wine bar, you will fall in love with a different glass of wine.

Milton Wine Shop

The Milton Wine Shop is a multi-faceted business that offers much more than just wine. They are a small wine bar that represents producers whose wines focus on quality, honesty, and accurate representation of place. But there wasn't really room for that in the title. They offer different types of wine, including red, white, pink, and orange, in addition to a curated selection of snacks to go along with each.

There is always a compelling reason to visit Milton, one of the most acclaimed wine bars in Melbourne, whether you prefer to spend the winter months huddled up next to the inviting fireplace in the "living room" or the summer months basking in the sun in the courtyard.

Seddon Wine Store

The Seddon Wine Store offers the ideal combination of variety and quality, as they stock the 500 best wines available from boutique producers from all over the world, including Australia. Although they concentrate on working with more local producers, the quality of their products is their top priority.

Since the co-owner has previous experience working in the hospitality industry as a wholesaler, distributor, as well as in pubs and restaurants, it is safe to assume that he has a good understanding of viticulture. He and his wife Suzy will not purchase the wine until they have first observed it, tasted it, and discussed it amongst themselves.

Visit Seddon Wine Store, one of the best wine bars in Melbourne, if you want to have a conversation about the complexities of the drop you are drinking. Seddon Wine Store is known for having an extensive wine selection.

Napier Quarter

The Napier Quarter is a neighbourhood wine bar and guesthouse that can be found tucked away on a corner of a side street in Melbourne's oldest suburb. They honour the community and shine a spotlight on the artisan as part of their dedication to providing high-quality products.

This Melbourne wine bar's unusual wine list and forward-thinking menu are the best examples of this, as they stand out from the crowd. Keep an eye out for the goat milk fromage frais with house-made bottarga and lavish, despite the fact that the menu is always changing.

Bellota Wine Bar

The Bellota Wine Bar can be found in close proximity to the most successful independent wine store in Australia. It is sufficient to state that this wine bar in Melbourne may very well have the best selection of wine in all of the city.

There is nothing more enjoyable than entering a place you are not familiar with and being greeted by knowledgeable staff members who are also passionate about wine. Nicky Riemer, a champion of the kitchen with her European cuisine and a former co-owner and head chef at the illustrious establishment Union Dining in Melbourne, Australia.

Chef Reimer, who works at one of the most acclaimed wine bars in Melbourne, provides a sense of provenance and restores flavours that are frequently lost due to the prevalence of modern cooking techniques.

Conclusion

Wine varieties offer a taste sensation that is suitable for every palate and event, from a light and refreshing rosé to a robust red or a clean and refreshing white. Wine is an elixir of relaxation that is produced through intricate processes and under a great deal of scrutiny – at least, the good wines are. Wine is so much more than just a drink.

However, searching through the stores and menus in order to locate these can be quite a laborious task. This is where some of Melbourne's most acclaimed wine bars come into play.

At a wine bar in Melbourne, there is no such thing as making the incorrect selection from this list because the staff is extremely knowledgeable, and the menus are painstakingly crafted to include only the highest-quality producers. We cover the entirety of the city, from a wine bar in Fitzroy to a wine restaurant in the Melbourne CBD and everywhere in between.

Your sole responsibility at this point is to take pleasure in the gracious company, mouthwatering drops, and delicious food that has (finally) matured.

Conclusion

It's difficult for most Melbourne restaurants to match the experience of dining at a winery, which allows you to escape the city entirely. The fact that many of Victoria's finest country eating establishments are housed within wineries has drawn some of Australia's most talented chefs away from the larger cities. Future Future is Melbourne's go-to Japanese diner for a refined dining experience. Victoria's Gippsland region's seasonal produce is highlighted in Farmer's Daughters. In the heart of Collins Street, Society is a showcase of Australian style and contemporary design.

The food was outstanding, and the company was even better, with a lively crowd enjoying themselves. Up to 20 tequila or mezcal-based cocktails can be found on Tres a Cinco's carefully curated drinks menu. Located in Melbourne's CBD, Transformer is widely regarded as the city's seasonal dining capital. This year's most anticipated restaurant, Gimlet, is set to open. For a truly unique dining experience, Embla is the place to go.

There is a sense of being transported to another island at Vesper Bistro and Bar, with its modern take on fine dining. With a kick to keep you on your toes and a kick in the pants, Radio Mexico serves up authentic Mexican cuisine. Located in Melbourne's CBD, Epocha serves up modern Greek cuisine that incorporates local ingredients. From this vantage point, the Carlton Gardens can be appreciated in all their glory. Melbourne's City Wine Shop, located in the heart of the city's financial district, offers more than just wine.

In order to create a product that is both visually appealing and aromatically pleasing, Neighbourhood Wine uses the finest ingredients available at a specific time of the year. There are 12 different wines in the Deadman's Dozen each month, all of which are from small producers and have a low volume of production. Even better, if you sign up for six months, you'll get free home delivery! The Seddon Wine Store is one of the best wine bars in Melbourne. Bellota Wine Bar's unusual wine list and forward-thinking menu make them stand out from the crowd.

Melbourne's oldest suburb is home to the Napier Quarter, a wine bar and guesthouse. This wine bar in Melbourne may have the best wine selection in the city. Chef Nicky Riemer, a former co-owner and head chef at Union Dining, brings back flavours that have been lost in modern cooking methods.

Content Summary

• The fact that many of Victoria's finest country eating establishments are housed within wineries has drawn some of Australia's most talented chefs away from the larger cities and into the countryside.
• The best menus in Melbourne are comprehensive, thoughtful, and reflective of the restaurant's guiding philosophy.
• We decided to brush up on our wine knowledge in preparation for the World's Best Sommeliers competition, which will take place in Australia in March.
• To do this, we tasted our way methodically through Melbourne's top wine lists.
• There are many delectable options on the menu at Tres a Cinco, including tacos, tamales, and desserts inspired by Mexican cuisine.
• Vesper Bistro and Bar's modern approach to fine dining will make you feel as if you've been transported to one of the many islands of the Mediterranean Sea, including Greece, Spain, Italy, or France.
• ACMI's Hero can be found in a secret location.
• Italian pasta chef Andrea Vignali opened Al Dente Enoteca in Melbourne in April 2020, right in the middle of a global pandemic.
• Radio Mexico serves up authentic Mexican fare with a kick to keep you on your toes and a kick in the pants.
• The City Wine Shop in Melbourne's Central Business District is more than just a wine bar, and it even goes beyond the scope of a traditional wine shop.
• The Alps is exactly what you'd imagine the best wine bars in Melbourne Central Business District to be like: an unassuming location that spares no expense on its selection of fine wines.
• Deadman's Dozen is a mixed dozen wine selection that features mostly limited production wines and rotates on a monthly basis.
• It is the perfect way to bring a piece of your experience at this wine bar in Fitzroy back with you when you leave.
• The Seddon Wine Store offers the ideal combination of variety and quality, as they stock the 500 best wines available from boutique producers from all over the world, including Australia.
• Visit Seddon Wine Store, one of the best wine bars in Melbourne, if you want to have a conversation about the complexities of the drop you are drinking.
• Seddon Wine Store is known for having an extensive wine selection.
• It is sufficient to state that this wine bar in Melbourne may very well have the best selection of wine in all of the city.
• This is where some of Melbourne's most acclaimed wine bars come into play.
• At a wine bar in Melbourne, there is no such thing as making the incorrect selection from this list because the staff is extremely knowledgeable, and the menus are painstakingly crafted to include only the highest-quality producers.
• We cover the entirety of the city, from a wine bar in Fitzroy to a wine restaurant in the Melbourne CBD and everywhere in between.