Best pastries… Lune Croissanterie – as long as you’re willing to wait (sometimes up to two hours!) you’ll be rewarded with the flakiest croissant, perhaps in the whole of the southern hemisphere. Their perfect pastry recipe was created by a rocket scientist turned chef, which explains the space theme of the bakery.
Runner up: Agathé – typically French, buttery pastries that will melt in your mouth. Pick up a pain au chocolat while strolling around South Melbourne Market.
Best breakfast… Tall Timber – found in the Prahran area, Tall Timber offers great coffee and innovative breakfast recipes. After you’ve had your morning meal wander around the charming independent shops nearby.
Runner up: Cumulus & Co – a favourite with city workers, I’d recommend stopping by to grab a freshly baked lemon curd madeleine to go.
Best brunch… Top Paddock – the perfect weekend hang-out for a leisurely brunch with friends. Don’t miss their famous blueberry and ricotta hotcake with berries, organic maple, seeds and double cream.
Runner up: Seven Seeds – known as much for their exemplary coffee, this hip roastery also serves delicious and hearty morning fare.
Best set lunch… Saint Crispin – I had my favourite Melbourne meal at this modern Australian eatery. Open for lunch Friday to Sunday, you can sample three courses of the chef’s exquisite creations for a fraction of the full dinner price. Before your meal, try the “Snap, crackle and pop”; a magical combination of puffed pork crackling, dashi, brown sugar and white sesame.
Runner up: Circa – found in the stylish Prince Hotel in St Kilda, this minimalist restaurant offers a reasonably priced In’n’Out lunch menu of 2 courses with a glass of wine for $35. The food is clever and contemporary with imaginative flavour pairings.
Best dinner… Coda – this award-winning basement restaurant is stylish and slick. All the Vietnamese-inspired food is tempting. I suggest ordering half-portions so you can taste a wider variety of dishes, the unique blackened quail is especially good and I loved the fresh and vibrant hanoi roll.
Runner up: Townmouse – a small, neighbourhood restaurant that is nice for a drink or for dinner. The menu changes regularly depending on seasonal produce. Particularly memorable were the goat’s cheese profiteroles.
Best for sharing… Supernormal – there is often a queue for this popular fusion restaurant. Have a drink at the bar before devouring indulgent dishes such local oysters, roast duck bao and velvety wagyu beef.
Runner up: Movida – this characterful tapas restaurant has now got several branches. Visit their original venue in the heart of the CBD for a few of their signature small plates. I loved the bocadillo (brioche, duck liver pate and PX foam toasted sandwich).
Best thai… Cookie – those in the know head to the 1st floor of the Curtin House building for the city’s best Thai food. Be sure to order the addictively good betel leaf wrapped pork skewers.
Runner up: ChinChin – be prepared to wait for a table at this lively eatery. The huge menu can be overwhelming so ask your waitress to point out a few favourites. I particularly liked the spicy corn and coriander fritters, with housemade chilli jam.
Best homemade pasta… Tipo 00 – this new pasta bar is thrilling the Melbourne locals, and it’s a struggle to nab a table at the intimate venue. Sit at the bar and enjoy a bowl of the homemade pappardelle with braised rabbit, marjoram & hazelnut.
Best burger… Tuckshop Takeaway – set up by ex-Fat Duck husband and wife team, this cute corner shop serves some of the best burgers I have ever tasted. Everything is homemade, from the bouncy brioche burger buns to the nostalgic sodas and shakes.
Runner up: 8bit – with a new venue in the CBD, it is now easier to get your 8bit fix. The juicy and indulgent burgers are classic and tasty, and there is a retro arcade game to play while you wait for your order.
Best Chinese… Hutong Dumpling Bar – Amid the chaos of Chinatown is this celebrated Chinese eatery. Order a few portions of the wondrous XLB dumplings and pick a local wine from the very reasonably priced list.
Best pizza… Innocent Bystander – A short drive outside the city to the Yarra Valley, Innocent Bystander are known best for making delicious wine. I encourage you to visit at lunchtime for the delicious woodfired sourdough pizza and to take part in a wine tasting.
Best ice-cream… Gelato Messina – the mecca of ice-cream, this much-loved institution has spread across Australia. The Italian-style gelateria makes successfully inventive flavours; salted caramel and white chocolate is the most popular.
More on Melbourne’s best restaurants here.
