The heart of Melbourne, the CBD. We've got heaps of good restaurants here in Melbourne and Victoria as a whole, but easily the highest concentration of restaurants is in the city centre.
Melbourne's Best CBD Restaurants At A Glance
- Best New CBD Restaurants Melbourne
- Cheap & Affordable Restaurants In Melbourne CBD
- Casual Dining & Fun Spots
- Classic, Must-Visit Melbourne Restaurants
- Fine Dining In Melbourne CBD
It may seem a little daunting it at first, hunting through laneways for that neon-lit spot, but after a minute it becomes second nature. From modern Asian to premium Italian dining, affordable to super high end, there really is something for all tastes.
"When I first moved to Melbourne I was running a cocktail bar in Hosier Lane and I had the privilege of dining out most nights. I got to try all of the best restaurants on my work dinner break so I know CBD dining like the back of my hand," OB真人视讯 Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says.
Whether you're looking for Flinders Lane restaurants (which is over here) or you're just looking to tuck into some affordable fare, we've nailed down the top spots.
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Here’s where to find the best restaurants Melbourne CBD is serving up for 2025:
The Best New Restaurants In Melbourne CBD
We're always chasing what's new right? Like I like to say, your credibility as a Melburnian often banks on you having that cultural capital of new restaurants. And cashing in on that, here are my fave new restaurants in Melbourne CBD:
Juni
136 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Image: Juni | Supplied
After opening Lucy Liu and setting the bar for Melbourne’s Asian fusion scene, star chef Michael Lambie is back at it with Juni. And his menu does not disappoint.
There's all our fave friends like kingfish with jalapeno nam jim and yuzu, topped with delicate little kisses of coconut cream, a burrata drizzled with chilli oil and grilled Chinese donuts for dipping and delicate barramundi with a gorgeous balanced sweet and sour sauce. You know the drill here, order the feed me option ($70 if you’re hungry for five plates, $80 if you’re starving enough for seven plates) and be overwhelmed with a cavalcade of delicious numbers.
The cocktail menu is stacks of fun with a twist on the classic pornstar martini (named Stormy Daniels—hey we didn’t make it up, just drank it). They even give you a little prosecco on the side so you can enjoy the magic of mixology too, adding it into the cocktail and watching it fizz away. The Thai Milk Punch is a must as a dessert or a pacer with dark rum, caramelised banana syrup, condensed coconut, Nutella and clarified milk.
OB真人视讯 Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell reckons the drinks and feed me is where it's at, "Seriously, just let the crew take care of you. Order the feed me in whatever size you're hungry for and start working your way through that cocktail list, it's a banger," he says.
Circl Wine House
22 Punch Lane, Melbourne
Image: Circl Wine House | Supplied
Circl is giving us big Scandi vibes, right in the middle of the CBD, making it likely one of the best wine bars (more of those over here) and restaurant combos on offer. They've got a list hundreds of bottles long you can pare back with some cheese and a relaxing evening, or better yet, ramp up into a full fine dining experience. Ask head somm and venue manager Xavier Vigier if you can check out their cellar upstairs, it's the perfect spot for a selfie, he'll be happy to recommend something that won't disappoint as well.
Exec chef Elias Salomonsson who has previously worked for Scott Picket (Smith St Bistro, Longrain, Matilda), nodding to his Swedish heritage has graced us with a menu that is delicate and refined. Produced with Australia's finest seasonal ingredients and local produce. For starters, you can expect anything from Sydney rock oysters and caviar with crumpets, to a goats cheese eclair or a smoked eel tart, followed by hearty-mains like a blackmore wagyu tri-tip steak with mountain pepper cafe de Paris butter, or a Loddon Estate duck with a drizzle of Davidson plum barbeque sauce.
Our fave though is the Circl Experience. It's completely hands-off and you can pair your seven-course degustation (for $165, an excellent value deg if you ask us) as well for a seamless experience.
OB真人视讯 Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says, "It's worth letting the team do all the hard work for you, that wine list is hefty. But if you're an oenophile Xavier is a legend and will be stoked to help you pick a few bottles to go with your deg. Also, enjoy their caviar and crumpets, they describe it as a 'warm, Baltic hug'."
Cheap Restaurants In Melbourne CBD
It happens more than we'd like to admit. The body is willing, the wallet is not. Thus, we have to adjust our budget, but not our expectations. Here are our solid faves for cheap or affordable dining in Melbourne CBD:
Soi38
235 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Rising to institution status after garnering attention for its unorthodox location in a parking garage, has moved to yet another inconspicuous spot—but now accommodating five times the capacity of its former 60-seat venue.
With unpretentious prices starting from $10 boat noodles and most dishes ranging from $10-$18, the best way to go about ordering is to explore the full spread. From crab wontons and crispy pork noodles to fried pork jowl and the crowd-favourite moo-ping (grilled pork skewers). Each dish—along with the Thai-ingredient centred cocktails—is reminiscent of Bangkok’s fiery flavours and authentic street food.
OB真人视讯 Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says, "Waiting in line for Soi38 is like a rite of passage. If you're not from Melbourne our hot tip is the line moves very quickly so just jump in it and don't stress, you'll usually get seated in 15-20 mintues."
Peep more of Melbourne's best thai over here.
Butcher's Diner
10 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Those after a feed at any time of day—or night—need look no further than Butcher's Diner. First things first, as the name eludes to, they take their meat seriously with much of it aged in-house. We're also floating Butcher's Diner as a candidate for Melbourne's best burgers. If you're there for lunch get around some like steak and eggs, save the cheeseburger and meatier snacks for after a couple of beers. We're rating it one of the best in the CBD. Tuck into a few local drops while you're there. This is one of those hidden gems in Melbourne that will impress mates that haven't been, do yourself a favour and get along.
"Butcher' Diner is one of those late-night right-of-passage spots. Soak up those pints with a big old cheeseburger. and I say this all the time but this time I really mean it, get yourself some chips, they are outstanding, along with their tomato sauce selection," OB真人视讯 Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says.
P.S: Check out more of Melbourne's best burgers right here.
Pellegrini’s
66 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Pellegrini's | Supplied
A mainstay to Melbourne CBD and for good reason. This casual Italian diner is a go-to for the 9 to 5ers and the after-hours warriors alike. Here you’ll find classic bolognese and hefty slabs of lasagne at a very, very reasonable price point. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a glass of the house granita or grab a slice of cake from the Pelligrini's cabinet.
"Expect to pay around $20 a head, maybe even less for a granita and a plate of pasta with all the bread rolls you can fill up on, this is old school Italian dining and they're feeding you like nonna would," OB真人视讯 Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says.
Casual Dining & Fun Spots
Serai
Racing Club Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Serai | Cbass Creative
Serai opened a few years ago, but the groundswell of noise has been almost deafening coming into 2025, and for good reason, owners Ross Magnaye, Shane Stafford and Ben Waters are serving up some of the most interesting food in Melbourne. You’ll find a Filipino influence across the menu, though the ethos to what’s on the plate is more about open-fire cooking than anything else.
A prime example of this is one of the hero dishes, a bone marrow which Ross comments is 'very Australian' and even uses Kangaroo which is smoked in the woodfire and then covered in a coconut vinaigrette, 'Kinilaw-style' which is similar to a ceviche.
Pepe’s Italian And Liquor
275 Exhibition Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Pepe’s | Supplied
Pepe’s covers all bases—from a romantic dinner for two to a martini-fuelled night with the girls. The space got a refresh a few years back now, and it’s one of the most beautiful restaurants in town. Taking inspiration from the roaring 20s in the Big Apple, Pepe’s is decorated with red and white checkered floors, burgundy leather banquettes and a metre-long mirrored bar. Not to mentioned
The food is everything Italian, from fancy pizzas, mouth-wateringly good baked gnocchi with four kinds of cheese, and a spicy vodka rigatoni. The drinks menu is forty-something pages long with eleven different types of cocktails and four types of spritz.
Classic, Must-Visit Restaurants In Melbourne CBD
Some of these no doubt you'll have heard of, others you'll have forgotten were on your list and others, well I'm hoping you'll discover some new classics as well here. These are my top recs for must-visit restaurants in Melbourne CBD:
Embla
122 Russell Street, Melbourne CBD
Since Embla opened in Melbourne’s CBD it has ingrained itself in the fine dining scene. Widely popular due to the laid-back vibe that it emits and the distinctly modern Australian dishes that rotate through seasonal menus like Pipis, butter beans, butter beans, and basil—stracciatella, oyster mushroom, almond xo there’s always something beautifully paired to dive into. The intimately spaced dining of Embla and waitstaff devoid of pretentiousness is the perfect environment for sampling share plates among friends or dividing a set menu amongst a significant other.
"If you want to dip your toe in the water at one of Melbourne's best restaurants without breaking the bank, Embla does a revolving $70 Sunday lunch menu that's worth every penny," OB真人视讯 Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says.
Chin Chin
125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Chin Chin | Supplied
If you’ve ever walked down Flinders Lane and wondered what that massive queue was all about, congratulations—you’ve just found Chin Chin.
Still the city's most buzzing pan-Asian eatery, and one of the best restaurants Melbourn CBD is serving up. Just on the other side of that door is some seriously tasty South-East Asian cuisine, in a seriously funky setting. We’re ordering the crispy barramundi and green apple salad, with caramelised pork, peanuts, chilli and lemongrass. And then the Isaan-style spicy hot BBQ chicken. And that’s just for starters...get in early if you want to avoid the crowds.
Chef Benjamin Cooper says they've served more than three million people at Chin Chin since it opened, which is straight insane. There's a reason they've expanded up and down the east coast.
Cumulus Inc.
45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Cumulus Inc. | Supplied
Cumulus Inc. is one of Melbourne's fanciest all-day eateries—part cafe, part wine bar, and part restaurant. A staple resident on Flinders Lane, Cumulus has defined itself as one of the best restaurants Melbourne CBD has, and accordingly is filled throughout the day and well into the night.
If you're at a loss as to what to choose, go for the flatbread with Barletta onion, anchovy & cultured butter, followed by the slow-roasted lamb shoulder with almond and smoked paprika.
OB真人视讯 Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says, "Cumulus is the OG, and they've just put on a new menu separating out their classic dishes from their new menu which is more seasonal and bang on. If you haven't been for a while, it's worth a revisit."
Coda
141 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Coda's French-Vietnamese fusion menu is all about innovation and carefully balanced flavours. Nab the crispy tapioca and prawn betel leaf with kaffir lime and green chilli for starters, and chase it down with Beijing crispy aromatic chicken with plum salt. The rum-roasted pineapple and Thai basil sorbet with whipped mascarpone cream and Sablé Breton are also absolutely insane. Check it out on Flinders Lane.
Flower Drum
17 Market Lane, Melbourne CBD
We’d be remiss not to mention Flower Drum, one of the most iconic and best restaurants in Melbourne CBD. As it should be—with the ultra-high standard of Chinese dishes being served up daily. A dim sum selection to die for, quail san choi bow, crispy pork ribs with a crunchy garlic crumble, whole fish, flavour-packed hot and sour soup—you can see why we get excited about this one. A lot of Melbournians wait for a special occasion to check out Flower Drum, but it's really good any time you're hungry. Worth the splurge.
Lee Ho Fook
11–15 Duckboard Place, Melbourne CBD
It's 2025, and we still can't get enough of Lee Ho Fook. Follow the neon light down the alleyway and step into the dimly lit, rendered brick walls of chef Victor Liong’s Lee Ho Fook. Dining here will rid you of your preconceived notions of Chinese fine dining as Victor’s modern approach pairs the legacy of traditional dishes with his own creative interpretation like smoked eel, foie gras, candied konbu, and pink peppercorn or pork jowl, baby bok choi cooked in mussel water, Warragul greens, star anise roast duck sauce.
"If you've got a special bottle you've been looking to crack into but haven't found the opportunity, take it in for dinner on Monday through Wednesday, there's no corkage, or if you're taking a rest from the booze enjoy their tea pairing for just $50 per person," OB真人视讯 Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says.
Tipo 00
361 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
A true pioneer in the pasta space, Tipo00 exploded onto the scene with its quaint and intimately spaced restaurant on Little Bourke Street ten years ago and in 2025, it's still a favourite for many. Tipo earned its spot as one of the best restaurants Melbourne CBD has by introducing curious diners to pasta house-made and cooked to perfection with a series of different sauces and accompaniments, including their now famous squid ink tagliolini.
"Take a risk on lunch if you can't get a table at Tipo00. There's rarely a line and you can enjoy your pasta in the (relative) quiet, it's worth spending a thoughtful moment with," OB真人视讯 Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says.
Fine Dining In Melbourne's CBD
Maha Restaurant
21 Bond Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Maha Restaurant | Supplied
The flagship of chef and cooking icon, Shane Delia, Maha opened up on Bond Street in the CBD well over a decade ago. Rising with Melbourne's culinary boom, Maha established itself as a dining institution continuously evolving and developing its offering. Centred around Middle Eastern flavours and drawing on Delia's own heritage, Maha is a spice-filled journey into his own interpretations on regional specialities and staples. Be it the tantalising array of mezze dishes, the now-famous slow roasted lamb shoulder, or the simply ground-breaking Turkish delight doughnuts, Maha's continued excellence has firmly secured itself a spot among the best restaurants of Melbourne CBD.
"When in doubt, order the chef's menu, that's what I always say. But in this case, it's absolutely obligatory. A la carte is excellent, don't get me wrong, but Maha is meant to be experienced banquet style, each dish leading perfectly into the next," OB真人视讯 Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says.
Reine & La Rue
380 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Reine & La Rue | Supplied
Arguably the number one opening of last year and already being touted as one of the best restaurants Melbourne CBD has to offer, Reine & La Rue is the grand French diner housed inside the heritage-listed stock exchange building along Collins Street. It’s from the team behind NOMAD, so it goes without saying the menu is elite. Opt for the unapologetically rich bone marrow with mash to kick things off, swing by the seafood bar for a plate of queen scallops, and of course, don’t skip out on the premium steak selection.
"There's a bunch of secret tips and tricks to Reine & La Rue, but the most important is get the jersey milk soft serve, even if you don't think you have room for dessert. And if you're not down for a full meal, perching up at the bar for a martini still allows you to soak up the full ambiance," OB真人视讯 Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says.
Society
80 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Society | Supplied
A crown jewel of Melbourne’s culinary scene, Society Dining Room is an experience beyond dining. The latest exercise in opulence from LUCAS Restaurants set within the Collins Street precinct is completely multi-sensory, from the elevator up to the entrance, to the chandelier-adorned restaurant, a cavernous space that somehow still feels vibey and intimate. Society’s charm is in the way it disarms any pretentious notions.
The menu is considered in choice but looms large in variety and flavour. Starters like caviar served up alongside brioche rolls and crème fraîche is a no-brainer, and show-stopping mains like the Bouef En Croute (which is hand-carved tableside) make the journey all the more memorable, and is just one reason it makes it to the top of best restaurants Melbourne CBD list in 2025.
ARU
268 Little Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Aru | Website
One of the city's most anticipated openings was Khanh Nguyen’s , and in 2025, it's still considered one of the best restaurants in Melbourne CBD. You’ll find plenty of flamed-licked meats, seafood and fish on the menu where the team employs foundational processes like fermentation, smoking, curing and preserving to create one of Melbourne’s most unique menus.
OB真人视讯 Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says, "For a top-tier dining experience with out a hefty price tag ARU is the spot. It's super innovative (hopefully they have the duck on when you go), the wine is incredible and so is the vibe."
Gimlet
33 Russell Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Gimet | Supplied
Step back almost a century into the very definition of the word ‘swank’. Gimlet is the latest addition to the Andrew McConnel empire and joins the ranks of other highly-praised AMC favourites (Supernormal, Cumulus, Marion, Cutler & Co). Praised as one of the best restaurants in Melbourne by many, Gimlet Modelled with an early nineteenth-century design that harkens back to grand hotels of 1920’s era London and New York Gimlet is a fanciful affair. The menu is significantly more modern than the space, it’s a fusion of traditional European cuisine with a classic McConnell flair of modernity, for example, the Southern rock lobster, wood-roasted in saffron rice with “bisque” sauce.
OB真人视讯 Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says, "Gimlet might be the hardest restaurant to get into in Melbourne, you could call it our version of Dorsia. It's worth the wait, hang out at Apollo Inn around the corner and sit on some martinis while you wait, or sit up the bar Friday, Saturday nights after 10pm and snaffle that elusive cheeseburger from their supper menu."
Vue de Monde
525 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Vue de Monde | Supplied
Vue de Monde is one of the most iconic classical fine-dining restaurants that Melbourne has. Its legacy as a catalyst for the city's culinary boom has been well documented and its creator Shannon Bennett has risen to a supreme figure in Melbourne's hospitality community. After a recent transformation, the menu at one of the best restaurnats Melbourne CBD has on offer is sleek and refined, with simplistic yet rich pairings with some of the city's best fine dining, paired with carefully selected wines by the team's sommeliers it's an experience as much as it is a meal. It certainly won't be cheap, but it's one you'll remember forever.
Freyja
477 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Freyja | Supplied
The name comes from the Norse goddess, who was responsible for beauty and love, residing inside the 130yo heritage-listed Olderfleet building, there’s a strong Scandinavian aesthetic with a collection of minimalist stylings including raw timbers and metallic flourishes with rich contrasting colours. Leading the charge in the kitchen are Jae Bang and Aaron Caccia who both hail from Michelin-starred diner, Re-Naa in Norway as well as Daniel Gordon, former head chef at Lee Ho Fook. Together the collective team are developing a menu incorporating plenty of the traditional cooking methods of the Nordic region including fermenting, smoking, and pickling.
Leading image credit: Juni | Supplied
OB真人视讯 Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.
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