Melbourne, Australia wears a lot of different hats. But if you’re looking for an excellent bite to eat with an incredible glass of local wine, this city has a long list of neighborhoods with incredibly distinct food scenes.
Each one of them offers their own dining experiences to choose from. Given there are several to choose from, it could be hard to pick one for your trip. When the time comes, try to keep these five in mind as great places to start.
Southbank, Melbourne
Just south of the Central Business District is Southbank, an area of Melbourne filled with various cultural venues such as the Malthouse Theatre. It’s also home to less cultural but still fun features like the Crown Casino complex.
There are several marvelous modern restaurants in the area, many of which are on the banks of the Yarra River. La Camera Southgate, Eureka 89 Dining, Saporito Taquito and Pure South Kitchen are just a few of the restaurants in Southbank that people swing by to experience.
Richmond, Melbourne
Like most metropolitan centers , Melbourne is a diverse city that contains a multitude of worldwide influences. Richmond is a prime example of this as it’s home to a population of expat Vietnamese residents in an area referred to locally as Little Saigon.
While you can find a variety of dining choices in Richmond, there are quite naturally a large number of Asian eateries here. That includes Vietnamese restaurants like Hanoi Hannah New Quarter and Japanese restaurants like Future Future and Minamishima.
Fitzroy, Melbourne
While it might not seem like this when you first get there, Fitzroy is actually home to a piece of key Melbourne history. It was the first planned suburb of Melbourne in 1839. On top of that, it’s well known as a cultural destination in the city that plays host to some key festivals and events.
But it’s also known as a community to find some exceptional food. The range of food styles covered here is exceptional, meaning you can find a bite to eat that suits almost any taste. But Hell of the North, Marion and Poodle Bar & Bistro are always great choices.
Chinatown, Melbourne
To be considered a major city, a respectable Chinatown is basically a requirement at this point. That is certainly true of Melbourne’s Chinatown which was established in 1850 and has become integral to the city as a whole.
There are a lot of reasons to spend time in Chinatown, and the food is a big one. You can find restaurants representing a variety of cuisines, including Indian, Malaysian, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and, of course, Chinese.
Carlton, Melbourne
This might be the region of Melbourne you can’t miss for a variety of reasons. There is an exceptional amount of well preserved Victorian architecture here, not to mention some gorgeous green spaces to take advantage of.
But Carlton is also home to an area called Little Italy. As you may have already guessed, this is where you go for incredible Italian food. There are no shortage of choices, but Scopri Italian Food and Wine, Da Guido La Pasta, and Capitano Carlton are reputedly standout options.