Restaurants in Melbourne
79 spots across 4 neighborhoods, curated by locals.
Finding a genuinely good restaurant in Melbourne shouldn't mean scrolling past hundreds of tourist menus. We filtered Melbourne's dining scene down to 79 restaurants locals actually book — spread across 4 neighborhoods and averaging 4.6★. The filter is deliberate: solid ratings, real review volume, and none of the overexposed spots that survive on foot traffic alone.
Northcote is the neighborhood to start with — it has the strongest bench of kitchens in this guide. If you only have one evening, Wazzup Falafel is the safest great choice; book ahead where you can.
All 79 restaurants spots in Melbourne — open them in the free iOS app for live distances and directions.

Wazzup Falafel

Ruckers Hill

Sideshow Burgers and Cafe Northcote

VEX

Cuppa Turca Dondurma & Kunefe

Brother Bon - Your Local Vegan Restaurant in Northcote

MESOB

Va Penne

Hanami Izakaya

Haru Dining

Ginger & Chives

BOMBAY BENTO

Wesley Anne

Tahina

Sweet Salt - Gluten Free Eatery

Zsa’s Bar & Bistroteca

Estelle

Inthanon Thai Restaurant

No22 Cafe

Foglia di Fico

Roule Galette

Number 12 Thai Restaurant

Bistrot d'Orsay

SUD Food and Wine

Dosirock

Embla

Trattoria Emilia

Scugnizzo Ristorante

Rosa's Canteen

Il Bacaro

The Hardware Club

Gasthaus on Queen

Salero Kito Padang Rose Lane

Thong Thai Restaurant Melbourne

Farmer's Daughters

Longrain Melbourne

Flower Drum Restaurant Melbourne

NOMAD Melbourne

Punch Lane Wine Bar & Restaurant

Sunda Dining

Bamboo House

The Moat

Nisa's Thai Street Food (Melbourne's CBD)

Khaosan Lane






The local guide to Melbourne
G'day mate! Melbourne's my jam Quirky laneways with hidden cafes, unreal street art that changes daily, and live music spilling out from every corner. Forget the tourist traps, grab a flat white, and let's wander! We'll catch a footy game, snag some seriously good dumplings, and soak up the city's electric vibe. It's all about the little things here, like the friendly baristas and the unexpected discoveries.

Panacea

102 Uniq

Gum

Cinder

Pubcha

Glou

Commis

Wheat, Wine & Whisky

The CODE pizza bar

Orlo

Shusai Mijo

SAVANNA AFRICAN RESTAURANT

Flint

Shop Ramen

Marquis of Lorne

The Gem Bar and Dining

Goldy's! Tavern

Akasiro

IDES

Smith St Bistrot

Paradise Alley

TONKIN

Caz Reitop's Dirty Secrets

Maha North

Sixty Smith

Norma Fitzroy

Chicano Taqueria

Farro Pizzeria Fitzroy

Bar Liberty

Marion Wine Bar

Cutler

The Rose Street Artists’ Market

Pizza Pizza Pizza

Poodle Bar & Bistro

Gaea
Take Melbourne's hidden gems with you
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best restaurants in Melbourne?
Polomaps has curated 79 restaurants spots in Melbourne, rated 3.5+ stars by real visitors. Top picks include Wazzup Falafel, No22 Cafe, Panacea. All recommendations come from locals, with tourist traps filtered out.
Which neighborhoods in Melbourne have the best restaurants?
The best neighborhoods for restaurants in Melbourne include Northcote, Melbourne CBD, Collingwood, Fitzroy. Each has its own character and local favorites — this guide groups every spot by neighborhood so you can explore one area at a time.
How can I find these restaurants spots near me in Melbourne?
Download the free Polomaps iOS app to see every spot in this guide on a live map around you, get walking distances, and save your favorites. You can also search anything specific — the app finds local, well-rated places for any craving, in Melbourne or anywhere else.
Discover More in Melbourne
Explore all neighborhoods and categories across Melbourne