The Joys of Melbourne.
I recently went to Melbourne for a long weekend with my wife and a couple of friends. It was filled with great food, nice wine, good coffee, fabulous company and a great concert. This is my view of the best Melbourne restaurants to visit, and places to eat.
Melbourne is my home away from home, the food, the coffee, the weather and vibes were excellent. I had the pleasure of living in Melbourne from 2000-2005, my Mum, elder brother and his family have lived there for twenty years so it’s really very familiar to me and I know it quite well, although it is constantly changing. This also knows I know how to sniff out the best Melbourne restaurants to visit.
Melbourne is a foodies paradise, starting with the Queen Victoria Markets are a great way to experience some of the food culture of Melbourne. There is an amazing deli hall, the largest organic fruit and vegetable range in Melbourne, fantastic seafood and a certified organic butcher too. This place is big, open 5 days except Mondays and Wednesdays, it is a real hive of activity and a great spot to shop for everything from wine and clothes to food and trinkets.
I went early in the morning to grab some deliciousness for us, I can’t go passed the deli hall without spending some time (and money!) on the delectables at one of the many delicatessens. I bought dips, bread, cured meats, smoked Tasmanian salmon, bagels, cream cheese, olives and some fruit and vegetables to consume during my stay.
Dining Out:
You really are spoiled for choice when it comes to eating in Melbourne. You can pay extreme amounts of money or you can go budget. We tend to mix it up and go for mid range options, with the odd pot and chips thrown in at the local pub.
Movida Aqui is a very busy tapas restaurant in central Melbourne. It is quite delicious with great service and a good wine list. It cost about $90 per head including drinks, so is on the pricey side, that being said, the food is good,
There were 4 of us at dinner and we all had a selection of the small and large tapas plates (see the menu here).
Lambs
Lygon Street in Carlton is a central hub for eating out, it is lined with restaurants with a predominantly mediterranean theme, lots of Italian and Greek restaurants. One of my favourite quick eats is Lambs, a Greek Souvlaki joint on the corner of Queensberry and Lygon. The charcoal roasted lamb gyros is to die for, served in a light fluffy pita with tzatziki, lettuce, tomato and onion, it is one of my go to’s when I’m in Melbourne.
A beaut restaurant in Windsor, just off Chapel St on Duke St. It is a modern twist on some classic South East Asian dishes. The food has a distinct Australian theme too. There is a great cocktail menu and wine list. So check out Saigon Sally, if you like local New Zealand favourites like Dragonfly in Wellington, King of Snake in Christchurch, or Madame Woo in Auckland or Queenstown.
Seven of us attended dinner, my brother, who lives in Melbourne suggested this restaurant, it is popular with the locals. We shared a variety of the small, medium and large plates between us (check out the menu here). It was a great dining experience, not so much cheap and cheerful but middle of the range price wise and the food was good. The food and company was so good we didn’t managed to take one solitary cocktail photo – so you will just have to trust us on how fabulous it really was.
Brunetti’s
Brunetti Cafe is a Melbourne institution. We hadn’t visited for a while so were nicely surprised by their newer premises in Lygon St, Carlton. There is so much choice here that it can be overwhelming – but don’t expect to leave hungry – everything is delicious!
All in all Melbourne is a great and vibrant cosmopolitan city, there are so many places to eat and drink. It is definitely worth putting on your bucket list to visit.
What other Melbourne restaraunts do you recommend? What are your favourite eats in Melbourne? I’m always keen on trying new places. Leave a comment in the comment box, I’ll be sure to check them out.