Best Spots for Lunch in Melbourne
Melbourne, a city renowned for its vibrant food scene, offers a plethora of options when it comes to choosing the perfect spot for lunch. Whether you're a local or a tourist, the city's diverse culinary landscape promises to cater to every palate and preference. From trendy cafes serving up artisanal sandwiches to high-end restaurants offering gourmet fare, Melbourne's lunch scene is as varied as it is delicious. This article will guide you through some of the best spots for lunch in Melbourne, ensuring your midday meal is nothing short of spectacular. So, prepare your taste buds for a gastronomic journey through the heart of Australia's food capital.
Miznon
4.3
(1744)
Reviews:
We had some pitas here and they were lovely. We were looking to change it up from all the Asian & French we were eating and this was fantastic. Had the Wagyu burger and 2 of the Golden Fish (upon recommendation). All were great. Pitas had a lovely, fluffy, light texture.
Chris Lee
I ate here with a group, and we had arranged a set menu. They helped me get a gluten free meal, which I appreciated. Loved the table full of entrees. On any other day I would have stopped there, it was so generous! My special dessert was a plate of three excellent sweets, and everyone was jealous.
Pauline Laing
We had to wait and got to sit by the bar seating, which was better than the tables we wanted. Got to see the action. They said they can do walk-ins for 2 people but it's best to reserve tables if you can. Awesome pitas. Tried the pumpkin which was good too. They also have a feed me option for dinner ($65pp) and lunch($40pp). I want to try that next time. You get to taste items for every section of the menu.
Dharaa Chandrasekaran
Miznon is always popular and busy. The ambience was unfortunately not existent, it was very loud and I can barely hear my friend sitting opposite me. Food was pretty tasty but I was surprised some of them were served in a paper pouch. The meat bag was unfortunately quite dry and the pita bread was lukewarm. Our second order of additional pita bread as a side took over 30 mins to come, and our first attempt to enquire its status was met with a disinterested answer that it will arrive when it is our turn. The cauliflower was overcooked and too soft that it crumbled when we tried to eat it. The eggplant was well-grilled and quite delicious. The chicken salad was quite good with a sour tinge and has some fried potatoes on top of the salad; dig in to the bottom to find the chicken bits. I’m not sure I’ll be back again. Miznon in Singapore and Israel was more satisfying.
Ka Ling (Drkyling)
Wow! Just wow! Read all the reviews on Google and just had to come here myself. My partner and I enjoyed this place so much we came back 2x on our short trip. The beef, and the lamb varients are absolutely delicious. Our friend had the fish and really enjoyed that! Will be back once we relocate to Melbourne! See you soon ❤️
Tony Ha
59 Hardware Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Vue de monde
4.6
(1428)
Elegant fine dining restaurant in the Rialto building, with tasting menus and sweeping city views.
Reviews:
It’s such a nice and unforgettable experience we had here for a birthday dinner. Beautiful food presentations, excellent services and wonderful atmosphere from both within restaurant and outdoor views. A bit expensive but counted number of staff on duty it really worth the cost. Guests are happy to be engaged with the making of deserts and live cooking.
Frank Wen
It was a magnificent experience! We came for our wedding anniversary and it was such an amazing night. The attention to detail is next level and the food not only looks incredible but tastes sensational. Thank you to all the staff who made us feel so welcomed. We will definitely be coming back.
Sharon Brindley
Very glad to come back after the renovation. Hugh and his team have always been on song with their creative ideas and attention to details whilst keeping the two main signature dishes - marron and chocolate souffle. Well done, and congratulations once again on your achievements!
Ricky
We got a gift certificate from a friend for our wedding. What a great gift! Everything about this meal was extraordinary from the view, to the service, ambiance, and of course the food! Everything was locally sourced and innovative. We even got a tour of the kitchen and the chefs and staff were so much fun! An experience of a life time.
Ariel Magid
A truly wonderful experience. From the moment you arrive, you are in a perfect food world. The team are engaging, the food is delightful, the view spectacular. 13 courses, and never rushed. Fingers crossed we can experience it again, post renovation. Happy to post a couple of pics as we were told the entire menu is changing post renovation. Apart from their famous souffle - that is staying.
Cat B
55 Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Magic mountain saloon
4.3
(923)
Colourful boutique bar & eatery offering Modern Australian & Thai food, along with breakfast.
Reviews:
We were back at MMS last night as it was one of few tasty places open of a Monday. It’s as spicy as ever but the cocktails are sound and the food pretty delicious (they did forget our calamari though which I predicted would occur when the waitress didn’t write down our order). The prawn pad Thai was sensational and I wished I wasn’t sharing it though the lamb curry was on the hot side for a yellow curry (nothing a refreshing cocktail can’t help with) For more photos please see my Instagram @foodiefilesmelbourne
Foodie Files Melbourne
This is a multi-level modern Thai restaurant serving fusion Thai dishes. We came here for lunch with a group of friends. We tried a variety of dishes and they were all so beautifully presented. Every dish was so good and incredibly balanced with the classic Thai sweet, sour and salty combination. We especially loved the green curry and the fried chicken. The portion sizes were also good. Would highly recommend!
Jan F
4.5/5 Magic Mountain Saloon is a neon-lit, 3 level venue (with a DJ!) that offers both classic and contemporary Thai cuisine. Their menu is designed for sharing, and it’s a wise choice because it has so many delicious options that selecting just one for yourself would be a disservice. If you’re struggling to decide, they also have Feed Me menus. There is also the option of Bottomless Brunch on the weekends. We were completely blown away by majority of our choices and couldn’t have left more satisfied than we did. To cut it short, our highlights and must-orders were the Kingfish, Dumplings, Popcorn Chicken, and Drunken Noodles. Each bite was an explosion of flavours, seamlessly blending sweet, spicy, sour and savoury flavours into one. Whilst the dimly lit, extremely red lighting does not do them justice in my photos, trust me, they are dishes you cannot afford to miss. Our let downs were the Baos and the Tom Yum. The Baos were nice and soft, the chicken was tasty, but it didn’t stand out. As for the Tom Yum soup, it was delicious; however, the inconvenience of having to peel the king prawns ourselves was an unwelcomed activity during our night out, and one that tops our foodie pet peeve list. Magic Mountain is such a great, vibey spot for a night out. It has everything you’d want – good food, drinks, music and fit-out. I would revisit in a heartbeat, particularly for those Drunken Noodles!
For the Love of Food
Just had an incredible experience at Magic Mountain Saloon! 🍽️ This multi-level, modern Thai restaurant is an absolute gem with a fusion of delectable Thai dishes. From the moment we walked in, the place exuded a feel-good vibe. The warm and attentive staff made us feel right at home, always greeting us with a smile. The music added to the ambiance perfectly. The menu is a delightful journey of options. We savored the drunken noodles, and the potato green bean Massaman curry with roti was pure comfort on a plate. And oh, don't miss out on their lychee mocktail – it's a must-try! Overall, a dining experience that left us wowed. Highly recommend a visit – we're already planning our next one! 🌟🍹
Saharsh Desai
Service was attentive, food was good. For 3 people at lunch, 2 starters, 2 mains and 2 sides, we left with full bellies. The starter of chicken rendang curry with smoked mozzarella is recommended (note the curry is dry and comes as the filling in the roti rather than sormething you dip into). Drunken noodles (also recommended) had a warm humming spice to it. The side of roti (which is different to the starter roti) was really dry so would recommend you get the starter version out of the two. $210 for three including 2 cocktails each not bad.
Joie Lou
62 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Rice paper scissors
4.5
(2643)
Southeast Asian share plates in a rustic stone-and-brick space with hanging bikes and a buzzy vibe.
Reviews:
Really tasty Asian variety dishes, this place is relaxing and a great place to try more than one dish at the same time. The seafood, chicken and pork varieties are delicious with hints of Thai, Indonesian and various Asian style meals, you have a good variety. If you are two or more people, you can try up to 5 dishes combined at a price of around $50 per person. Great place for lunch or dinner and close to transport if you work in the CBD. The prices per dish are moderate and very affordable and the atmosphere is really nice and spacious. There is outdoor dining on sunny and warm days, it is more refreshing and nice to sit outside if weather permits. I would recommend a visit to this place.
Phil Tad
Simply amazing food and drink! Cool location in hardware lane, super friendly staff. We did the 5 dishes for $55 each deal and we were really happy. Food was all so fresh and packed with flavour and we certainly felt full. The cocktails were delicious, watching by the bartender make them was an added bonus. Highly recommend RPS.
Bryan Middleton
*Late review* Visited for a casual dinner with my partner on 27/11/22, we had an outdoor seating which was amazing given the warm weather. We really enjoyed the cocktails and the food was amazing!! We'll be back soon
Hansini Jhowry
Love this place! Food quality and service always consistently good. Cerviche is a must! We also had the fried Chicken, Duck, Barramundi and Pork Belly dishes. All delicious and just the right servings. I'll order a curry next time to add a saucy dish to the mix next time. Looking forward to coming back again to try different dishes.
Loz -
Amazing experience, can’t really fault it. 📍LOCATION: One of my favorite laneways in Melbourne. Views outside at the skyline are very nice during Sunset. If the weather is good, I suggest dining outside. 📞BOOKINGS: Highly recommended. 📖MENU: Reasonable range of options. Plenty of Vegetarian and Vegan options also. 🙋♂️STAFF/SERVICE: Professional Hospitality staff, who are friendly and engaging. Well don’t team. 👩🍳👨🍳FOOD: Great flavors, maybe a little small in size. 🍹DRINKS: Great range of drinks and some yummy cocktails. 🚽 AMENITIES: Outside around the corner and up the stairs. But hey at least the restaurant is smell free. 🥳EXPERIENCE: Had a great meal here, all dishes were quick to the table, tasty and unique in flavor. 👍WILL I BE BACK: Maybe I will, with some guests. 🤔 MY SUGGESTIONS: Maybe some larger dishes.
Kayne (Kano La La)
15 Hardware Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Aru restaurant
4.5
(622)
Contemporary destination with understated decor offering snacks, cocktails & innovative meals.
Reviews:
We celebrated a birthday with four friends at ARU. 1. Service: The service was so-so. They were prompt with refilling water, but I didn't like the somewhat discreet pressure to finish our meals and settle the bill quickly. This aspect of the experience was not enjoyable. 2. Appetizers: a. Sourdough Bread: It was quite good. The texture was soft and the crust had palm sugar syrup, though it felt slightly chewy (possibly my preference). The smoked butter was nice. b. Smoked Scallops with Baguette: The scallops with the sauce tasted somewhat like fish. It was decent. c. Pate en Croute: A classic French dish with a somewhat Chinese seasoning. The jelly on top had a sweet and sour taste, the meat pie was rich with a strong ginger flavor. The pickled turnip helped cut the richness, but it felt somewhat mediocre. Personally, I prefer the meat pie at Philippe's. d. Kingfish Collar: Well-grilled and flavorful, but a bit fishy if not squeezed with lemon. The chili sauce seemed to be made with orange zest and 🌶, and it was quite salty. It could have more depth if fermented chili was used in the sauce. 3. Main Courses: a. Roast Chicken: Generous portion! The meat was very tender, and super juicy. The chicken breast wasn't dry at all. It was delicious. They topped it with a lot of Japanese pickled ginger, which was appetizing. The sauce seemed like a combination of Indian masala curry, Japanese pickled ginger, and roasted eggplant puree – an unusual but great peri-peri chicken. b. Broken Rice: It was average. It seemed like rice was pre-cooked until crispy, then mixed with crispy onions, cilantro, sausage, scallions, and a bit of seafood sauce. It might become greasy without cilantro. Just okay. c. 12-Day Aged Duck: Very tasty. The aging process intensified the duck's flavor, and the crispy duck skin was delightful and flavorful, almost like enjoying crispy duck fat. The semi-cooked duck meat was tender. A must-try. d. Roasted Cabbage: An unnecessary and unimpressive dish. The slightly burnt cabbage didn't bring out the sweetness of cabbage. The addition of enoki mushrooms and cheese was disappointing. Don't order this if there are other vegetable options. 4. Desserts: a. Koji Waffle: Not as good as a store-bought waffle with ice cream. Priced at 24, it's not a good value. b. Pavlova: Better than the previous dessert, but nothing special. It felt rather average, like a store-bought base with cream, a few marshmallows, and some almost melted mixed berry sorbet on top. Overall, it was decent. Highly recommend the duck, roast chicken, and grilled fish collar. Skip the desserts; they were not impressive. I'd rate it one hat, but if we consider desserts, it falls short, and the service isn't up to par.
Dawei Sun
The food was outstanding and innovative. The attentive staff ensured all our needs were met. However, my disappointment grew when we had plenty leftovers and asked for a to-go container, only to be informed by the waitress that it wasn't a service they provided. This marked the first instance where I've been denied a takeout box at any dining establishment. Given the common practice of restaurants in reducing food waste, I was shocked by this. It would be advisable if the restaurant will allow this option in the future.
Vincent Dang
Great atmosphere and service! We went there during the restaurant's anniversary, so the suckling pig was back on the menu. We enjoyed all the other dishes; however, compared to them, the suckling pig was the least impressive.
Ryan Z
When Good food guide says it is the best restaurant in Victoria for 2023, you come with high expectations. Their accolades are well deserved. The food was beautiful and delicious. The service was friendly and prompt. The atmosphere was engaging and enjoyable. I had a great night and hope to visit again in the future. Thank you ARU.
Christopher Nelson
Amazing food, service and atmosphere. Every dish was delicious and full of flavour, we loved it all and will have to come back to try the rest of the menu. The staff was super attentive considering how packed the restaurant was and the only downside was the price of wines. Most of the wines by the glass were over $20 so you were limited in your options unless you wanted to spend a fair bit of money on wine.
Josh Vergeer
268 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Farmer's daughters
4.6
(1046)
Eco-chic venue with a deli & rooftop bar offering seasonal menus with area-sourced ingredients.
Reviews:
An amazing dinner. A go-to for a calm and classy evening when you want to relax and enjoy dinner without a thought. We enjoyed the chefs menu with its wine pairing and I have nothing else to say but bravo. My only suggestion would be to choose the premium in wine selection, but honestly, even if you don't, the experience is great! Staff was very courteous and helpful. Each dish was explained to us as the course arrived and even where the ingredients are sourced, making it both entertaining and informative. Food wise, great combinations and the portions are just right to let you savour high gastronomy while giving you a satisfying meal. I mean, have a look at the pictures, all is said there. The place in itself is great. Two rooms, one downstairs for the bar and walk-ins and upstairs for those with a booking. The decor is rich but not over the top and patrons are respectful of the ambiance, keeping discussions at a reasonable level. It gives a very soft and cosy vibe, leaving you to thoroughly enjoy your time. Results: 5 stars for the service 5 stars for the food 5 stars for the ambiance So it's with confidence I recommend the place with full marks across the board. And I recommend booking!
Thomas Robin
We walked in for a weekday dinner, and the restaurant was almost full. Luckily, we did secure a table. The standout dish of the evening was the pan-fried John Dory; its skin was wonderfully crispy, and it was cooked to perfection. On the other hand, the chicken pie was mediocre; the pastry tasted far better than the filling, which was disappointing. As for the appetizers, the cured blue eye was refreshingly delightful and an excellent way to start the meal. However, our favourite was the confit pork belly with pickled beetroot. Unfortunately, the soda bread was a bit dry this time, not up to par with our previous visit. All in all, we left the dinner quite content with the experience.
Ryan Z
I have dined here on two separate occasions and not occasions the food was lovely. On both occasions we thrived off the soda bread, it’s more like a bread cake but makes sense as it doesn’t need proofing so a little bit more dense which is also what makes it so delicious! A very well thought out tasty menu on all accounts of flavors, ingredients, and textures. Accompanied by some beautiful wine suggestions, gorgeous meal time and time again!
Eva
Read good reviews and decided to check it out. There was a warm, welcoming vibe at the place. Since we were with a toddler, we didn't opt for the chef's recommendation set because it takes 2-3 hours. Instead, we get the soda bread, alpine trout, and aged beef. Everything was fresh and flavourful. I'd go back again, but definitely not with kids.
Tommy Lim
Fabulous fabulous find!!!! We did the 5 course set menu and the delightful surprise of what we were eating was wonderful. Make sure you do have a reservation. The set menu does cater for dietary so ensure that is clarified. The idea is a tour around the Gippsland region for food and wine. We did not do the wine pairing but the selection is wines on their list is perfectly suited: Each corse delights in all the sensory experiences so take it in and enjoy: the ambiance and service are fantastic so it works with the overall pleasure of coming here:
Shilpa Thakker
95 Exhibition Street, 80 Collins Precinct, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Tipo 00
4.6
(2350)
Italian cuisine in an intimate, sophisticated laneway locale with an open kitchen and a marble bar.
Reviews:
I recently dined at this Italian restaurant and it was a delightful experience. The pasta dishes were cooked to perfection, and the main focus of the dish was always the pasta itself, which was a refreshing change from other Italian restaurants. The service was top-notch, our waiter went above and beyond to accommodate us by moving our table outside and splitting our pasta dish without even being asked. The ambience was cozy and welcoming with a friendly staff and an open kitchen. The menu had a variety of options to choose from, and I was pleasantly surprised with the unique flavors and textures each dish offered. It was clear that the chef took great care in preparing every dish that came out of the kitchen. I highly recommend this restaurant and suggest making a reservation in advance. It may seem a little on the pricier side, but trust me, the quality of the food and the attentive service make it worth it. I can't wait to go back and try more of their delicious pasta dishes and enjoy the warm atmosphere once again.
Alexander Zhdanov
Perfectly cooked pasta, as expected, beautiful sauces, the lingua ox tongue was delicious tender and so so tasty! Calamari was beautifully paired with fennel and mussel that was YUMMY! Zucchini flowers were fine, nothing amazing, could definitely have used more flavor. Squid ink pasta was definitely my favorite and well worth the recommendation, so much taste of the ocean in one plate. Beautiful plates of food overall and well flavored.
Eva
Great atmosphere, nice service, chef is amazing. Plus, their food will never disappoint you. I would not give any recommendation. Simply random any entree and pasta, they would surprise your taste bud. Their food pairing is 👍 & 🤩.
Starry Shen
Such an incredible little venue with outstanding chefs. Every dish we ordered was delicious. We didn't have a booking but went as soon as they opened, and were lucky enough to get a table.
Holly
Amazing dining experience. Place was packed but we were lucky enough to score a table outside. Heater was running and it wasn’t too cold. Food was amazing. The entrees as well as the mains. We had: Salami 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 extremely delicious and my favourite appetiser. Lingua, ox tongue 🔥🔥🔥🔥 good and full of flavour Barbebietola🔥🔥🔥🔥delicious but portion could have been a little bigger. Mains were Tortelli, Tagliolini and Mafaldine of which all were 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 but again, portion size was a little small. Loved the spicy and seasoning on all dishes - it was perfect. All in all a good night out and totally worth it!
Rouven Grossmann
361 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia