Discover Best Melbourne Lunch Spots
Melbourne, Australia's vibrant cultural hub, is renowned for its diverse culinary scene. Among the city's gastronomic offerings, the lunch spots truly stand out, offering a wide array of choices for both locals and tourists. From trendy cafes serving up artisanal sandwiches to sophisticated restaurants offering gourmet three-course meals, Melbourne's lunch spots cater to all tastes and budgets. Whether you're a foodie seeking the latest culinary trends, a busy professional looking for a quick bite, or a tourist wanting to sample local cuisine, Melbourne's lunch scene has something for everyone. This article will guide you through some of the city's must-visit lunch spots.
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
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
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
Vespa rossa
4.6
(428)
Reviews:
Great Italian food here in Vespa Rossa. Portion is generous and taste is authentic too. Simple nice interior with fast and friendly serving staff.
Ong C
The food was very tasty, fresh and tasty. A vegetarian-friendly brunch spot worth stopping by to relax. Our service staff is Dario, who is very friendly and serious in his work. He recommended a coffee with cinnamon tea, which is super smooth and brought me a good morning.
文怡
Absolutely terrible food quality. Came here for early breakfast, First of all the latte and hot chocolate were barely lukewarm and had to asked them to redo it again but the chocolate returned still not hot enough and taste weird!! For food we ordered big breakfast and pancake. I can said the food tasted disgusting and we didn’t find even finished it and I’m a person who usually didn’t like wasting food. And price for that kind of quality is waste of money!! Never coming back
Ben Chin
Give those well manicured cafe a skip, enjoy brunch at this rustic lively place. Staffs are genuinely friendly, work fast and attentive. They do have a good cup of coffee too. Foods are well plate and reasonably priced.
Cecilia W
came here for breakfast this morning. the atmosphere was lovely and the waiters were so inviting and friendly. the food was so delicious, in particular the chorizo was so good. the juice was so fresh and sweet, and the coffee was very good. service was quite efficient considering they were busy as well.
kiara.
30 Block Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Maha restaurant
4.5
(2027)
Stylish and contemporary setting for creative Middle Eastern fine dining meals by chef Shane Delia.
Reviews:
We did the set menu for 2 with wine pairing for 1 which cost us a little under $500 for lunch. Food was underwhelming. The Middle Eastern components were not really there and seemed like an afterthought. Good food but nothing special.
Emily Jassal
Second time at Maha. The food was good, but for a restaurant touted as fine-dining I found the experience underwhelming. We had the banquet, for us the best dishes were the hummus and lamb, but the 'young' carrots were as much as you'd expect. If you like a sense of mystery the atmosphere does deliver, the entrance is inconspicuous and the lighting is dim, however I prefer to be able to see my food and the person I'm with. When we first arrived we asked to know more about the menu with some further explanation, but received a reply that it was written on the page in front of us and we could read it ourselves. If the room was more well-lit we probably could have. Whilst it wasn't a terrible experience, Maha wouldn't be the first place I'd go to for a special occasion at this stage.
lingjy
Came here for dinner last night with 3 colleagues and had a wonderful time ! Cant recommend it enough. The food was to-die-for and the service was next-level from every single person we encountered. We did the Soufra meal plus snacks and for 4 women found it to be plenty of food so definitely worth it. SO much flavour in every bite, and we loved how the waiter would explain each part when he dropped it off. They were also awesome at accomodating my prawn allergy by providing me with a tempura pumpkin alternative- yum. Would definitely recommend and will be back for sure next time we’re visiting melbourne.
Jenna E
Whenever someone asks me for a Middle Eastern restaurant recommendation, Maha immediately comes to mind but funny enough, I hadn't actually been myself before this visit. I had just heard so many good things about this place over the years, so it’s been on my list for the longest time. I finally visited late July for their 15-year birthday tasting menu (priced at $175pp), curated with their best dishes from the past 15 years. The starter snacks were tasty, though a tad oilier than I'd prefer. The meze course was probably my favourite – loved the makanek with eggplant and pomegranate, the charred kingfish, pickled cucumber, and their signature hummus with soft flatbread was a winner. Among the mains, the roasted lamb shoulder was amazing, tender and full of flavour. The steamed rockling came with a nice extra surprise of mussels for the celebration, but my fish did also have a few unexpected bones 🫠 The Moghrabieh Milanese was creamy and hearty, while the additional roasted Portland lobster [+$75] was sadly, overly salty. Onto desserts - they were quite generous with the selection, adding a mini cake and sparkler for the birthday person, but the highlight was the ”Land of the Milk and Honey". It perfectly balanced out the hearty meal and was a light and refreshing way to finish. I had two cocktails throughout the night - their passionfruit arak and moorish coffee cocktail, and they were both great. 3.8/5 ✨ Overall, there were some real winners and some misses, and although the service throughout the night was top notch, the wait times in between the course did feel quite long. I had high expectations for Maha, and think I might’ve come on an off night.
Eveline
I have fond memories of eating at Maha and nobody ever did or will make lamb shanks that good! I had the best lamb shanks ever ever for dinner at Maha when dinner was more than salad! We ordered the scollops, salmon roe tart, salty doughnuts, chicken and corn dish and their donuts with walnut ice cream. It was a good meal overall but a one off for us. Only worth the calories again if it’s spectacular right!
R M
21 Bond St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia