Melbourne is South Australia’s chic city for foodies. A destination rich in local and international chefs, who form one of the most vibrant gastronomic scenes on the planet. We’ve narrowed it down to four places to visit if it’s an experience you need, rather than just a meal.
1. Chef Jacques Raymond’s Temps Kitchen
Jacques Raymond is the owner of this fine dining restaurant in Windsor, near Prahran. For almost twenty years, Cuisine de Temps has consistently produced the delicate, sumptuous food that makes Jacques Raymond an iconic chef in Melbourne.
Choose from the unique menu featuring the best Australian produce to reflect the flavors of the season. Enjoy and quench your thirst with the wine list and feel the simplicity and appropriateness that is perfect.
Recommendation: Try the classic Blue Swimmer Crab Beignet and the Gougeres that have been on the menu for 27 years.
2. World View by Chef Shannon Bennett
Featured among Elite Traveler’s World’s 100 Best Restaurants, Vue de Monde is a fixture on Melbourne’s dining scene. Vue de Monde retells the epitome of lunch and dinner as an experience to be savored and enjoyed. You’d be hard-pressed to find French cuisine prepared with such detail and attention elsewhere in Melbourne. If that’s not enough, while dining you can enjoy an incredible view of the city’s skyline from the 55th floors of the famous Rialto Towers.
Recommendation: If you are looking for a more exclusive experience, you can book the Dom Perignon room, a private space designed by Joost Baker that can accommodate 14 guests.
3. Chef Ben Shewry’s Attica
Ripponlea’s hotspot for 55 diners is the only Melbourne-area restaurant on S. Pellegrino’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The understated warm earthy tones, the intimate and unpretentious space, and the Tuesday night Chef’s Table (where the team tries out new creations) are clear indications that Attica puts food first.
Dinners can be chosen between five or eight courses and there is a separate menu for vegetarians. Each dish has been carefully crafted by chef Ben Shewry to make it a complete and unique experience; from ‘potato cooked on the ground’ to ‘apple, olive and lukewarm shredded wheat’. The elegant and complex dishes that you could easily be forced to describe in detail for months afterwards. Layers of crunch and crunch mix with salty explosions and silky, smoky foams.
Recommendation: The staff are well equipped to give you suggestions on how to get the best out of each dish. Creative and refined dining in humble and relaxed surroundings.
4. Chef Frank Camorra’s move
Chef Frank Camorra is renowned for introducing Melbourne diners to Spanish cuisine at his ever-popular wine and tapas bar. Dinner at Movida can quickly become an expensive occasion, as it can be hard not to get carried away here. The tapas and portions menu is designed to be shared, but avoid overdoing it too soon to make room for dessert. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a cross-section of signature dishes and seasonal specials.
Recommendation: If you want to experience Spanish cuisine at Movida you can make a reservation in advance, often months in advance now essential.
These are just some of the best restaurants in Melbourne that you must try. If you prefer to stay at your hotel for dinner, choose from numerous luxury Melbourne hotels that offer sophisticated dining that can definitely satisfy your palate. You can also walk close to the hotel you are staying at to go to a local pub or restaurant if you want to try some not so expensive but good local Melbourne cuisine. Getting the chance to try local foods and a unique dining experience is one of the best things you can do on your Melbourne vacation.