Where To Find The Best Bar Food In Melbourne?

Melbourne, a relatively small city (four million people) at what is essentially the end of the planet, boasts food that is on par with New York City or London and has the kind of variety you won't find anyplace else.

Sydney may be more well-known internationally, but if you want to stuff your face during a trip, Melbourne is where you should go. Multiple waves of immigration have left their mark on every aspect of city life, from the longstanding love of coffee to the European drinking culture to the abundance of Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine. Melbourne is home to an abundance of restaurants serving every imaginable cuisine.

Carlton, Fitzroy, and Richmond are just some of the neighbourhoods that provide a wide variety of dining options, in addition to the city proper (or "the city," as the residents call it).

Though formal dining is always an option, many of the most exciting restaurants right now offer more laid-back fare, with an emphasis on communal dining and small plates.

Then there are the cafes to consider. Melbourne is known as a coffee mecca, but you won't find any "coffee shops" here; instead, cafes in Melbourne tend to be upscale, sit-down establishments serving gourmet fare. Due to intense competition, several of the hipper cafes now offer ham hock benedict and full Indonesian breakfasts in addition to the standard American morning fare.

There's a lot of variety and creativity in the Melbourne dining scene, but it can get rather pricey. However, Melbourne is a must-visit for foodies. And you should probably eat more than three times a day if you want to get everything done.

The Best Bar Food In Melbourne

The time for sharing mixed nuts has passed. Melbourne's top watering holes are aware that their clientele expects more than just mediocre bar food, and they've delivered.

Here are some of the greatest bars in Melbourne to have a bite to eat, whether you're in the mood for some fancy toasties, a plate of charcuterie, or a plate of croquettes. Sit down and relax, Listers!

Cutler & Co.

A typical Melbourne restaurant would be something like Cutler & Co. The meal is simple and bistro-like (maybe roasted flounder to start and then a huge rib eye to share) yet it is served in a fine dining atmosphere that is both elegant and comfortable.

You should visit one of the other great restaurants in town before you go, all of which share the same chef: The tastiest tuna tartare in town can be found at Cumulus Inc., a no-reservations, all-day small plates spot.

Supernormal, the Asian counterpart of Cumulus (though it's only open for lunch and supper), serves upscale takes on traditional Australian-Chinese fare in a pub setting. Last but not least, Marion is the pinnacle of decent wine bars. You must visit at least one of these restaurants before you leave town.

Le Bon Ton

An authentic taste of New Orleans can be found in the Collingwood at Le Bon Ton, where you can enjoy American BBQ and a whole room devoted to oysters (shuck, yeah!). ...after a nice piece of chicken? At Le Bon Ton, you may get your wings either Southern style fried in cracked white pepper sauce or Smoked in a pit over cherry wood.

Do it all. Those who prefer vegetarian options can get a fried green tomato or beef brisket sanga. Le Bon Ton has a late-night licence, so they serve food until 5 in the morning on the weekends, so you can drink and eat till breakfast.

Cookie

A cookie is like the forgotten garment at the back of the closet: you just need to eat one to remember it forever.

Although Cookie is never lacking in customers or conversation, its longevity and reliability have led some Melburnians to take its quality and popularity for granted. It's one of the favourite restaurants in the city since they have the best Thai food in a massive room that serves as both a bar and a restaurant.

Allium Food & Wine 

Malvern's Allium Food & Wine has a stellar wine list (with 14 options available by the glass) and is a well-kept secret among Melburnians. and a selection of delicious bar snacks on the menu. Grab a roll of their renowned house-smoked duck ham, or if you're in the mood for a luxurious snack, try some seven-spice pig crackling.

Do you have a taste for fromage? (That is a very good question!) The cheese at Allium is world-class, and the restaurant only serves selections from the best manufacturers throughout the globe. Add more cheese, please. Then, certainly, it would be great! On the third Wednesday of each month, the pleasant staff at Allium conducts cheese pairing seminars. It's no exaggeration to say that this neighbourhood wine bar serves the finest bar fare in all of Melbourne.

Kaprica

Near Melbourne University, on a quiet street in Carlton, is a pizza shop that could well be in the Eternal City.

Wine is served in tumblers, the tables are so close together that you can hear every word of the couple at the next table over, and the menus are handwritten copies often stained with red wine.

We agree that the various pastas are tasty, but we wouldn't recommend saving too much room in your stomach for them; thin-crust, minimally topped pizzas are where it's at. Even the sweet pizzas are included.

Rice Queen Oriental Diner & Bar

Bar snacks fit for a queen can be found on the menu of this quirky Fitzroy favourite, which contains everything from baby banh mi to Peking duck pancakes and arguably of the best damned pig bellies in Melbourne (Yum! Caramelized and presented with a green name!).

Also noteworthy is the Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) at Rice Queen, which is marinated in a seven-spice blend, fried, then tossed with spring onions and whole chillies and served with mint sauce. The Colonels have nothing on this. When you've finished eating and drinking, head on over to the Karaoke area for some out-of-tune fun.

Chin Chin

You'll have to wait if you want to visit Chin Chin, so prepare accordingly. Melbourne's twist on traditional Asian dining halls, this no-reservations modern South-East Asian location on Flinders Lane in the city centre is a great place to socialise with friends and family.

They've been swamped with customers ever since they opened in 2011, and a recent expansion hasn't helped.

Be here on a weekday long before 7 o'clock to put your name down and then go have a drink at GoGo Bar around the corner and behind the restaurant. When seated, you may feel awkward ordering food by saying "feed me" to the waiter. However, if you do, the waiter will bring out dish after dish until you're stuffed.

Harley House

Do you prefer Mexican food or Chinese food? Why aren't you two going out? Harley House, a bar and restaurant in Melbourne's central business district, serves up delicious Mexican Chinese fusion food for those who have trouble deciding where to eat.

Mentor steamed buns, plump little dumplings, and Sichuan chicken wings seasoned with Arbol chilli are all examples of such delicacies. What is this, insider knowledge? The Asado short rib mantou, stuffed with coriander, chipotle sauce, cabbage, and jalapenos, comes highly recommended.

Have a Tijuana Smash with your mantou—made with Pampero Blanco rum, apple, blood beach, and mint, and it's delicious. A little bit of luck on your side? Try your luck with the Game of Happy Ending.

Minamishima

Melbourne has excellent Vietnamese, Chinese, and Thai restaurants, but Japanese cuisine has never been one of the city's strong suits. But you can't deny the prevalence of $3 hand buns stuffed with canned tuna.

But Minamishima stands out from the crowd by providing one of the only omakase meals in town and by sourcing its seafood both locally and from the Tokyo fish market. Pre-Reserving a seat at the sushi bar is highly recommended, as the locals are, unsurprisingly, very enthusiastic about the trend.

Tonka

Melbourne's increasing Indian community has resulted in a plethora of excellent, low-key Indian restaurants. But what about the newer, fancier Indian eateries? Tonka is the only other option.

There are numerous twists on traditional dishes, as well as the more standard fare (Tandoori chicken prepared in a tandoori oven) (duck korma with apple and beetroot).

That's why it's totally fine if Tonka shows up on her own. In addition, you'll spend a lot of time dining and drinking in Melbourne's laneways, which are actually called laneways by the locals and are much less sinister than the name alley suggests. Located in an alleyway in the heart of the city.

The Noble Experiment

The Noble Experiment is a one-stop-shop that serves as a restaurant, bar, and cocktail lounge. Where can We find Melbourne's top bartenders? Tick. What's up on the dance floor? Tick. Some scrumptious nibbles, perhaps? MAJOR check! Bar snacks at this Smith Street hangout include fried mac 'n' cheese sticks, crispy pig's head, and poutine, which is made with hand-cut chips, slow-cooked oxtail, cheese curds, and oxtail sauce.

Cafe Di Stasio

A hidden gem among Melbourne's top restaurants, Cafe Di Stasio flies under the radar of most visitors. However, if a local extends an invitation to you for dinner at Di Stasio, you may rest assured that they are head over heels in love with you. You'll be treated like royalty by waiters in white jackets as they serve you the finest gourmet Italian cuisine in town.

The inhabitants of St. Kilda frequent the younger, more relaxed bar next door for a drink before supper or a casual bite to eat.

The Smith

The Smith are one of the favourite Prahran pubs (and a short walk from TUL HQ! ), and they provide a wide variety of tasty bar food, such as oysters, soft shell crab tacos, sticky beef buns, and so much more. Kansas City-style pork ribs are taboo; please don't bring them up. We might as well drool all over the place!

Pacific Seafood BBQ House

Australian Chinese restaurants do not provide chicken chow mein or any dish with a General Tso's sauce. Compared to Chinese food eaten in China, the Chinese food in the West is far less sweet.

Pacific Seafood BBQ House is one of the top Chinese restaurants in Richmond, despite being located on Victoria Street, which is otherwise dominated by pho businesses and Vietnamese eateries.

There's always a little stickiness on the tables, and the deals are posted on the walls in Chinese on colourful pieces of paper. Please bring the hot pot, half a Peking duck, and salt and pepper calamari.

Bad Frankie

Bad Frankie is Melbourne's first bar to focus exclusively on Australian spirits. The menu at this establishment includes a variety of jaffles and other dishes with an Australian theme. Really. The Classic features aged cheddar and mozzarella on white bread, while the Fat Pie is loaded with braised beef, thick gravy, and tomato chutney. Fair dinkum is a great way to describe it.

When it comes to sugary things, the jaffle effect also applies. On the menu you'll find items like the lamington jaffle (chocolate-drenched sponge cake filled with jam, rolled in coconut, and topped with whipped cream) and Bad Frankie's version the Anzac biscuit (oats and golden syrup atop toasted brioche).

Pellegrini's

There is no better example of a Melbourne institution than Pellegrini's. This casual Italian restaurant is open throughout the day and serves up plates of spaghetti Bolognese and glass of watermelon granita as if they're doing you a favour. And they are, as this time capsule (open since the 1950s) serves as the ideal pit stop for weary sightseers between the city's many attractions.

400 Gradi Cicchetti 

Johnny Di Francesco is well-known for his skill in the kitchen as a pizza master, but did you also know he can hold his own behind the bar? The pizza master behind Brunswick East's beloved 400 Gradi pizzeria has opened a new Venetian-themed bar, 400 Gradi Cicchetti, right next door.

This hip new bar in Melbourne offers a large selection of Italian wines and traditional foods. The thing that gives you the most pleasure. 400 Gradi is right next door, so customers may easily order Johnny's famous pizza there as well.

Attica

Attica, a dim, world-famous restaurant in Ripponlea, a Melbourne neighbourhood best recognised for its old houses and families than for anything cool, is the best spot to enjoy food made with Australian ingredients.

Vegemite pie, wallaby blood pikelet, enormous emu eggs, and, most likely, kangaroo might be served as part of a twenty-course tasting menu. You need an adventurous spirit to visit Attica, yet the city itself is never oppressive or stuffy.

The Lui Bar

Would you like a view while you sip your coffee? Take an elevator to the 55th story of the Rialto and visit The Lui Bar, the cocktail lounge of Vue de Monde.

Lui's bar menu does not disappoint, either, delivering a refined spin on the classic Australian munchies to complement their well-known cocktail list and inventive alcoholic creations. What about some toasted ham and cheese sandwiches? Only the finest Jamon will do here.

Mini burgers? Here, only David Blackmore Wagyu meat will do. Nutella doughnuts are sophisticated snacking at its finest, so don't let the night end without eating every last one.

Charcoal Grill On The Hill

Charcoal Grill isn't somewhere a tourist would stumble across (It's located in Kew, about a twenty-minute drive from the city centre), and it's not the hippest spot in town, but it's one of our absolute favourites.

This suburban establishment is a shrine to the steak, complete with a massive case of raw meat at the entrance. There are some appetisers and non-beef items on the menu, but you're here for the main event: flawlessly grilled beef of your choosing, served with a heaping helping of French fries and a side salad.

Charcoal Grill is a great time, despite the fact that it is entirely red (even the carpet), attracts an older clientele, and has an extensive wine selection that can make you feel stuffy. You won't regret eating here if you're staying in town for a time.

Dr Morse Bar & Eatery

Dr. Morse, an Abbotsford bar and restaurant located beneath the Victorian Park railway bridge, is known for its extensive menu and excellent outdoor beer garden.

Relax in the sun and order from their small plate menu, which includes items like fried chicken ribs with ranch sauce, sriracha mayonnaise, and ranch sauce, and Wasabi kewpie with crispy pig's ears. The clean eating crowd might not approve, but this is exactly what the doc prescribed.

Vue De Monde

Melbourne doesn't have many restaurants with great views, but Vue de Monde, located on the 55th level of the Rialto building, is the best of the bunch. Vue is a tasting-menu-only fine dining establishment, but the atmosphere is relaxed.

Although the atmosphere is modern and dim, the food is not to be taken lightly (it frequently features rarely seen native Australian ingredients), but the service is casual and there is no need for quiet conversation. You should know that you'll be making a significant financial investment. Have a drink and a nibble at Lui Bar, right next door, for a more wallet-friendly alternative with a view.

The Collection

Best bar food in Melbourne may be found at The Collection on Bridge Road, which serves Southern American fare and a variety of traditional cocktails.

Jalapeo poppers, popcorn shrimp, and particularly delectable Cajun-seasoned french fries with a mayo made from pickled okra.can be found on the bar menu at The Collection, where the founders have introduced Cajun flavours down south after working at some of the top sipping spots in York and San Francisco. Thank God, this is wonderful.

The Meatball & Wine Bar

Who among us doesn't enjoy a few balls with our beverage of choice? Yes, we are! The Meatball & Wine Bar, with locations in the central business district, Richmond, and Collingwood, has some of the city's best meatballs. All sorts of meats and vegetables may be found in these wine bars, whether they be stuffed into sliders or served alongside mash.

You can get some excellent cured meats and cheeses there, either by the piece or the board. Need a little item? You won't be able to stop eating their Wagyu beef jerky. Alternatively, you might skip the small talk and dive right into a whoopee mac, which consists of a great big lump of ice cream between two biscuits.

Huxtaburger

A "the lot" burger in Australia will come with less cheese, extra bacon, a fried egg, and slices of beetroot than a "double cheeseburger" in the United States. Therefore, eating one is less likely to put you to sleep than, say, ordering from a local fish and chip shop; with the exception of Huxtaburger, whose burgers have more of an In-N-Out vibe.

The Fitzroy location of what is now a mini-chain that has maintained its high standards since its inception and which has always had a lengthy line of customers waiting to get in has humble beginnings. The Cosby Show decor wasn't so strange when they first debuted, so just imagine it as Melbourne's version of Shake Shack.

Bar None

Bar None, located in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, is a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike (and a favourite drinking spot for the TUL crew). Their drink menu is more of a book than a list, measuring half an inch in thickness and being bound since it is so highly sought after (and frequently stolen) that they have begun selling it for $15 a copy.

They offer some of the best toasties in Melbourne in addition to a short but sweet bar menu. You can thank us later, but for now, go ahead and devour a Reuben toastie loaded with pastrami, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles.

Conclusion

Melbourne's restaurants serve numerous international cuisines. Cafes are frequently called "coffee shops," but this neighbourhood has none. Melbourne's top bars know their patrons expect more. Cumulus Inc. serves small all-day meals without reservations. 5 am is Le Bon Ton's weekend late-night food service.

Allium Food & Wine has great wine (with 14 options available by the glass). Marion has the best wine bars. Try Harley House's Mexican-Chinese fusion if you need help with where to eat. GoGo Bar has food and drinks. Melbourne has several good, unpretentious Indian restaurants due to its big and rising Indian community.

Minamishima offers omakase. Noble Experiment is a restaurant, bar, and cocktail lounge. Pacific Seafood BBQ House in Richmond has wonderful Chinese food. Fat Pie at Bad Frankie has braised pork, thick sauce, and tomato chutney. The Rialto skyscraper's 55th-floor houses Vue de Monde.

Lui Bar offers affordable views. The Collection and The Meatball & Wine Bar may have Melbourne's greatest bar food. Australian "the lot" burgers have less cheese, bacon, fried eggs, and beetroot than American "double cheeseburgers." None's half-inch-thick drink menu reads like a book.

Content Summary

• Melbourne, a relatively small city (four million people) at what is essentially the end of the planet, boasts food that is on par with New York City or London and has the kind of variety you won't find anyplace else.
• Melbourne is home to an abundance of restaurants serving every imaginable cuisine.
• Then there are the cafes to consider.
• Melbourne is known as a coffee mecca, but you won't find any "coffee shops" here; instead, cafes in Melbourne tend to be upscale, sit-down establishments serving gourmet fare.
• There's a lot of variety and creativity in the Melbourne dining scene, but it can get rather pricey.
• And you should eat more than three times a day if you want to get everything done.
• Here are some of the greatest bars in Melbourne to have a bite to eat, whether you're in the mood for some fancy toasties, a plate of charcuterie, or a plate of croquettes.
• You should visit one of the other great restaurants in town before you go, all of which share the same chef: The tastiest tuna tartare in town can be found at Cumulus Inc., a no-reservations, all-day small plates spot.
• You must visit at least one of these restaurants before you leave town.
• Malvern's Allium Food & Wine has a stellar wine list (with 14 options available by the glass) and is a well-kept secret among Melburnians.
• The cheese at Allium is world-class, and the restaurant only serves selections from the best manufacturers throughout the globe.
• It's no exaggeration to say that this neighbourhood wine bar serves the finest bar fare in all of Melbourne.
• Near Melbourne University, on a quiet street in Carlton, is a pizza shop that could well be in the Eternal City.
• Head over to the Karaoke area for some out-of-tune fun when you've finished eating and drinking.
• You'll have to wait if you want to visit Chin Chin, so prepare accordingly.
• Melbourne's twist on traditional Asian dining halls, this no-reservations modern South-East Asian location on Flinders Lane in the city centre is a great place to socialise with friends and family.
• Be here on a weekday before 7 o'clock to put your name down and then have a drink at GoGo Bar around the corner and behind the restaurant.
• Melbourne has excellent Vietnamese, Chinese, and Thai restaurants, but Japanese cuisine has never been one of the city's strong suits.
• Melbourne's increasing Indian community has resulted in many excellent, low-key Indian restaurants.
• In addition, you'll spend a lot of time dining and drinking in Melbourne's laneways, which are called laneways by the locals and are much less sinister than the name alley suggests.
• The Noble Experiment is a one-stop shop that serves as a restaurant, bar, and cocktail lounge.
• Australian Chinese restaurants do not provide chicken chow mein or any dish with a General Tso sauce.
• Compared to Chinese food eaten in China, Chinese food in the West is far less sweet.
• Pacific Seafood BBQ House is one of the top Chinese restaurants in Richmond, despite being located on Victoria Street, which is otherwise dominated by pho businesses and Vietnamese eateries.
• Bad Frankie is Melbourne's first bar to focus exclusively on Australian spirits.
• Attica, a dim, world-famous restaurant in Ripponlea, a Melbourne neighbourhood best recognised for its old houses and families than for anything cool, is the best spot to enjoy food made with Australian ingredients.
• Take an elevator to the 55th story of the Rialto and visit The Lui Bar, the cocktail lounge of Vue de Monde.
• Charcoal Grill isn't somewhere a tourist would stumble across (It's located in Kew, about a twenty-minute drive from the city centre), and it's not the hippest spot in town, but it's one of our absolute favourites.
• Melbourne has few restaurants with great views, but Vue de Monde, located on the 55th level of the Rialto building, is the best.
• Vue is a tasting-menu-only fine dining establishment, but the atmosphere is relaxed.
• Have a drink and a nibble at Lui Bar, right next door, for a more wallet-friendly alternative with a view.
• Best bar food in Melbourne may be found at The Collection on Bridge Road, which serves Southern American fare and a variety of traditional cocktails.
• The Meatball & Wine Bar, located in the central business district of Richmond and Collingwood, has some of the city's best meatballs.
• A "the lot" burger in Australia will come with less cheese, extra bacon, a fried egg, and slices of beetroot than a "double cheeseburger" in the United States.
• Therefore, eating one is less likely to put you to sleep than ordering from a local fish and chip shop, except for Huxtaburger, whose burgers have more of an In-N-Out vibe.
• The Cosby Show decor wasn't so strange when they first debuted, so imagine it as Melbourne's version of Shake Shack.
• Bar None, located in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, is a popular hangout for locals and tourists (and a favourite drinking spot for the TUL crew).
• They offer some of the best toasties in Melbourne and a short but sweet bar menu.