Top 10 Restaurants in Melbourne

What is it? Flower Drum is a Chinese and seafood restaurant located at 17 Market Ln. It sits a four-minute walk from Bourke Street Mall and holds a two-hat rating from the Australia Good Food Guide.

Why we love it? The venue earns its place as a staple of classic fine dining by ignoring the trends that sweep through Melbourne. With a ranking of no. 15 on La Liste, it manages a high-price point by focusing on consistency rather than novelty.

Good to Know: The formal, smart and elegant dress code at Flower Drum is strictly observed, so expect to see tailored jackets throughout the dining room.

What is it? Centonove is an Italian restaurant on Cotham Rd in Kew. It holds one hat from the Australia Good Food Guide, marking it as a destination for traditional, fine dining.

Why we love it: It earns its 4.75 rating from nearly 500 reviews by focusing on a formal, romantic atmosphere that resists the trend of casual dining. While it sits nearly five kilometers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, its commitment to classic, high-end service makes the trip to Kew feel earned rather than incidental.

Good to Know: The smart and elegant dress code at Centonove is strictly observed, so opt for tailored evening wear to match the room's traditional aesthetic.

What is it? Tipo 00 is an Italian restaurant located at 361 Little Bourke St in Melbourne. It holds a hat from the Australia Good Food Guide.

Why we love it: The restaurant sits a short, two-hundred-metre walk from the Bourke Street Mall, placing high-end Italian fare within reach of the city's primary retail transit. It maintains a 4.75 guest rating across more than three thousand reviews, proving that the mid-range price point does not compromise the consistency of its service.

Good to Know: Tipo 00 requests that guests adhere to a smart and elegant dress code, befitting its status as a destination for fine dining.

What is it? Supernormal sits on Flinders Lane, a four-minute walk from Bourke Street Mall. This restaurant holds one hat from the Australia Good Food Guide and features a wine list recognized for best value by The World’s Best Wine List Awards.

Why we love it: The kitchen executes a rigorous approach to Asian, South East Asian, and Japanese cuisines that justifies its position as a high-end destination in the city. With nearly 5,000 guest reviews averaging a 4.67 rating, the restaurant maintains a rare level of consistency that keeps it ahead of the surrounding Flinders Lane crowd.

Good to Know: The smart and elegant dress code at Supernormal pairs best with the deep, curated selection of Japanese labels found on their award-winning wine list.

What is it? The Hardware Club sits at 43 Hardware Lane Upstairs. It is a fine dining restaurant located a four-minute walk from the shops of Bourke Street Mall and a six-minute walk from the public space at Federation Square.

Why we love it? The Hardware Club distinguishes itself by merging modern, fusion, and seafood-focused menus within an elevated setting. With a 4.80 rating across nearly seven hundred reviews, it commands a premium price point that reflects its status as a destination for those seeking a formal atmosphere above the standard street-level bustle.

Good to Know: The dress code at The Hardware Club is smart and elegant, so swap the casual Melbourne denim for structured tailoring before heading up to the terrace.

What is it? Tulum Restaurant sits at 217 Carlisle St, a moderate-priced destination that holds one hat from the Australia Good Food Guide. The kitchen focuses on a specific blend of Mexican, South American, and seafood traditions, positioning the venue as a fine dining choice in the local area.

Why we love it: It is a rare find that earns a 4.73 rating across hundreds of reviews, suggesting a level of consistency that is hard to maintain in the sector. Being a forty-five-minute walk from St Kilda Beach and a forty-three-minute walk from Acland Street, it avoids the high-traffic tourist flow while maintaining a formal, romantic atmosphere.

Good to Know: The smart and elegant dress code at Tulum Restaurant feels most appropriate when you choose to dine on the terrace.

What is it? Bistra is a fine dining restaurant located at 157 Elgin St, Carlton. It sits a short 15-minute walk from the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum.

Why we love it: It manages an impressive 4.86 rating from its diners, a rarity for a venue that commands such a premium price. The kitchen leans into a modern, international approach to seafood, utilizing its terrace to offer an expansive vantage point that sets it apart from the more enclosed eateries in the area.

Good to Know: Bistra maintains a smart and elegant dress code, so plan your evening attire accordingly to match the formality of the terrace setting.

What is it? San Telmo sits at 14 Meyers Pl, a five-minute walk from Federation Square. It is an Argentinian grill and bar that serves as a high-end option in the area, backed by a 4.79 rating from over 4,000 diners.

Why we love it: It bypasses the fleeting trends of the surrounding city in favour of a focused South American grill menu. While it shares the proximity to the Block Arcade and the National Gallery of Victoria with dozens of other spots, San Telmo manages a luxury feel that remains surprisingly consistent even at this scale.

Good to Know: The kitchen’s commitment to the Argentinian grill style means you should dress to the smart and elegant code, as the charcoal smoke and interior design command a certain level of polish.

What is it? The Strand sits at 1 The Strand, a five-minute walk from Williamstown Beach. It operates as a high-end contemporary seafood restaurant and is a short walk from the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club.

Why we love it: It earns a loyal following, evidenced by a 4.65 rating from 583 reviews, because it manages a formal fine dining atmosphere without sacrificing the connection to its waterfront surroundings. The terrace seating is the standout choice for those looking to dine in a space that balances its modern, luxury aesthetic with an open-air view.

Good to Know: The Strand requires smart and elegant attire, so keep the casual coastal wear for the nearby Williamstown Botanic Gardens and opt for polished tailoring for your table here.

What is it? Kisumé sits on Flinders Lane, a four-minute walk from Federation Square and less than a block from the Collins Street commercial corridor. This contemporary Japanese restaurant holds a hat from the Australia Good Food Guide and an Excellence Award from Wine Spectator.

Why we love it? While many Flinders Lane venues lean toward the casual, Kisumé maintains a rigorous standard of fine dining that demands a smart and elegant dress code. It succeeds by balancing high-end sushi technique with a contemporary approach, distinguishing itself as one of the few places in the city to earn multiple hats from the Australia Good Food Guide in recent years.

Good to Know: The kitchen at Kisumé focuses on contemporary Japanese preparations that pair best with the label’s Wine Spectator-recognized cellar.