The Best Fine Dining in Melbourne

Ben Shewry and the Attica team are quite simply making some of the most unique, soulful and delicious food on the planet. On a visit early May 2021 I was reminded how special this restaurant is I’m the Australian and global food landscape. Cooking that is heartfelt, thoughtful and that respectfully acknowledges the land and country the restaurant is located. As I left Attica my only thought was how soon I could return. Always been stellar never been as good as it now is. Book now!!

From French bistro to fine dining powerhouse, few restaurants have managed to reinvent themselves like Vue. It's remarkable to see such a young, creative mind at the helm of such an institution. Hugh Allen is under 30 and spent three years at Noma in Copenhagen, before being fast tracked from sous to executive chef at Vue de Monde. His obsession with modern, native Australian ingredients is palpable, and his creations integrate seamlessly alongside menu mainstays. For those not from Melbourne, Vue is located at the top of one of our tallest buildings, and sports the most beautiful views across the bay and city skyline. The venue is detailed, chic, relaxed and intimate, and the perfect place to watch the sun go down. Wine pairing is a must, while the set menu is an ever-evolving door for the seasons, showcasing some of Australia's most obscure, and celebrated, native ingredients. And don't worry, the OG chocolate soufflé still has its moment x

Delicious Cantonese cooking with a touch of luxury and a hint of Twin Peaks. Flower Drum is a Melbourne institution, celebrating its 50th birthday in just two years. Dining here is an experience, an almost surreal combination of opulence, well-prepared dishes, and tongue-in-cheek performance - their classic Peking duck is a prime example. Their legendary front-of-house team is composed of real characters, and the wine list is extensive. If you're unable to secure a table (which is not easy), you also have the option to dine in the bar. While you might miss out on some of the action, it's a fun option as well.

Tonka will alter the way you view Indian cuisine. Modern yet traditional, experimental and considered, flavourful and always memorable. The desserts here are exceptional. One of my favourites from the Flinders Lane precinct.

A beautiful grand dining room with elegant food to matchI feel it would be hard to eat at gimlet and not leave feeling satisfied. I highly recommended starting your meal with a house cocktail, they have a great selection and are all delicious, particularly the yuzu Alberto. The menu is a well balanced mix of modern bistro dishes with a few items from the wood grill (the lobster with saffron rice is a must)A restaurant I’ll definitely be revisiting next timeI’m in Melbourne.

All the reports you’ve seen of some very clever things going on at Navi appear to be well founded. Get a load of this Golden Plains pork: meat from the cheek, jowl and the rest of the head cooked separately then draped together under a veil of caramelised radicchio, sauced with a sour-sweet ragoût of native fruits and garnished with crisp slivers of pig’s ear. Fuck yeah, Yarraville.

If the views over Port Phillip Bay aren’t enough to tempt you into this glorious, light-filled space - the food certainly will be. Atmosphere is relaxed yet sophisticated, desserts are a standout. Perfect for a long lunch to enjoy the impressive views the restaurant boats.

This place is an absolute cracker! Think elevated pub food, an ever-evolving seasonal menu, a solid wine list and a whole lot of ‘old world charm’ meets new world gentrification. This place is absolutely worth your time.

Amaru: wow. And all the more wow for this curve-ball of a dessertThe gold brick is salted Woodside goat’s curd, and it shares plate with honeycomb, lemon myrtle and sorrel. Of particular note this the drink pairing, just out of frame: mango kombucha. This is richly deserving of a double fuck-yeah.

Melbourne welcomes a Sydney iconStrap yourselves in, lovely people. Welcome to my first review of 2022 and where better to start than at Melbourne's hottest new restaurant, NOMAD. A longtime Sydney institution, this dynamite of a restaurant is serving up all the classics that have become synonymous with the label since launching along the east coast. Truthfully there's nothing I would change here. The wine is delicious and affordable, the flat bread is extraordinary and as for that kingfish...In fact, I loved the menu so much that I recently recreated one of their most famous dishes at home. Burrata and fennel jam. And yes, it was an absolute crowd stopper. Don't miss this place, particularly if you love its older sibling in Sydney.Eat up! Tom x

Killer aesthetic, sexy vibe, best Japanese in town Sleek, sharp and consistent. Every course, gorgeous. The word that comes to mind when I think of Kisumé is 'precision'. There's a sense of refinement in the way this place operates. The chefs are calm, considered and detail focused, while each dish presents as a work of art. For me, one of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne x

Italian tucker, sexed up. Everyone I know raves about this place and you need only look at the reviews online to realise they're not alone. Illaria's big brother TIPO 00 has been one of my favourite restaurants for several years now and so it should be of no surprise that this joint was high on my priority list. It was absolutely outstanding. Every single course, stellar. We skipped the chefs menu (I'm a bit off them of recent) and simply built our own eight course deggy, partnered alongside one of the best Chardonnays I've had in recent times. All in all, I loved every second. Modern yet classic, familiar yet creative, simple but tasty. Not to be missed x

Industrial chic, flavourful tucker. This place has such a sexy aesthetic. Gorgeous tall ceilings, great lighting, it's the perfect spot for a date...in fact, I definitely saw a few in play. Obvious highlight was their roti (covered in shaved truffle) with vegemite curry, as well as their bannockburn chicken with Thai sausage, gai lan and bush apple. Gosh it was nice. Sunda is the sister restaurant of ARU and can I just say, they're both worth your time x

Jae Bang brings a Korean/Scandinavian aesthetic to the heart of Melbourne corporate dining.There is an independence of spirit in this majestically tall-ceilinged gothic 1890 building in the heart of Collins Street, Melbourne. It comes from chef Jae Bang (El Bulli, Re-naa) and it's a significant contribution to the diversity of Melbourne dining, without pressing all the same nostalgia/bistro/wine bar buttons as everyone else. The waffle with trout roe, say no more.

Unique, modern but also traditional kaiseki dining in a hidden locationPossibly the best Japanese restaurant in Melbourne, intensively laborious technique, an amazing showcase of excellent produce, cookery, service and opulence in a sleek and intimate space, a must for special occasions and gourmet dining

An underground restaurant that crafts the finest Asian cuisine at an exceptionally high level.The Omakase menu at Yugen is awesome, Australia's foremost Omakase restaurant. The exceptional quality of seafood and perfectly prepared rice showcased their commitment to the Japanese tradition. Yugen takes its craft seriously, yet manages to infuse the dining experience with an enjoyable and exciting atmosphere. If you find yourself in Melbourne, it's a definite must-visit.

Victor is a genius when it comes to creating deceivingly simple dishes that have a complexity of flavour. Lee Ho Fook is definitely one of my go-to restaurants in Melbourne.