The top 10 Foodies Insider Guide to Melbourne experiences that are uniquely us and are essential to taste while you are here.
The mother of brunch culture, wine bars and street food worthy of a Michelin star –Melbourne is known for its foodie delights. There are many dishes ingrained in the fabric of our DNA and you can’t call yourself a Melbournian if you haven’t tasted them
Foodies Insider Guide Top 10
- Hot Jam Donuts at Queen Victoria Market
A Sunday morning at QVM isn’t complete without a few hot, doughy balls of goodness from the American Donut Kitchen Van. While you’re there, the Queen Victoria Market has over 10 lanes of fresh locally-made delicacies, so you can also grab yourself a traditional Turkish Borek or Bratwurst sausage in bread for as well.
- ‘Xiao Long Bao’ at HuTong
These traditional soup dumplings originated from Shanghai, but are rivalled at this Chinatown hotspot.
- Coffee from… well, nearly anywhere
Coffee is a lifestyle in Melbourne and we pride ourselves on it. There are endless cafes in the city – from hole-in-the-wall espresso bars to intricately designed eateries – depending on the caffeinated experience you desire.
If you want to go back to where it all began, the first Italian espresso machine in Melbourne came to Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar and has kept the old-school establishment a hotspot for over 70 years. For a more modern, specialty coffee experience, we recommend Dukes, Axil Coffee Roasters or Market Lane.
- Croissant at Lune Croissanterie
Lune croissants have been dubbed the ‘World’s Best’- and there’s no doubting why. These masterpieces of wheat and butter are created with precise science in mind – a climate-controlled lab mathematical formulation and technical precision. Make sure you’re there as early as possible to avoid the line of fellow pastry-lovers and potential sell-out.
- Lobster roll at Supernormal
For the more fancy foodie, the famous New England lobster roll has stood the test of time. The dish is a warm brioche roll with pulled lobster and housemade Kewpie mayo – a simple yet considered mix of flavour and culinary prowess.
- Ramen at Shinjuku
Open all night long, Shujinko is Melbourne’s answer to a Japanese cuisine favourite. Try their Signature Ramen, a flavorful tonkatsu pork broth soup.
- Ricotta Hotcake at Top Paddock or Higher Ground Melbourne
Arguably, the most instagramed Melbourne brunch dish. As picturesque as a pancake can get, the deep, fluffy base is topped with seasonal berries, crunchy seeds, organic maple syrup and a dollop of cream.
- ‘Jane’ Toastie at Toasta
The toasted sandwich – or ‘toastie’- is an Australian staple made extra-special by the food truck exptrondiaries at Toasta. Try this crispy, buttery three cheese blend, or for something more extravagant, the ‘Mac Daddy’ adds macaroni, caramelised onion, pulled pork and BBQ sauce.
- A scoop of Dulce De Leche Gelato at Gelato Messina
Gelato Messina is gelato heaven, with top-quality raw ingredients transformed in-house to become one of the stores 40 permanent flavours or 5 weekly seasonal specials. Whether it be a classic rich chocolate gelato, a crazy mix of caramel cheesecake and crushed potato chips or the famous Dulce De Leche, Messina is a dessert that must be had while in Melbourne.
- $4 pizzas and beer at Lucky Coq
A Chapel Street institution – Lucky Coq is the meeting place for locals and travelers alike. Some spare change will get you a local beer from 14 different taps and a freshly-baked pizza, all in the confines of a quirky venue with some of Melbourne’s best up-and-coming DJ acts.
