Melbourne, according to locals
387 places that people in Melbourne keep recommending, across 7 maps. Each map links every place to the comments behind it.
Best restaurants in Melbourne
Where people send friends to eat in Melbourne: Gimlet for its burger and prawn toast, Gippsland produce at Farmer's Daughters, tonkotsu at Hakata Gensuke, noodle refills at Mr Ramen San, red lentil dumplings at Maha, buffalo ricotta gnocchi at Cumulus Inc and kangaroo parma at the Napier Hotel. Gimlet can be hard to book, and some find later visits disappointing.
Most recommended
- Gimlet48 people recommend, 4 warn against it
Gimlet draws broad recommendations for dates and celebrations, with praise for the food and room.
- Farmer's Daughters, Cbd31 people recommend, 3 warn against it
Commenters recommend Farmer's Daughters for modern Australian cooking and Gippsland produce.
- Hakata Gensuke, Russell St30 recommend it
Hakata Gensuke is recommended across its Melbourne outlets, with the source-named Russell Street restaurant represented here.
- Maha, Cbd28 people recommend, 3 warn against it
Maha is widely recommended, including for dates and vegetarian dining.
- Mr Ramen San, Midcity Arcade28 people recommend, 2 warn against it
Mr Ramen San has strong support for ramen, though opinions range from a personal favourite to merely solid.
Best bars in Melbourne
Melbourne-area bar recommendations, including beer gardens and live-music dive bars, with cited opinions on the music, atmosphere and the different experiences patrons report.
Most recommended
- The Last Chance, Melbourne Cbd28 people recommend, 2 warn against it
Most people recommend The Last Chance, a rock bar opposite Queen Victoria Market in the Melbourne CBD.
- The Retreat Hotel, Brunswick27 people recommend, 1 warns against it
Most people recommend The Retreat Hotel on Sydney Road in Brunswick.
- Great Northern Hotel, Carlton24 people recommend, 1 warns against it
Most people recommend the Great Northern Hotel in Carlton, and a few patrons praise its food, beers and beer garden.
- Heartbreaker, Melbourne Cbd23 recommend it
Heartbreaker is a rock bar with a pool table and pizza by the slice, and most people recommend it, with many saying the rock music is a draw.
- The Charles Dickens Tavern, Collins St19 recommend it
Overall, people recommend The Charles Dickens Tavern, and a few commenters describe its atmosphere as calm and separate from everyday life.
Places to visit in Melbourne
What people steer visitors to in Melbourne: exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria, dinosaur displays at Melbourne Museum, hot jam doughnuts at Queen Victoria Market, a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens, the reading room and Ned Kelly armour at State Library Victoria, and oysters at South Melbourne Market. Expect crowds at the gallery and both markets.
Most recommended
- National Gallery of Victoria90 recommend it
Many visitors praise the exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria, and many say the kids' spaces suit children well.
- Melbourne Museum66 recommend it
Most visitors recommend Melbourne Museum, and many say its children's area and toddler play spaces suit young kids, while several single out its dinosaur displays.
- Queen Victoria Market61 recommend it
Most visitors recommend Queen Victoria Market, and many say the produce is high quality and good value.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne60 recommend it
Many visitors recommend a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens, and several call the gardens nice or gorgeous.
- State Library Victoria60 recommend it
Many visitors recommend the State Library in the CBD, and many single out its children's area as a good spot for young kids.
Best steak in Melbourne
Melbourne-area steak recommendations, from charcoal-grill restaurants to pub dining rooms, with cited opinions on the meat, atmosphere and how diners prefer it cooked.
Most recommended
- San Telmo, Cbd39 recommend it
Most people recommend San Telmo, and many people praise the steak, though one diner finds it excellent every time but also pricey.
- Railway Club Hotel, Port Melbourne23 recommend it
The Railway Club Hotel, a pub in Port Melbourne, is a name many diners give when asked about steak, with one diner saying it is famous for steaks and another calling the steak superb.
- Palermo, Cbd21 recommend it
Most people recommend Palermo, and many name it as a steak pick, with one calling the CBD branch their top choice.
- Meatmaiden, City20 recommend it
Many people recommend Meatmaiden, with three praising the food and one commenter saying it stands well clear of other options.
- Victor Churchill, Armadale19 recommend it
Many commenters recommend Victor Churchill for its steak, and one diner found the steak and entrees phenomenal, especially the spinalis.
Best ramen in Melbourne
Melbourne-area ramen recommendations, including tonkotsu and chicken bowls, with cited broth comparisons, mixed opinions and distinctions between branches.
Most recommended
- Hakata Gensuke, Russell St45 recommend it
Many diners recommend Hakata Gensuke, and many who name a shop mean Russell Street.
- Mr Ramen San, Midcity Arcade36 recommend it
Many diners recommend Mr Ramen San, which has more than one shop in the CBD; some name the Midcity Arcade shop.
- Shop Ramen, Fitzroy19 recommend it
Most diners recommend Shop Ramen, and some call it the best ramen they have had in Melbourne.
- Shujinko Ramen, Russell St16 recommend it
Most commenters recommend Shujinko Ramen, and several name its tsukemen.
- Ippudo, Qv16 recommend it
Many diners recommend Ippudo, and several name the QV branch.
Best fine dining in Melbourne
Melbourne-area fine-dining recommendations for dates and special meals, with cited opinions on food, atmosphere and drink pairings, including reservations about prominent restaurants.
Most recommended
- Gimlet30 recommend it
Gimlet is among the most-named places whenever Melbourne diners are asked for fine dining, and most commenters recommend it.
- Navi, Seddon23 recommend it
Navi, in the inner west, is recommended by most people who name it, and several put it at or near the top of their personal lists of Melbourne fine dining.
- Vue de Monde21 recommend it
Most who mention Vue de Monde recommend it, often for a special night.
- Reine & La Rue20 recommend it
Reine & La Rue is recommended by most who name it, above all for its setting.
- Amaru, Armadale20 recommend it
Amaru, in Armadale, is a fine dining restaurant that many people recommend, and several rank it first among the options they compare.
Best burgers in Melbourne
Melbourne-area burger recommendations, from smashed beef to fried chicken, with cited comparisons, repeat-visit experiences and disagreements about popular names.
Most recommended
- St Burgs13 recommend it
Many people recommend St Burgs, and two of them call it the best or the greatest outright.
- Elmo's, Fitzroy North12 recommend it
Many commenters recommend Elmo's on St Georges Rd in Fitzroy North, mostly for its smash burgers.
- Royal Stacks, CBD11 recommend it
Royal Stacks is a local chain (one commenter says there are a few outlets in the CBD), and many people recommend it; the map marks the Collins Street outlet, which one commenter names. One diner calls its fried chicken burger the best they have had in Melbourne, and another says it is the closest they have had in Melbourne to Shake Shack. Not everyone agrees: one diner calls it the worst non-fast-food burger place they have eaten at, with tiny burgers, and another finds it average and overhyped. A couple of commenters say it is not cheap.
- Leonard's House of Love10 recommend it
Leonard's House of Love is a South Yarra bar that many people recommend for burgers.
- Butcher's Diner, Bourke St8 recommend it
Many people recommend Butcher's Diner for burgers, and a couple name the Bourke Street location.