Best fine dining in Melbourne

30 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/melbourne

Gimlet is among the most-named places whenever Melbourne diners are asked for fine dining, and most commenters recommend it. Three diners praise the food, two of them also the service, and one singles out the T-bone while two mention the late-night cheeseburger. Four commenters suggest it for dates or a partner night out. One advises booking ahead. It does divide opinion: two diners call it overhyped or overrated and find the food underwhelming, though some still like the drinks or atmosphere, and one had a poor visit with a burger served cold inside.

23 people recommendvia r/melbourne, r/finedining

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. Two diners call the food excellent or impressive, and four describe it as good value for a high-end meal. Three commenters like its non-alcoholic drink pairing and two mention the handmade serving pottery. Two describe it as less showy or flashy than other fine-dining places and another says it is very filling. One diner preferred a restaurant in Ballarat to Navi.

Seddon

21 people recommend, 4 warn against itvia r/melbourne, r/finedining

Most who mention Vue de Monde recommend it, often for a special night. Several diners praise the food and service, four mention the city views, and diners recall an anniversary and events held there. It is not unanimous: three diners call it pricey, two find the cooking generic and not distinctly Melbourne, and two say it has become less interesting or left them disappointed. One diner says the menu changes too rarely to revisit often, and one who has not been has heard it is more style than substance.

20 people recommendvia r/melbourne, r/finedining

Amaru, in Armadale, is a fine dining restaurant that many people recommend, and several rank it first among the options they compare. Some diners say the food is great, one praises its service and ambience, and two describe a multi-course degustation-style meal. One diner found the overall night less memorable than Vue de Monde's, and one found it beyond their budget though they still plan to go.

Armadale

20 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/melbourne

Reine & La Rue is recommended by most who name it, above all for its setting. Several praise the beautiful, decadent room, and a few also praise the service. Several suggest it for dates or special nights out, with one diner calling their anniversary meal there the best dining they have had in Melbourne, and two mention the steak. Value is the caveat: one commenter finds the room stunning but otherwise unimpressive, one who has not eaten there feels much of the price goes toward the setting, and one found the food good but not worth the cost.

19 people recommend, 7 warn against itvia r/melbourne, r/finedining

Minamishima is an omakase restaurant that many people recommend. Two praise it as proper or top-class omakase, and two say you need to book well ahead. Value is the main caveat: many diners enjoy the meal but find it pricey for what they get. Several were disappointed, a few say it does not match top omakase in Japan, and one feels it has declined over the years.

15 people recommend, 6 warn against itvia r/melbourne, r/AskAnAustralian, r/finedining

Many people recommend Attica, and several describe the food as excellent, amazing or inventive, with one diner saying the menu leans strongly on native Australian ingredients. Opinions are divided: two diners found it good but not outstanding, and a few find the food underwhelming or overrated, one calling it pretentious. A few say it no longer justifies the cost, and a couple left hungry, though another left comfortably full. Two suggest it for visitors and one as a one-off, and one says the experience was the best part. One diner found the service poor, two find it less consistent than it used to be, and one notes it can be hard to book.

13 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/melbourne

Flower Drum is a long-running Cantonese restaurant that four people name as Melbourne's Chinese fine-dining pick. Two diners call it an institution, one saying it has held up after nearly fifty years, and others call it amazing or top notch for Cantonese food. A couple praise the service as flawless or excellent, but one diner calls the service shocking. One says it is apparently pretty good but only worth it if you like Chinese food.

11 people recommendvia r/melbourne

Maha, a Middle Eastern restaurant, is recommended by many, and two commenters include it in their personal fine-dining lists. One says the food is always fantastic, though they have not been since before the pandemic, one calls the food and atmosphere solid, and another names it as their favourite Mediterranean restaurant. One suggests it for Middle Eastern fusion. Nobody criticises it.

10 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/melbourne, r/finedining

Ishizuka is a Japanese restaurant that many diners recommend. One calls it incredible and their favourite CBD fine-dining pick, another names it a solid Japanese fine-dining choice, and one calls it a go-to omakase splurge. One says it is worth it despite being hard to book. The caveats are that one diner thinks it has slipped though still very good, one would rather spend the same on omakase in Japan, and one notes it leans heavily on seafood.

CBD

9 people recommendvia r/melbourne

Farmer's Daughters, in the CBD, is recommended by eight commenters. One diner, speaking from personal experience, counts it among the places they found exceptional, and another calls it amazing. One says it uses locally sourced ingredients and offers interesting wine pairings, another likes the deli on the ground floor, and one rates its food selection and quality above Mjolner's, though Mjolner has the stronger style and atmosphere.

7 people recommendvia r/melbourne

Nomad is recommended by seven commenters. One diner goes every year for their birthday and praises the filling meals and warm service, one found the pre-theatre menu delicious, and another says it always impresses and singles out the olive ice cream. One commenter praises its food and wine list. Three others name it as a pick, and one diner finds it acceptable rather than amazing.

5 people recommendvia r/melbourne

Grossi Florentino is a fine-dining pick for many commenters, and two point specifically to the upstairs dining room. One praises its old-school service and describes linen tablecloths and hand-painted murals, another says it feels welcoming and familial, and one calls it a two-hatted CBD restaurant. Comments do not always say which part of the venue they mean, so all mentions are counted together for the venue.

Upstairs