France-Soir

Restaurant · French · $$$$ · south yarra

Open since 1986, France Soir is one of Melbourne’s essential restaurants – attracting the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger. Find French staples from steak tartare and magret de canard, to crème brûlée for dessert.

11 Toorak Road

Public Wine Shop

Shop · $$$ · fitzroy north

Former sommelier Campbell Burton is behind this smart store, where 200 bottles of organic, sulphur-free wine rest in temperature controlled cabinets.

179 St Georges Road

Apollo Inn

Bar · $$$ · melbourne

In a timber-panelled room that feels of another time, get ready for four types of Martini, a daily menu of shellfish on ice, and a stand-out crème caramel dessert.

165 Flinders Lane

Askal

Restaurant · Filipino · $$$ · melbourne

A team of seasoned hospo pros, including ex-Lume and Sunda chef John Rivera, are behind this unadultered Filipino restaurant. Try elevated takes on Filipino mainstays including sisig, lechon and halo-halo.

167 Exhibition Street

Bar Selecta

Bar · $$$ · hawthorn

The latest spot to evoke Japan's listening bar culture comes from a team with serious drinks pedigree. So as much as the vintage vinyl collection – and sound system – is a draw, it's anchored by rock solid sakés and fun cocktails.

717 Glenferrie Road

Anchovy

Restaurant · Vietnamese · $$$ · richmond

Thi Le and Jia-Yen Lee’s dynamic diner is where you’ll find modern spins on deep cuts and rarities from Vietnam’s regional cuisines. The team’s current focus is noodles, snacks and single-origin fish sauce.

338 Bridge Road

Molly Rose

Bar · $$$ · collingwood

In an old furniture warehouse, you’ll find sour-coffee ales and beer that mimics wine. Plus, a schmick Southeast Asian restaurant (and beer garden) next door with kangaroo tartare, twice-fried chicken wings and more.

279 Wellington Street

Reed House

Restaurant · $$$ · melbourne

Its couple owners met while working with Yotam Ottolenghi at Nopi in London. Their first restaurant is set in a charming old bluestone home. Come for ramen Scotch eggs, Welsh rarebit crumpets and Yorkshire tea punch.

130 Lonsdale Street

Market Lane Coffee Prahran Market

Cafe · $$ · prahran

Meet the flagship of one of Melbourne’s top coffee roasters, where education is key. Order its excellent coffee, pastries by Baker Bleu and sangas made with market-fresh produce.

163 Commercial Road

Jim’s Greek Tavern

Restaurant · Greek · $$$ · collingwood

After more than 40 years, this classic Greek spot still brims with diners most nights. It stays true to tradition with pan-fried saganaki, house-made Greek dips, lamb sliced from the gyro and hot plates of charcoal-cooked seafood.

32 Johnston Street

Embla

Restaurant · $$$ · melbourne

Nominally it’s a wine bar, but Embla’s charms are far more profound than those two words suggest. Come here for some of the city’s best food, paired with an idiosyncratic wine list poured by staff who give a damn.

122 Russell Street

Byrdi

Bar · $$$ · melbourne

The world-class bartenders here work with native ingredients in an on-site lab to create their peerless, Australian-inspired cocktails. The food here is no less inventive – come for small plates with a big focus on seasonality.

Corner Latrobe And Elizabeth Streets

Bar La Sirene

Bar · $$$ · reservoir

At a converted suburban warehouse, try wild-fermented beers by one of Australia’s most established brewers. Complex stouts, lagers and farmhouse drops sit alongside grazing boards and beer-spiked cocktails.

277 Edwardes Street

Frankie's Tortas and Tacos

Restaurant · Mexican · $$$ · fitzroy

A schmick Mexican-style taqueria serving up tacos, hulking tortas (Mexican-style sandwiches), imported Mexican beers and house-made horchata. There are banquettes and high tables to sit at, or you can get your lunch to take away.

30 Johnston Street

Pidapipo Carlton

Shop · $$ · carlton

This clean-cut gelateria kickstarted the city’s gelato renaissance in 2013 and deserves every metre of the long lines it still routinely generates.

299 Lygon Street

Florian

Cafe · $$$ · carlton north

This cafe has an old soul and a relaxed, unpretentious feel. It's got a pared-back, produce-driven menu that looks different day to day (but the standout gravlax and signature riff on eggs Florentine aren't going anywhere).

617 Rathdowne Street

Suupaa

Restaurant · Japanese · $$$ · cremorne

At this konbini-inspired cafe and restaurant hybrid by the Future Future team, you'll find mortadella onigiri, udon bolognese, matcha with milo and banana cold brew. Plus, a thoughtfully curated retail selection.

65 Dover Street

Manze

Restaurant · Mauritian · $$$ · north melbourne

This intimate wine bar and diner is helping to put Mauritian food on Melbourne’s culinary map. Try quintessential Mauritian dishes (which go hard on okra, pickled produce and seafood) with curated natural wines.

2/1-5 Errol Street