Butter Days

Cafe · $$$$$ · malvern

This takeaway-focused spot from Dessert Masters winner John Demetrios has a Scandi soul and an Aussie heart. He's applying his fine dining pastry pedigree to Aussie bakehouse classics to delicious – and often sold-out – effect.

209 Glenferrie Road

Ca Com

Restaurant · Vietnamese · $$$$$ · richmond

Inside this banh mi bar from the Anchovy team, a woodfire hearth turns out turmeric chicken, jungle pork sausage and Manchurian pumpkin to fill the crusty baguettes.

336 Bridge Road

Bistra

Restaurant · Italian · $$$$$ · carlton

This bistro leans into white table-clothed dining, vintage wines and timeless dining. The menu defies definition, offering French onion soup through to Southeast Asian-style desserts like lychees with coconut custard.

157 Elgin Street

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

Dua

Cafe · Filipino · $$$$$ · collingwood

Raya’s Raymond Tan is behind this innovative “Scandinasian” bakery. Head in for snacky breakfast plates, Japanese and Filipino breads paired with marzipan and other classic Scandi fillings, and other fun fusions.

35 Johnston Street

Geralds Bar

Bar · $$$$$ · carlton north

This neighbourhood bar brims with nostalgia. Old books, yesteryear’s wine bottles and a glimmering disco ball decorate the space – but what you’ll notice most is warm, old-school hospitality (and the menus that turn on a dime).

920 Lygon Street

El Columpio St Kilda

Restaurant · $$$$$ · st kilda

Rather than just duplicating everything that made the Fitzroy original so beloved, El Columpio’s Ricardo Garcia Flores has taken a different tack for his taqueria’s seaside sequel. Come for the finest take on Sinaloan seafood in the city – metres away from the ocean.

20 Jacka Boulevard

Aunty’s Dumplings

Restaurant · Chinese · $$$$$ · carlton

This small family-run spot folds up to 1000 dumplings a day using produce from nearby Victoria Market.

117 Cardigan Street

Stokehouse

Restaurant · $$$$$ · st kilda

Seafood and stunning ocean views – it's no surprise this is such an institution. It's been the final word in St Kilda fine dining since it opened in 1989.

30 Jacka Boulevard

Hopper Joint

Restaurant · Sri Lankan · $$$$$ · prahran

Get stuck into hoppers, sambals and curries at this highly personal Sri Lankan restaurant by star interior designer Brahman Perera and his partner Jason Jones, where eating with your hands is encouraged.

157 Greville Street

Patricia

Cafe · $$$$$ · melbourne

This charmingly small space takes coffee culture in both old and new directions. It’s one part throwback to traditional European coffee bars, one part contemporary Melbourne coffee scene.

Corner Little Bourke And Little William Streets

Julie

Restaurant · $$$$$ · abbotsford

An idyllic restaurant with its own kitchen garden, perfect for long lunches amid the backdrop of the Abbotsford Convent’s well-maintained grounds. Expect uncomplicated fare such as handmade pasta and roast chicken.

1 St Heliers 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

Smith & Daughters

Restaurant · Deli · $$$$$ · collingwood

Fire reigns supreme at the second iteration of Shannon Martinez’ pioneering vegan diner. Choose from Mediterranean-inspired dishes and booze à la carte, or grab a seat at the intimate chef’s table and let the experts choose.

107 Cambridge Street

Yang Thai

Restaurant · Thai · $$$$$ · st kilda

Proceed with caution: it'll be hard to go back to your neighbourhood chicken shop after you've sampled the charcoal chooks at Yang Thai. Take them away whole or in a lunch pack (with Thai sides), or settle in and enjoy the vibe.

49 Blessington Street

Moon Mart

Cafe · Japanese · $$$$$ · south melbourne

Oozing yellow-hued charm, this Korea-meets-Japan cafe has a cult following for its bulgogi sausage muffin and okonomiyaki hashbrowns.

315 Clarendon Street

Marmelo

Restaurant · Portuguese · $$$$$ · melbourne

A Portuguese restaurant from a powerhouse Sydney hospo couple, with views out over Russell Street. Come for Iberian classics (with an emphasis on Victorian produce), then head for a nightcap at downstairs bar Mr Mills.

130 Russell Street

Gimlet at Cavendish House

Restaurant · European · $$$$$ · melbourne

Andrew McConnell's signature flair is all over this grand bar and dining room, from the exacting service to the comforting European dishes. It’s named after the classic cocktail, and the calibre of drinks here speaks to that.

33 Russell Street