The Best Things To Eat and Drink at MFWF Under $50

March is like Christmas for food lovers with Melbourne Food & Wine Festival taking over the city from March 20 to 29. For many, it’s a time to splurge on one-off guest chef dinners and headline experiences – but a good MFWF outing doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.

Whether you’re trying to squeeze multiple experiences into the cost of one, or simply keeping an eye on your wallet, there are plenty of ways to eat and drink well this festival season for under $50.

Atlantico: Martini and Bikini

In Spain and Portugal, a bikini – the region’s answer to a ham-and-cheese toastie – is classic drinking fare. For this long-running festival event, basement bar Mr Mills leans into the area’s love of salt, seafood and brine, pairing anchovy-and-extra-virgin-olive-oil Martinis with its take on the sandwich. Here, the bikini comes layered with anchovy, jamon paleta (cured leg ham) and sheep’s milk cheese. Try both for $24, available all festival long.

Caregiver’s Place Launch Party

On March 22 everyone’s favourite bluestone bar, Caretaker’s Cottage, will take over Wesley Place for an afternoon street party to raise funds for MND Victoria. Alongside Caretaker’s cocktails, neighbouring Reed House will fire up a barbeque, and food trucks and live music will round out the program. Entry is via gold coin donation, making this one of the most accessible – and convivial – events of the whole festival.

Something Saucy: The Pizza Party

Marco Salzano and Luca Muscato, the pasta purveyors behind Carlton North’s Super Norma, have set their eyes on a different carby delight for the festival: pizza. They’ve teamed up with Leonardo’s Pizza Palace to serve 1000 free slices, along with 800 free Bloody Marys and free bottles of Leggo's pizza sauce.

Love on the Cards

Dating events have grown in popularity over the last few years – is it any surprise MFWF’s got one now, too? This time though, it’s less networking and more like a massive party, helped along by the team behind card game We Met at a Bar and food and drinks from Lilac Wine. Expect oysters, charcuterie, dolmades, lamb skewers, zucchini fritters and more – all of which can be redeemed with the price of your event ticket.

Manila to Melbourne

Inuman, the rooftop sibling to Askal, is a go-to for cocktails inspired by Filipino flavours. For this one-off event, bartender Ralph Libo-on will collaborate with Sydney-based Roean Patawaran (25 Hours Hotel, ex-Oncore by Clare Smyth, The International) on three original drinks for $25 each: a pandan, sea grape, white peach and calamansi Gimlet; a black sesame and tamarind highball; and a Daiquiri inspired by latik, Filipino caramelised coconut curds.

Messina x Hugo’s Sunday Session

Just months after the relaunch of Messina’s Brunswick East store, the beloved gelato maker is teaming up with equally loved sandwich shop Hugo’s Deli for a one-off Sunday session catering to both sweet and savoury appetites. Hugo’s will be serving its signature steak frites sandwich, while Messina will roll out event-only desserts – ideal for dipping fries into.

Daniela’s Pasta Window

Raised in Abruzzo and now based in Byron Bay, fourth-generation chef Daniela Maiorano brings deep-rooted regional knowledge to her cooking. Over a four-day pop-up at Sunhands, Melburnians can experience it first-hand through a menu of handmade pastas priced at an approachable $15 to $30 per serve. In the spirit of Italy, diners are encouraged to perch on the nature strip and eat al fresco.

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