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.

This restaurant eschews the quick, noisy, share-plate format. Slow down with the important people in your life, aided by some of the best food and wine Melbourne has to offer.

Tipo 00 has an offering too good to refuse: carb-loaded, butter-drenched pasta.

A largely pasta-free zone next door to wildly popular older sibling, Tipo 00.

Melbourne's first proper taqueria still has it.

A vibrant pan-Indian diner serving naan pizzas, sweet-and-sour fried cauliflower and Tandoori-fired-pineapple cocktails.

An energetic bar and restaurant serving modern Euro-Vietnamese fusion dishes.

The restaurant responsible for setting off Melbourne's love of Modern Spanish tapas.

Restaurateur Rinaldo Di Stasio is back in the city with an extraordinary restaurant that blends high art, high drama and high cuisine.

The fiery Thai diner Melburnians and tourists have been queuing for since 2011.

Moving from Collingwood to the city has only taken this energetic Chinese restaurant to greater heights.

Spectacular city views and tapas until 1am. It’s no surprise this place is held dear by so many Melburnians.

The quietest achiever in Melbourne’s flashy fine-dining scene.

A long, narrow, cement and wood underground Japanese-inspired bar.

A bona fide meat dungeon.

Try raw Wagyu kofta and cardamom-spiked coffee at this bar/restaurant serving up lesser-known Middle Eastern.

The chic space for palates that crave Asian hawker-style food.

Tasia and Gracia Seger might be reality TV stars, but their Indonesian restaurant proves their talent is definitely not just for show.

This venue from the European Group is not quite a pub, not quite a wine bar. And it’s open late.

At the forefront of contemporary Thai dining.

A serene Cantonese fine-diner that's been cooking since 1975.

This stark, futuristic restaurant might be inspired by American barbeque, but its Asian-accented highlights – duck, mapo tofu empanadas – are totally original.

Charcoal-grilled Chiang Mai pork sausages, vintage kung-fu movies and a rice-paper station by Pho Nom’s Jerry Mai.

Eyal Shani’s Israeli pita haven came to Melbourne, via Paris and Vienna.

Fun and a little brash, QT’s restaurant raises the bar on hotel dining.

An Italian-influenced Argentinian spot by the San Telmo and Pastuso team.

After 19 years behind the counter at Pellegrini’s, Matt Picone opened this pasta bar dedicated to his late father.