A laidback Italian eatery in the space which once housed Sarti. The voguish menu taps into current pasta obsessions such as cacio e pepe and cavatelli with pan-fried pork sausage; bolstered by larger, protein-heavy mains. The wine-list has an emphasis on Australian and Italian varietals, while the easy-drinking spritzes – best enjoyed on the rooftop – are the name of the day over on the cocktail side of things.

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.

Top notch European food and wine.

The big gun classic in Italian dining in Melbourne.

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.

Andrew McConnell's all-day eating house combines excellent food with interior design.

There were many Mexican restaurants before this one, but owners Nick Peters and Matt Lane were the first restaurateurs to bring a faithful representation of Mexican food to Melbourne. This "hot babe" has been around since 2010, and there are still queues on the stairs for its elotes (grilled corn) and flavoursome tacos.

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.

A CBD dining hot spot serving modern Indian.

Some of the best dining and views in the country.

The restaurant responsible for igniting Melbourne's love for modern Spanish food.

A beer hall, cocktail bar and modern Thai restaurant all in one.

Simple Italian in intimate surrounds.

Punchy Thai food and cocktails.

Beautifully executed pan-Asian offerings by Andrew McConnell. Come for Melbourne's most famous lobster roll, steaming bowls of ramen at lunch, Korean-style barbequed meats and Shanghai dumplings.

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.

Innovative Southeast Asian cuisine from one of Sydney’s most exciting young chefs.

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

Refined Middle Eastern from celebrity chef Shane Delia.

A casual, fast-paced alternative to Florentino.

This is one of Melbourne's best Japanese restaurants. It's certainly its most ambitious. There's a New York-style sushi bar at street level, a pumping izakaya-style basement and an upstairs private dining room – Kuro – for intimate kaiseki-style meals.

Thanks to Jesse Gerner (Green Park, Añada), the old Aylesbury is all about tapas now. Plus, there are spectacular views out over the city to enjoy while you eat. It's no surprise this place is held dear by so many Melburnians.

Izakayas are Japanese bars where the eating is just as important as the drinking. That's true at this CBD favourite. There's a selection of drinking-friendly dishes that accompany the excellent sakes and Japanese-influenced cocktails.

A bona fide meat dungeon.

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.

A very French city spot where you can snack and drink for hours on a balcony.

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.

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

A two-storey restaurant that’s refreshingly old school, from former St. Crispin chef Joe Grbac.

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.

One of Melbourne's original American barbeque joints.

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

The second location for a south-side favourite.

The perfect place to bask in luxury and tradition.