In a city overflowing with Italian restaurants, it takes something extraordinary to stand out. Da Guido La Pasta, tucked into the heart of Carlton’s iconic Lygon Street, is precisely that kind of restaurant. We have visited several times and it has become our favourite and best Italian restaurant in Melbourne. Mirco and his team are working wonders in Lygon St, and after 9 years with little marketing they are making their mark.
This understated fine-dining gem offers a luxurious Italian experience led by chefs whose résumés include some of the world’s most celebrated Michelin-starred restaurants. The result? A meal that feels deeply authentic, luxe, technically brilliant, and effortlessly elegant.
From handmade pasta and pristine produce to a wine list packed with bottles you rarely see elsewhere in Melbourne, Da Guido La Pasta is a restaurant that deserves far more acclaim. There's also a romantic vibe which makes it perfect for date nights in Melbourne.
For us, once again, it was one of the most memorable Italian dining experiences we’ve had in Melbourne.
Few dining experiences in Melbourne are as satisfying as yum cha. We are huge fans of a leisurely yum cha session and we have been scoping Melbourne for the last 15 years for the best yum cha in Melbourne. The endless procession of bamboo steamers, the fragrance of jasmine tea, and the thrill of spotting your favourite dumplings rolling past on a trolley is one of the city’s great culinary pleasures.
Melbourne is blessed with an exceptional yum cha scene. You’ll find elegant, premium venues serving handcrafted dumplings with precision, bustling suburban institutions where families gather every weekend, and hidden gems where chefs continue traditions passed down through generations. This guide to the best yum cha in Melbourne is organised by area, making it easy to find your next dumpling destination.
Melbourne’s theatre district isn’t one zone—it’s an interconnected dining ecosystem spanning Southbank, the CBD, and East End theatre strip. The smartest strategy isn’t just where you eat, but how you time it: most venues run optimally on a 5:30–5:50pm seating, with clear communication that you’re attending a performance.
Is there a more compelling way to spend a Saturday afternoon than enjoying premium Nikka Japanese whisky paired with top notch Black Opal Wagyu? There are dining events that leave you pleasantly satisfied, and then there are those rare occasions where every detail - food, drink, storytelling and atmosphere - coalesces into something genuinely memorable. The Whisky & Wagyu long lunch at Robata Melbourne was one such occasion.
While the extraordinary Black Opal Wagyu provided the culinary centrepiece, the beating heart of the afternoon was unquestionably Nikka Whisky - one of Japan’s most revered whisky houses and a distillery whose story is as compelling as the liquid in the glass. Having been to a few Nikka whisky events, this was another triumph.
One of the best events of the year in Melbourne. Under the assured direction of Head Chef Lily McGrath, and with illuminating commentary from Nikka Brand Ambassador Marcus Parmenter and San Telmo Group whisky expert Phoenix Rain, Robata delivered an experience that was as intellectually engaging as it was delicious.
Victoria is one of the world's great compact travel destinations. Within two hours of Melbourne you can be standing in an ancient mountain range, watching penguins walk up a moonlit beach, tasting benchmark Pinot Noir at a world-class cellar door, soaking in a mineral spring, or eating freshly shucked mussels on a pier. We've explored all of it — many times over — and this is our definitive list of the 10 best weekend getaways and staycations from Melbourne right now.
From day trips to full weekends, from glamping to hatted dining, from rugged coastline to goldfields cities, Victoria delivers on every front. These are the destinations we return to again and again.
Best weekend getaways from Melbourne — at a glance:
Yarra Valley — world-class wineries and long lunches, under 1 hour
Mornington Peninsula — Pinot Noir, hot springs and ocean beaches, 1–1.5 hours
Crown Melbourne remains one of the city's great dining destinations - and I say that having eaten my way through most of it over the years. What makes it compelling is the sheer range under one roof. You can move from a world-class Japanese restaurant to a buzzing Indian dining room to a classic French bistro overlooking the Yarra, all in the same complex.
My wife and I have spent many memorable evenings here - celebrating special occasions, entertaining interstate guests, or simply treating ourselves. These are our honest picks for the best restaurants at Crown Melbourne right now.
There’s something undeniably magical about sipping a cocktail above the city streets. Melbourne’s rooftop bar scene is one of the best in Australia, combining skyline views, inventive drinks, and atmospheres that range from laid-back to seriously glamorous.
Whether you’re searching for the best rooftop bars in Melbourne CBD, a laid-back terrace for sunset drinks, or a glamorous rooftop cocktail bar with skyline views, this guide covers the city’s standout venues.
Here are our picks for the best rooftop bars in Melbourne.
Melbourne's fine dining scene just got a serious upgrade. La Madonna, the French-Italian restaurant perched on level three of Next Hotel Melbourne in the CBD, has launched Caviar After Dark - a five-course degustation dedicated entirely to premium caviar. Running until 31 July 2026, this limited-time experience is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting restaurant events in Melbourne this year. We were invited to a launch event to experience this luxe offering ourselves and it didn't disappoint.
At a Glance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Best For: Special occasions, anniversary dinners, serious foodies, anyone wanting to experience Melbourne dining at its peak right now
Price: $$$$ - $220pp for the degustation, optional wine pairing $110pp
Verdict: A genuinely rare experience for Melbourne - an entire degustation built around world-class caviar, executed by a Michelin-trained chef in a setting that feels luxurious without being intimidating. Don't miss the Spaghetti au Caviar or the extraordinary Negroni caviar dessert. Book before it sells out.
