Travel Tips

9 Must-try restaurants for fine dining in Melbourne 2025

Looking for the best fine dining in Melbourne? This guide highlights nine dining spots highly rated for their unforgettable tasting menus.

Melbourne has been a renowned foodie haven for years, but in 2025, it’s the fine dining venues that are stealing the spotlight.

With over 100 restaurants now awarded Chef’s Hats in the Australian Good Food Guide (and several ranking among the best in the world), Melbourne has firmly established itself as a global culinary destination.

Yet while this is truly exciting, it’s also a little overwhelming. With so many acclaimed restaurants, how do you know which ones are truly worth the splurge?

Having spent over a year living in Melbourne, I was fortunate enough to explore every inch of the city’s culinary scene.

To save you the stress of endless scrolling and second-guessing, I’ve curated a list of nine must-try fine dining Melbourne restaurants in 2025.

Side note: If you want to book, navigate, and share your dining adventures without interruptions, a Holafly eSIM for Australia will keep you seamlessly connected the whole way.

In this article

Attica, St Kilda

Named Restaurant of the Year by Gourmet Traveller in 2014 and 2019
Head chef Ben Shewry appeared on the Netflix documentary Chef’s Table

Located just south of St Kilda, my favorite Melbourne neighborhood, you’ll find Attica. When you step into this restaurant, you embark on a culinary journey that unfolds over the course of several dishes.

The tasting menu changes seasonally, and they purposely don’t list their current menu on the website to keep an element of surprise.

However, one thing you can expect is Australian-grown ingredients and dishes that honor the country’s roots. So yes, that means you’re more likely to try crocodile ribs rather than the traditional beef ones!

This, for me, is what makes Attica so special. You know you’ll experience authentic Australian culture while being pleasantly surprised by the ambitious dishes Attica’s chefs come up with.

Vue de Monde, CBD

Awarded Restaurant of the Year in The Age Good Food Guide in 2013 and 2014
Head chef Hugh Allen became the youngest chef to be awarded three Chef Hats

Located in the heart of the city, Vue de Monde combines exquisite dishes, exceptional service, and sweeping city views. If you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion (or just treat yourself), Vue de Monde is the place to go.

There are two tasting menus you can choose from: the Signature Chef’s Menu or the Extended Experience if you really want to savor the experience.

Every dish is beautifully crafted. But it doesn’t just look stunning as every bite melts in your mouth, too.

And unlike many fine-dining spots, the portions here are surprisingly generous. Instead of leaving here with an empty stomach, you’ll be stuffed and satisfied!

Cutler & Co, Fitzroy

Awarded the Best Wine List in Victoria at Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
Won Hospitality Design at the Australian Interior Design Awards in 2010

Culter is a trendy Modern Australian fine dining joint. It’s located in a former metalworks factory in the equally trendy Fitzroy neighbourhood, to the northeast of the city centre.

Its tasting menu is elegant, uncomplicated, and flavorful, from the whiting to the venison to the duck.

I found Cutler & Co. to be one of the least pretentious gourmet restaurants in Melbourne, yet the quality of the food and service remains exceptionally high. So if you’re new to fine dining in Melbourne, this would be the ideal venue to start at.

Flower Drum, CBD

Awarded multiple Restaurant of the Year titles by The Age Good Food Guide
Maintained two or three Chef Hats almost every year since 1980

Melbourne’s Chinatown offers an array of tasty Chinese restaurants, but while they are agreeable on the wallet, they are not always so agreeable on the stomach!

If you love Chinese food but want to dodge a dodgy belly, head to Flower Drum in the city center.

This fine dining Chinese restaurant will take your breath away from the moment you step inside, thanks to the warm greeting from the staff and the beautiful Chinese art that lines the walls.

Along with an à la Carte menu, there are lunch and dinner tasting menus, which feature a variety of meats and seafood.

What I also like about Flower Drum is that you can choose the number of courses you want, which makes it one of the most flexible and affordable options for fine dining in Melbourne.

Minamishima, Richmond

Awarded three Chef Hats in The Age Good Food Guide in 2024 and 2025
Head chef Koichi Minamishima is one of Australia’s most respected sushi masters

Minamishima’s tasting menu (known as Omakase) was one of the most memorable fine dining experiences I had in Melbourne.

Using seasonal ingredients and blending creativity with immaculate presentation, Minamishima is so much more than a meal; it’s a full sensory experience.

The Richmond restaurant itself has a very warm, intimate feel, so even if you’re not used to fine dining, you won’t feel out of place here. Prepare to be blown away by the mouthwatering wagyu, tuna belly sushi, and Japanese desserts.

Cumulus Inc, CBD

Won several prestigious awards, including the 2018 Time Out Legend Award
Consistently earns excellent reviews on Tripadvisor

Centrally located on Flinders Lane, Cumulus Inc. offers both lunch and dinner 3-course tasting menus that change every month.

They use the freshest local produce and most in-season ingredients to craft tasty and wholesome dishes like slow-cooked lamb, Porterhouse steak, and Fremantle octopus.

There’s also an incredible à la Carte menu with vegetarian options and half portions available.

Estelle by Scott Pickett, Northcote

Won Best New Restaurant at the 2016 Savour Australia Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence
Awarded one Chef Hat within just 12 months of opening

Nestled away in the leafy suburb of Northcote, Scott Pickett’s Estelle is a hidden gem when it comes to modern Australian fine dining in Melbourne.

While it may not be as well-known as some of the other restaurants on this list, it was one of my favorite dining experiences during my time there. It’s incredibly affordable compared to other fine dining venues, yet the quality and service are nothing less than top-notch.

There are both three and five-course tasting menus available, with the option to add on beverage pairings. You’ll also find some unique dishes on the menu, like goat’s cheese churros with truffle honey and grilled quail in tikka sauce.

Society, CBD

Won the Best New Wine List in the World in 2023

This sleek and sophisticated Collins Street eatery provides the most luxurious fine dining experience in Melbourne’s city center.

What struck me about Society is how literally everything is exquisitely crafted, from the food to the cocktails to the decor. However, while the presentation of what you eat and drink here is refined and elegant, the flavours are rich and bold.

Having such a sweet tooth, I particularly enjoyed the dessert trolley, which features a vast selection of cakes and other sweet treats that look too good to eat!

Maha restaurant, CBD

Awarded one Chef Hat for 14 years running
Received ‘Three Glasses’ at the 2024 Australian Wine List of the Year Awards

Fine dining Melbourne restaurants encompass every cuisine imaginable, including Middle Eastern, which Maha expertly executes.

Located just off Flinders Street, chef Shane Delia cooks up a storm with seasonally changing lunch and dinner tasting menus.

Maha is especially one of the best fine dining restaurants in Melbourne for vegetarians, as there are veggie versions of the tasting menus. Tuck into signature dishes like chickpea & lentil dumplings and fried eggplant “makdous” with optional drink pairings or other add-ons.

Must-have apps for your foodie trip in Melbourne

If you’re new to fine dining in Melbourne, you may be wondering how to make a reservation.

Most restaurants let you reserve tables directly through their websites. However, I personally book through apps, as you can check real-time availability and see which restaurants still have space.

Here are my top 3 restaurant booking apps:

OpenTable – For spontaneous meals and last-minute reservations.
Resy – To see which restaurants are currently trending in Melbourne.
Tock – For unique dining experiences like chef’s tables or special events.

And of course, making dinner plans calls for a stable internet connection, not your hotel’s sluggish WiFi that could cost you the last available table.

With a Holafly eSIM for Australia, you get fast, reliable data wherever you go, allowing you to explore Melbourne’s foodie scene stress-free (and instantly share your dinner snaps on social media).