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SpecialEstelle special
Head Chef Georgina's answer to a cold night on High Street: Cape Grim wagyu beef cheek, braised low and slow until it falls apart with caramelised onion and a green peppercorn sauce. Served with a glass of house red wine. $40, every Wednesday & Thur...
SpecialLongrain Melbourne special
Celebrate Father’s Day with the whole family. Settle in for lunch or dinner, order the banquet or go full à la carte, and let the table do the talking. This year we’re marking the occasion with two specials made for sharing — lamb ribs and beef shor...
EventDoju event
Doju × Lana Dinner 18 August | $165pp For one night only, this August, we’re welcoming Alex Wong, Executive Chef of Lana at Hinchcliff House, into the Doju kitchen. Alex’s cooking has always been shaped by curiosity. After years leading some of Syd...
Eventevent
Hops & Hoppers 2026: Sri Lankan Streat Eating Tour, First friday of each month! Hops & Hoppers is back in 2026, and we’re kicking things off on Friday 6 February with a pairing we genuinely love — Sri Lankan food and Mornington Peninsula Pinot Gris...
Eventevent
From Berlin to Melbourne: Ma-Makan Pop-Up at Boire | Sun 8 Feb For the first time, Ma-Makan (Berlin) is popping up in Melbourne. A homecoming cook-up at Boire, North Melbourne, where the chef returns to cook for friends, family, and the city that st...
EventJongga x Chae
Jongga x Chae CHAE teams up with global kimchi leader Jongga for a year of immersive culinary experiences: Elevate Your Banchan (Dec 2025–Jul 2026): Explore how Jongga kimchi transforms everyday meals through innovative banchan pairings. Roll Up Yo...
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The Most Recommended Restaurants in Melbourne
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The Most Recommended Cafes in Melbourne
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The Most Recommended Bars in Melbourne
Browse the bars mates and locals keep recommending.
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Fitzroy
Explore Fitzroy restaurants, cafés and bars in the Mate's Table Melbourne directory. Compare individual venues, check their details and plan your next visit.
Italian in Melbourne
Find Italian venues across Melbourne on Mate's Table. Browse places by neighbourhood, open their individual listings and compare menus and booking information.
Restaurant leaderboards —
ranked by mates and locals
Explore the most loved venues in Melbourne.
No.VenueAboutAddressPhone
01.Carnation CanteenEuropean, Cocktail, RestaurantGetting into Carnation Canteen takes foresight—or a sudden Melbourne downpour to loosen the book—for seasonal, farm-led cooking that shifts weekly on Gore Street. The dining room is a tight squeeze; chatter hums close to the counter. A handwritten menu lists local farm producers on the reverse. Regulars treat the buttery snapper as a non-negotiable staple. Dishes land clean: freshly opened oysters, sweet corn pasta with its richness kept in check, and seared scallops in a smoky capsicum sauce that demands bread to wipe the plate. Service skips the theatre for calm, informed floor work. Wine leans European with bottles built for serious glou-glou fans, best nursed out in the covered, heated rear courtyard.165 Gore St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, AustraliaNone
02.Earth AngelsCocktail, Bar, Cocktail BarCorner bookcases, an upstairs art gallery, and house-made skin-contact wine set a low-lit tempo for West Melbourne date nights. Regulars point newcomers straight to the Southeast Asian plates—notably the honey-glazed '5-star Chooken', potato fritters, and fresh oysters. Thursdays bring live jazz tuned to a conversational hum, leaving room to talk while cocktails keep the table occupied. The kitchen takes its time between dishes, leaving diners to settle in and let the evening stretch.225-229 Victoria St, West Melbourne VIC 3003, Australia61 4 7277 7242
03.BistraBritish, French, Italian, RestaurantBistra brings European bistronomy to Elgin Street—stripping away stiff dining room protocol for warm Carlton energy. Tables sit elbow-to-elbow over chicken liver pâté and seared scallops before guests split charred steak or the menu's fixture: a cheeseburger flanked by fries. Sommelier guidance anchors the cellar list, though weekend lunch quietly opens a $30 BYO allowance for bottles brought from home.157 Elgin St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia+61 3 9000 5607
04.Pincho DiscoLatin American, RestaurantTucked into Cambridge Street, Pincho Disco turns dinner into an upbeat party—pairing pan-Latin cooking with spinning disco balls and live DJ sets. Diners sink into dark booths as shared courses roll out from Mexico down to Argentina. The kitchen hits its stride across crisp beef empanadas, snapper ceviche in tiger’s milk, and warm chipa bread. Set menus adapt without missing a beat for mixed tables, with cold margaritas landing right as the flame-garnished Fuego cocktail sparks.59 Cambridge St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia+61 3 9124 7380
05.CirclEuropean, RestaurantTucked down Punch Lane, Circl pairs serious cellar depth with ambitious kitchen craft. Laneway regulars know the play: settle in for Chef Elias Solomon’s multi-course tasting menu. Plates deliver Corner Inlet calamari tossed with nduja, Macedon Ranges duck with Davidson plum harissa, and Blackmore Wagyu. The cellar shelves thousands of bottles, but the real pull is having over 150 options available by the glass—letting diners sample rare vintage bottles without committing to the whole label. Dim lighting, dark timber, and a finish of dark chocolate with almond nougat.22 Punch Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia+61 3 9125 1777