This St. Kilda landmark uses seasonal produce to create classic Italian meals. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are also available, as is an impressive wine list with over 150 bottles. Cicciolina is packed to the gills every night and no bookings can be made, but waiting for a table in the lively back bar, cocktail in hand, is half the fun.

An adjunct to the The European, this intimate bar–restaurant–wine merchant does a brisk trade with cuisine connoisseurs in a hurry. Masterfully prepared small dishes are served alongside wines from the astonishingly good list (or from the wine wall, opposite the bar). For a more casual evening, visitors can order cheese plates with their wines to enjoy while perched at the convivial bar.

An insider favorite, this fabulously low-key restaurant turns out superb regional Italian cooking, with Sardinian dishes a specialty. There’s no menu per se; instead, the waitstaff brings out dish after dish of mouthwatering goodies to choose from. The courtyard is beautiful in summer.

Using fresh ingredients purchased daily from the market and featuring seasonal and daily specials, Flower Drum has brought a new vision of Chinese food to Melbourne. Menu favorites include aromatic baked crab and made-to-order braised lamb claypot as well as the signature Peking duck. Book well in advance.

A popular venue for the love-struck men of Melbourne to propose to their girlfriends, this Italian fine-dining establishment oozes romance and old-world charm. The dining room is grand, with chandeliers, wood paneling and murals supplying the requisite Italianate sense of drama. The food is similarly impressive.

A bustling bistro-style pizzeria in the bohemian neighborhood of Fitzroy, Ladro serves authentic, uncomplicated dishes that are focused on flavor. The vibe is fun and frenetic, with marble-topped tables, concrete floors and a gleaming open kitchen serving as backdrop.

An iconic café that never seems to change, this slickly run operation doesn’t mess with the formula that made it popular in the first place: honest Italian dishes, great coffee and ever so slightly cheeky waiters. The two Marios (owners Mario Maccarone and Mario de Pasquale) still greet customers on the floor.

Evidence of the appeal of this Melbourne institution is found in its diverse crowd of regulars. Pellegrini’s is a family-run Italian coffee house that offers a daily changing menu and counter seating. It’s quirky, ancient and always the same…and the coffee is nothing short of bellissimo.

Inspired by great steakhouses, Rockpool Bar & Grill Melbourne offers a voluminous menu that takes its meat very seriously, listing steaks’ marble ratings and days worth of aging. The beef is sourced directly from Australia’s best producers and dry aged on the premises. An excellent wine list rounds out the menu.

Reminiscent of old world Europe, The European serves honest and simple food using the best ingredients from Australia and Europe. This cozy and sophisticated restaurant that sits opposite the Parliament House has the feel of a neighborhood bistro and service that is always warm and efficient.

Spacious and stylish, The Grand serves refined Italian cuisine that emphasizes quality ingredients and flavor. Both locals and out-of-towners alike flock to this converted pub, arguably one of the best beer gardens in Melbourne.