Every August, our annual Christmas buying trip takes us from sunny Cairns to the food capital of Australia – Melbourne. And while the main goal is hitting the Melbourne Gift Fair and stocking up for the silly season, let’s be honest… we’re also here for the food, the cocktails, and the inevitable late-night karaoke session. You can read about that HERE if you dare. (thank god there's no audio)
We are always on the hunt for local intel on where to go, because coming from FNQ has us completely overwhelmed because we want to eat in ALL THE PLACES!
After a long day of buying all the things (and wondering how we’re getting them home), we did what anyone in Melbourne does best: eat and drink like royalty.
The Food & Drink Files
🍽 Seamstress
– 113 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC
This funky restaurant & cocktail bar has a very low-key facade; so low-key we walked past it twice looking for it (we would lose the amazing race!) It is housed in what was once a former textile factory, 1930s sweatshop, brothel and Buddhist monastery & is now home to one of Melbourne’s much loved restaurants and cocktail bars split over 4 levels.
Think fabric canopies, yarns, sewing machines, and silk cheongsams bobbing above your head. It’s an intimate 50‑seat space, perfect for shared plates of modern pan‑Asian fusion that let you taste a bit of everything. We opted for the “Feed Me” Banquet which was incredible.
We may have shed a tear over Sweet Potato & snake bean poached wonton with green pea puree & chilli oil.
🍽 Chin Chin
– 125 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC
We couldn’t resist a return visit to Chin Chin—because once you’ve tasted that glorious fusion of Thai flavours, your tastebuds never forget. This was our second time back, and honestly, we’ve been dreaming of the food ever since our first visit. From the punchy curries to the moreish dumplings, it’s the kind of place where you pretend to share plates, but secretly hope no one touches your favourites.
Saying that, we can never decide what to eat from the amazing menu so always opt for the FEED ME #1 Classics
This is an ABSOLUTE MUST if you go to Melbourne! But you will most definitely need to book - it can be hard to get into & sittings are for 1 hour 30 minutes.
And don’t get us started on the bars. Melbourne knows how to pour a cocktail and dim a light.
🍷 Luwow
– 212 Little Collins St, Melbourne
Tucked away up a stairwell on Little Collins Street, Luwow is pure tiki theatre in living colour—think flaming cocktails, leopard-print lounges, jungle plants, and even jungle noises in the toilets!
It’s the kind of place where retro kitsch meets serious cocktail craftsmanship: expect signature Mai‑Tais, rum‑heavy Zombies, and Hurricanes made with premium rums and fresh‑made syrups. We didn't eat here but Luwow also offer tasty tiki tacos and party platters to nibble on while vinyl exotica and surf‑rock crackle through the air. Bliss!
We tried to get in here a couple of times with no luck - so we highly recommend making a booking if heading there on a weekend. It’s definitely worth the visit.
The decor? Memorable. The cocktail list? Dangerous.
🍸 Rooftop Bar
– Curtin House, level 7/252 Swanston St, Melbourne
Perched up on level 7 of the historic Curtin House (one year we took the stairs….trust us when we say wait for the teeny tiny elevator if you’re over 30), Rooftop Bar is exactly what it says on the directory -a bar… on a roof… in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD—and yes, the views are downright legendary.
It’s been a fave nightcap location of ours for a couple of years now - we usually just stick to our regular drinks so can’t comment on cocktails or snacks, but the view is just beautiful. It’s so beautiful I don't think anyone there notices that we are old & hanging out in such a “baddie” place with all the cool people of Melbourne.
Total vibe.
🥂 Other Restaurants & Bars We Recommend:
- Trinket Bar (Bar full of secrets & surprises)
- Mid Air Bar (incredible view & a very cool James Bond vibe)
- Lamaros Hotel - South Melbourne (Voted #1 Schnitzel in Melbourne)
-The Toff (cool art deco train booths)
- Cookie (AH-MAZING food & cocktails!)
- Daughter In Law the BEST Indian food you'll ever eat!
We're including the list we have compiled from all our of your suggestions on our INSTA & FACEBOOK posts. Thank you so much for your help!
If you need suggestions on where to eat & drink in Melbourne you need this list!!!
Pubs -
The Sherlock Holmes Inn
Builders Arms Hotel
The Espy (St Kilda)
Bakery / Breakfast / Sweets -
Lune (Collins St)
Bowery (Williamsburg)
The Confectionist
Tarts Anon
Laurent
Roule Galette
Moon Crueller
Kumo Pancakes
Pidapipos Gelato
Mork (hot choc) multiple locations
Chocolate Buddha
Bars -
Naked for Satan (Fitzroy)
Murmur Piano Bar
Alcotraz
Cherry Bar
Heartbreaker Bar (Kirsty's all time fave!)
Bar Margaux
Mill Place Merchants
The Douglas Club
Nick n Nora's
Morris House
Storyville
Gin Palace
Bijou Bottle Store
Lustre Bar
Eau de Vie
Tippy Tay
Restaurants / Bars -
Flower Drum
+39 pizzeria
Ma La Tang
Rock, Paper, Scissors (Hardware Lane)
Maha (Bond St)
Movida Next Door (CBD)
Hardware Club / Society (Hardware Lane)
Tazio (Finders Lane)
Supernormal
Eat Valley
Møljner Viking Restaurant
Mamacita Mexican
BBQ Boy
Las Tapas at Balacava (St Kilda)
Meatball and Wine Bar
Straight Outta Saigon
Bar Lourinha
Kiss and Tell
Ichi Ni Izakaya
Bang Pop
General Assembly
Roti Bar
Farmers Daughter (Collins St)
Ging Thai
Imperial Hotel
Trattoria Emilia
Reed
Old Man Drew Cafe
Feekah Cafe
Stalactites
Il Solito Posto
Bistro Dorsay
Higher Ground
Serai
David's
University Cafe
La Spaghettata
Nobu
Angus and Bon
We've popped it all into a sweet little printable PDF for you to start planning your gastronomic expedition! Enjoy!
Kirsty & Emma xx