my guide to melbourne
two months late, but here we are. where I ate in australia!
I got back from Melbourne two months ago (! I know I know !) and recognize that this guide is wildly overdue, but life got busy, so here we are. I had an amazing time in this city - ate incredible food, drank tons of coffee, and spent quality time with great people. I’m sure I could have busied myself for another two weeks or months, eating more delicious meals and drinking seventy cups of coffee a day…
You’ll find my favorite spots below, and I’ll also include a handful of places that I wanted to go to but didn’t get a chance to visit. Hope you enjoy this guide!
Breakfast / Cafés
Florian’s whimsical & chic vibe makes it the perfect place to grab a bite with a friend, or have a solo breakfast date (I did the latter). The menu is simple and elegant - you can order crunchy grilled sourdough + boiled eggs as easily as you can a leeks barigoule tartine with macadamia cream.
This is exactly what I would expect from a classic Australian café - with avocado smash, great coffee, and a vegan banana bread I went back for a couple of times (3….okay, whatever, who’s counting, not me).
I will lay down in traffic for a sourdough bagel.
I will lay down in traffic for a sourdough bagel. I love them so much. Whenever I find a spot that makes them, I make a beeline to try. I loved Masses — their bagels are wild fermented & suuuuuper chewy. Je les adoreeeee. These are delicious, whether you decide grab one of their specialty bagels on the menu, or take one home and doctor it up yourself.
I really liked Proud Mary - with an well-rounded menu, nice coffee and a great avo smash (unfortunately this is all I ordered for breakfast over there because I felt contractually obligated to try every one I saw…call me basic, I’m aware). I brought my laptop and realized there was no wifi at virtually any café I went to. I found out that people in other countries actually like to just…enjoy their coffee without working. Imagine that !
Cibi is a beautiful Japanese-inspired lifestyle concept store and café. I loved trying their traditional Japanese Breakfast, something I had never had before. A great place to buy some perfect Japanese knives…
The Friends of the Earth Food Co-op & Cafe
I went to this vegan co-op three times which I guess is my magic number for how many times I’ll visit the same place!? Anyway, this spot in Fitzroy changes their lunch special everyday and it’s yummy, nourishing, and healthy food. If you want a simple, home-cooked lunch vibe that’s easy and unfussy, or a spot to pick up some pantry items & vegan baked goods, this felt like a local lunch gem.
Coffee
This spot appeared to be a hole in the wall (couldn’t find it at first!), but it was so cute and is clearly very popular. It definitely seemed to be known more for the matcha than the coffee, but my oat cappuccino was 10/10.
The actual Industry Beans shop felt weirdly sterile to me but the coffee was solid and they have an assortment of vegan / gluten-free pastries if that is of interest to you (didn’t get a chance to try, but the Snickers bite looked legit).
Patricia Coffee Brewers | Brother Bada Budan | Dukes Coffee Roasters
I sadly didn’t make it to these spots, but all were recommended on nearly every list I saw! Next time!
Dinner
Supernormal was such a stellar meal. We sat at the bar and ordered a number of dishes, and the favorites were definitely the roasted flatbread with shio koji and spring onion, cold soba noodles with bonito-infused aged soy, vegetable dumplings with shiitake XO. Everything was flavorful but not over the top, well-executed and satisfying.
Cam’s Kiosk felt like comfort food to me - mostly because 1) good bread & olives both were involved, and 2) the pastas were simple and not trying to be anything other than what they were. Loved the ambiance, too!
I am so grateful to have gotten the chance to eat at Attica. Ben is truly one of the kindest people, and I feel lucky to now call him a friend. The experience was beyond what I even expected (and my expectations were high, of course, I mean…it’s Attica)! Thoughtful, intentional, and FUN. Every person who came by the table to drop a plate was SO kind and generous. Every dish felt like a standout, but I feel confident saying the white chocolate panna cotta with sugar bag honey was one of, if not, the best dessert I’ve ever had in my life.
I found this spot before going to Melbourne and it stood out to me immediately - it’s beyond rare to find a South Asian, female chef championing and shining a light on regional Indian food within the restaurant world like Helly is doing at Enter Via Laundry. Everything was unique and beautiful, each dish filled with familiar flavors that felt like I could have eaten them in my aunt’s house in India, but elevated to meet the format of a tasting menu. Each menu iteration is inspired by a different region in India, so the work that Helly & the team do in R&D alone is something to be in awe of.
Wazzup Falafel
My flight back to LA was canceled so I had a couple extra days in Melbourne that I did not account for, thanks United. The day I was supposed to be on my 16 hour flight back, I instead decided to walk from Fitzroy to Wazzup Falafel, where I had a perfect falafel sandwich - filled with hummus, tahini, and the correct amount of pickles (more than you think).
This was one of my favorite meals of the whole trip. A fish and chips spot with vegan options as well, you get a choice of dipping sauce for your main, and chips to go along with it. The batter was soooo insane - light and crispy like tempura, and not anything like the bready, subpar exterior you get in most places. I chose a curry dipping sauce which was phenomenal, and the chips were perfectly crispy on the outside, and smooth & velvety on the inside. A highlight !
Abla’s is probably the closest thing you can get to Lebanese home cooking in a restaurant. Simple, no frills!
Sweets / Bakery / Dessert
I was warned that Lune (a croissanterie…didn't even know this was a thing) was a bit of a tourist trap with aggressive lines, but I felt it was my duty to go. And I’m glad I did! My absolute favorite thing, even over the regular croissant, was the morning bun. Crispy and flaky like a croissant, cinnamon-sugared like a morning bun. Probably the best pastry I had on my trip!
For desserts that look almost too good to eat…the Hazelnut Chocolate Cake was my favorite!
I bonded with the gal at Good Daze because of the little tray of Lactaid pills they had at the register. Honestly…thoughtful. This ice cream shop has unique flavors like Peanut Butter Miso (which is obviously what I got) and tons of vegan options, which is always appreciated for people like me who don’t dabble in Lactaid lol.
Such a delicious chocolate sorbet!
Dua describes itself as a “Scandinasian” bakery full of surprises. Word!!! Gorgeous pastries in a gorgeous space in Collingwood Yards. My favorite was the almond strawberry cake…
On the list still…
Toddy Shop
Patsy’s
Kolkata Cricket Club
All Are Welcome
Kudo
Luther’s Scoops
Hope you enjoyed checking out my favorite spots in Melbourne. See you in your inbox again soon!
xx Samah
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