A guide to the cafés, restaurants and other eats that make Melbourne’s food scene unparalleled

When Melbourne hospitality reopened on Wednesday October 28, the city rejoiced. Not only were punters famished for a parma, pub burger, authentic pasta dish, avo on toast, or anything in between, the hospitality venues were eager to get back out there and show the city what they’ve got.

Take-away gets tiring and lacks the real punter-to-restauranteur experience that makes this section of customer service so special. With pubs, bars, cafés, restaurants, hotels, what have you, reopening their doors all across town, the city has its mojo back and aren’t we ever thankful for that.

To celebrate the hospitality legends that make Melbourne the glorious specimen it is today, we’ve put together a special post-lockdown rundown of some important names for you to peruse.

We spotlight cafés such as Northcote brunch legends Tinker, the honest and ever-reliable Mr Peebles, as well as Alphington’s Japanese-inspired Kissaten. Secondly, there’s restaurants from two sides of Fitzroy, Basta Osteria & Cafe and Mukka, each offering their authentic takes on Italian and Indian cuisines respectively.

To cap it all off, we fill you in on Cornelius Cheesemongers’ stellar new cheese club for 2021, The Cheese Co/Lab, while bonafide legends, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse, round out the spread. Hit these guys up if you’re after someone to cater your summer picnics.

Let’s do this!