Where to Find the Best Lunch in Melbourne's CBD

The family who used to own Thai Culinary and Raan Kan Eang on Elizabeth Street (both sadly closed during Covid) returned with a new venture in Melbourne’s CBD in 2023 — Kan Eang. Set within a narrow space on Flinders Lane, the two-storey Thai restaurant is a sleeker, more refined version of the older haunts. This is partly because the original owners’ children have taken over the reins to give the venue a contemporary refresh.

Loyal fans needn’t fret though, because the siblings have stuck true to what made their family’s previous restaurants so popular — serving up generous amounts of great Thai eats at really decent prices. Many of the most popular dishes from the previous venues remain, and the parents still pass through to make sure they don’t mess around with family recipes.

Sitting on level three of the Arbory crew’s HER building, Thai barbecue canteen BKK celebrates punchy flavours cooked over flame and coal. Enjoy the open kitchen’s theatrics as you tuck into fire-driven fare centred around BKK’s custom-built five-metre Zesti charcoal grill and oven.

From barbecued meats to authentic curries, the menu pulls inspiration from across Thailand, with a few modern reinterpretations in the mix. Come weekday lunchtimes, the team also serves up its mega cheap $15 noodles that’ll easily fill you up. You can even get an adaptation of the BKK menu up on the HER Rooftop when the sun is shining.

The much-hyped 80 Collins Street dining precinct might be a good 320 kilometres away from Gippsland. But, even so, resident Farmer’s Daughters is dedicated almost entirely to celebrating and showcasing the region’s finest produce and ingredients. The three-level restaurant is the work of acclaimed chef Alejandro Saravia  — not only a longtime champion of the area, but the Official Food & Beverage Ambassador for Gippsland.

With this homage to all things Gippsland, Saravia is out to take guests on a full-blown exploration of his favourite Victorian region, minus the four-hour road trip. On the first floor, you’re greeted by a gourmet deli, food store and eatery, the second more closely resembles a fine-diner and the rooftop is ideal for either lunchtime sips and snacks or proper sit-down feeds.

Atria has been towering over Melbourne’s skyline (up on the Ritz-Carlton‘s 80th floor) since March 2023, but it was originally a dinner-only situation. Thankfully, that’s now changed (at least from Thursday to Saturday), with a la carte and set menu options both available during lunchtime sittings.

Expect fine-dining done fabulously up here, with a strong focus on local and seasonal ingredients. Michael Greenlaw (ex-Vue de Monde and London’s Bibendum) and his team carefully consider and intricately prepare everything on the plate, and the sommeliers expertly pair it all with wines from their encyclopedia list. This Melbourne CBD lunch spot is certainly on the luxurious end of the spectrum, but it’s worth the great cost if you can afford it.

After a cocktail next door, don’t be surprised if you find yourself on the doorstep of San Telmo, succumbing to the enticing pull of the Argentinean grill. Inside, carnivores congregate around the Parilla — feasting on slabs of tender, smokey charred meat. Order by cut: short ribs, flank, rib eye and all the steaks of rump are on offer here.

The menu is designed to share, which means that our vegetarian friends needn’t miss out. The sweet-burnt carrots with thyme and goat cheese, provolone, charcoal roasted cabbage salad, or Brussel sprouts with parsnip and chestnut puree will appease the non-animal eaters, while desserts like the dulce de leche creme caramel with salted peanut praline will have both tribes fighting over the fork.

Shujinko is one of those hallowed places you’ve no doubt discussed with friends vaguely in the past — “Yeah, that ramen joint on Russell?” The service is bright and cheerful, and the place is always busy no matter whether it’s 7pm or 11am.

Head in and be greeted with a hefty bowl of glorious pork belly-topped soup of your choice — the black ramen is our pick. You’ll be staring lovingly into its oily depths and whispering arigatou, we’re sure of it. The menu features a slew of extra toppings available to add on. Plus, there are now multiple Shujinko locations in the CBD and one in Glen Waverley, so you’ll never have to go without when searching for ramen in Melbourne.

One word: roti. Mamak is famous for a good reason, and that reason is flaky, buttery, delicious and dipped in curry. The Melbourne branch of the Malaysian restaurant sits in the middle of the CBD on Lonsdale Street.

Obviously, you’ll hit up the roti menu but don’t bypass the satay options — they’re just as good. There’s also dessert roti FYI, so make sure to try and exercise a minute amount of self-control and leave space. And on top of all that greatness, Mamak is an affordable Melbourne BYO restaurant, only charging $4 per person.

The husband and wife duo behind Yulongfu take their dumplings very seriously. Located on Bourke Street, this Shanghainese-style dumpling shop is a celebration of tradition and craft, executed through a menu full of signature dim sum morsels handmade to long-held family recipes, some dating back as far as 1904.

It’s run by some of the most friendly front-of-house staff in the city. They’ll pop your BYO beer and chilled wines in the fridge and talk you through the long menus. We are obsessed with their oysters cooked in XO sauce, the xiaolongbao and clay pot beef. Just be warned that the separate spicy menu is no joke. Even the spiced-down version will have you reaching for your beers after every bite. Consider yourselves warned.

A pop-up turned perennial favourite, Supernormal first opened the doors to its current Flinders Lane digs in early 2014 and has been earning fans ever since for its crafty fusion fare — including the famous signature New England lobster roll.

It’s also where you can have one of the most fun private dining experiences in Melbourne. Kick it off with a long lunch for up to 40 guests and follow it up with karaoke in the very same room. The team has a huge screen and all the gear required to keep the dancing and singing going til late. Otherwise, the main dining room is always busy with people taking over seats at the bar and down in the booths. A vibe.

The Hardware Lane site that previously held Campari House was completely overhauled and transformed into a huge new Mexican restaurant and bar in mid-2024. Head Chef Sergio Tourn (ex-The Vale and Tino) is responsible for the menu, which combines traditional Mexican elements with plenty of European, Australian and South American influences.

For weekday lunches, the crew even serves up huge $20 burrito bowls packed with your choice of protein — including pulled pork, crispy rocking, pulled chicken and braised mushrooms. Alternatively, order a la carte, sharing a bunch of tacos, tostadas and quesadillas either inside or up on the rooftop.

Yet another hit from legendary chef Andrew McConnell (Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, Marion) Gimlet is a suave Melbourne restaurant and cocktail bar located in the 1920s-built Cavendish House. A dapper fit-out features soaring ceilings, geometric tiles and honeycomb chandeliers, while the food and drink offering is that of a very chic French bistro.

The menu boasts plates like wood-roasted rock lobster with bisque sauce, and a gnocco fritto featuring bresaola and parmesan; deftly mixing old-world elements with a touch of modern flair. Like the space, the menu is also incredibly indulgent — expect caviar bumps, champagne and truffles aplenty.

There are few restaurants in Melbourne’s CBD that instantly make you feel special. Tonka (formally Honky Tonks) is one of them. The moment you walk in, you know this place is different. The staff are warm yet professional, and the dining room is beautiful, accented by a twirling white installation hanging from the roof.

Follow the flashing neon sign to the very end of Duckboard Place off Flinders Lane and you’ll find your way. Contemporary Indian eats are championed here, matched by a gutsy wine list made to complement the vibrant dishes. Cocktails also get an Indian twist and can easily be sampled on their own at the bar out front.

Taiwan’s Din Tai Fung has been a staple of the Melbourne dumpling scene since its opening back in 2015. The Emporium restaurant space is bright, modern and polished, with a glass-walled dumpling kitchen offering visuals of the masters at work, to enjoy while you dine.

The vibe is buzzy and service is speedy, as smartly-dressed waitstaff drop baskets and plates of dumplings to your table.The menu here champions the classics, with options like chicken and mushroom potstickers, shrimp and pork siu mai, and soupy xiaolongbao.

MoVida is the name of Frank Camorra’s still-brilliant tapas joint in Melbourne CBD. Tucked away in stencil-drenched Hosier Lane, MoVida offers a grazing extravaganza in an enchanting room akin to what you’d actually get in downtown Barcelona.

With a grand choice of aperitivo snacks, tapas, raciones (plates to share amongst two or more), and daily specials, Camorra’s inner city hideaway is a well-packaged empire of Spanish goodness catering to both locals and out-of-towners. Just be warned that you’d best make a booking, because the place packs out. And fast.

When people are queuing for a table on a Wednesday night, you know there’s got to be something damn good about Melbourne’s Bar Lourinha. Seasoned regulars know that it’s got a combination of the three all-important aspects of any great venue: food, wine and service. It also helps that it feels like a tiny slice of Spain right here in Melbourne’s CBD.

The wine list is heavily focused on European offerings; Spain, France and Italy are the main contenders here. As for the Iberian food menu, start the evening with smoked chilli and corn croquettes before moving onto the Portuguese prawn rice with turmeric butter or the grilled skirt steak. You can take your time at this beloved restaurant in Melbourne CBD, ordering food and drinks as you go.

If you’re after the real deal when it comes to a Sichuan hot pot feast, you’ll find yourself in expert hands with a visit to much-loved CBD restaurant, David’s Hot Pot. Originating in hot pot’s heartland of Chengdu, the brand made its way to Melbourne in 2017 and has since spawned several Aussie outposts, which see the crowds flocking for big, fresh flavours and traditional Sichuan-style broths.

It’s buzzy, colourful and primed for group feeds, with a rainbow of lanterns strung from the ceiling and steam wafting from the fragrant pots atop each table. The kitchen’s boldly flavoured soup bases marry classic ingredients with top-quality Australian beef tallow, with a stack of different options available. If you’re in the CBD and wnt some hot pot for lunch, look no further than David’s.

Internationally recognised for authentic Cantonese cuisine and exceptional service, Flower Drum’s menu emphasises fresh seafood and meats with a creative modern twist. You’ll find all the Cantonese classics at this lavish restaurant, from silky duck wontons and steamed tofu to delicate pieces of crab and tender Peking duck.

We also highly recommend you try the Flower Drum lunch banquet, with delicate seafood rice paper rolls, sang choi bao, Peking duck pancakes, wok-fried barramundi fillet and stir-fried eye fillet with mushrooms and soy. It’s a no-brainer for those wanting classic Chinese fare in old-school fine-dining surrounds.

The Mulberry Group’s Hazel graces two levels of the 1920s T&G Building, where the team is cooking with a woodfired grill and oven fuelled by Aussie ironbark. At Hazel, one of the best Melbourne CBD lunch spots, there are a myriad of things to tempt snackers and feasters alike, from crafty small plates to larger gems such as the wood-grilled seafood stew and a wood-roasted pork belly with charred leaks and wild garlic.

The generous wine selection has broad appeal, as do the simple, yet snappy cocktails. Meanwhile, the light-filled space is primed for lingering, with its restrained mix of elegant curves and natural linens. And for post-lunch sips, see downstairs sibling bar Dessous.