The Most Popular Restaurants in Melbourne for 2022
From modern Scandinavian diners to dapper new steakhouses — these are the spots you’ve been busy scouting out this year.
Whether you're craving a modern Scandinavian feast with Michelin cred, Basque-inspired eats by the beach or a technique-driven celebration of top Victorian produce, Melbourne has just what you're looking for. And, in a year that put dining out back on the menu, we sure gave our restaurant scene a solid workout.
You were constantly on the look-out for new and exciting places to try in 2022, as well as seeking out those comforting classics — and these are the results. Our most-viewed restaurants of the year provide a snapshot of your recent faves and a roadmap of places to visit (either for the first time or the fifth).
Use this list as a look back on some of your favourite eats of the year and a guide to planning your meals of 2023.
Image: Freyja, by Parker Blain.
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CafeThe Commons at Ormond Collective
Corner Moubray Street And St Kilda Road, Melbourne
This four-in-one St Kilda Road venue has a huge beer garden.
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RestaurantSebastian Beach Grill & Bar
26 Esplanade, Williamstown
This Basque-inspired waterfront bistro grills seafood and pours sangria on a sprawling shaded deck right on the sand.
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RestaurantYakimono
80 Collins Street, Melbourne
This colourful Chris Lucas venture features a futuristic aesthetic and a menu filled with Japanese street food that's cooked over flames.
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RestaurantPanda Hot Pot
100 Victoria Street, Carlton
The former Dracula's site is now home to an international sichuan hot pot chain.
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RestaurantThree Blue Ducks Melbourne
309 Melrose Drive, Tullamarine
Eat vibrant farm-to-table dishes and sip sustainably focused drinks overlooking a two-hectare surf lagoon.
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RestaurantNomad Melbourne
187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Sydney's much-loved Mediterranean restaurant Nomad has landed on Flinders Lane with its first Melbourne outpost, celebrating local produce and wine.
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RestaurantBotswana Butchery Melbourne
66 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
A longtime Kiwi favourite has delivered its first Melbourne restaurant, headlined by a signature luxe meat- and seafood-focused offering.
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RestaurantGrill Americano
112 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Chris Lucas' dapper steakhouse celebrates Northern Italian flavours and old-school hospitality with a generous side of modern elegance.
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RestaurantGimlet at Cavendish House
33 Russell Street, Melbourne
Andrew McConnell's elegant cocktail bar and European bistro serves up caviar, champagne and truffles aplenty.
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RestaurantMr Brownie
343 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
A multi-level pub, Punjabi-style deli and rooftop bar run by chef-restaurateur Jessi Singh.
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RestaurantDamiao Panda Fan
Level 1, 388-396 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Score all-you-can-eat hot pot from $35 per person.
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RestaurantFreyja
477 Collins Street, Melbourne
A sophisticated exploration of 'new Nordic' cuisine boasting Michelin cred, where traditional techniques are cleverly fused with modern Scandi flair.
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RestaurantJiyu Thai Hotpot
208 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
A lush two-storey hot pot joint serving up Thai-style soups.
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RestaurantDaughter In Law
37/41 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Jessi Singh's rule-breaking Indian restaurant has naan pizza and 70s Bollywood tunes.
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RestaurantGrand Lafayette
9 Clifton Street, Prahran
An all-day eatery serving a modern celebration of Japanese flavours and technique, complete with a dedicated tempura bar.
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RestaurantFirebird
223 High Street, Prahran
Prahran's flame-driven Vietnamese restaurant from the Hanoi Hannah team offers smoke aplenty, across both the food menu and cocktail list.
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RestaurantVictoria by Farmer's Daughters
2 Swanston Street, Melbourne
A love letter to the people and produce of Victoria's diverse regions, featuring a 3000-bottle wine library and a rotating 'region in residence' menu.
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RestaurantEureka 89
Level 89, Eureka Tower, 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank
Enjoy degustation dining with one hell of a view 300 metres above sea level.
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RestaurantEstelle
243-245 High Street, Northcote
Celebrated chef Scott Pickett has combined Estelle Bistro and ESP to create one venue celebrating wining, dining and everything in between.
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RestaurantTokyo Tina
66A Chapel Street, Windsor
The third sister has been born, and she brings a Japanese edge to the family.
