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Melbourne Food
As befits a city that views itself as the most cosmopolitan place in the country, Melbourne has a varied selection of options open to the hungry visitor.
A mix of European and Asian influences provides the city with a series of unique restaurants, making for an unforgettable evening.
The city has developed a number of distinct eating districts, which if you know what you want, make for a menu peruser's paradise. Lygon Street in the Carlton area of town is famed for its Italian eateries while the so-called Bohemian hideaways can be found in Brunswick Street in the Fitzroy quarter, Acland Street in St Kilda and Smith Street, Collingwood.
Vietnamese fans will be delighted by what they find along Victoria Street in Abbotsford while gourmets with distinctly modern tastes should head to Chapel Street South Yarra and the Southbank area.
Middle Eastern restaurant Mo Mo certainly falls into the city's 'more expensive' bracket. The establishment is famed for its portobello mushroom risotto made with Egyptian spices and Jerusalem artichokes. Slightly cheaper but no less appealing is the hard to find Misuzu's. The Japanese eatery on Victoria Avenue is widely regarded as serving the best Japanese food in the city, with the sushi and sashimi platter (and reservations) recommended.
Fans of tapas should look no further than MoVida, where prices are cheap when considering that the food is excellent and the service sleek.
For visitors on the move, Glick's Bagels is a must. Something of an Australian institution since opening in the 1960's, Glick's has departed from its humble beginnings and now has three establishments in the city. Those in the know try the 'everything' bagel: not as unpleasant as it sounds!
While it is difficult these days to find well presented, authentic Australian tucker, a number of the cheaper establishments in the St Kilda district give an idea of what eating out what was like prior to the considerable immigrant influences introduced in the 1950s and 60s.
Australia has become an increasingly popular destination for wine aficionados over recent years, with many Europeans surprised by the variety and quality of the wines the country has to offer. Melbourne is well known as Australia's wine capital, and has numerous vineyards within an hour's drive of the city.
For those who like their wine but prefer to sample it in a refined atmosphere, the city has a number of establishments offering the very best in local wines.
Try the Bliss Lounge on Queen Street if you fancy drinking in style while the Punch Lane Wine Bar has a huge menu of wines by the glass and is a popular haunt with theatregoers.
For the thirsty traveller who is after a wide selection of traditional Aussie beers, there are plenty of pubs to go at. Regarded as one of the best is Kent Street, which confusingly can be found on Smith Street in Fitzroy. The place has a great atmosphere and is the perfect place to wind down after a long day's sightseeing - without a pint of Fosters in sight!
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Eating and Drinking
