Melbourne is the Australian city that takes coffee and small restaurants most seriously, and it built both on Greek and Italian migration after the Second World War. 20 bookable food tours below — plus the neighbourhoods and dishes the city is built around.
Top picks
What we’d book first
Editorial picks · live inventory
No. 01
Yarra Valley Private Car Winery Tour And Chocolate.1-7 Passengers One Car Price
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The guide
Melbourne is the Australian city that takes coffee and small restaurants most seriously, and it built both on Greek and Italian migration after the Second World War. The city holds one of the largest Greek populations of any city outside Greece, alongside Vietnamese, Lebanese, and Ethiopian communities that arrived later. The result is a laneway culture of tiny rooms with no signage, a licensing environment that produced hundreds of small bars, and a brunch scene that treats a plate of eggs as a serious proposition. Nothing here is centred on a harbour view, so the cooking has had to be the attraction.
Where to focus
Four neighbourhoods to anchor a few days of eating
Fitzroy & Collingwood
North of the centre, the densest run of small restaurants, wine bars, and cafés. Brunswick Street and Gertrude Street between them cover most of it.
Richmond
Victoria Street is the Vietnamese strip, several blocks of pho and grilled pork at prices the inner north gave up on.
Footscray
West across the river, Ethiopian and Vietnamese. The market and the injera restaurants around it are the reason to make the trip.
CBD laneways
Degraves, Hardware, Centre Place. Espresso bars and hole-in-the-wall kitchens that made the city's reputation, still working at lunch.
What to eat
The dishes the city is known for
- 01
Espresso
· Melbourne roasts and pulls coffee to a standard that embarrasses most of Europe. The magic, a shorter flat white, was invented here. - 02
Souvlaki
· The late-night food, from Greek shops that have run since the fifties. Lonsdale Street is the historic Greek precinct. - 03
Pho
· Victoria Street in Richmond does it as well as anywhere outside Vietnam, with rice noodle houses that open at 8:00. - 04
Parma
· Crumbed chicken with ham, tomato, and cheese, served in every pub with chips. A local fixation and a reliable measure of a pub kitchen. - 05
Injera with wat
· Fermented teff flatbread with spiced stews, eaten by hand. Footscray has the concentration, and it is a communal meal. - 06
Dim sim
· A larger, coarser cousin of the dumpling, steamed or deep fried. An Australian invention from Chinese cooks in this city.
Practical notes
Meal timing, tipping, payment
Cafés from 7:00 with brunch until about 15:00. Dinner 18:00 to 21:30, earlier than Europe. Tipping is optional because wages are high; rounding up or ten percent for good service is plenty. Many small bars do not take bookings and the queue is the system. Public transport in the centre is free within the tram zone.
All 20 food tours
Updated 2026-09-11The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
Yarra Valley Private Car Winery Tour And Chocolate.1-7 Passengers One Car Price
Come explore the world renowned Yarra Valley wine region in your private vehicle with your driver/guide. See and learn why the Yarra Valley is world famous for its wine,food and rolling hills. As the tour is private you
7h - 02
Mornington Peninsula Distillery Private Tour from Melbourne
After being picked up anywhere in Melbourne in your private air-conditioned vehicle your host will take you to four of the best distilleries that the Mornington Peninsula has to offer. Relax as you indulge in a craft be
8h - 03
Mornington Peninsula Private Food Trail Tour with Pickup
After being picked up anywhere in Melbourne in private air-conditioned comfort your host will take you to four of the finest food establishments the Mornington Peninsula has to offer. Relax as you indulge in a tasting a
8h - 04
Mornington Peninsula Luxury Day Escape
Escape Melbourne for a full day of indulgence along the stunning Mornington Peninsula. Enjoy iconic coastal views at Brighton Beach, a scenic guided walk at Arthur’s Seat, and a premium wine tasting at the acclaimed Pt
9h - 05
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight over Yarra Valley + Breakfast
Embark on an unforgettable hot air balloon adventure over the beautiful landscape of the Yarra Valley. Our expert pilots select optimal launch sites based on wind direction to deliver breathtaking sunrise views daily. A
4h - 06
Yarra Valley Balloon Flight + Breakfast & Melbourne Pickup
Embark on an unforgettable hot air balloon adventure over the beautiful landscape of the Yarra Valley. The expert pilots select optimal launch sites based on wind direction to deliver breathtaking sunrise views daily. A
7h - 07
Family Day in the Yarra Valley Private Experience
It doesn’t matter what age you are; the Yarra Valley has an activity for you and your family to explore and experience. The philosophy behind Family Day in the Yarra Valley is to have an activity or experience that cater
9h - 08
Flavour of the Yarra Valley Private Experience
For anyone who loves lush green scenery, exceptional food and wine, and rich historical townships, the stunning Yarra Valley is only a 1-hour drive east of Melbourne and is surrounded by the Dandenong Ranges and the Grea
8h - 09
Mornington Peninsula Wine Region Tour
Grape Explorations Australia specialise in private, small group wine region tours. We tailor the day to suit any group dynamic or special occasion, supporting local winemakers and artisan producers of the region. Get on
8h - 10
Street Food & Street Art, Backroads & Boroughs
Forget the 'sites' and 'attractions', Melbourne is a city built for locals. This is your perfect, personalised deep-dive into local culture and life through food and street art - the two things we do as well as anyone.
6h - 11
Small Group Personalised Private Tours Melbourne (up to 14 pax)
Discover Melbourne and Victoria in unparalleled luxury with our personalized tours. Whether it's the iconic Great Ocean Road or the serene Yarra Valley vineyards, our service offers comfort and opulence. Tailored to your
1h - 12
![[PRIVATE TOUR] Puffing Billy and Dandenong Mountains](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-480x320/09/e5/2d/4e.jpg)
[PRIVATE TOUR] Puffing Billy and Dandenong Mountains
A unique mountain experience taking in the spectacular sights of the beautiful Mount Dandenong. Ride the famous Puffing Billy steam train as it whistles it way through lush forest and fern gullies whilst admiring the nat
7h - 13
![[PRIVATE TOUR] Yarra Valley Winery | Day Tour](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-480x320/09/c7/81/68.jpg)
[PRIVATE TOUR] Yarra Valley Winery | Day Tour
Only an hour out of Melbourne, capture some of the best views in a valley surrounded by mountains and taste the regions fresh produce. There are wineries, breweries, distillery's, a dairy farm and a chocolate factory. A
8h - 14
Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour
There is only one way to begin a Queen Victoria Market experience – and that is at an award-winning delicatessen offering exclusive Australian cheese & charcuterie. As you immerse yourself in the morning hum of the marke
1.5h - 15
Discover Hidden Wineries in Melbourne Boutique Wine Tour Series
Explore Victoria’s lesser-known wine regions on the Melbourne Boutique Wine Tour Series, as we travel from Melbourne and rotate through the Bellarine Peninsula, Macdeon Ranges, Golburn Valley, and Gippsland Wine Regions
8.5h - 16
Yarra Valley Premium Wine Redwood Forest Day Tour Melbourne
Discover the beauty and flavors of Victoria on a Small Group Yarra Valley Redwood & Premium Wine Tour. Travel through the scenic countryside of Yarra Valley and explore the magical Redwood Forest, where towering Californ
7h - 17
Melbourne Beer Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private
Melbourne, with its passion for sports, lively bar-culture and world-renowned music scene is a veritable paradise for beer lovers. With an abundance of trendy microbreweries, summery beer gardens and positively delightfu
3h - 18
Red Therapy | Wine Tour in Mornington Peninsula (Private Tour)
A perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or simply to treat yourself to a relaxing day with friends, our “Red Therapy” Wine Tour across Mornington Peninsular and Red Hill leisurely explores the region’s beautiful la
8h - 19
Chardon-Hey | Wine Tour in Mornington Peninsula (Private Tour)
Are you craving the ultimate escape to Mornington Peninsula, but don’t want to break the bank? Perhaps a girl’s trip or a family outing, where you can indulge on wine, cheese, and chocolate – with someone else as the des
7h - 20
Private Tour: Yarra Valley Wineries with Wine Tastings
You set the pace on your own personalized, full-day private Yarra Valley wine tour. Choose to visit as many Yarra Valley wineries as you can or let your private wine expert guide set the pace for you. You'll be accompani
7.5h