There's something special about sitting down and sharing a meal - it can be an experience of all the senses if done well. I adore going out for lunch or dinner - the entire act thrills me and makes me so happy.
Carefully choosing my outfit, delicate lingerie and stockings underneath, singing along to my favourite playlist while getting ready for you. My anticipation is building on the way and I just love stepping into the restaurant of our choice by your side knowing how deliciously this evening will unfold until well into the night.
Here are some of my favourite Melbourne restaurants I’d love to share with you.
Coda is, hands down, my favourite Melbourne restaurant. A modern Euro-Vitanamese restaurant nestled in Melbourne's culinary epicentre on Flinders Lane unfurls in a converted warehouse space. The incredibly creative menu is designed to share - small, medium and large plates to be enjoyed together. Exotic Asian flavours meet European dishes and explode on your tastebuds. Their sommelier has assembled an exciting wine list to go with the exceptional menu.
Aru is the perfect pick for detail-oriented wine lovers. The interior of the restaurant is lovingly crafted with wood and stone to create a wonderfully intimate environment for the big flavours of the decadent menu to unfold, which reflects the same close attention to detail. The abundant 400-strong international wine list is an incredible addition to the elaborate and pungent menu.
Supernormal
Supernormal is beautifully executed; a slick, understated fit out, an open kitchen and that indefinable X-factor that chef-restaurateur Andrew McConnell weaves into each new venture. It features dishes such as dumplings, bao and Szechuan-peppered brisket. There are plenty of Korean and Japanese flavours shining through next to Chinese and Japanese influences - an exciting place to enjoy creative cuisine.
Flower Drum is one of Melbourne's oldest and most revered Chinese restaurants. Serving traditional and elegant Cantonese, the restaurant interior is opulent and bold. Sprawling red carpets, sculptural flower arrangements complete with white-clothed tables and formally clad waiters. It is an unique and unforgettable affair, the perfect location for a decadently romantic evening.
Embla is one of my Melbourne staples, a wonderfully small and heavenly place to escape the busy CBD. A stylish and modern wine bar exuding Nordic flair with small plates that keep our palates excited alongside its large selection of fine wines. The food is adventurous and fun, packed with flavour and irresistible.
Minamishima is an intimate sushi okamase experience tucked away in Richmond backstreets bordering on the CBD. The twelve counter seats are the ideal place to watch and enjoy the artistry of the chefs preparing market fresh food - the meticulous knife work, the precision and the exquisite dishes served are not to be missed when visiting - or residing in - Melbourne.
The exposed brickwork, scaffolding, aluminium, and raw wood accents of Sunda project a rough and unrestrained energy that comes from something big and bold – just like the food carefully and artistically crafted by Khanh Nguyen. Sunda serves food from across Southeast Asia featuring indigenous Australian ingredients paired with fantastic wines to match.
Nomad Melbourne
Located along the recognisable and buzzing Flinders Lane dining precinct, NOMAD Melbourne is housed in an iconic subterranean space. With a roaring wood-fired oven as the centrepiece, the dining room features a large open kitchen & bar. Celebrating local produce and some of our favourite Sydney dishes, the menu features its own unique spin on Middle Eastern flavours cooked over fire & smoke.
Attica is one of Melbourne's most iconic restaurants, offering an eclectic artful mix of boundary-pushing modern Australian cuisine that celebrates native produce from across the country. This is the perfect opportunity for us to embark on a rare culinary adventure together and celebrate a special occasion.
Society
Society is a multi-faceted modern dining destination like no other. It celebrates the magic of à la carte dining and is situated in the heart of Melbourne's fashionable Collins Street precinct where no two visits need ever be the same. It's the realisation of a vision by renowned restaurateur Chris Lucas.
Where it all began - Movida Original is Australia’s number 1 Spanish restaurant where the obsession with tapas and share plates has created excellence. The celebration of Spanish food and drink, showcased by the fine Australian produce, at its best and original. Fresh, in-house baked bread, ever changing specials and the devotion to quality make this yet another of my Melbourne regularly visited staples.
One of Melbourne’s finest - three levels of dining excellence: the restaurant, Chablis Bar, private dining rooms and the Chef’s Table. Kisumé combines the purity and integrity of Japanese cuisine with Australian sensibility to an unforgettable dining experience using the best local produce of land and sea. Discover a fusion of design, art and dining like no other with me.
These restaurants will inspire you to take enjoying Melbourne to the next level.
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