Melbourne offers a different type of beauty to its eternal Australian rival, Sydney. It’s a happy place with a large student population, beaches and lots of places to wine and dine. Even if Melbourne isn’t as touristy as Sydney, it’s a city that needs to be visited in its own right. A metropolis of 4.5 million people, Melbourne is an hour-long flight away from Sydney.
From what Australians say, Melbourne is the continent’s most enjoyable and easygoing city. And if you ask the foreigners that also live here, they’d say the same thing. Many university students choose Melbourne as their place of study, including many Americans, thanks to educational institutions that are some of the best in the world. And even if Americans have perhaps the best 15 universities in the world, the price of an Australian university is just a quarter of its U.S. counterpart. In fact, I met an American student here who was helping to pay for tuition by driving for Uber – he seemed to really like living here.
While Sydney resembles more New York Midtown or the area around Central Park, Melbourne is more akin to Soho Tribeca – and it seems a bit more like Europe. In terms of urban planning, Melbourne also appears to have had more success. But I digress, we’re here for Melbourne’s restaurants! Here they are, again, in alphabetical order.
ATTICA
It’s well-nigh impossible to find a seat at this Australian restaurant, which is among the cream of the crop near the top of the world’s top 50 list. In the end, we had a friend’s intervention to thank for allowing us to make a reservation, although it wasn’t under the most ideal of circumstances: We had to be there at 6 p.m. – not my most preferred time – and out by 8:30 p.m. Attica has a set menu for all; the only possible alteration is to choose fish if you don’t eat meat. Nonetheless, we reckoned that it would be impossible to come all the way to Melbourne and not go to Attica. The prices truly are astronomical, but boy was the food out of this world. It was the best meal I had in Melbourne, but more than that, if I were on the jury to vote for the world’s best restaurant, I think I’d probably vote for Attica. We had a 12-course menu, 10 of which we enjoyed. I had no complaints because I opted to go meat-free, although my daughter did not. Ultimately, that meant that she had to dine out on fried ant (probably for the first and last time), which is consumed in Australia. If you’re not interested in ingesting delicacies like this, it’s a good idea to sometimes put a limit on the meat.
In any case, even if Attica has been selected as Australia’s best restaurant, it’s good to be on your guard. In the end, though, I think I would still opt for Sydney’s Bennelong over Attica – although my decision might be impacted by the fact that I’m not a big fan of the inflexibility of set menus.
CUMULUS UP
Cumulus Up is a two-floor affair. In actuality, the bottom floor is known just as Cumulus, while the upper floor – hence the “up” – is the actual eatery in question. The bottom floor, which doesn’t take reservations (if you can find a seat, you get to sit), has a pub atmosphere that’s geared toward fun. The top floor, however, requires reservations. We headed to Cumulus Up for an enjoyable reunion with a friend. Thanks to our guest’s knowledge of the Melbourne food scene, we ordered ourselves some excellent food. While our guest plumped for meat, I opted for seafood. In the accompaniment of a great American wine, we had ourselves a wonderful Australian fusion feast.
EMBLA
Embla is a popular, lunch-oriented wine bar that’s in the heart of the city. Customers can order from an hors d’oeuvres menu that features tapas-like offerings of Australian food. Embla serves great Australian wine, and – this is the best bit – they do it in the right glasses at the right temperature. Because it’s located in the city center, Embla is easy to reach (a factor which no doubt increases the number of customers). In the end, Embla is a perfect place to escape for some wine and food for Melbourne’s white-collar workers, who make up the vast majority of the clientele. It also has reasonable prices that are in line with what you would get in Cihangir. Note, though, that you’re unlikely to find the same jovial atmosphere in the evenings.
ROOFTOP AT QT
Located in one of Melbourne’s few tall buildings, Rooftop at QT really is a place you need to visit at night. Take a seat and enjoy the view of Melbourne stretching toward the sea alongside some light food and wine or beer (the country, naturally, also has excellent beer). When you go to the bar to order your drinks, you can also order your tapas-like hors d’oeuvres. After paying, they’ll give you a number for your table and bring your food when it’s ready. And if you’re interested in some more food, you do the same routine again. All this means that waiters aren’t taking your orders – perhaps because it’s cheaper for the establishment. A place that leaves everyone with a pleasant feeling, Rooftop at QT is a bar for people who are just getting off work, as well as for ever-chatty Melburnians looking to socialize.
YARRA VALLEY DAIRY
The last place I want to recommend in Melbourne is actually outside the city; more than that, it’s actually a farm – albeit one with a restaurant attached. If you want to get into the car, get out of town, and spend some time in nature, look no further than Yarra Valley Dairy. The valley itself has two large wine houses where they both grow their own grapes and make their own wine. Of course, you can visit these as well, but I want to talk about the farm. The Yarra Valley Farm raises sheep, goats, and cows to make cheese, which the on-site restaurant serves alongside local wine. Actually, though, that’s not really doing it justice because their menu also boasts fresh, crunchy bread and olive oil produced on the farm. Like at Rooftop at QT, you make your selection, pay for your food and take a number to your table. After they bring your food, the only thing that you have to do is eat and take in the wonderful nature. In summer, they might offer service outside as well, which, you can sure, would also be an experience to savor. If you’re interested in going to the farm, you ought to set aside five or six hours. And as far as I’m concerned, the best idea is to agree with a driver so that you can squeeze out all the enjoyment you can from the journey. I would suggest first touring the valley, then visiting one of the art galleries at the wine houses and, finally, topping it off with a feast of fantastic cheese and wine at the Yarra Valley Dairy. And there’s also a zoo where you can see some of the area’s snakes, alligators and kangaroos. Don’t miss it!