Marmelo is our 2025 Victoria State Winner
Anson Smart
From state-winning hotel restaurants to party-forward laneway venues serving up reimagined Filipino fare, these top Victorian restaurants reflect the culinary capital’s diversity. Though they vary in style, each of them is consistent in the things that count: hospitable service, world-class cooking and stellar drops.
Every restaurant featured is considered gold standard by our expert critics, who’ve searched far and wide for the best places to eat, drink and celebrate Victoria’s vibrant dining culture. See how the guide works.
Whether you’re looking to indulge in conspicuous consumption in the heart of the city, make a weekend out of a destination diner or simply after a low-key affair, dining out in Victoria has never been so full of possibilities — and this restaurant guide is your north star. Â
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Our expert critics
This guide to Victoria’s best restaurants in 2025 has been edited by Gourmet Traveller’s expert reviewer and Victoria state editor Michael Harden alongside national guide editor Michael Harry. Under Harden’s direction, our team of critics also includes seasoned restaurant reviewer and writer Larissa Dubecki. Our team has travelled far and wide to visit – and revisit – dozens of restaurants, seeking out the most exceptional meals and memorable experiences in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
To earn a place in this guide, each venue must excel from welcome to farewell, with service, design, originality, consistency and atmosphere each carefully considered. But the most crucial area of excellence is always the food. Every restaurant featured in this guide should be considered gold standard. It’s an exciting snapshot of how we like to eat out in 2025 and beyond.
All of the restaurants reviewed were visited anonymously between March and July 2025 with reviewers paying their own way.
The price guide has been updated this year to convey the average cost for two people. While we’re big fans of solo dining, restaurant visits are more often a shared experience, and this adjustment reflects that.
PRICE GUIDE
Average cost for two diners, not including drinks.
$ = under $100 $$ = $100 to $175 $$$ = 175 to $250 $$$$ = $250 to $325 $$$$$ = $325+
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