EATING OUT
When it comes to eating out in Melbourne, you're spoiled for choice. The city's reputation is built on quality fresh produce, exciting restaurants and cafes, and a diversity of cuisines.
Melbourne's distinct food precincts offer world specialties, from Vietnamese in Richmond's Victoria Street, and a wide range of Asian cuisine in Chinatown, to Italian restaurants along Carlton's Lygon Street, Greek eateries in Richmond, and Middle Eastern offerings on Brunswick and Smith streets.
Trendy Hardware Lane in the city and cool Chapel Street in South Yarra, also feature an endless selection of mixed-influence eateries from Nepali to contemporary Australian.
You'll discover Australia's best gastro pubs alongside weird and wonderful cafés, mid-range restaurants of every cultural niche and, if you're tired of instant noodles in the hostel kitchen – there's plenty of high class dining to be had.
Cheap and cheerful
If you're after a cheap and cheerful meal, pubs are a brilliant backpacker option. Places will often compete for your business on Mondays and Tuesdays, with $10 pizza and beer options or $12 steak and salad nights. Reliable suggestions include The Napier in Fitzroy, Windsor Castle in Windsor and the Metropolitan in North Melbourne, where $12.50 will buy you dinner on a Monday night. And you can't beat the $8 pizza at Bimbo Deluxe in Brunswick Street. Asian restaurants on Victoria Street, near North Richmond station, are also brilliant on a budget.
Minus the meat
There are plenty of vegetarian options ont he board in Melbourne. The Moroccan Soup Kitchen carries serious kudos as one of the city's best 'cheap eats'. Other favourites include Shakahari, Carlton and the unique Lentil As Anything, at Abbotsford Convent, where you pay what you think your meal was worth! Gopal's is a simple but hearty vegetarian and vegan option, where food is prepared according to Hare Krishna principles, and Soul Mama in the St Kilda Sea Baths complex is another reliable eatery, with a great view across Port Phillip Bay.
Pizza and pasta
If you're craving Italian then Lygon Street, Carlton, is hard to beat. Tiamo and Tiamo 2 are local favourites. Pellegrini's on Bourke Street also serves up hearty traditional Italian. i Carusi in Brunswick and St Kilda serve reasonably-priced traditional, thin-crust pizza.
Asian inspired
Share a plate of dumplings at the Shanghai Dumpling House – a hearty and cheap option in Chinatown. If you're out late in the city, head to the Supper Inn for Cantonese. The Richmond end of Victoria Street is perfect for ridiculously cheap Vietnamese. Try Thy Thy 2 upstairs and Saigon Rose.
To market to market
If you love finding the best fresh produce a place has to offer, Melbourne has some quality fruit, meat and veg markets in the city and surrounding suburbs. Head to the famous Queen Victoria Market, for kangaroo steaks to barbecue – and grab a bratwurst in a bun from the Bratwurst Shop while you're there. Prahran Market, just off Chapel Street, is a lovely place to graze on fruit and delicatessen specialties. South Melbourne Market has a fabulous choice of bread for your lunch, fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables, fish, poultry and meat, and plenty of delicatessens to choose from.
Caffeine hit
In the contest for café capital of the world, Melbourne steps up to the podium with caffeine-fuelled fervour. Residents make an art of café lounging and can spend hours in their favourite coffee spot. Mingle with the locals at Degraves Espresso Bar on Degraves Street, opposite Flinders Street Station in the city. Brunetti's in Carlton is excellent for an authentic café experience and some of the best coffee in Melbourne. Pushka, Presgrave Place, Melbourne city, has excellent coffee and serves simple but wholesome breakfasts.
Splurge
If you've recently come into some money from a generous benefactor, spend it wisely at one of Melbourne's top restaurants. Ladro is a great pizza restaurant, while Movida in the city is tapas at its best. For excellent Thai, head to Cookie in Swanston Street, and for fabulous Greek-Australian nouveau-cuisine, the award winning Press Club simply can't be beaten.
Money saving tip
A BYO (Bring Your Own) restaurant or cafe will let you bring your own alcoholic and other drinks to the table. A "corkage" fee of around $3 sometimes applies.
