You know I’ve said it before, but Melbourne is an incredible city. I LOVE living here and feel so blessed to be a part of the vibrant food culture where I can enjoy an abundance of different types of food to enjoy each week. Eating out in Melbourne is a massive part of our lifestyle. Not only is it super affordable but the choices are pretty impressive.
So here are some things I’ve tried that I want to share with you to enjoy next time you’re in town.
Agathe Bakery – Rated 4.6 stars (154 reviews)
Located in the centre of the South Melbourne Markets, Agathe’s Bakery is designed with an open shop front that you can see right through. You’re going to drool while you wait in line as you stare directly at the racks filled with baked buttery pastry treats. And don’t even get me started about the intoxicating smell of freshly baked pastry – it’s incredible! You can easily avoid the queues if you arrive early during the week.
So what did I try? Well, I punished one of their oversized vanilla pastry flans which I swear is 100 times better than a Portuguese tart. But the indulgence didn’t stop at just one flan, I also treated myself to two of their famous canneles – they were so heavenly. As I bit down into a super soft and moist like pastry shell my tastebuds were hit with a deliciously mushy centre.
Ratio Cocoa – For a guilty free chocolate overload.
Rated 4.6 stars (71 reviews)
Seriously, guys, this is a chocoholics haven without the guilty feeling. You can enjoy a chocolate drink, something chocolaty to eat, as well as buy some chocolate to take home. I loved the fact that I was able to go overboard with my chocolate cravings and walked out not feeling bloated or even worse with that horrible ‘fury teeth’ feeling when you eat white processed sugar (I hate that shit!).
I suggest you try one of their hot chocolates with creamy macadamia milk. It’s a subtle chocolate hit combined with an extra creamy texture that you get naturally from macadamia milk. I couldn’t stop at just their hot chocolate, so I accompanied my hot chocolate with chocolate waffles topped with of course chocolate sauce and chocolate ice-cream.
The chocolate shop also offers a see-through area which overlooks their production facility.
Claypots – Conveniently located in the city.
Rated 4.6 stars (146 reviews)
I first discovered Claypots at their St Kilda location 4 years ago and was so happy to see they had a place to eat right in the city which is close to my home.
I can’t remember the name of the over to the top happy lady that greeted us, but I tell you what. She knew her stuff because she selected our entire menu as we had no idea what we wanted to order. We were just in the mood for something cuddly, snuggly and warm.
She nailed it when she brought out plates decorated with grilled swordfish sprinkled with pink peppercorn & accompanied by the tastiest, softest crushed roasted potatoes. I loved the ambience of the place, its laid back and casual enough that I felt like I was eating a plate of home cooked food at a friend’s house.
We’ll be back again.
Rated 4.4 stars (448 Reviews)
Firstly, this is a completing different price point than any of the other options above. Be ready to spend anywhere between $150 upwards (depending on the selection of alcohol you drink) But the price is definitely worth the experience.
During our mid-week getaway at the very luxurious Crown Towers in Melbourne CBD to celebrate our 10th anniversary, we accidentally discovered this little gem. It’s hidden right next to the entrance of the Crown Towers Spa.
With over 1300 wines (some priced at over $10K a bottle) your experience starts with a menu featuring dishes inspired by some of the unique historical recipes dating as far back as 13th century. The restaurant even offers a details (and very thick) catalogue outlining the story behind the extensive research that was conducted to put every dish together.
Our waiter explained that each dish takes eight years to develop. We enjoyed two entrees, two mains and two desserts. Some highlights include the broths. Heston and his team dedicate their lives in creating some of the most complex broths, as they believe a broth is the foundation of any dish.
Another highlight was the vegetarian main dish I had. It included celery stuffed with cheese and finished with smoked candied deep-fried walnuts. Please note it’s hard to make celery and cheese sound exciting, but let me tell you that I’m happy to pay for this plate again because the fusion of flavours in my mouth is so hard to capture with words on this blog.
Vegetarian food wasn’t something enjoyed or celebrated in the past. It was fashionable to host large dinners and depending on the amount of protein served that would determine your wealth. So serving vegetarian dishes was not considered a show of wealth.
Ok guys, so there you have it. Some stand out things I’ve recently tried here in Melbourne. If I remember I will try to add other things here and will make sure to mention when I make updates to this blog post on my Instagram profile.
Here are some other posts about Melbourne (and food) that may be of interest:
A unique experience in Melbourne CBD
Living & working in Docklands – My interview with Docklands News
Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival
National Gallery of Victoria – Italian Jewels Bulgari Style Exhibition
I am planning to move to Melbourne with my family sometime this year and gonna keep checking your blog.
Thank you.