The Top 10 Restaurants In South Melbourne...

Planning lunch or dinner out with friends? Why not head to South Melbourne, one of the oldest suburbs in Melbourne? It’s home not only to one of the most famous markets in Melbourne but also to a number of restaurants offering almost every cuisine you could wish for.

View All Trips

Claypots Evening Star

Restaurant, Seafood

Located at the corner of South Melbourne Market, Claypots Evening Star is difficult to miss. The vibe is lively, thanks to the live music, and the seafood is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully cooked. The place isn’t large, with mostly bar seating and a couple of tables outside. The menu consists of tapas-style dishes; top picks include the grilled king prawn with coriander sambal, scallops, stingray pintxo, and the cuttlefish with chilli squid ink. There’s also a blackboard announcing the daily specials, as well as the option of choosing your own seafood to watch it be cooked right in front of you. Grab a stool and a cold beer and you’re all set.

Hercules Morse Kitchen + Bar

Restaurant, Australian

Upon stepping through the doors of Hercules Morse Kitchen + Bar, you’ll find an intimate restaurant-bar, decked out in black and timber. The space is perfect for almost every occasion, from date nights and after-work drinks to long lazy meals. The menu is designed for sharing and is broken up into three sections: snack, graze, and indulge. Popular items include the Morse Chip Butty, Bacorn, cheese & chilli bickies, cauliflower & cheese balls, and the beef cheek cigars. Save some space for dessert, as we hear the salted peanut brittle parfait is delightful.

Lûmé

If you’re after a dining experience like no other, head to Lûmé, where fine dining meets the weird and the wonderful. The chefs have put together a creative 15-course degustation menu that will wow you from start to finish. Each course is beautifully presented; expect the unexpected with combinations that may be confusing but delicious on a whole. There’s also an a la carte menu that changes seasonally; you can allow the chef decide on the menu or select your own entrees and main courses.

Lûmé, 226 Coventry St, South Melbourne VIC, Australia, +61 3 9690 0185

Paella Valenciana | © Charles Haynes/Flickr

Simply Spanish

Restaurant, Spanish

If you’ve got a craving for authentic Spanish food, Simply Spanish is where you’ll be able to find it. It’s one of the most popular food joints at the South Melbourne market, and for good reason. What’s that, you ask? The scrumptious Paella Valenciana (Big Pan Paella) of course! On market days, you’ll find giant pans of paella cooking away outside the restaurant, chock full of perfectly cooked seafood and chicken. Not feeling paella? Don’t worry; they also do traditional Spanish tapas and a range of cooked-to-order gourmet paellas. Service can be a little hit or miss at times, but the food is excellent.

Köy

Restaurant, Turkish

When you think of Turkish food, you think of böreks and kebabs, right? Well, you’ll be pleased to know that at Köy, you’ll soon discover a whole new side to Turkish cuisine. If you’re after a quick meal for lunch on market days, head to the gölzeme station, where you can take your pick from four different types of gölzeme. They also offer a la carte menus for lunch and dinner. Choice picks include the Sigara Böregi (Turkish spring rolls), the chargrilled octopus, and the made in-house baklava. On the last Wednesday of each month, they host a 7-course banquet, which is worth making time for.

Wayside Inn

Bar, Restaurant, Australian, Pub Grub

Sister to the famous Station Hotel in Fitzroy, Wayside Inn is a great addition to the Southbank/South Melbourne area. The space is bright and tastefully designed, with separate areas for the bar and the restaurant. There’s also a courtyard perfect for chilling out and soaking up some sun. Food-wise, they offer gastropub-style dishes, and while most items cater to meat-eaters, there’s enough on the menu to satisfy vegetarians. The steaks are crowd-pleasers, as are the chorizo & Gruyére croquetas and the Wayside burger. There’s also a daily rotisserie, as well as a great range of beers on tap.

Paco Y Lola

Restaurant, Mexican

If you love Mexican food, Paco Y Lola is a winner. The food is as authentic as it gets, delivering both spice and flavor in a well-balanced punch. The menu lists a good variety of Mexican street food, so you’ll find tostadas, tacos, quesadillas, and burritos, along with smaller and bigger plates to share. The breakfast burritos are a great option, whether you’re hung-over or simply hungry. Other must-tries include the ceviche, the soft-shell crab tacos, and the slow-cooked beef cheeks. In a hurry? No problem, grab a chicken burrito from the grill outside and be on your way!

Tempura Hajime

Tempura Hajime has clearly taken exclusive to a whole new level. Upon entering the simple wooden door, you’ll find yourself in a dim corridor that soon opens up into a dining area that only seats 12. For lunch, there are a handful of classic Japanese set meals, such as Unajyu (grilled eel), a sushi & sashimi combination platter, and of course, a tempura set. Dinner focuses solely on tempura, with a choice of a tempura set or a tempura & sushi set. The tempura is exceptional; the batter is light and crispy and the items cooked to perfection. Once you try the tempura prawn here, you’ll never want to eat it anywhere else. Come here if you want a taste of Japan without getting on a plane.

Tempura Hajime, 60 Park St, South Melbourne VIC, Australia, +61 3 9696 0051

Bellota

Bar, Wine Bar, Wine

If you love great wine and good food, you need to visit Bellota. Not only do they stock over 4000 bottles of wine from all over the world, but the wine list also changes with the seasons, which is great for pleasing even the fussiest of wine-lovers. Moving onto the food, the menu is distinctly European; there’s an oyster bar, a wide selection of charcuterie, bar snacks, small and large plates for sharing, as well as a good variety of cheeses. Sit down, order a glass of wine or two, and you’re all set for a lazy afternoon.

Peko Peko

This quirky little café is one of those places where you know you’ll get a good feed without breaking the bank. It’s also one of the few Taiwanese restaurants around town offering traditional Taiwanese food alongside Japanese and Chinese-influenced dishes. Most of the items on the menu are pretty good, but they’re famous for the Pop Chicken. They also offer appetizers, bento boxes, and noodle soups. For dessert, try the Japanese cotton cheesecake or the black sesame ice cream. This place does crowded quickly though, so it’s probably best to make a reservation beforehand.

Peko Peko, 190 Wells St., South Melbourne VIC, Australia, +61 3 9686 1109

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points

See Our Culture Trips

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Find Out More