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Cheap eats

Fruit loaf comes in a kid-friendly shape and a more adult version spiked with red wine.

A ‘house of sourdough’ opens in a hallowed bakery site in Melbourne’s north

An eastern suburbs pastry specialist expands and bets big on bread, crafting crusty pizza slices, Italian deli sandwiches and artisanal loaves kids and adults will love.

  • Haymun Win
Brandon Jo, seen with the Mont Blanc, is the owner of Melbourne’s Good Measure Cafe.

The small Carlton cafe selling 6500 Mont Blanc coffees per week

Good food isn’t enough to draw a crowd in 2026. We take a look at what else Melbourne venues do to get your attention, and keep it.

  • Emma Breheny
The first Melbourne store will serve mostly fan favourites.

US chain Wendy’s is finally bringing its square burgers to Melbourne

After years of speculation, the first permanent Victorian location is confirmed. Near a major road in Melbourne, it will feature an Australian-only item and a drive-through with a human touch.

  • Quincy Malesovas
South Yarra restaurant Cosi is one of several offering to cover diners' transport costs in light of the fuel crisis.

These restaurants will pay for your petrol. Plus, hatted daytrip dining with free PT

Like you, Victorian restaurants are feeling the fuel crisis. But some are using it as a chance to give back to customers, offering petrol discounts, cash back and more.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Fannys Sannys, a new sandwich shop in Prahran, uses green goddess in its fish sandwich.

Forget the Filet-O-Fish: 10 great Melbourne fish burgers and sangas to try

Get your seafood fix, between bread. Head to a just-opened Preston Market stall, a hatted restaurant’s seaside kiosk, or a food truck off the beaten track.

  • Tomas Telegramma
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The Wooden Spoon.

First look: Sooshi Mango’s late-night panini bar ‘had to be’ on Lygon Street

Three doors down from the comedy trio’s restaurant, their follow-up, Sangaweech, has Big Nonna Energy. Expect orange Laminex, sandwiches with cheeky names, and tiramisu.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Osteria Luna’s muffuletta is quite literally stacked with delicious deli meats.

Nine CBD lunches worth heading into the office for

Make going into the office the highlight of your week with lunches from $3.70, to a hefty muffuletta sandwich and a sashimi deal at a two-hatted restaurant.

  • Isabel Cant
Desserts are king.

Ease back into office life with 11 new city spots for lunch, coffee and afternoon treats

Beat the back-to-work blues with breaks centred on cake, bargain lunch plates, iced matcha and even icier coffee.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Riverside Deli first opened on Flinders Street in the early 1990s.

As nostalgia dominates food, why is the Aussie lunch bar dying out?

Once a staple, the cafe-meets-lunch bar loved by tradies is fading fast, while pubs and milk bars are riding a wave of nostalgia. Can the old-school Aussie cafe be revived?

  • Quincy Malesovas
Bistra’s vintage chrome-and-tile facade.

20 banging BYO restaurants from the Good Food Guide

From a forever-busy corner wine bar with great snacks to a raucous spot for grilled meat on sticks, these Victorian restaurants are the ones to know when you want BYO (plus, updated corkage info).

  • Frank Sweet and Good Food Guide reviewers