I'll be spending a week in Melbourne in early November and am looking for information on restaurants I shouldn't miss. I'm staying in the CBD and will not have a car, so I'm hoping for recommendations in that area. Not only for dinner, but what about the best lunch and best breakfast?

Hi Mary<BR>I was in Melbourne at the end of last year and had a fantastic brunch at Automatic which is in the Crown Complex. The location is fantastic - there is an outside eating area with views over the river. <BR>If you can, try to be sitting outside at one of the Crown Complex cafes at 10pm when there is a spectacular fire display.<BR>The Flower Drum chinese restaurant has had excellent reviews, and I found the following website useful:<BR>http://www.sallys-place.com/food/dining_directory/oceania/melbourne.htm<BR>HTH. <BR>Jo.

Just got back from my 1st trip to Oz. Didn't eat at a lot of fancy places in Melbourne, but if you like capitalism and Italian food, I highly recommend spending an evening dining on Lygon Street. In one spot there are 3 Italian places practically right next to each other, and when I was there (and, I think, every night), the proprietor of each stood at the door, each giving his sales pitch about why his was the best food in town, each upping the ante ("I'll give you a free glass of wine!"; "Oh yeah, well I'll give you a free bottle!") in an attempt to secure the patronage of passersby. A fun night; food was decent and, after all the bids were in, extremely cheap.

Hi John<BR><BR>How about a trip report?! Be nice to hear what you got upto as am off to Oz next year...<BR><BR>Thanks<BR><BR>Sonia

There are many excellent restautants in Melbourn CBD. We ate at Ondine which was Fabulous, Radii in the Park Hyatt (where we stayed) was very good, South Bank near the Crown complex has many good places to choose from. Good luck

Hi Mary,<BR>A week in the c.b.d. Melbourne.Well where do I start !<BR>There are so many great places within a taxi or tram ride ( you didn't mention where you will be staying )<BR><BR>Italian...Lygon Street, Carlton. Hard to give you the best walk along the street & you be the judge, its fun just being there at night.<BR>Chinese... Little Bourke Street China Town. The flower drum has a great reputation, very hard to get into. 5 star service. China on Paramount (Little Bourke Street) offers similar service, food & price tag.<BR><BR>Brunswick Street Fitzroy great casual cafe's. for breakfast / lunch.<BR>Bridport Road, Albert Park trendy.(not many cafe's)<BR>Breakfasts... Buffet all the 5 star Hotels have good ones. Around $30.Aust.<BR>Lunch... Try taking the ferry from South Gate to Williamstown. Enjoy a walk on the prominade plenty of places to eat well.<BR>Studley Park Boat House is a great alturnative on a beautiful day , even though you are in the city you have the feeling you are a million miles away.<BR><BR>Afternoon Tea...You can't beat a trip down Ackland Street, St Kilda the cakes are " to die for"<BR>Formal Afternoon Teas avail at Sheraton Towers, Windso Hotal & Conservitory at Crown.<BR>Great cakes 1 is enough for 2. Automatic at Crown.<BR><BR>Dinner..Something a bit different. Tuesday Nights only. Progressive dinner 3 venues. starting at P.J.O'Briens. South Bank. You must book this.<BR>Top Hotels have great buffets.<BR><BR>Fine dining..Ondine. Queen St, City. Jacques Reymond, Windsor. Le Restaurant. Hotel Sofitel. City. Vue De Monde, Carlton. Circa the Prine. St Kilda. & Ezard at Apelphi. City.<BR>You say you will be there early Nov. If you are there the first Tuesday in November this is Melbourne Cup day (horse racing.) so the top restaurants will be booked out, this night is a great time to sit at an outdoor cafe at Crown Complex from 4.30 on & watch the race gowers arrive back to Crown on the river boats.Great fashion show for free & it will give you a lot of laughs. Crown Complex have great places J.J. bar & Grill good steaks. Walk along further to Southbank & many more wonderful places. Enjoy

Aussie, where were you when I was visiting Melbourne! Wonderful information...I'll keep for my return trip back at some point. Thanks for posting it (and to everyone else). For whatever reason, I chose the worst restaurants while there!

Thank you! This is great information!<BR><BR>Mary

I also like Automatic at Crown Casino and Lygon Street is so much fun.<BR><BR>For a really special treat (and not so expensive by US standards) take a tram to St Kilda and try Circa at the Prince of Wales - sensational. <BR><BR>Also for another good night out try the restaurant tram.

i think if there were a reason to go back to melbourne for a holiday it would be for Lygon street and the cafes at Fremantle. You could spend a few days going back to Lygon for dinner, each night trying out something new.<BR><BR>The short tram ride to the factory outlet area at Richmond has some nice cafes, or the 'mambo styled' ones at the street past Lygon...<BR><BR>How about 'The Sicilian' at Fremantle? Huge servings of beer-battered Fish and generous greens? for AUS$13?

Melbourne - Fremantle. <BR><BR>I think you are confused. Fremantle is in Western Australia

Circa at St Kilda can be found at.<BR>www.theprince.com.au<BR><BR>The prices are in the top bracket for eating in Australia.

The Provincial hotel in Brunswick St, Fitzroy is my favourite- take the West Preston tram from Collins st and get off at Johnson st (about 10 mins). There are probably 50-100 other resteraunts in the area. Great area for breakfast and brunch too.

Cuisine magazine recently published a feature on Melbourne restaurants. Read it online at:<BR>http://www.cuisine.co.nz/index.cfm?pageID=17543&r=0