Eating

Iconic restaurants, hidden bars, decadent clubs and traditional pubs playing live music make Melbourne the nightlife capital of Australia.

As night falls over the city's skyline, the stylish restaurants, bars, clubs and pubs come to life.

All you can eat
Melbourne is renowned for its flair with food and atmospheric eating places - from intimate basement restaurants, such as Maha in Bond Street, to elegant venues overlooking the Yarra River, including Taxi Dining Room at Federation Square.

Also offering pretty river views is Southgate which boasts 17 restaurants, cafes and bars, so you're bound to find something you like. Some popular spots are Blue Train, BearBrass, Egusto, Tutto Bene, P.J. O'Brien's, Left Bank and The Deck.

Grossi Florentino in the heart of the city is a Melbourne foodie institution. With renowned chef Guy Grossi at the helm, this restaurant is a picture of grand old-world glamour and the delicious Italian dishes are to die for.

Another Melbourne super chef, Andrew McConnell - whose previous ventures include exclusive restaurants Circa and Three, One, Two - has opened a new café/wine bar called Cumulus in Flinders Lane. Open all day from 7:00 am till late, Cumulus serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and everything in-between.

Tucked away in Crossley Street, Gingerboy is the creation of acclaimed local chef-restaurateur Teage Ezard. The restaurant's menu features Asian tapas style dishes that are easy to share.

The Chinatown precinct (Little Bourke Street) is a hive of activity and home to lots of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian and Thai restaurants.

The Crown Entertainment complex offers a stunning choice of cuisines and top restaurants, including Nobu, Rockpool, Bistro Guillaume and modern Italian trattoria Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons.

City fringe food
Take the short tram trip to Fitzroy, Melbourne's bohemian heartland, to find cafes galore and fabulous 'pub grub'. Some of the top gastro hotels in the vicinity of Brunswick and Gertrude streets include The Napier, Union Club, The Rose, The Standard, The Marquis of Lorne and Labour of Vain.

'Hide and seek' bars
If you're craving a beer or glass of wine in the late afternoon, a romantic pre-dinner cocktail or a late-night nightcap, you won't have to look far.

In the CBD there are literally hundreds of drinking venues, each with their own distinct character, including cool 'cave in the wall' bars to exclusive clubs behind non-descript doors as well as cheekily themed salons.

Some fun and quirky new venues include Toff in Town (Swanston Street) with its train carriage booths and glamorous Silk Road (Collins Street) which is eight bars in one.

Many of Melbourne's hip bars and clubs are tucked down hidden laneways. Some hot spots well worth seeking out are New Gold Mountain (Liverpool Street), Sister Bella (Sniders Lane off Drewery Lane) and Bar Lourinha (Little Collins Street).

For more information about Melbourne's hot restaurants and bars, go to www.thatsmelbourne.com.au.