Best Casual Dining Restaurants Melbourne

In keeping with its international presence, The Meat & Wine Co. Melbourne has spared no expense in creating its impressive Southbank steakhouse restaurant. The three-level dining room features new and rustic design elements and offers views of the Yarra River and the city skyline. The impressive open kitchen dishes up the restaurant's signature flame grilled skewers, ribs and premium steaks.

Photography: Courtesy of Ladro Gertrude

This perpetually packed restaurant on Flinders Lane serves fast paced, street-inspired Asian cuisine. The adventurous menu, under the guidance of executive chef Benjamin Cooper, has been designed with the hawker dining halls of Bangkok in mind, featuring shared plates great for communal dining. While the menu takes guidance from South East Asia, the wine list has an all-Australian focus. For indecisive diners, Chin Chin offers a "feed me" option – which includes a random selection of dishes. No bookings can be made under ten people.

MoVida's Aqui, found in the rear of a city office building is an unassuming place to house the largest restaurant of the MoVida family, but there is method to this madness. More space means a larger kitchen for paella, and ample seating availability for diners who may still be looking to nab a table at the original. Plus, Paco's Tacos on the terrace is open all day for small tapas and cerveza.

Richmond Oysters started in 1959 as a seafood wholesaler and trading for over a decade in the restaurant business, and they know their way around good seafood. They offer a casual restaurant experience specialising in fresh and cooked seafood dishes, emphasizing in high quality produce and freshness. The atmosphere in the restaurant is easy going and amicable – Perfect for any occasion, from dinner dates, to business lunches and even family gatherings. 

Combining the charm of the old with the creativity and energy of the new, Italy 1 Camberwell offers an unpretentious yet sophisticated dining experience in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. The menu features Italian-inspired creations that change with the seasons but favourite staples like, linguine marinara, remain year-round. The dining room is a relaxing space of polished dark timber, white-clothed tables and soft lighting.

A chemist of spices, is how Sam Wedande of Araliya considers himself. Ayurveda, the Hindu herbal science of life, inspires his cooking. No recipes are used, just an instinctive mixing of healthful herbs and seductive spices. Have fun with scallops in a hopper, or brave the brains - coconut crumbed with a savoury mint filling, served with chilli mayonnaise. Araliya has recently moved from Hawthorn to their new location in Kew

Lunch Sunday and dinner Tuesday-Sunday

Affectionately named after the public ferry service in Venice, Vaporetto in Hawthorn takes diners straight to the canals of the charming Italian city. Established in an old tobacco shop, chandeliers of handblown Murano glass dazzle from the ceiling, and a bar rests behind a long slice of white marble. The eatery of where Venice meets Melbourne will showcase dishes of salami's, heirloom vegetables and seasonal seafood in a casual homely atmosphere.

BYO is now available everyday for lunch and Sunday-Thursday evenings at Vaporetto Bar & Eatery!

Aptly named Teller is in the former State Savings Bank of Victoria in Brunswick, just 5kms from Melbourne's CBD.  Beautifully refitted it is now a popular all day dining and drinking venue offering function space, open plan light filled restaurant, bar with plenty of beer on tap and a cute laneway area.  This is upmarket pub dining with an impressive menu of plates using Mediterranean flavours and also offering a kids menu.  It is no wonder that Teller has become a favourite amongst the Brunswick East locals.

Mon-Sun 11.30am-late

Located on the Glenferrie Road shopping strip, Florina’s Greek Tavern provides a dining experience that will transport you to the Greek Islands or a tavern in Athens. True to any restaurant in a Greek village, at Florina's there is a range of fresh fish available daily, and tender meats are cooked over charcoal in open fire. For a veritable Greek feast, try the popular 4 course set menu from $46 per person.