Best Eats
A front-row seat to the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival 2025
13/03/2025
Every March, Melbourne transforms into a culinary playground to welcome gourmands, chefs and – most importantly – curious diners to Australia’s biggest celebration of drinking and dining: the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. Running from 21 to 30 March, the 2025 program includes more than 400 events, blending headline-grabbing spectacles with intimate dinners to showcase why food and wine in Melbourne go hand-in-hand.
If you want to get up close and personal with some of the country’s most-celebrated chefs – and indulge in unforgettable dining experiences – the festival’s restaurant collaborations are always a hot ticket. Here’s why Melbourne continues to sit at the very top of the food chain.
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Flower Drum
Melbourne CBD, Melbourne, VictoriaIf Flower Drum needs an introduction, you probably haven’t experienced true Asian fine dining in Melbourne. Lauded as one of the country’s finest Chinese restaurants, Flower Drum has built a cult following over more than 35 years. From impeccable service to its opulent red-carpeted dining room and refined Cantonese cuisine, on 22 March (12-2.30pm) the restaurant will play host to a very special guest: legendary chef and author Tony Tan. Together, Tony and the Flower Drum team will recreate signature dishes from his latest cookbook, Tony Tan’s Asian Cooking Class, served alongside stories from his illustrious career. Expect exceptional cuisine with meticulously balanced flavours, as well as Tony’s insights that will bring each dish to life. It’s more than just a memorable meal with a legend – it’s a masterclass in flavours and storytelling.
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It's perfect for unforgettable celebrations, cozy date nights, and lively gatherings with large groupsYou need to try the indulgent Beef Pares Claypot Rice topped with bone marrow—an absolute must!Look out for the iconic Oxtail Kare Kare Doughnuts, a unique twist that packs bold Filipino flavors into every biteAskal
Melbourne CBD, Melbourne, VictoriaOver at Askal, a modern Filipino eatery tucked into Exhibition Street, innovation is what’s most important. On 24 March, Askal’s culinary director, John Rivera, will join forces with Kariton’s Minh Duong for a collaborative event that celebrates Filipino flavours, from sweet to savoury – and everything in between. You’ll enjoy a playful four-course menu, with every dish featuring a frozen element. There’s even a dessert spin on Askal’s cult-favourite beef and bone marrow claypot rice. Pair that with a matched cocktail flight and you’ve got a night that truly captures the spirit of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival – fun, unexpected and utterly delicious.
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Dessous
Melbourne CBD, Melbourne, VictoriaWhat happens when Dessous, a glamorous basement wine bar in Flinders Lane, teams up with Bangkok’s most talked-about supper club? You get Very Fragrant, a two-night takeover (26-27 March) where chef Dan Sawansak and Haawm’s Dylan Eitharong will throw out the rulebook for a bold, boundary-pushing Thai banquet. Instantly recognisable for its moody interiors and extensive wine list, Dessous is already a favourite among Melbourne’s wine lovers, but this special event promises something extra. With dishes that draw from both chefs’ personal food memories, expect flavour bombs with plenty of quirky twists, and stunning cocktails designed to complement every bite
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With tickets selling out fast, there are so many other events to explore at this year’s Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. From superior fine dining to unorthodox collaborations to dining events that are completely out of the box, you’ll be sure to find something to love on the 2025 program.
