Best Melbourne Restaurants Right Now: 5 Trending Spots Locals Are Whispering About
From fire-fueled feasts to Nordic cool, these Melbourne restaurants are peaking in 2025.
Melbourne’s dining scene is in constant motion, but a few kitchens are generating serious buzz right now. This guide zooms in on five restaurants that are trending hard in 2025 thanks to inventive menus, high review momentum, and that elusive mix of vibe, service, and storytelling that keeps locals coming back.
Best Melbourne Restaurants Right Now: 5 Trending Spots Locals Are Whispering About
Melbourne is the kind of city where a new opening can feel old in six months. Yet a handful of restaurants keep climbing in ratings, reviews, and waitlists. These are the spots where chefs are cooking with conviction, drinks lists are tight, and the room feels like the place to be right now.
Below are five Melbourne restaurants that are trending on MapsBuddy thanks to strong growth scores, glowing recent reviews, and serious word-of-mouth heat.
Freyja - Nordic cool in a historic CBD landmark
Freyja sits inside the heritage-listed Olderfleet building on Collins Street, mixing Scandinavian minimalism with Melbourne swagger. With a 4.5 rating from over 560 reviews and a strong growth score, it is not a brand-new name, but it is having a moment as more diners seek out refined, fire-driven Nordic cooking.
Why Freyja is trending
- Diners are calling out the balance of comfort and creativity, from smoked seafood to game and seasonal vegetables.
- The room is stylish without feeling stiff, making it a go-to for both date nights and client dinners.
- Recent reviews highlight confident service and a tasting menu that feels adventurous without being alienating.
What to order
- A seasonal tasting menu if you want the full story of the kitchen.
- Smoked or cured seafood plates that showcase technique without heavy sauces.
- A Scandinavian-inspired cocktail or aquavit to lean into the theme.
Vibe check
Expect low-key luxury: blond wood, soft lighting, and a hum of conversation from CBD professionals and food-focused locals. It is trending because it feels like a special-occasion restaurant that still welcomes curious first-timers.
Farmer's Daughters - Farm-to-city energy on Collins Street
Farmer's Daughters champions Gippsland produce in a multi-level space that feels like a regional escape dropped into the CBD. With a 4.5 rating and more than 1700 reviews, it has long been loved, but its growth score and steady stream of recent reviews show it is still on the upswing.
Why Farmer's Daughters is trending
- Diners are drawn to its strong sense of place: hyper-seasonal ingredients, smoked and grilled over open flames.
- The rooftop and deli spaces keep it buzzing all day, not just at dinner.
- Sustainability and provenance matter more than ever in 2025, and this place puts them front and center.
What to order
- The chef's selection or grazing-style menu to taste the best of Gippsland.
- Anything from the wood grill, especially lamb or beef with seasonal sides.
- House-made charcuterie or pickles from the deli for a lighter visit.
Vibe check
Relaxed but intentional. The crowd is a mix of food media, office groups, and weekend date nights. It is trending because it offers a complete narrative from farm to plate without feeling preachy.
Supernormal - Modern Asian icon that still feels fresh
Supernormal is one of Melbourne's most name-dropped restaurants, and it still holds a 4.5 rating across nearly 5000 reviews. You might think a venue this established would plateau, but its growth score and recent review activity show it remains a first-choice booking for both locals and visitors.
Why Supernormal is trending
- Classic hits like the lobster roll and peanut butter parfait are social media staples.
- Service is fast and polished, ideal for pre-theatre or late-night CBD dining.
- It continues to feel like a benchmark for modern Asian in Melbourne, especially for groups.
What to order
- The New England-style lobster roll that appears in countless photos.
- Pork bao and dumplings for sharing.
- Soft serve or the peanut butter parfait to finish.
Vibe check
Loud, energetic, and always in motion. Communal tables and an open kitchen keep things lively. It is trending because it nails that sweet spot between casual and special, making it a default recommendation when someone asks where to eat in the city.
ARU Restaurant - Wood-fired fun with big flavor
ARU Restaurant brings a playful, fire-obsessed approach to the CBD, with a 4.3 rating and more than 1100 reviews. Its growth score and steady recent buzz show it is attracting adventurous eaters who want something a little different from the usual fine dining.
Why ARU Restaurant is trending
- The menu leans into fermentation, smoke, and char, which are big flavor trends right now.
- Diners mention creative use of native ingredients and bold, punchy dishes.
- It feels like a place for food lovers, not just special-occasion diners.
What to order
- Wood-fired flatbreads or snacks that hit the table quickly and set the tone.
- Larger plates from the grill or hearth that showcase the restaurant's fire-focused style.
- A few sides and pickles to cut through the richness.
Vibe check
Warm, urban, and a bit edgy, with an open kitchen that keeps the room lively. It is trending because it offers serious cooking with a relaxed, almost bar-like atmosphere that suits after-work catchups and food-focused nights out.
Gimlet - Grand dining room with serious cocktails
Gimlet sits inside the historic Cavendish House, delivering a 4.6 rating from over 1800 reviews and a strong growth score. It has become one of Melbourne's most talked-about dining rooms, thanks to a mix of old-world glamour and modern technique.
Why Gimlet is trending
- The bar program is a destination in its own right, with the namesake gimlet leading the charge.
- Reviews highlight polished service, a dramatic room, and consistently strong cooking.
- It is increasingly used as a benchmark for big-night-out dining in the CBD.
What to order
- A classic or signature gimlet as your first drink.
- Wood-fired seafood or steak to match the grandeur of the space.
- Seasonal desserts that show off the pastry team's skills.
Vibe check
Think high ceilings, vintage detailing, and a dressed-up crowd. It is trending because it turns a simple dinner into an occasion, whether you are at the bar for snacks or working through a full multi-course meal.
How to choose the right Melbourne restaurant for your night
- For a special-occasion tasting menu: Freyja or Gimlet.
- For farm-to-table storytelling: Farmer's Daughters.
- For a lively group dinner: Supernormal or ARU Restaurant.
- For drinks-first plans: Gimlet for cocktails, Farmer's Daughters for rooftop vibes.
Bookings are strongly recommended for all five, especially on Thursday to Saturday nights.
Why these restaurants are trending on MapsBuddy
MapsBuddy surfaces places with strong ratings, real review momentum, and a clear sense of vibe. Freyja, Farmer's Daughters, Supernormal, ARU Restaurant, and Gimlet are not just popular. They are evolving with Melbourne's tastes, drawing repeat visits and fresh recommendations in 2025.
Use this guide as a shortlist, then let MapsBuddy help you filter by price, vibe, and neighborhood so you can find the next wave of Melbourne restaurants before they go fully mainstream.
Places featured in this guide
1. Freyja
477 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
2. Farmer's Daughters
95 Exhibition Street, 80 Collins Precinct, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
3. Supernormal
180 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
4. ARU Restaurant
268 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
5. Gimlet
33 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia