After months of lockdowns and isolations, everyone is pining for some overseas shenanigans.
Maybe you and the girls are hoping for a hot girl summer over in Europe, or the lads are ready to hit any Balinese bar you can be let into (hopefully avoiding Bali belly at all costs).
But wait! Who said anything about over 24 hours’ worth of travel time, jetlag, and getting lost in the streets of Rome because you don’t speak Italian?
Welcome to your Hidden City Secrets Airlines Flight 001, destination: everywhere!
We’ve curated a list of Melbourne’s best international bars and restaurants from the America’s, Europe and Asia, so that you can enjoy a myriad of delicious cuisines without bothering with any hour-long customs queues. There’s no need for your passport and a visa, just hop on your closest tram and head on over to these restaurants for a taste of overseas.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight.
Europe – Italy
Baby Pizzeria
631-633 Church St, Richmond VIC 3121
Every road leads to Rome, including Church Street!
Baby Pizzeria offers a genuine Italian dining experience whilst maintaining a feeling of comfort and convenience. Located within the beating heart of Melbourne in Richmond, Baby’s contemporary style, combined with quirky neon lights and posters creates the perfect emulsion of funky Melbourne architecture and classical Italian al fresco dining.
With their insistence upon only using fresh seasonal produce and ingredients within their meals, Baby’s food is molto bella! Whilst their pizza is mouth-wateringly delicious, make sure you don’t skip over their extensive pasta menu, where you’ll struggle to pick between options from a curly fettucine with duck ragu to a comforting bowl of pumpkin and sage gnocci. Yum!
Don’t forget to add some ligurian olives or buffalo mozzarella to your meal, and pair with a glass of Italian vino.
Saluti!
Europe – Germany
Hofbrauhaus
18-28 Market Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Whilst dining at Hofbrauhaus, it’s easy to forget that you just walked in from the bustling streets of Chinatown instead of a snowy cobbled lane in the south-east of Germany!
Nothing beats downing a chicken shnitty the size of your head and a pint of beer to warm yourself against Melbourne’s bitter weather. Hofbrauhaus prides themselves on their rich pork, beef, and poultry dishes that are made from genuine family recipes. Dig into classics such as kartoffelsalat (potato salad) and sauerkraut alongside a hearty meal of bratwurst sausages and mashed potato.
Just as they say at Hofbrauhaus, life is too short to drink bad bier! Pick from their specially curated list of imported Bavarian bier, all of which comes from independent brewers as a means of supporting family owned businesses! You can even have a go at trying multiple of their schnapps options with their schnapps paddle – not for the faint of heart!
Just like with their food and bier, Hofbrauhaus’ interior does not disappoint and absolutely completes the restaurants German vibe. With the walls covered in Bavarian art, flags, and decorations, enjoy the live music whilst watching the staff wander around the cozy restaurant in lederhosen and dirndls.
Asia – Japan
Ichi Ni Nana
127 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Melbourne spoils its locals for choice with great Japanese food, but nothing can top Fitzroy’s Ichi Ni Nana. Located in a suburb that is famous for Melbourne’s classic hidden rooftop bars and street graffiti, Ichi Ni Nana is an oasis of Asian dining, artwork and culture.
The venue itself informs such a genuine atmosphere, where you can pick from the cozy leather booths inside or a table outside next to a native plant wall. Make sure to notice all the unique details around the restaurant that really add to Ichi Ni Nana’s quality, including gorgeous Japanese artworks splashed across the walls, roof, and even crockery!
Their menu offers anything you could possibly desire, with favourites such as gyoza, tempura, sashimi, nigari and kushiyaki.
The real gem, however, is their extensive drinks menu, which offers an eclectic mix of Japanese and Australian inspired alcohols. Most notable are the 13 different types of sakes, unique gins with Japanese botanics, and yuzu cocktails. Also on offer is a range of beers made in world renowned Japanese breweries.
Asia – India
Delhi Streets
22 Katherine Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000
There’s no better way to experience India from Melbourne than digging into some steaming street food at Delhi Streets. Covered from floor to ceiling in Bollywood movie posters and blasting Indian pop favourites, Delhi Streets pays homage to the vibrant and chaotic vibe of food markets in the heart of New Delhi.
New Delhi serves all classic street food bites, including Pani Puri, samosa chaat, and papri chaat: an infusion of Mexican and Indian that results in nachos topped with potatoes, chickpeas, yoghurt and chutney.
And of course, there’s all your favourites on offer, including chicken biryani served with fresh Raita yoghurt and the most delicious butter chicken you will ever eat. They even offer goat thali – a tender goat curry with rice, naan, papadum and pickles.
Can’t decide what you want to eat? It happens to the best of us, especially when it comes to Indian street food. Not to worry – ask the chefs to pick for you, guaranteeing you the most authentic experience.
South East Asia – Thailand
Longrain and Longsong
44 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Built in a converted horse stable, Longrian and Longsong is a that duo creates some of the finest Thai dining and drinking that Melbourne has to offer.
Longsong bar, located above Longrain restaurant is the perfect vibe for pre-dinner drinks. Choose from a menu of experimental and interactive cocktails to sip on, and, if visiting from a Thursday to Saturday night, enjoy alongside tunes from a live DJ. Longsong cocktails vary from bitter, salty, savoury and spicy, to complex, fresh and sour. Notable is the Playing It Safe, with chilli infused vodka, kaffir lime, passionfruit, pineapple, and soda.
Downstairs, Longrain does not disappoint either, their food menu bursting with Thai flavours that will transport you to a white sandy beach in Koh Samui, or a local family owned restaurant in Bangkok. Recommended as a sharing menu, choose from stir fried king prawns, Som Tum salad, and delicious red or yellow curries, before treating yourself to a palm sugar meringue with mango and ginger sorbet.
South East Asia – Vietnam
Hanoi Rose
161 Sydney Rd, Brunswick VIC 3056
Providing a cosy and casual dining experience, Hanoi Rose is perfect for a family outing, catch up with your mates, or chilled date night. With a menu bursting with the best Vietnamese eats, Hanoi Rose never fails to impress with its fresh, contemporary food.
Here at Hanoi Rose, they don’t mess around with anything fancy, they just create authentic and simple food that is simply delicious, including Pho, noodle salads, and Banh Mi. Focusing more on north-Vietnamese cuisine, make sure you order a serving of bun cha (pronounced boon cha), their signature dish, alongside a refreshing plate of golden fried lemongrass tofu coleslaw.
With meat, vegetarian, vegan, Halal, and gluten-free options, there’s a spot at the table for everyone.
Americas – USA
White Oaks Saloon
115-117 Greville St, Prahran VIC 3181
Immerse yourself in a taste of the USA’s south at White Oaks Saloon. From specially curated cocktails to the endless Text-Mex snacks, White Oaks Saloon has everything southern you could ask for. The Old West vibes are completed with a brass bar top, hot sauce on every table, and an old-style American flag splashed across the wall.
Owned by the Welch brothers, White Oaks Saloon highly values creating an authentic American experience, sourcing alcohols only found in the US, and boy, do they not disappoint. Cocktails feature Texas-scrub-oak smoked corn whiskey paired with flavours such as jalapeno, macadamias and wattle seed.
Craving something cheesy, spicy and delicious to pair with a smoked chipotle bloody Mary? The options are endless, including favourites such as twice-cooked jalapenos stuffed with three cheeses and smothered in paprika and cayenne pepper, or Cajun chicken tacos served with spicy mayo. What more could you ask for?
Americas – Mexico
Jalisco
69 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
Hola! And bienvienda to Jalisco, where you will be transported to the vibrant and lively streets of Mexico City. Plastered head to toe in bright neon lights, dia de los Muertos skulls, and Mexican art work,
Pronounced Ha-les-ko, Jalisco is named after the tequila producing state of Mexico, and definitely lives up to expectations. With a whopping 100 different varieties of tequila, experiment with a spicy mango margarita, or a Jalisco spice, with tequila, triple sec, chili. and lime.
Whether you pick a seat next to the fireplace, beer garden, or bar, ask the bartenders to pair the perfect tequila with your meal. If you think their drinks menu is hard to pick from, wait till you see the food menu. Pick from packed tacos, juicy quesadillas and mouth-watering burritos to pair with stuffed jalapenos and a Mexican street salad.
