Smoked by AI · Melbourne
The people.
The chefs, critics and writers and bar people, owners and locals whose picks shape the Melbourne list, grouped by what they do for a living. Every name is a real person with a public track record, and each one appears against a room only where they endorsed that room themselves.
Chefs 74Critics and writers 74Bar people, owners and locals 3
Chefs.
Chefs cook for a living, and a chef who sends you to somebody else's room is putting their own name on it.
- Rosheen KaulChef4 picks
Chinese-Australian cooking, pop-ups and residencies; the pastry-and-cocktail crossover.
- Alejandro SaraviaChef3 picks
Victorian produce; Latin American cooking.
- Andrew McConnellChef3 picks
Melbourne modern dining across every format: bistro, izakaya, bar and fine dining.
- Khanh OngChef3 picks
Casual eating across the city; Vietnamese and Chinatown; late-night.
- Andy AllenChef2 picks
Pubs, casual dining and produce-led cooking.
- Elias SalomonssonChef2 picks
Nordic-influenced modern Australian cooking.
- Eun Hee AnChef2 picks
Korean cooking and Korean grocery culture.
- Hugh AllenChef2 picks
Modern fine dining, Nordic technique, Melbourne's top end.
- Junda KhooChef2 picks
Malaysian and Chinese-Malaysian cooking.
- Kate ReidChef2 picks
Laminated pastry and bakery craft.
- Mo ZhouChef2 picks
Modern Chinese cooking in Melbourne.
- Nornie BeroChef2 picks
Australian native ingredients and Torres Strait Islander cooking.
- Robbie NobleChef2 picks
Modern Australian restaurant cooking.
- Tom SarafianChef2 picks
Armenian-Lebanese cooking over live fire; Middle Eastern technique.
- Tony TanChef2 picks
Cantonese and wider Chinese cooking in Australia; Asian technique.
- Victor LiongChef2 picks
Modern Chinese cooking; Cantonese technique read through a chef's eye.
- Zackary FurstChef2 picks
Contemporary Australian-Polish cooking; wine-bar kitchens.
- Aleksis KalninsChef1 pick
Modern Australian restaurant cooking; Mulberry Group kitchens.
- Alex KaewChef1 pick
Thai cooking in Melbourne.
- Andreas PapadakisChef1 pick
Pasta and Italian cooking.
- Coşkun UysalChef1 pick
Turkish cooking and Anatolian technique.
- Dani ValentChef1 pick
Melbourne restaurants, neighbourhood dining and openings.
- Emma DawsonChef1 pick
Bistro cooking and bar food.
- Esca KhooChef1 pick
Malaysian and Southeast Asian cooking.
- Fhred BatalonaChef1 pick
Filipino cooking in Melbourne.
- Frankie CoxChef1 pick
Produce-led cooking and wine service.
- Gareth WhittonChef1 pick
Pastry and dessert; the brasserie register.
- Helly RaichuraChef1 pick
Regional Indian cooking and Indian fine dining in Australia.
- Jack Muir-RigbyChef1 pick
Sourdough baking and bagels; bakeries and banh mi.
- Jacqui ChallinorChef1 pick
Wood-fire cooking, Middle Eastern and Levantine influence, large-format restaurant kitchens.
- Jett AlexanderChef1 pick
Italian cooking and pasta.
- Jun PakChef1 pick
Japanese omakase and sushi; Melbourne drinking rooms.
- Lucy WhitlowChef1 pick
Pastry and cheesemaking, both made by hand in Melbourne.
- Michael McAulayChef1 pick
Modern fine dining; Nordic technique.
- Mika ChaeChef1 pick
Modern Korean cooking in Melbourne.
- Mino HanChef1 pick
Cocktails and bar programs; Korean-influenced drinking food.
- Nat ThaipunChef1 pick
Thai cooking; regional Thai in Melbourne.
- Ross LustedChef1 pick
Live-fire and wood cooking; produce-led modern Australian.
- Aitor Jeronimo OriveChefno picks on this list yet
Basque and Spanish cooking; tasting menus.
- Albin LawangChefno picks on this list yet
Southeast Asian cooking; ice-cream.
- Audrey AllardChefno picks on this list yet
Pastry and dessert, made in a Melbourne kitchen.
- Audrey ShawChefno picks on this list yet
Japanese cooking; cafe and canteen formats.
- Barry SusantoChefno picks on this list yet
Indonesian cooking in Melbourne.
- Ben ShewryChefno picks on this list yet
Australian produce and native ingredients; fine dining.
- Brigitte HafnerChefno picks on this list yet
Italian and Mediterranean cooking; farm-to-table.
- Cam Tay-YapChefno picks on this list yet
Malaysian and modern Australian cooking.
- Carmen NewtonChefno picks on this list yet
Sourdough bagels, seasonal produce toppings, farmers-market trade.
- Clinton McIverChefno picks on this list yet
Modern Australian tasting-menu cooking; wine-bar snacks.
- Dave VerheulChefno picks on this list yet
Live-fire and produce-driven cooking; wine-bar dining.
- Diana DesensiChefno picks on this list yet
Italian cooking in Melbourne.
- Frankie HadidChefno picks on this list yet
Pizza and Italian-American cooking.
- Giorgia McAllister ForteChefno picks on this list yet
Viennoiserie and Italian pastry.
- Guy GrossiChefno picks on this list yet
Italian cooking in Melbourne; the Grossi group.
- Hendri BudimanChefno picks on this list yet
Modern Asian and Indonesian cooking.
- Hyoju ParkChefno picks on this list yet
Korean cooking and patisserie.
- Jason StaudtChefno picks on this list yet
Seafood and modern Australian cooking.
- Jerry MaiChefno picks on this list yet
Vietnamese cooking in Melbourne, from pho counters to full restaurants.
- Joane YeohChefno picks on this list yet
Ice-cream and pastry, made in a Melbourne production kitchen.
- John RiveraChefno picks on this list yet
Filipino cooking and dessert.
- Jung Eun ChaeChefno picks on this list yet
Korean fermentation and hansik; the home-restaurant format.
- Karen MartiniChefno picks on this list yet
Melbourne restaurants and mainstream food media.
- Kay-Lene TanChefno picks on this list yet
Japanese and modern Asian cooking; omakase.
- Lisa ValmorbidaChefno picks on this list yet
Gelato and Italian dessert.
- Nicola DusiChefno picks on this list yet
Italian cooking and pizza.
- Patti ChimkireChefno picks on this list yet
Bread and pastry; Mongolian and modern Australian baking.
- Ravi PresserChefno picks on this list yet
Bakery and modern Australian cooking.
- Saavni KrishnanChefno picks on this list yet
Indian cooking beyond the standard canon; Melbourne suburban Indian and Pakistani kitchens.
- Sarah ChanChefno picks on this list yet
Southeast Asian cooking; cafe-to-restaurant formats.
- Scott EddingtonChefno picks on this list yet
Pub kitchens and Southeast Asian noodles.
- Shane DeliaChefno picks on this list yet
Middle Eastern and Maltese cooking in Melbourne.
- Shannon MartinezChefno picks on this list yet
Vegan cooking done as cooking, not as substitution.
- Sriram AdityaChefno picks on this list yet
Indian cooking; bread and bakeries.
- Stephen NairnChefno picks on this list yet
Modern Australian and Japanese-influenced cooking.
- Thi LeChefno picks on this list yet
Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cooking in Melbourne.
Critics and writers.
Critics ate the meal, wrote it up under their own name, and the review is linked so you can read it yourself.
- Larissa DubeckiCritic5 picks
Melbourne restaurants across the price range; the big-room and group-restaurant end in particular.
- Lauren DinseCritic5 picks
Melbourne bars, wine bars and neighbourhood drinking.
- Michael HardenCritic5 picks
Melbourne restaurants, bars and food history; a thirty-year view of the city's dining.
- Sofia LevinChef5 picks
Melbourne's migrant and suburban food cultures; value eating.
- Will ZiebellCritic4 picks
Melbourne and Victorian craft beer; brewery venues and neighbourhood beer geography.
- Amy CollinsJournalist3 picks
Melbourne restaurants and bars.
- Emily MorrisonCritic3 picks
Melbourne bars and restaurants; starred, visit-based reviews.
- Gemima CodyCritic3 picks
Melbourne restaurants, bars and pubs, across the whole price range.
- Orlaith CostelloJournalist3 picks
Melbourne pubs, bars and Irish hospitality.
- Sonia NairCritic3 picks
Melbourne bars and restaurants; books and arts criticism.
- Eileen P. KennyCreator2 picks
Specialty coffee, Melbourne and internationally; roasters, baristas and cafe openings.
- James SmithAuthor2 picks
Australian craft beer: breweries, taprooms, industry economics.
- Lauren VadnjalCritic2 picks
Melbourne cafes and specialty coffee.
- Libby CurranCritic2 picks
Melbourne cafes, bars and restaurants.
- Paul ChaiCritic2 picks
Melbourne bars and cocktail rooms; travel writing.
- Rushani EpaCritic2 picks
Melbourne restaurants, with real depth on Southeast Asian and migrant-run kitchens.
- Sarah LewisCritic2 picks
Melbourne cafes and brunch.
- Tim WilliamsCreator2 picks
Specialty coffee: roasting, sourcing, the Melbourne third wave.
- Una CruickshankCritic2 picks
Melbourne small bars, and the northern-suburbs end of them.
- Adena MaierJournalist1 pick
Melbourne cafes, roasteries and new openings.
- Andrew ZuccalaJournalist1 pick
Melbourne breakfast and cafes.
- Bryanna PerriamCritic1 pick
Melbourne restaurants, casual and value.
- Cassidy KnowltonCritic1 pick
Australian food and drink; Melbourne bars.
- Chynna SantosCritic1 pick
Melbourne food and drink, especially Asian restaurants and value eating.
- Cjay AksoyCritic1 pick
Melbourne restaurants, value end.
- Cordelia WilliamsonCritic1 pick
Melbourne bars and drinking; venue write-ups with a verdict.
- Dan CunninghamAuthor1 pick
Melbourne food and drink features.
- David UrwinCritic1 pick
Melbourne cafes and coffee roasteries.
- Ellen FraserCritic1 pick
Melbourne restaurants, bars and wine rooms.
- Ellen SeahCritic1 pick
Melbourne restaurants, and who is actually cooking in them.
- Emily Lloyd-TaitCritic1 pick
Melbourne cafes, breakfast and coffee rooms.
- Emma BrehenyCritic1 pick
Melbourne food news, openings and closures; also signed, visit-based bar and restaurant assessments for Good Food.
- Evan JonesCritic1 pick
Melbourne markets, provisions and neighbourhood shopping.
- Frank SweetCritic1 pick
Melbourne restaurants; long, dish-by-dish visit reviews.
- Frankie Anderson-ByrneJournalist1 pick
Melbourne live music and nightlife listings.
- Fred SigginsCritic1 pick
Melbourne pubs, beer and spirits.
- Gary BrunCritic1 pick
Melbourne restaurants across the mid price range.
- Hannah ValmadreCritic1 pick
Melbourne bars and outdoor drinking.
- Jade SolomonJournalist1 pick
Melbourne bar and restaurant openings.
- James SmithCritic1 pick
Australian craft beer: breweries, venues, styles and the industry behind them.
- Jo RitteyJournalist1 pick
Melbourne bar and restaurant openings.
- Juliana YuCritic1 pick
Melbourne bars, reviewed with a star rating attached.
- Kathryn LewisJournalist1 pick
The Australian coffee trade; roasters, cafe operators and the business of specialty coffee.
- Kelly EngCritic1 pick
Melbourne cafes and coffee rooms.
- Lachlan KanoniukCritic1 pick
Melbourne pubs and bars, beer venues and live music rooms.
- Leah GlynnCritic1 pick
Melbourne bars and drinking; starred, anonymous reviews.
- Lucas RadbourneJournalist1 pick
Melbourne live music venues and bars.
- Matilda KnowlesCritic1 pick
Melbourne cafes and specialty coffee.
- Maya SkidmoreJournalist1 pick
Melbourne food and drink openings.
- Meg WatsonCritic1 pick
Melbourne bars and pubs, and what a room is actually like to drink in.
- Molly GlasseyCritic1 pick
Melbourne cafes, roasters and coffee.
- Nick ConnellanCritic1 pick
Melbourne restaurants and bars; Broadsheet's best-of guides.
- Nick SheltonOwner / operator1 pick
Melbourne cafes and coffee; Australian food media.
- Nicola DowseCritic1 pick
Melbourne things-to-do, markets and shopping.
- Rebecca RussoCritic1 pick
Melbourne bars, rooftops and late-night drinking.
- Roseanne TizianiCritic1 pick
Melbourne cafes and coffee bars.
- Sam BygraveCritic1 pick
Australian bars, bartenders and spirits; the trade view of a drinks programme.
- Stephanie AlexanderAuthor1 pick
Australian home and restaurant cooking; a fifty-year view of Melbourne dining.
- Thomas BeecherJournalist1 pick
Melbourne wine bars and bottle shops.
- Tom CliftCritic1 pick
Melbourne bars and pubs, beer venues in particular.
- Yihan AiJournalist1 pick
Southbank neighbourhood reporting, including its businesses and new openings.
- Alexandra ZinghiniJournalistno picks on this list yet
Australian bar industry news and awards.
- Alice MandersonJournalistno picks on this list yet
Melbourne food and drink openings.
- Audrey PayneChefno picks on this list yet
Melbourne food and drink news, openings and the chef-recommendation beat.
- Besha RodellCriticno picks on this list yet
Melbourne and Australian restaurant criticism, anonymous and visit-based.
- Claire AdeyJournalistno picks on this list yet
Melbourne food and hospitality openings.
- Haymun WinJournalistno picks on this list yet
Melbourne food and drink openings, with a strong line on migrant and Southeast Asian food businesses.
- Jack HayesJournalistno picks on this list yet
North and West Melbourne neighbourhood reporting, including its food and drink openings.
- Kim BerryJournalistno picks on this list yet
Australian bar trade; operator interviews.
- Lauren Tran-MuchowskiJournalistno picks on this list yet
Melbourne food and drink openings; digital and audio.
- Luke RobertsonJournalistno picks on this list yet
Melbourne bar and restaurant openings.
- Nomi MakinJournalistno picks on this list yet
Melbourne food and culture; new bars and restaurants.
- Olivia HartJournalistno picks on this list yet
Melbourne shopping, markets and produce.
- Rupert HohwielerJournalistno picks on this list yet
International spirits and bar trade.
Bar people, owners and locals.
Bartenders, owners and locals know the things a review misses, like where the trade actually drinks.
- Charlie DuffyOwner / operator2 picks
Bread and viennoiserie, baked in Melbourne.
- Liinaa BerrySommelier2 picks
Wine lists and wine service, Australia and internationally.
- Nolan HirteOwner / operatorno picks on this list yet
Specialty coffee roasting and sourcing in Melbourne.