The down for delicious bit

This is the bit that sets our bellies to rumbling and our taste buds a’ tingling as the chillier weather sees us snuggling up at some of our fave food and drink spots. 

From hearty home-style cooking to the decidedly decadent, Melbourne is filled with the kind of places that get foodies frothing. So, don’t let the cooler weather stop you. Just rug up, head out and follow your stomach.

After all, what better way to while away a chilly winter’s day or night than tucked away in a cosy corner somewhere having a sip and tucking into a tasty treat or three?

1. Farmer's Daughters

Take a culinary road trip around the state without leaving Melbourne at Farmer's Daughters. This foodie haven was created by executive chef Alejandro Saravia to celebrate the produce, people and places of our state – from the paddocks of the Western Plains to the fruits of the Murray, the waters of the Great Ocean Road to the vineyards of the High Country.
95 Exhibition Street, Melbourne

2. Dessous

Basement cocktail bar and restaurant Dessous is the perfect place to cosy up on a cool winter's evening in Melbourne. Moody low lights and glamorous old-world decor set the scene for a night to remember at this swanky Flinders Lane spot. Sip exquisite cocktails and tuck into decadent Thai-inspired dishes like spanner crab donuts with caviar, squid with sambal and salted egg aioli, red curry corn fritters and roast duck.
164 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

3. Tipo 00

Pasta is the name of the game over winter, so you'll be winning with a sought-after table at Tipo 00. Come out of the cold for superlative squid ink taglione, braised rabbit parpadelle, and the playfully named Tipomisu – Tipo's modern revamp of Italy's classic tiramisu.
361 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

4. Maha

Head underground to moody Maha for delicious Middle Eastern-inspired dining with a contemporary twist. Award-winning chef and restaurateur Shane Delia takes diners on a journey with carefully curated set menus featuring flavour-packed dishes. Paired wines match each dish to perfection, and there's also a vegan set menu option for plant-based foodies.
21 Bond Street, Melbourne

5. HuTong Dumpling Bar

There's nothing better than a steaming basket of juicy soup dumplings on a chilly winter's day in Melbourne, and HuTong Dumpling Bar is known for making some of the tastiest xiao long bao in the city. Book ahead or join the queue for a well-deserved dim sum feast. Think hearty dumplings, mouthwatering Peking duck and spicy chilli chicken spare ribs.
14-16 Market Lane, Melbourne

6. Marion

As it gets chillier outside, lazy afternoons in Melbourne are spent at warm and welcoming wine bars, getting cosy by the fire and sipping on fine wines. One of the city's best wine bars is Andrew McConnell’s Marion. With its exceptional seasonal menu and extensive wine list, it’s the perfect place to pause for a quick glass of something or settle in for an extended meal.
53 Gertrude St, Fitzroy