Chef Ben Shewry, the mind behind Melbourne institution Attica, is drawn to places that are completely “dialled in.” Talking about sandwich shops leads him to Japan, where people dedicate their lives to repeating the same craft over and over until they become exceptional at it. That’s what connects his picks here: roast shops, schnitzel counters and steak sandwich spots focused on doing one thing properly — no funny business, no endless options, just deeply satisfying food made with total conviction.
Former aerospace engineer turned pastry phenomenon, Kate Reid has helped shape Melbourne’s obsession with precision pastries and great coffee. When the “butter queen” isn’t perfecting croissants at Lune Croissanterie, she’s visiting a tight rotation of cafés across the city. From the produce-driven kitchen at Morning Market to CBD institutions like Patricia Coffee Brewers and Good Measure. These are the Melbourne cafés she swears by.
Thai Ho, founder of MAMAS Dining Group, has built a reputation on bold, high-energy takes on Vietnamese food. But it all starts in Springvale. This is where the standards are set, shaped by community, tradition and generations of pride. From crispy bánh mì to slow-simmered broths and street-side iced coffee, this is his Springvale circuit.
Melbourne food writer and MasterChef Australia judge Sofia Levin tends to skip the obvious. Her South Melbourne picks lean under-the-radar. The kind of places that don’t shout, but deliver every time. Think unfussy, authentic and quietly excellent, with a mix of neighbourhood staples and spots worth knowing about before everyone else does.
Maleik Njoroge, founder of All Are Beautiful, moves through Melbourne’s inner north with intention. It’s not about chasing the new, it’s about backing places that hold community, creativity and a bit of chaos. From neighbourhood dining rooms to late-night cocktails and chess tournaments, these are the spots he keeps returning to.
Before winning MasterChef Australia, Nat Thaipun was working behind coffee machines — and her Melbourne picks still carry that ex-barista instinct. Batch brew in the morning, pho when hungover, and bar hops that somehow end at Section 8 with “spaghetti legs.” These are the Melbourne spots she keeps going back to.
Melbourne creative Andy Kelly doesn’t cook (“I don’t even know how to use the dishwasher”), but he knows exactly where to eat, especially around Fitzroy. From cult bagels to chaotic hot pot orders, here’s where he’s eating right now.
With a portfolio spanning coffee joints, bars and full-service dining, Steve Chan’s taste across Melbourne shares one clear commonality: it’s all genuinely tasty. In North Melbourne, that sharp edit plays out across a considered mix — from the quietly cult Queensberry Street Co-op and the under-sung precision of Small Batch Roasting Co., to the polished minimalism of Above Board and the enduring pull of Caretaker’s Cottage. There’s comfort in the details too — chicken rice at Gai Wong, unfussy Japanese at Don Tojo — alongside a tight run of cafés and casual spots he rates for doing the basics exceptionally well.
So, who feeds the chefs? These are the top tables chosen by industry legends in Melbourne.
Secondz • So, who feeds the chefs? These are the top tables chosen by industry legends in Melbourne.
Underhyped but overdelivering, these are the quietly brilliant places in Melbourne that our Hospo Legends have been gatekeeping.
Secondz • Underhyped but overdelivering, these are the quietly brilliant places in Melbourne that our Hospo Legends have been gatekeeping.
From double ristrettos to flat whites, magics, and single-origin cold brews - here's where our hospo legends are getting caffeinated in Melbourne.
Secondz • From double ristrettos to flat whites, magics, and single-origin cold brews - here's where our hospo legends are getting caffeinated in Melbourne.
Neat, shaken, or stirred, these are the best off-shift sips rec'd by Hospo Legends.
Secondz • Neat, shaken, or stirred, these are the best off-shift sips rec'd by Hospo Legends.
Founder at MAMAS Dining Group
Thai Ho, founder of MAMAS Dining Group, has built a reputation on bold, high-energy takes on Vietnamese food. But it all starts in Springvale. This is where the standards are set, shaped by community, tradition and generations of pride. From crispy bánh mì to slow-simmered broths and street-side iced coffee, this is his Springvale circuit.
Thai Ho • Founder at MAMAS Dining GroupThai Ho, founder of MAMAS Dining Group, has built a reputation on bold, high-energy takes on Vietnamese food. But it all starts in Springvale. This is where the standards are set, shaped by community, tradition and generations of pride. From crispy bánh mì to slow-simmered broths and street-side iced coffee, this is his Springvale circuit.
Viewing 1-5 of 20
Open in app
