Smoked by AI · Melbourne

The people.

The critics, chefs and locals whose picks shape the Melbourne list. Registry rules: named people with public track records, tagged only for specific citable endorsements.

Chef 76Sommelier 1Owner / operator 3Critic 43Creator 2Author 3Journalist 23

• 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 ZiebellCritic5 picks

  Melbourne and Victorian craft beer; brewery venues and neighbourhood beer geography.

• Rosheen KaulChef4 picks

  Chinese-Australian cooking, pop-ups and residencies; the pastry-and-cocktail crossover.

• Alejandro SaraviaChef3 picks

  Victorian produce; Latin American cooking.

• Amy CollinsJournalist3 picks

  Melbourne restaurants and bars.

• Andrew McConnellChef3 picks

  Melbourne modern dining across formats — bistro, izakaya, bar, fine dining.

• Emily MorrisonCritic3 picks

  Melbourne bars and restaurants; starred, visit-based reviews.

• Gemima CodyCritic3 picks

  Melbourne restaurants, bars and pubs, across the whole price range.

• Khanh OngChef3 picks

  casual eating across the city; Vietnamese and Chinatown; late-night.

• Orlaith CostelloJournalist3 picks

  Melbourne pubs, bars and Irish hospitality.

• Sonia NairCritic3 picks

  Melbourne bars and restaurants; books and arts criticism.

• Andy AllenChef2 picks

  pubs, casual dining and produce-led cooking.

• Charlie DuffyOwner / operator2 picks

  bread and viennoiserie.

• Eileen P. KennyCreator2 picks

  specialty coffee, Melbourne and internationally; roasters, baristas and cafe openings.

• Elias SalomonssonChef2 picks

  Nordic-influenced modern Australian cooking.

• Eun Hee AnChef2 picks

  Korean cooking and Korean grocery culture.

• Evan JonesCritic2 picks

  Melbourne markets, provisions and neighbourhood shopping.

• Hugh AllenChef2 picks

  modern fine dining, Nordic technique, Melbourne's top end.

• James SmithAuthor2 picks

  Australian craft beer: breweries, taprooms, industry economics.

• James SmithCritic2 picks

  Australian craft beer: breweries, venues, styles and the industry behind them.

• Junda KhooChef2 picks

  Malaysian and Chinese-Malaysian cooking.

• Kate ReidChef2 picks

  laminated pastry and bakery craft.

• Lauren VadnjalCritic2 picks

  Melbourne cafes and specialty coffee.

• Libby CurranCritic2 picks

  Melbourne cafes, bars and restaurants.

• Liinaa BerrySommelier2 picks

  wine lists and wine service, Australia and internationally.

• Mo ZhouChef2 picks

  modern Chinese cooking.

• Nornie BeroChef2 picks

  Australian native ingredients and Torres Strait Islander cooking.

• Paul ChaiCritic2 picks

  Melbourne bars and cocktail rooms; travel writing.

• Robbie NobleChef2 picks

  modern Australian restaurant cooking.

• 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.

• Tom SarafianChef2 picks

  Armenian-Lebanese cooking over live fire; Middle Eastern technique.

• Tony TanChef2 picks

  Cantonese and wider Chinese cooking in Australia; Asian technique.

• Una CruickshankCritic2 picks

  Melbourne small bars, and the northern-suburbs end of them.

• Victor LiongChef2 picks

  modern Chinese cooking; Cantonese technique read through a chef's eye.

• Zackary FurstChef2 picks

  contemporary Australian-Polish cooking; wine-bar kitchens.

• Adena MaierJournalist1 pick

  Melbourne cafes, roasteries and new openings.

• Aleksis KalninsChef1 pick

  modern Australian restaurant cooking; Mulberry Group kitchens.

• Alex KaewChef1 pick

  Thai cooking.

• Andreas PapadakisChef1 pick

  pasta and Italian cooking.

• 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.

• Coşkun UysalChef1 pick

  Turkish cooking and Anatolian technique.

• Dan CunninghamAuthor1 pick

  Melbourne food and drink features.

• Dani ValentChef1 pick

  Melbourne restaurants, neighbourhood dining and openings.

• David UrwinCritic1 pick

  Melbourne cafes and coffee roasteries.

• Ellen FraserCritic1 pick

  Melbourne restaurants, bars and wine rooms.

• Ellen SeahCritic1 pick

  Melbourne restaurants.

• 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.

• Emma DawsonChef1 pick

  bistro cooking and bar food.

• Fhred BatalonaChef1 pick

  Filipino cooking.

• Frank SweetCritic1 pick

  Melbourne restaurants; long, dish-by-dish visit reviews.

• Frankie Anderson-ByrneJournalist1 pick

  Melbourne live music and nightlife listings.

• Frankie CoxChef1 pick

  produce-led cooking and wine service.

• Fred SigginsCritic1 pick

  Melbourne pubs, beer and spirits.

• Gareth WhittonChef1 pick

  pastry and dessert; the brasserie register.

• Gary BrunCritic1 pick

  Melbourne restaurants across the mid price range.

• Hannah ValmadreCritic1 pick

  Melbourne bars and outdoor drinking.

• 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.

• Jade SolomonJournalist1 pick

  Melbourne bar and restaurant openings.

• Jett AlexanderChef1 pick

  Italian cooking and pasta.

• Jo RitteyJournalist1 pick

  Melbourne bar and restaurant openings.

• Juliana YuCritic1 pick

  Melbourne bars.

• Jun PakChef1 pick

  Japanese omakase and sushi; Melbourne drinking rooms.

• 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.

• Lucy WhitlowChef1 pick

  pastry and cheesemaking.

• Matilda KnowlesCritic1 pick

  Melbourne cafes and specialty coffee.

• Maya SkidmoreJournalist1 pick

  Melbourne food and drink openings.

• Meg WatsonCritic1 pick

  Melbourne bars and pubs.

• Michael McAulayChef1 pick

  modern fine dining; Nordic technique.

• Mika ChaeChef1 pick

  modern Korean cooking.

• Mino HanChef1 pick

  cocktails and bar programs; Korean-influenced drinking food.

• Molly GlasseyCritic1 pick

  Melbourne cafes, roasters and coffee.

• Nat ThaipunChef1 pick

  Thai cooking; regional Thai in Melbourne.

• 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.

• Ross LustedChef1 pick

  live-fire and wood cooking; produce-led modern Australian.

• 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.

• Aitor Jeronimo OriveChefregistry

  Basque and Spanish cooking; tasting menus.

• Albin LawangChefregistry

  Southeast Asian cooking; ice-cream.

• Alexandra ZinghiniJournalistregistry

  Australian bar industry news and awards.

• Alice MandersonJournalistregistry

  Melbourne food and drink openings.

• Audrey AllardChefregistry

  pastry and dessert.

• Audrey PayneChefregistry

  Melbourne food and drink news, openings and the chef-recommendation beat.

• Audrey ShawChefregistry

  Japanese cooking; cafe and canteen formats.

• Barry SusantoChefregistry

  Indonesian cooking.

• Ben ShewryChefregistry

  Australian produce and native ingredients; fine dining.

• Besha RodellCriticregistry

  Melbourne and Australian restaurant criticism, anonymous and visit-based.

• Brigitte HafnerChefregistry

  Italian and Mediterranean cooking; farm-to-table.

• Cam Tay-YapChefregistry

  Malaysian and modern Australian cooking.

• Carmen NewtonChefregistry

  sourdough bagels, seasonal produce toppings, farmers-market trade.

• Claire AdeyJournalistregistry

  Melbourne food and hospitality openings.

• Clinton McIverChefregistry

  modern Australian tasting-menu cooking; wine-bar snacks.

• Dave VerheulChefregistry

  live-fire and produce-driven cooking; wine-bar dining.

• Diana DesensiChefregistry

  Italian cooking.

• Esca KhooChefregistry

  Malaysian and Southeast Asian cooking.

• Frankie HadidChefregistry

  pizza and Italian-American cooking.

• Giorgia McAllister ForteChefregistry

  viennoiserie and Italian pastry.

• Guy GrossiChefregistry

  Italian cooking in Melbourne; the Grossi group.

• Haymun WinJournalistregistry

  Melbourne food and drink openings, with a strong line on migrant and Southeast Asian food businesses.

• Hendri BudimanChefregistry

  modern Asian and Indonesian cooking.

• Hyoju ParkChefregistry

  Korean cooking and patisserie.

• Jack HayesJournalistregistry

  North and West Melbourne neighbourhood reporting, including its food and drink openings.

• Jason StaudtChefregistry

  seafood and modern Australian cooking.

• Jerry MaiChefregistry

  Vietnamese cooking.

• Joane YeohChefregistry

  ice-cream and pastry.

• John RiveraChefregistry

  Filipino cooking and dessert.

• Jung Eun ChaeChefregistry

  Korean fermentation and hansik; the home-restaurant format.

• Karen MartiniChefregistry

  Melbourne restaurants and mainstream food media.

• Kay-Lene TanChefregistry

  Japanese and modern Asian cooking; omakase.

• Kim BerryJournalistregistry

  Australian bar trade; operator interviews.

• Lauren Tran-MuchowskiJournalistregistry

  Melbourne food and drink openings; digital and audio.

• Lisa ValmorbidaChefregistry

  gelato and Italian dessert.

• Luke RobertsonJournalistregistry

  Melbourne bar and restaurant openings.

• Nicola DusiChefregistry

  Italian cooking and pizza.

• Nolan HirteOwner / operatorregistry

  specialty coffee roasting and sourcing in Melbourne.

• Nomi MakinJournalistregistry

  Melbourne food and culture; new bars and restaurants.

• Olivia HartJournalistregistry

  Melbourne shopping, markets and produce.

• Patti ChimkireChefregistry

  bread and pastry; Mongolian and modern Australian baking.

• Ravi PresserChefregistry

  bakery and modern Australian cooking.

• Rupert HohwielerJournalistregistry

  international spirits and bar trade.

• Saavni KrishnanChefregistry

  Indian cooking beyond the standard canon; Melbourne suburban Indian and Pakistani kitchens.

• Sarah ChanChefregistry

  Southeast Asian cooking; cafe-to-restaurant formats.

• Scott EddingtonChefregistry

  pub kitchens and Southeast Asian noodles.

• Shane DeliaChefregistry

  Middle Eastern and Maltese cooking in Melbourne.

• Shannon MartinezChefregistry

  vegan cooking done as cooking, not as substitution.

• Sriram AdityaChefregistry

  Indian cooking; bread and bakeries.

• Stephen NairnChefregistry

  modern Australian and Japanese-influenced cooking.

• Thi LeChefregistry

  Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cooking in Melbourne.

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