118 Local Food in Melbourne

Melbourne also rolls with an enormous international influence, so much so that it’s estimated around 40% of Melbourne’s population was born overseas. The result – and yes there is a pattern emerging – is exceptional diversity when it comes to Melbourne’s restaurants. But let’s break it down a bit. By far the most influential communities are the Chinese, Greeks and Italians, most of whom settled in Melbourne during the gold rush and the two world wars. Melbourne’s Chinatown has restaurants by the bucketload and is easily one of the oldest outside Asia, meanwhile, Melbourne’s Greek community is the largest outside of Greece. The Melbourne CBD has Greek restaurants, delis and bakeries on pretty much every street and the warmth of these places is utterly charming. Then, of course, there is Little Italy, home to Australia's first pizza joint and the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne by a country mile. It’s also here, in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, that the city’s cafe culture emerged…