Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Portarlington

"Vue de Monde has been a Melbourne institution of dining luxury for almost 20 years. There’s one set menu which changes daily, with each dish brought out and explained to you by any one of the notoriously charming chefs. Set in one of the most gorgeous locations imaginable; the 55th floor of Melbourne’s iconic Rialto building, if you get there at the right time of day, you can feel the sunset over you and watch the Melbourne city skyline transform.The food: Native Australian with a side of theatrics.The cost: $310pp chef’s menuHow to order: Book here"

"Shannon Bennett’s luxe restaurant began in an out-of-the-way Carlton terrace house way back at the dawn of the millennium, before relocating to a CBD laneway. In 2011, Vue De Monde settled into the Rialto tower’s 55th floor and recently scored two hats in the 2020 Good Food Guide. Take in the city views through walls of glass, then ponder the similarly breathtaking menu."

"Chancery Lane, a European bistro by Scott Pickett, has been welcoming diners since December within the historic Normanby Chambers building. Suited for any occasion, from a glass and a bite at the bar to a private dinner party, you can expect classic European dishes with a twist. The 100-seater bistro is ensconced in a rich palette of dark green, checkerboard tiling and dark timber, emulating old-world charm and opulence of La Belle Epoque."

"Scott Pickett's take on a mod-French brasserie brings old-world European elegance to a heritage-listed CBD building. There's ritzy deep-green marble, dramatic arched windows and candelabras throughout. Start with black truffle and foie gras toasties, then move onto French-style gnocchi, and finish with a gin-and-raspberry baba."

"The newest labour of love for Alejandro Saravia – of Pastuso fame – has been in the works for four years. This restaurant, housed in the new 80 Collins development, is a three-story ode to the abundant produce of Gippsland. Whether you choose to sip cocktails on the rooftop – designed around a greenhouse – or enjoy a few plates of Gippsland’s finest produce at the restaurant, chances are you’ll want to stop by the deli for some take-home treats before calling it a night."

"80 Collins, CBDThe gist: Farmer’s Daughters is Melbourne CBD’s first true farm-to-table restaurant, bringing a little piece of Gippsland to the city. It has fast become one of Melbourne’s best restaurants. With a simplistic approach to food, chef Alejandro Saravia is passionate about showcasing the flavours of country-Vic at their absolute best, with zero wastage."

"This three-storey love letter to Gippsland and its produce is by Alejandro Saravia, the chef behind CBD classic Pastuso. There's a deli with house-made pastrami rolls; a suave restaurant with a focus on cooking with flames; and a greenhouse-like rooftop oasis. 80 Collins 95 Exhibition Street,Melbourne"

"Tucked away in Melbourne’s CBD, within its laneway locale, Tipo 00 exemplifies my ideal type of dining- casual dining. The restaurant itself is unassuming and does not impose. What do I mean by this?"

"Popular with joggers and dog walkers, Albert Park Lake is a lovely place for a golden hour stroll. From the far end of the lake (furthest away from the city) there is a really nice view of the skyline. As the sun starts to set it bathes the city in golden light."

"Visit the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens for somewhere unique in Melbourne – it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest existing exhibition buildings in the world. The building hosts various exhibitions and events in all areas of interest, of which price for each will vary so check out what’s on before visiting. Regardless, a simple walk around the outside provides a moment to admire the restoration work on this wonderful building!"

"If you are planning a visit to the Melbourne Museum which is located in the historic Royal Exhibition Building then you can’t walk past the wonderful Carlton Gardens. These gardens are world heritage listed and are well worth a visit in any season. Make sure you check out the ornamental lakes and the fountains (kids love water in action)."

"While neither of HuTong’s Melbourne locations are Yum Cha in the strict sense of the word, that concern will evaporate when a basket of Xiao-Long-Bao slides under your nose. No matter how you ingest these translucent parcels of heaven, keep in mind that these morsels (as well as other HuTong signatures; pan-fried pork dumplings, chilli wonton) deserve a sizeable chunk of credit for sparking Melbourne’s dumpling fever. Sure, many other joints dishing out Yum Cha in Melbourne do these dishes and do them well, but HuTong sure sets the bar high."

"These slippery bundles of pork swaddled in pale-yellow wrappers, made fiery with chilli oil, are entirely worth the collateral damage they can inflict on your shirtfront. HuTong’s work in this department knows few rivals in Melbourne. If you prefer things a little easier to convey from bowl to mouth, the northern-style spinach dumplings and the airy crystal dumplings packed with prawn meat are more than worthy."

"Pull on your loosest pair of pants and prepare yourself for a ridiculous amount of dumplings. Order up a round of soup dumplings, and if you still want more, follow them with some steamed, gelatinous pork belly."