A top chef’s guide to eating out in Melbourne’s CBD

From unmissable Thai to one of the city’s favourite spots for a gin and tonic, who better than a top chef to guide you through the best places to dine and sip in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD?

chef's guide to melbourne CBD

As head chef at authentic Italian eatery Pentolina, Gabriele Olivieri knows Melbourne’s CBD eats better than most.

Unmissable Thai to creative Japanese — and the all-important spot for a gin and tonic.

Here’s his picks for the city’s best places to dine and sip.

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Pentolina head chef Gabriele Olivieri.

Osteria Ilaria

I really like the setup at Osteria Ilaria. It’s casual and you can sit at the bar and watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen. My go-to dish is the paccheri pasta with Crystal Bay prawns and sorrel, and the desserts are also amazing.

367 Little Bourke St

Octopus n'duja at Ilaria. Picture Rebecca Michael.

Longrain

Longrain reminds me of my experience many years ago working with David Thompson at Nahm, his Thai restaurant in London.

Longrain’s outstanding Thai food is reminiscent of David Thompson’s famed Nahm. Picture: Longrain

The food at Longrain is quite similar to Nahm, and in fact the Longrain chef used to work with David.

I went a few weeks ago and the food was as outstanding as I remember.

The highlight was the fish with the four-flavoured sauce.

40-44 Little Bourke St

Kisumé

I really love Japanese food.

Deluxe feature sushi and sashimi box at Kisume.

Kisumé is my favourite Japanese restaurant in Melbourne because it’s traditional Japanese, but at the same time you can find things that you won’t find in any other Japanese restaurant.

The standard is really high, and they’re very creative — they’re really challenging the definition of traditional Japanese food.

175-177 Flinders Lane

Michelangelo Osteria

I share similar heritage with the guys from Michelangelo Osteria because we come from neighbouring regions of Italy — they’re from Le Marche and I’m from Emilia-Romagna.

What I love best about this place is the atmosphere.

It’s very casual, very well-priced and the guys make me feel like I’m back in Italy in my local osteria.

The food is quite simple but very tasty.

They make everything from scratch and the pasta is fresh every day.

215 Queen Street

Gin Palace

I really like the venue.

It’s quite large, but there’s an area that’s more intimate where you can go with someone to have a conversation.

They have a good selection of gin, and I really love gin!

My go-to drink is a gin and tonic, preferably with a locally distilled gin like Dasher + Fisher from Devonport.

10 Russell Place

Pentolina, created by Pellegrini’s alum Matt Picone, serves fresh pasta with authentic Italian hospitality at 2/377 Little Collins St, Melbourne. pentolina.com.au