“It may be a time of tumult and uncertainty but there is no doubt that the drinking and dining gods are smiling on Melbourne right now,” said Time Out’s Melbourne editors. “In 2022, the city has enjoyed a spectacular rebirth, with a flurry of invention from the hospitality industry not witnessed in decades.” Amen to that.
Backing up those lofty sentiments is a group of awardees that more than substantiate Melbourne’s claims to a bumper crop of outstanding drinking and dining experiences.
The big gong went to Serai, the new fire-driven Filipino city eatery – “Melbourne’s must-try restaurant of the moment” – awarded Restaurant of the Year, as well as Best Casual Dining Venue. The 2022 Bar of the Year was likewise a two-time winner, with North Fitzroy favourite Public Wine Shop also scoring Best Wine Bar, the editors describing it as “a masterclass in the way we want to drink (and eat) now”.
Best Fine Dining Restaurant went to Grill Americano (“A Rat Pack-worthy stage set of marble, velvet and terrazzo… bursting with brio”), Best Cheap Eat to Soi 38 (“a bona fide cultural moment”), and Tedesca, hot on the heels of being named the best restaurant in Victoria in the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards, took out Best Regional Restaurant (“taste the regional zeitgeist”).
Upcycling champions Parcs were given the nod by Time Out for Best Innovation for their “unique, original and brave” work, while back in drinks-land, Above Board, “a cocktail bar that looks like the mood board of a futuristic Japanese auteur” won Best Cocktail Bar, and newcomer Caretaker’s Cottage nabbed Best Casual Drinking Venue with its “an all-killer, no-filler recipe of excellent drinks, music and snacks”.
Our congratulations to the winners and all the nominees. Check out all the details over at Time Out.