Our Local Partners: The Flavours of Melbourne
At Walk Melbourne, we don't just show you the city; we introduce you to the makers, bakers, and brewers who define it. Our tours are carefully curated to support independent local vendors who are masters of their craft.
From the perfect fold of a dumpling to the precise roast of a coffee bean, these are the partners that make our walks so delicious.
The Dumpling Masters
Melbourne’s Chinatown is home to some of the world’s best dumplings, and we’ve picked the absolute standouts for our Dumpling Discovery and Foodie Discovery walks.
Shandong Mama Mini: A tiny, popular, and highly-rated hole-in-the-wall eatery nestled in Melbourne’s Centre Place, specialising in authentic, Shandong-style seafood dumplings and quick bites. Known for its intimate, fast-paced atmosphere, it serves pan-fried dumplings—specifically their signature mackerel mousse variety—along with steamed options and craft beer in a compact setting.
Lucky Dumpling: This modern, light-filled spot features an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs hand-crafting wrappers and preparing dishes fresh to order. With a welcoming, casual atmosphere, it is the perfect place to enjoy a generous feast while exploring Melbourne's vibrant food scene.
HuTong Dumpling Bar: A highly acclaimed, busy Shanghainese restaurant known for its authentic dumplings, particularly the soup-filled xiao long bao. Established in 2008, it features a moody, multi-level atmosphere with open kitchens where chefs can be seen hand-making dumplings.
China Red: A popular, modern Chinese restaurant located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, specialising in Shanghai-style dumplings (xiao long bao) and traditional dishes. Located in a Chinatown arcade, it is well-known for its viewing windows showing the chefs preparing food.
Mr Huang Jin Dumplings: A popular, family-run Taiwanese restaurant known for its high-quality handmade dumplings and "Taiwanese tapas". Founded in 2012, it is famous for its 8-hour broth pork xiao long bao (soup dumplings).
Specialty Coffee & Treats
You can’t experience Melbourne without a deep dive into our world-famous cafe and dessert culture.
Bench Coffee: A Melbourne-based boutique coffee roaster Bench focuses on precision, quality, and minimalist design and is known for their own roasted beans and high-end espresso.
Mork: A specialty cacao cafe founded in 2012, focused on ethical sourcing and high-quality, artisanal hot chocolate experiences. It functions as a "brew house" applying coffee-like precision to cocoa, featuring a signature smoke-enhanced Campfire Hot Chocolate, unique blends (50%-85% cacao), and house-made pastries.
The Little Royal: A boutique macaron kiosk in Melbourne’s historic Royal Arcade, founded by the creators of Caffe E Torta. It specialises in luxury, 100% vegetarian, and gluten-free macarons, alongside individual desserts, petit fours, macaron cakes, and towers. It is well-known for high-quality, colorful macarons and premium Genovese coffee.
Piccolina: A popular Melbourne-based, authentic Italian gelateria founded in 2015, specialising in 100% natural, made-from-scratch gelato, sorbetti, and cakes.
Plus Coffee & Co: A small, energetic café specialising in high-quality V5 coffee, creative specialty drinks, and gourmet toasties. Known for rapid service, it is a popular spot for quick, affordable take-away breakfast or lunch, featuring unique items like Yuzu Espresso Tonic and Miso Eggplant Toastie.
Industry Beans: A prominent Australian specialty coffee roaster known for its high-quality, ethically sourced coffee, on-site roasting, and stylish, industrial-chic venues. They offer award-winning blends, single-origin coffees, and a sophisticated brunch menu.
Maker: A premier Melbourne-based specialty coffee roaster that focuses on ethically sourced, high-quality, small-batch roasted beans. Known for a welcoming atmosphere, expert baristas, and a rotating single-origin menu.
Blue Doors: A minimalist, popular laneway café that delivers high-quality specialty coffee. Known for a calm vibe, it offers varied seating, free Wi-Fi, and a menu focusing on expert brews, iced lattes, and light bites.
Heartbaker: A highly regarded, fast-paced Vietnamese cafe specialising in authentic bánh mì. Known for its "tiger skin" bread that is crunchy yet fluffy, popular options include the "Crazy Delish Crispy Pork" and traditional pork belly rolls, alongside rice paper rolls and rice bowls.
Hidden Bars & Rooftops
When the sun goes down (or even when it hasn't), we head to the city's best hidden watering holes.
Whitehart Bar: A vibrant, two-story shipping container bar known for its industrial, "concrete jungle" aesthetic. It features rotating craft beers and cocktails and is characterised by green foliage, street art projections, and a lively atmosphere.
Stolen Gem: A stylish, 8th-floor rooftop bar featuring 270-degree city views over Bourke Street Mall, a fully retractable roof, and a cosy indoor terrace. It offers premium Australian-Japanese fusion share plates and curated cocktails with foraged botanicals.
Hotel Nacional Rooftop: A 5th level, 100% gluten-free Mexican restaurant and rooftop bar located on Hardware Lane in Melbourne CBD. It offers modern Mexican-influenced dining, plant-based options, and signature cocktails in a vibrant, coastal-themed setting with city views.
QT Rooftop: A trendy, upscale, and intimate bar offering uninterrupted skyline views. It features Mediterranean-inspired light meals, creative cocktails, and live DJ sets in an outdoor terrace and modern indoor lounge setting.
Rooftop Bar: Located on level 7 of Melbourne’s historic Curtin House, Rooftop Bar is a popular CBD hotspot offering scenic city views, signature cocktails, and casual dining. It features burgers and drinks in a lively atmosphere.
Blossom Rooftop Bar: Located on the 14th floor of the Pullman Melbourne City Centre, this bar is a stylish, industrial-chic venue featuring 270-degree skyline views. It offers wood-fired pizzas, signature cocktails, and local beers/wines/.
HER Rooftop Bar: A vibrant, top-floor bar on Lonsdale Street in Melbourne offering sweeping city views, and a colorful cocktail list. Part of a four-storey "vertical laneway" venue, it is a popular, bustling spot.
Morris House Rooftop: A leafy, four-level inner-city oasis on Exhibition Street offering panoramic city views. Featuring a retractable roof and ample heating, it is an all-weather venue perfect for cocktails, share-friendly plates, and upbeat vibes, with live DJs every Friday and Saturday night.
Cleo Melbourne: An Eastern Mediterranean rooftop escape perched on the 12th floor of the Hyde Melbourne Place hotel on Russell Street. The venue offers panoramic CBD views, bold, wood-fired mezze plates and Mediterranean-inspired cocktails.
Goldilocks: an intimate, fairy-tale-themed rooftop bar hidden on the fourth floor of the Denyers Building at 264 Swanston Street. It features a cosy indoor-outdoor space with skyline views, specialising in experimental cocktails and Asian-fusion bites.
Progressive Dining Masters
Hochi Mama CBD: A popular, high-energy Vietnamese fusion restaurant) known for its vibrant, modern atmosphere. It serves punchy, share-style Asian dishes and creative cocktails, blending traditional flavors with a "rebellious," street-style edge.
Lucy Lui: A vibrant, high-energy, and popular restaurant in Oliver Lane known for its industrial, neon-lit atmosphere and shareable modern Asian fusion dishes. The menu features bold, spicy flavors inspired by Thai, Chinese, and Korean cuisine, including popular items like Peking duck dumplings, kingfish sashimi, and Korean fried chicken.
Guido 365: An authentic Italian restaurant located on Little Collins Street, known for its cosy, rustic atmosphere and traditional, handmade pasta and wood-fired pizzas with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Ready to Meet Our Vendors in Person?
Explore the best of the city on our Foodie Discovery, Dumpling Discovery, or Coffee Lovers Walking Tours.
Book online today, check out our FAQs page or reach out to us with any questions that you may have!