Work Hard, Play Hard, Eat Hard? When it comes to one of the top dining experiences in Australia, you can’t beat Vue De Monde. Perched literally on the top of the Rialto in Melbourne’s bustling CBD since 2011 it was the first restaurant to ever receive 19/20 in The Age Good Food Guide. Chef Shannon Bennett has lead this magnificent restaurant to critical acclaim for almost two decades, and we get to eat the food after photographing it!

You should probably form a line before viewing this picture. It is of course the famous Chin Chin – a decade old favourite of, well, anyone in Melbourne. Chef Benjamin Cooper has been creating spectacular, fiery dishes in one of the best dining environments you could possibly hope for – once you’ve done the 2hr wait to get in. It was an absolute delight to photograph the wonderful food here, and such a pity it’s not possible to convey the smells in a photo also.

If superb French fine dining is your thing, you cannot go past Philippe Mouchel’s self titled restaurant. Philippe has been ever present in Melbourne’s CBD for more than a decade after perfecting his craft under Paul Boucuse, the most consistent 3 Michelin Star chef for 40 years! Philippe’s strong point is his mouthwatering desserts pictured here.