Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Inner City North

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Inner City North? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Malin

4.9

4.9 (47)

$101 and over

Modern European

Carlton North

About the restaurant

Malin is a small neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of Rathdowne Village, Carlton North.

Set in an 1880s property on the corner of Curtain and Rathdowne streets, the site has been renovated to honour the heritage of the building.

The food menu, developed by Chef Clement Pilatre, samples European cuisine and showcases seasonal produce and frequently changing dishes. The drinks list favours emerging wine producers, while also giving a nod to the classics.

Malin aims to deliver engaging service 5 days a week; with dinner served Wednesday to Saturday and lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

More information can be found on our website or by contacting us directly.

We look forward to hosting you soon.

Top review

Andreja

Dined on Jun 19, 2025

Very inventive and delicious menu with some extraordinary dishes.

Discover more

Experience

Four Course Chef's Tasting Menu

Experience

Six Course Chef's Tasting Menu

Experience

Bastille Day Four Course Chef's Tasting Menu

Bhang

4.8

4.8 (606)

$41 to $100

Indian

Brunswick

About the restaurant

Bhang is a unique warehouse cocktail bar serving contemporary Indian fare off Sydney Rd in Brunswick exploring the many different flavours of India through food and drink. We have a cocktail for every occasion and taste, and dishes from all corners of India such as the Mangalorean inspired 'Kori Gassi', 'Kashmiri Trout' and Rajasthani 'Junglee Maas'. Come and try our THALI available every night $30 Veg $32 Non-Veg

Bhang has an ample selection of vegan and gluten free items that compete equally in flavour and popularity with our charcoal meats and tandoor dishes. Bhang's wine and craft beer list showcase local producers, while our Indian inspired cocktails are an absolute must try.

HAPPY HOUR EVERY NIGHT 5-7PM: $14 COCKTAILS, CHEAP WINE, BEER & CHAAT

Top review

Niki

Dined on Apr 26, 2025

Great service, cocktails downstairs during happy hour, such great value! Dinner upstairs… had the Feed Me banquet, very generous assortment of fabulous modern Indian delicacies, in a lovely space. Highly recommend! 😋

Commis

4.9

4.9 (57)

$41 to $100

Wine Bar

Collingwood

About the restaurant

OUR BOOKINGS ARE LIMITED TO OUR DINING ROOM SPACE. OUR BAR AND COURTYARD TABLES ARE RESERVED FOR WALK INS ONLY. WE INVITE YOU TO WALK IN AND WE WILL FIND YOU A TABLE.
Our menu is ever changing and is determined by what is beautiful and in season, either from our own gardens or from what the season currently offers us. Chef will lovingly prepare your dinner with respect to the community and the environment. Each time you dine at Commis your experience will be new.

Top review

Chris

Dined 6 days ago

Wonderful dinner last night. Restaurant cosy and snug on a cool night. Service was fantastic and wonderful to have a position to watch the mixologist at work. Started with bread and sexy butter, then panisse fries ( divine ) and roasted beetroot. Confession - there was a little jealousy that one member of our party he saved some bread to mop up that delicious sauce! Roasted meyer lemon risotto then venison osso bucco . Amazing! Venison was tender and falling from the bone and the little fork to extract all that marrow was a bonus. Paired with some potatoes and salad greens it was a joy to eat. We were so happy that we shared the meals between three diners and got o experience so many flavours. Sadly no room for dessert - next time! Great music at an ideal level- could talk to each other but not hear the conversations of our near neighbours. This was a dining highlight if our few days in Melbourne and I can’t wait to return on our next visit.

Kushiro Fusion Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (49)

$41 to $100

Fusion / Eclectic

Fitzroy

About the restaurant

Kushiro - Melbourne
Nestled in a 100-year-old heritage building in Fitzroy, Kushiro blends historic charm with modern culinary artistry. Inspired by Melbourne's vibrant laneway dining and street art culture, the restaurant features a beautiful bar, Japanese-inspired lamps, chandeliers, and a striking graffiti wall depicting a fishing village in Hokkaido.

Kushiro's menu combines traditional Japanese techniques with contemporary flavors, offering standout dishes like Scampi Tartare, Cured Salmon, Chef Po’s Char Siu, Slow Roasted Short Rib, Confit Duck, and Tofu Panna Cotta. Patrons can also enjoy Kushiro's exclusive brand of sake, crafted in Japan.

Kushiro enriches Melbourne's diverse culinary scene with its unique offerings and vibrant atmosphere.

Top review

Bolin

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

It is a fantastic restaurant for friends meet-up, small family gathering and dating occasions with very peaceful environment. The food is well plated with top freshness and delectable, which combines not only Japanese but other cooking styles from other countries. Alcohol especially Japanese sakes they are the must-try. Stuffs are all friendly who really care about your dinning experience and dietary. We came for a two-person birthday dinner at the end we have received a bonus dessert and been photographed along with greeting on a birthday card! Strongly recommended!

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Experience

Bottomless Bar Snack & Free Flowing Sake

Experience

Kushiro Autumn 3 Courses Set Menu

Experience

KUSHIRO BANQUET MENU

Ascot Vale Hotel

4.6

4.6 (340)

$40 and under

Australian

Ascot Vale

About the restaurant

The Ascot Vale Hotel welcomes everyone to experience a relaxed and comfortable corner pub that has been taken back to its former glory. This 1875 gem caters for everyone, whether you are hopping off the tram for a quick glass, impressing a loved one or celebrating an event with close friends or family. Here’s Luck to seeing you soon!

Top review

Kathy

Dined on Jun 4, 2025

Love the Ascot Vale Hotel. A true local with consistently good food and great staff.

Paris Go

4.9

4.9 (154)

$41 to $100

French

Carlton

About the restaurant

If you are looking for a little corner of France in Melbourne then you need to pay a visit to our French Restaurant, Paris Go. We are considered as the best traditional French Bistro in Melbourne. Our Chef/Owner is proud to present a menu that is packed with the very best French Restaurant dishes. When you arrive, you will be met by our friendly, knowledgeable staff. We are fully licensed and accept B.Y.O for Wine and Champagne only.

Top review

AbiVIP

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Consistently fantastic. We love our food and service every time.

Royal Oak Hotel

4.8

4.8 (292)

$40 and under

Australian

Fitzroy

About the restaurant

The Oak has quickly become the crowd favourite amongst Fitzroy locals. Providing a wonderful atmosphere to enjoy one of our delicious meals and indulge in an array of tasty beverages. By the fire in winter or basking in the sun on Freeman Street. We are your local pub, a place for all to gather and celebrate conviviality

Top review

Melissa

Dined 2 days ago

Great vibe but very dark and food takes so Long. Second time this has happened. We only ordered main courses and they took 45 min.

Bistra

4.9

4.9 (139)

$41 to $100

Australian

Carlton

About the restaurant

Bistra is an Australian bistro serving quality food and wine; our fare draws its influence predominantly from British, French and Italian cooking and technique, and yet it is quintessentially Australian. You can expect generous, memorable plates championing seasonal ingredients and an extensive list of wines.

Top review

Jonathan

Dined 7 days ago

Our waitress was outstanding with the way she showed and explained everything to us from the menu to the drinks to the specials and communication during our experience. Will definitely be coming back with others in to experience it for themselves also

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Experience

Bistra Welcomes Corner 75

Experience

Set Menu (payment due at restaurant)

Bluestone American BBQ

4.8

4.8 (776)

$41 to $100

Barbecue

Coburg

About the restaurant

Bluestone American BBQ features a Latin American spin on authentic low and slow traditions from the US BBQ belt. Chef Alvaro Malel draws inspiration from his Uruguayan heritage, and his passion for cuisines from both American continents to reimagine smoked classics like Yearling Beef Short Rib with chimichurri, and Pit-Braised Pulled Lamb with salsa criolla and arepas.

His talent for bringing together the best of North and South American food traditions has been a drawcard for diners across Melbourne since the restaurant opened seven years ago. He credits the success of Bluestone to his Uruguayan culture and heritage, which is all about “food, family and fire…BBQ is a feature of all my best memories. There’s no better way to celebrate milestones, or to just kick back and have fun with the people you love. Bluestone has always been about creating that experience for other people.”

Top review

Jen

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Delicious food, fantastic service, great atmosphere

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4.7

4.7 (509)

$41 to $100

Asian

Collingwood

About the restaurant

Welcome to Shu, once the name of Sichuan province, southwest China, now home of innovative plant-based cooking in Collingwood, Melbourne

Currently we are offering a 10 course vegan degustation. Inspired by Sichuan cuisine, this plant based set menu is all about innovated Chinese cuisine, embracing the healthy plant eating and showcasing seasonal local Victorian produce. From raw and chilled appetisers to fiery but mouthwatering authentic Sichuan flavours of the street food to complimenting premium wines and cocktails, Shu takes you on an adventurous journey of modern Chinese cooking.

Top review

sam

Dined 5 days ago

Interesting food that presented well, tasted great & the service was very very good. Would definitely recommend

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Experience

2025 New 10 Course Degustation

Experience

2025 New 10 course degustation

Experience

Truffle degustation with Adventurous Souls Wine

Explore Diners' Choice best of Inner City North