Whilst it’s nice to go out every now and then for a slap-up meal of calorie-ladened comfort food, most of the time it’s best to eat healthily.
Thankfully, over the course of the last decade or so, restaurants have notably shifted their menus towards offering nutritious, delicious and clean foods that champion the best in seasonal and Australian produce.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Melbourne. A foodies paradise that has blazed a trail for healthy eating.
No longer is a Greek salad or Acai bowl your only option when it comes to eating something that is good for you. Instead, the city is blessed with a huge selection of restaurants that are either completely vegetarian or vegan. Or at the very least have significant percentages of their menu devoted to it.
With so many choices available to diners, here then is our suggestion of 19 of the best healthy cafes and restaurants in Melbourne you should eat at.
Touchwood
Who says comfort food can’t be healthy?
Well, the good folk at Touchwood certainly disagree. Serving up a delightful range of soul-rejuvenating meals that not only taste incredible but are very good for you too.
Located in Richmond, their food choices are diverse, incorporating everything from fresh granola and brekky burgers to Mexican chicken salad and crispy chicken baos that are very reasonably priced.
Undoubtedly one of the best healthy cafes in Melbourne, they also offer a fantastic selection of dairy-free lattes and smoothies – the strawberry splice, which comes with strawberries, mango, guava and coconut cream is an absolute must!
Address: 480 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121
Contact: (03) 9429 9347
Hours: Mon – Thurs: 7:30 am – 2:30 pm, Fri: 7:30 am – 3 pm, Sat & Sun: 8 am – 3 pm
Moroccan Soup Bar
An institution in Fitzroy, The Moroccan Soup Bar delights diners with its wonderful menu of Moroccan cuisine.
Founded in 1998, the venue operates on the concept of open hospitality, as well as the belief that a no-meat menu can enhance the flavours of cooking and not detract from it.
Renowned for its legendary chickpea bake, its lunch and dinner menu features soups, hummus, rice, eggplant and dips.
They also offer a fabulous vegan and dairy-free Harrira Soup that is the perfect thing to eat on a cold North Melbourne day.
One of the best aspects of this restaurant is its wonderful ‘pay it forward’ system, which allows you to buy a meal pack that is then donated to people in need.
Address: 316 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North VIC 3068
Contact: (03) 9486 3500
Hours: Tues – Sat: 12 pm – 3 pm (Takeaway only), 6 pm – 9:30 pm, Closed Mondays and Sundays
Seedling Cafe
Tucked away in Flinders Lane, Seedling Cafe is one of the leading healthy cafes in Melbourne.
Boasting a menu where everything is 100% gluten-free, the venue offers a delicious range of ready-made meals like lasagne and shepherd’s pie which allow for convenient and easy clean eating.
If you fancy something sweet, they also specialise in raw vegan treats, delightful cakes and bulletproof coffee.
Address: 275 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000
Contact: 0401 681 139
Hours: Mon – Fri: 7 am – 4 pm
Combi Elwood
Any cafe that encourages you to ‘Follow your bliss’ is one that is well worth visiting. Luckily Combi Elwood helps you do this by offering delicious, clean food that oozes indulgence and is rich in flavour.
A small cafe that features very trendy decor, it specialises in raw dishes like its organic acai bowls.
For those who want something a bit more substantial their spicy pumpkin toasted sandwich is sure to bust your hunger. While their blue moon smoothies, or delicious house blend coffees, make a great accompaniment to it.
Address: 138-140 Ormond Rd, Elwood VIC 3184
Contact: [email protected]
Hours: Mon – Sat: 7 am – 4 pm
Hunters’ Roots
Another favourite in the CBD, Hunters’ Roots offers diners a fabulous culinary experience with a nice, healthy twist.
Showcasing the best in fresh and local produce, their breakfast and lunch offering includes a terrific selection of toasties and smoothies.
To keep things fresh, the menu changes after every season.
Address: 26 Katherine Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: [email protected]
Hours: Mon – Fri: 8 am – 2:30 pm, Closed Sat & Sun
Alimentari
For almost 25 years now, Alimentari has been one of Melbourne’s leading restaurants,
Situated in the heart of Fitzroy, this fabulous cafe serves up a quality selection of breakfasts including harissa beans, Persian eggs and Menemen omelette. They also offer a fantastic range of paninis, wraps, salads and exceptional coffee too.
If you would rather eat at home, or are planning a picnic, they also have an excellent deli section. Where you can purchase a terrific range of charcuterie, cheese, fresh breads and ready-made meals.
Address: 251 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: (03) 9416 2001
Hours: Mon – Sun: 8 am – 3 pm
Heal.Thy Self Co.
Championing a philosophy that human beings should thrive when they adopt a whole food diet, Heal.Thy Self Co. is all about sustainability and ethical eating.
A popular spot in Yarraville, all of the dishes they offer are organic and plant-based.
Featuring earthy and natural flavours, and made from pure ingredients that are combined with passion and love, their Antiox Acai is a popular breakfast option. While their Bootylicious Bowl is a great choice for lunch.
Both of which you can enjoy is a cosy space that plays great music and has a lovely ambience.
Address: 26 Ballarat St, Yarraville VIC 3013
Contact: (03) 9687 3330
Hours: Mon – Sun: 7:30 am – 2:30 pm
SHOKU IKU
Over in Northcote, SHOKU IKU is committed to helping you continue your healthy eating journey through its delicious menu of healthy meals.
Offering ‘ready to eat’ food options that are full of nutrition and sustenance, all of their seasonal dishes are organic, vegan, grain-free and low in sugar.
Available to buy in-store, or delivered straight to your door, they also run workshops and education programs, as well as cater for events.
Address: 120 High St, Northcote VIC 3070
Contact: [email protected]
Hours: 24/7
Smoothme
Located within the heart of the CBD, Smoothme has temporarily closed its cafe.
However, in place of it, they now offer a delicious selection of breakfasts, acai bowls and smoothie packs that can be delivered straight to your door.
In addition, they also have picnic boxes that are perfect for taking to parks or other scenic spots for a spot of al fresco dining.
For those with a sweet tooth, their Sweet Dreams box has a wonderful selection of biscuits, cakes and fruit.
Address: Shop 6/120 Spencer St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: 0478 896 428
Trippy Taco
Mexican food is rapidly becoming one of the most popular food genres in Australia, and in Melbourne, one of the best places to get some is at Trippy Taco.
Another popular venue in Fitzroy, the venue specialises in providing diners with high-quality Mexican street food that ranks as good as anything you can get in Mexico City, Tijuana, Ecatepec or León.
Presenting dishes made with the freshest and best quality produce they can find, this healthy restaurant offers a delicious vegetarian menu. Some of the highlights of which include their taquitos and mixed taco meal, which are both 100% nutritious and delicious.
A very flexible establishment, if you are a vegan, they can also make everything you eat completely vegan friendly too.
Address: 234 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: (03) 9415 7711
Hours: Mon – Wed: 5 pm – 8:30 pm, Thurs – Sat: 12 pm – 3 pm, 5 pm – 9 pm, Closed Sundays
Miznon
With venues in Tel Aviv, Paris, New York, Vienna and the Melbourne CBD, Miznon has launched a successful healthy eating-focused operation across four different continents.
Offering a superb range of Mediterranean street food that is bursting with flavour, all of their dishes are made with healthy, earthy ingredients that value nature.
Designed to be eaten with your hands, it is served in pitas, as well as paper and small plates, within a setting that is fun, convivial and loud.
Their ratatouille is nothing short of legendary. While their Wagyu and Roots Stew is very popular with meat-eaters.
Address: 59 Hardware Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact:
Hours: Tues – Sat: 12 pm – 8 pm, Closed Mondays and Sundays
Transformer Fitzroy
Offering a luxurious dining experience that showcases plant-based eating, Transformer Fitzroy is a terrific place to go for a date night or a celebratory meal.
Set within an elegant space that features classy decor and dimmed lighting, the venue is undoubtedly one of the best healthy restaurants in Melbourne.
Presenting an innovative ‘feed me’ menu features either two or three courses, that come with eight or eleven components respectively, all their dishes champion locally sourced produce.
Their zucchini flowers are delightful, while the truffled chickpea panisse is to die for. Both of these can be enjoyed with a wonderful selection of wines from Australia and abroad.
Address: 99 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: (03) 9419 2022
Hours: Tues – Fri: 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm, Sat: 12:45 pm – 3 pm, 5:30 pm – 11 pm, Sun: 12:45 pm – 3pm, 5:30 pm – 10 pm, Closed Mondays
Vegie Bar
As its name suggests, the Vegie Bar is the perfect place for vegetarians and veggie lovers in general, to dine at.
Situated on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, their menu honours different cuisines around the world, with an eclectic mix of burritos, stir-fries, burgers and arancini balls – to name but a few.
First opening its doors in 1988, the venue is very popular amongst those who want to eat healthily and well. It also features a lovely, leaf-filled courtyard, which is a congenial place to dine.
Address: 380 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: (03) 9417 6935
Hours: Mon: 12 pm – 9 pm, Sun – Thurs: 11 am – 9:30 pm, Fri: 12 pm – 9:30 pm, Sat: 11 am – 10 pm
Hochi Mama CBD
A stalwart on the Melbourne CBD dining scene, Hochi Mama is a trendy and chic restaurant that serves up some of the tastiest and healthiest food in Melbourne.
Offering an Asian-inspired menu that presents items that are specifically designed to share, their ‘Me Hungry Now’ menu is the perfect thing to eat with family or friends.
Reasonably priced, you get to enjoy dishes like crispy fried dumplings and caramelised pork belly. Which may not sound healthy, but are very much prepared and cooked with that concept in mind.
Address: 35 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9078 2285
Hours: Mon: 12 pm – 3 pm, 5 pm – 9:30 pm, Tues – Thurs: 12 pm – 3:30 pm, 5 pm – 9:30 pm, Fri – Sun: 12 pm – 3 pm, 5 pm – 10:30 pm
Nosh
You’ve got to love any restaurant that is on a mission to make ‘bellies smile’.
That is what Nosh sets out to do with their fantastic menu of innovative, nutrient-filled, healthily made dishes that have been curated with love.
Unlike some of their contemporaries, seafood and meat have a prominent role in their menu.
So if this is something you like to eat, then be sure to try their Wagu-San. Or one of their signature bowls, like their Eye of The Tiger – which features delicious tamarind prawns.
Address: 352 Little Collins St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9670 1529
Hours: Mon – Fri: 10:30 am – 9 pm, Sat: 10:30 am – 8 pm, Sun: 12 pm – 8 pm
Loving Hut
Over in West Melbourne, Loving Hut has been making waves on the healthy eating dining scene for quite a while now.
Specialising in exceptional vegan food, sustainable eating is at the heart of every dish they make.
Their extensive menu caters to all tastes, with everything from an entire Thai section that features Pad Thai and Green Curry, to some delicious raw food options as well.
You’ll find plenty of gluten-free options too.
Address: 185 Victoria St, West Melbourne VIC 3003
Contact: (03) 9326 7551
Hours: Tues – Sun: 5:30 pm – 9 pm, Closed Mondays
Green Man’s Arms
One of the most popular healthy eating restaurants in Melbourne is the Green Man’s Arms.
Located in Carlton, within the heart of Lygon Street, this fabulous venue showcases a terrific seasonal menu of vegetarian dishes. All of which is made from locally sourced, Australian produce.
A hip and chilled-out gastropub that specialises in share plates and mains, you can enjoy everything from a light starter of fried cauliflower and smoked watermelon to their mouthwatering Green Man’s green burger and an incredible Sunday roast.
Their range of locally sourced beer and wine is very impressive too.
Address: 418 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053
Contact: (03) 9347 7419
Hours: Mon – Thurs: 4 pm – 12 am, Fri – Sun: 2 pm – 12 am
Yong Green Food
With its captivating ambience, intriguing decor of floating paper lanterns and dragon walls, and excellent service, Yong Green Food is one of Melbourne’s most charming restaurants.
Another venue, like Vegie Bar, that does not specialise in one genre of food, you can get everything from nachos and lentil curry to dumplings and sticky date pudding in one sitting.
With an extensive range of vegetarian and vegan options, there is sure to be something here to suit all tastes.
Address: 421 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: 0451 166 421
Hours: Mon – Sun: 5 pm – 10 pm
Shakahari Too
The granddaddy of all healthy restaurants in Melbourne, Shakahari Too has been dishing up exceptional vegetarian cuisine for 50 years.
Set within a colourful, bi-level restaurant that features dark timber tables, all their dishes are exclusively vegan and made from seasonal Victorian produce.
Renowned for serving top-quality food, you will be blown away by their bold and innovative dishes that include curry enak enak, quinoa croquettes and lasagna delizioso.
Address: 225 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Contact: (03) 9682 2207
Hours: Tues – Fri 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm – 9 pm, Sat & Sun: 5:30 pm – 9 pm