Best Italian Restaurants in Melbourne

A trip to Brighton Beach is incomplete without a late-night burger and a side of golden fluffy fries. If you're looking for a fresh, fast and flavoursome pigout, look no further than The Royale Brothers' burgers. Frequently gracing those "Melbourne's best burger" lists, creations such as the pork jerk, the crispy fish and baby chicken burgers keep diners coming back with their generous fillings and do-it-yourself slushies on the side.

Some of Melbourne's best burgers are being served in an unlikely dining room: a garage-style space in Moorabbin. Fat Bob's is plastered in vintage signs, their neon lighting glowing down on leather booths and happy diners. The burgers are feelgood towers of pillowy buns, tangy sauces and patties cooked to a juicy medium. If you can fit them in, other deep fried sides beckon, too, including popcorn chicken and zucchini chips, perfect accompaniments to a craft beer.

This Caulfield North cafe pretty much gathers the nostalgia we all feel about our tuck shop days and squishes it into its feel-good dining room, from the paper straws in the peanut butter milkshakes to the cafeteria trays piled with hand cut fries. Tuck Shop Takeaway is anything but your average local burger joint. There is some serious skill and plenty of love that goes into the menu, with offerings like redskin brownies and pretzel ice cream.

When burgers and Super Mario World collide, you get 8Bit, a fun Footscray diner made better with the inclusion of classic video games, bold, primary-coloured decor and pixellated mosaic tiling on the walls. The hamburgers offer everything you could hope for, soft buns, juicy patties, crisp salad and melty cheese. Sides come by way of fries, hot dogs, tater tots, shakes and soft serve. Canned beers and soft drinks help to wash away the grease.

Chew Burger is right next to Preston drinking spot, The Racoon Club, and it serves up burgers worthy of a pre-drink meal. There's an intentionally-short menu of three Wagyu burgers, two veggie options and one crispy-skinned chicken offering. The idea in the kitchen is to keep things simple and get every order perfect, every time. And given these are some of the best burgers in the city, we'd say Chew Burger's getting it right.

If you're looking for an upmarket burger joint, don't look past The Merrywell. Housed in the Crown casino and entertainment complex, the upstairs section is dedicated to a la carte dining, while the downstairs caters to Melbourne's burger cravings. The American inspired food doesn't shy away from the deep fryer, plus, there are a number of beers on tap. The best part is you can enjoy it all on a heated terrace overlooking Southbank.