15 Best Restaurants In The Dandenong Ranges (2024)

Come for the greenery, stay for the food, here’s how to plot a culinary itinerary around the Dandenong Ranges.

The Dandenong Ranges is well-known as a playground for outdoors enthusiasts, a hop, skip and a jump away from the Yarra Valley.

But the region is home to plenty more than just a swathe of enchanting greenery.

In between the scenic lookouts, fern-draped trails and winding, tree-lined roads, you’ll find teahouses with ornamental gardens, cosy pubs with plenty of character, smart-casual Modern Australian restaurants and schmick cafes dishing up inventive fare.

Read on to uncover the best restaurants in the Dandenong Ranges.

The shortlist

Best Value: Ms Banh Mi

Best drinks list: Killik Handcrafted Rum

Best for dinner: The Independent

Best for casual eats: White Thai Ginger

1. Babaji’s Kerala Kitchen

Best for: South Indian food, interiors

This vivaciously decorated restaurant (both inside and out) is a bright beacon of hope for those who crave authentic South Indian food. Specialising in Keralan cuisine, Babaji’s is perhaps best known for its sadya: a meal composed of many small dishes, served together on a banana leaf. Typically, it’s vegetarian and reserved for special occasions.

Here, the sadya includes 12 different morsels, which vary depending on the season, but might include papadam, sambar (a lentil-based vegetable stew), rasam (a tomato and tamarind broth), or payasam (a ‘rice pudding’ made with vermicelli, sago, cashews and raisins).

Babajis Kerala serves homely Indian food.

Beyond Babaji’s banana leaf feast, you’ll find standalone dosas, curries, and deep-fried street food snacks on offer too.

Address: 1/1644 Burwood Hwy Belgrave

2. Chae

Best for: Exclusivity, Korean food

Don’t even think about rocking up to this Cockatoo restaurant without a reservation. A hallowed Melbourne institution, formerly located in Brunswick, Chae operates a lottery system that can entail a months-long slog to get in. Accommodating just six diners per sitting, this intimate Korean restaurant is actually situated within chef Jung Eun Chae’s house.

It’s worth the wait, however. Showcasing foods that require time- and labour-intensive practices, which few other more commercial kitchens could justify, lucky lottery winners might sample gam-sikcho (a Korean persimmon vinegar that can take over a year to ferment and age adequately), homemade kimchi and gochujang, and a selection of house-brewed drinks, such as barley tea and makgeolli (a sparkling rice wine liquor).

Address: 33 Mountain Rd, Cockatoo

3. Paradise Valley Hotel

Best for: Relaxed meals, views

If it’s good pub grub and schmick surrounds you’re after, Paradise Valley Hotel could be the venue for you. While a pub has occupied this spot since 1882, ‘The Clemo’ (found in the small township of Clematis) is anything but old-timey inside. It reopened in late 2019 under the careful guidance of some of Melbourne’s hospo heavyweights, and has emerged into an airy, bright, modern, quasi-minimalist bar and bistro, with a leafy beer garden that offers front seat views of local icon Puffing Billy.

Since its reboot, one dish in particular has become a signature: the duck and mushroom pithivier, served with mashed potato, spinach and lentils, and composed, almost entirely, of Victorian-sourced ingredients.

Address: 249 Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, Clematis

4. Bam Bam Italian

Best for: Parents, Italian food

Parents, rejoice! This neighbourhood Italian joint not only serves an enticing array of pizza and pasta, it also boasts a gorgeous fully fenced playground and turfed play area, which is fully visible from the restaurant’s own family dining room. There’s a kid’s menu and baby change facilities to boot. And did we mention that this Avonsleigh venue is also entirely wheelchair-accessible?

Dog owners aren’t left in the dark either. Bam Bam Italian’s front outdoor dining area is available to fur babies and their humans, with dog water bowls and a nature strip in easy reach.

the dining of Bam Bam Italian — Bam Bam Italian also caters to humans with furry friends in the outdoor dining area.

Address: 445 Belgrave-Gembrook Road, Avonsleigh

5. White Ginger Thai Restaurant

Best for: Thai food, a casual dinner

Something of a local institution, White Ginger Thai Restaurant is not short of local ambassadors; they wax lyrical about the authentic flavours as much as they do the warm, attentive service.

This isn’t the spot for groundbreaking fusion food. Instead, you’ll find a comforting roll call of Thailand’s greatest hits, from green curry to tom yum soup, spring rolls, pad Thai and neua nam tok (Thai beef salad).

Address: Unit 4/1526-1528 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Olinda

6. Killik Handcrafted Rum

Best for: Cocktails, a fun night out with friends

Don’t let the name of this Belgrave establishment fool you; there’s much more to Killik than rum. Part distillery door, part smart casual eatery, cosy Killik offers a little something for any occasion.

Killik restaurant — Killik offers a little something for any occasion.

A lazy Sunday arvo for two, accompanied by a share board (cheese, cured meats and house-fermented pickles) and a gin tasting paddle* perhaps? A hot buttered rum for one next to the fireplace on a quiet winter’s eve? Or a full-on ‘feed me’ feast with friends, devouring dishes such as cauliflower and truffled pecorino beignets, cured scallop carpaccio, and housemade linguine served with pesto Trapanese? Take your pick at Killik.

*Killik is also home to gin distillery GinFinity .

Address: 64 Monbulk Rd, Belgrave

7. Lorna Cafe, Ferntree Gully

Best for: Coffee, breakfast, cake

At the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, this whitewashed minimalist cafe has a breakfast menu that strikes the perfect balance between salubrious and indulgent.

Keep hunger at bay all morning with a plate of southern fried chicken that sits atop a cheesy waffle bed, drizzled with jalapeno maple sauce and speckled with gremolata. Or fuel up with a nourishing bowl of cinnamon myrtle porridge sprinkled with spiced walnut crumb and festooned with poached pear pearls.

Lorna serves up an enticing array of towering cakes to boot, should you feel like stopping by for a tea and a slice.

Address: 1053 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully

brunch meals at Lorna Cafe — Lorna Cafe’s breakfast menu is a trendsetter in the Dandenong Ranges. (Image: Lorna Cafe)

8. Maria Cafe, Upwey

Best for: Vegan, Mexican

Sister venue to Lorna Cafe, we couldn’t not give this Upwey venue a shout-out. Though the fitout and design here bears a fair resemblance to its Ferntree Gully sibling, the menus are surprisingly distinct, with Maria featuring a decidedly Mexican lean .

Beyond the standard eggs Benny and smashed avo you’ll find beef birria tacos, baked eggs with frijoles (refried beans) and chilaquiles (fried tortilla chips simmered in a brothy sauce). There’s also a solid selection of vegan items for those so inclined, such as tofu scramble and jackfruit birria tacos.

Address: 56-58 Main St, Upwey

meal at Maria Cafe — Maria Cafe is all glammed up, from chic interiors to aesthetically pleasing plates. (Image: Maria Cafe)

9. The General Food Store, Emerald

Best for: Lunch

Small in size but big on accolades, husband-and-wife team Paul and Belinda Douglas – a chef and a graphic designer, respectively – craft The General Food Store ’s monthly menu based on what’s in season.

With quirky pardon-the-pun dish names like Flame and Fortune (chilli scrambled eggs with housemade sambal), and The Juan That I Want (smashed avo with pico de gallo and a poached egg), the menu is as creative as the food.

The cafe caters for food intolerances and offers a sizable kid’s menu to boot, plus owners Paul and Belinda are committed to supporting local producers, local artists (whose work is exhibited in the cafe) and stepping lightly on the earth – check out the worm farm in the courtyard.

Belgian waffles at The General Food Store, Dandenong Ranges restaurants — Their Belgian waffles have macerated strawberries and toasted pistachios on the side. (Image: Sam Stuart)

Address: 377 Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, Emerald

10. Olinda Tea House and Restaurant

Best for: High tea, setting

While this Olinda venue is open for both lunch and dinner six days a week, it’s the Asian fusion restaurant’s high tea that has become something of a signature.

Featuring savoury and sweet morsels (think macarons, profiteroles, croquettes and pork buns) alongside a selection of internationally sourced teas, the offering is as ornately presented as Olinda Tea House and Restaurant ’s immaculately manicured gardens.

Address: 86 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda

pastries at Olinda Tea House, Dandenong Ranges restaurants — Satisfy your sweet cravings with these decadent pastries. (Image: Olinda Tea House)

11. The Pig and Whistle Tavern, Olinda

Best for: Lunch, setting

The sun-dappled deck at this English-style pub is an inviting spot to while away a summer’s afternoon post-hike, but there are several more reasons to visit.

Not only are the portions generous, but the tavern’s roast pork belly and parmies (Italian, Irish, Southern-style, or classic) in particular keep the locals coming back for more. Chase it all down with one of The Piggy’s British beers, such as Old Speckled Hen, London Pride or Hobgoblin.

Address: 1429 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Olinda

burger and fries combo, The Pig & Whistle Tavern — The Pig & Whistle Tavern is your go-to stop for a classic brunch. (Image: The Pig & Whistle Tavern)

12. Ms Banh Mi

Best for: Lunch, value

Located just on the cusp of the ranges lies this ever-reliable pork roll shop. Crusty rolls are filled with tender and juicy hunks of freshly roasted pork and crunchy crackling, and laced with slivers of carrot, chilli, cucumber and coriander.

Ms Banh Mi ’s Vietnamese iced coffee also receives top marks – it’s so moreish that you may in fact want to hook yourself up to a drip of it. Better still, you can buy both and still leave with change from a $20 note.

crusty rolls, Ms Banh Mi — Crunch-filled delight at Ms Banh Mi. (Image: Ms Banh Mi)

Address: 253 Colchester Rd, Kilsyth South

13. Le Voltaire Bistro Francais, Belgrave

Best for: Dinner, French

Le Voltaire Bistro Francais is the type of consistently good neighbourhood restaurant that everyone wishes they had just around the corner. And given the culinary pedigree of its owner, Jean-Noel Langlet, who moved to the area after 20-odd years as a waiter at Melbourne institution, France-Soir, it’s little surprise.

Offering all the Gallic classics (with a few Australian twists), his menu mightn’t win any awards for boundary-pushing, but it has won a legion of fans.

Expect moules marinière, canard à l’orange, oysters shucked in front of you and, of course, snails, alongside house-churned butter, bread made from scratch and a well-balanced wine list of new- and old-world styles.

Address: 1677 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave

14. Citrine Bistro and Bar, Olinda

Best for: Lunch, Modern Australian

One of the smartest restaurants in the Dandenong Ranges region, both in terms of its refined Modern Australian menu and impeccably styled interior, Citrine is a bit of a failsafe local go-to .

The dining room is warm and homely – its open fireplace, tables dressed in white linens, and timber bookshelves decked with books and vintage curios lending a bit of a stately home feel.

The menu is similarly inviting, showcasing seasonal ingredients in familiar ways alongside daily specials. Sample everything from handmade spinach and ricotta tortellini to calamari fritti and cider-roasted pork cheek.

Address: 543 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Olinda

Calamari, Citrine Bistro & Bar — Calamari fritti with lemon aioli makes for a great appetiser. (Image: Citrine Bistro & Bar)

15. The Independent, Gembrook

Best for: Dinner, share plates

Rustic, industrial charm is taken to the next level in this heritage-listed hardware-store-cum-restaurant that attracts diners from near and far. The Independent specialises in Argentinian cuisine, to reflect chef/owner Mauro Callegari’s heritage, and features a variety of share plates that are guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds as well as your appetite.

This Dandenong Ranges restaurant also caters well to those with dietaries, offering a slew of dishes to suit vegetarians, vegans, coeliacs, or those with intolerances to dairy, onion and garlic.

And if indecision overwhelms your party, opt for the chef’s set menu, which promises a seven-course tour de force.

Address: 79 Main St, Gembrook

Lime cured scallops, The Independent Gembrook — This lime-cured scallop dish could be your new comfort food. (Image: The Independent Gembrook)

Check out our Victoria travel guide, so you can read up on the very best the region has to offer.

A world away from the hustle, bustle and chaos of the big smoke – yet with a distinct sense of familiarity – Victoria’s Wimmera Mallee region is an incomparable place.

Victoria’s Grampians are a visual feast, a seemingly endless vista of craggy cliffs, rolling valleys and untamed bushland. But they’re also much more than a scenic mountain landscape. Diverse and storied, each region within the range has its own rhythm. The Wimmera Mallee – a pocket in the state’s north-west, stretching from Horsham to near Mildura – is one of the most captivating.

Once known as Victoria’s agricultural heartland, the Wimmera Mallee has evolved in recent years into a dynamic, slightly offbeat hub. It buzzes with a creative hum and welcoming energy, and harbours an eclectic mix of long-time locals and tree-changers. Once you encounter its unmistakable charm, feel its warm country hospitality and taste its nationally celebrated vanilla slice, you may find yourself lingering longer than planned.

Eager to explore? These must-visit spots let you experience the inimitable spirit of this special part of the world.

Wimmera Mallee’s quirky attractions

The Dimboola Imaginarium, Wimmera Mallee victoria — Step into the whacky Dimboola Imaginarium. (Image: Denis Bin)

If you’re after something a little more unconventional, the Wimmera Mallee delivers in droves.

The Dimboola Imaginarium – located in a historic bank building in its namesake town – is a gift shop and boutique accommodation in one. Shop for unique and whimsical keepsakes, stay overnight in an elegant themed room, and lose yourself in one of the Imaginarium’s interactive experiences.

Also in Dimboola, just a short drive from the Imaginarium, is a menagerie of utter delight. Tiny Goats and Co. is home to a herd of miniature goats, with the farm offering group visits and special events like goat yoga and cuddle sessions.

Arcade aficionados should visit the Australian Pinball Museum in nearby Nhill. Here, you’ll find the biggest selection of playable pinball machines in the country, featuring modern models and classics dating all the way back to 1931.

Arts and culture in Wimmera Mallee

Step into the Wimmera Mallee’s storied history at the Stick Shed — Step into history at the Stick Shed. (Image: Visit Vic)

As a thoroughly creative community, it’s no wonder the Wimmera Mallee has a host of venues focused on its rich arts and culture scene.

Wander Trickbots Metal Art & Sculpture Garden in Nullawil, a winding trail filled with unique and quirky creations fashioned from metal odds, ends and scrap. A walk through the garden is inspiring enough, but consider buying a piece to take home and treasure.

The town of Nhill also has a significant Karen-Burmese refugee community, who make up 10 per cent of the local population. Discover the artistry of this vibrant culture at Paw Po , where you can purchase traditional hand-woven and textile products. Choose from a selection of beautifully crafted homewares, fashion and dolls.

Step into the Wimmera Mallee’s storied history at the Stick Shed , the only WWII emergency grain store still standing today. This National Heritage-listed structure takes you on a journey through the region’s agricultural past and is a dramatic sight with its towering and eerily striking timber poles.

Nature escapes around Wimmera Mallee

pink Lake Tyrrel, Wimmera Mallee, Victoria Australia — Take in the pink hues of Lake Tyrrell. (Image: Visit Vic)

Much like the majestic beauty of the wider Grampians, the Wimmera Mallee is a mélange of serene and spellbinding nature escapes.

Victoria’s pink lakes are famed nationwide, and two of them are found right here. See the flamingo-pink hues of Loch Iel, particularly vivid after a heavy downpour, or the vast and ancient Lake Tyrrell , which turns pink during wet and warm conditions.

The Snowdrift dunes in Wyperfeld National Park are ideal for adventurers. Set amid the area’s semi-arid landscape, the dunes are expansive mounds of sand deposited around 40,000 years ago. Hike or sandboard them and make sure to visit at sunset, when the sand glows golden.

And while some travellers chase the highest peaks, you can see the most modest in the Wimmera Mallee. Standing a mere 43 metres above the surrounding terrain, Mount Wycheproof is considered the smallest registered mountain in the world. Courtesy of its relatively gentle inclines, it’s a lovely spot for a walk and a picnic.

Culinary adventures in Wimmera Mallee

border inn in the Wimmera Mallee — Meet the locals at Border Inn.

As a region rich in agricultural bounty, it’s little surprise the Wimmera Mallee has such a robust and vibrant food scene. The community is fiercely proud of its local produce, showcasing the flavours and heritage of the area.

The Border Inn in the village of Apsley is a quaint country pub and meeting spot for the local community, featuring a classic country menu and warm hospitality.

The Horsham Golf Club is a popular spot for golf buffs with an adjoining bistro and bar. Try a modern twist on hearty favourites while taking in views of the green. For a taste of the area’s vintages, head to Norton Estate Wines – a boutique wine producer and cellar door open weekends.

A Wimmera Mallee jaunt wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the famed Sharp’s Bakery in Birchip. Here, you’ll find a velvety vanilla slice that’s been crowned as Australia’s best seven times.

Wimmera Mallee accommodation

Fulham Homestead in wimmera mallee — Escape to Fulham Homestead.

If you’re enjoying an extended trip, you’ll need somewhere to rest. After a day tackling Wyperfeld’s epic dunes, visit Pine Plains Lodge , also in the national park. Built from reclaimed timber planks and logs, and anchored by rugged stone fireplaces, the lodge is a rustic and cosy hideaway.

For a refined yet relaxing escape, head to Fulham Homestead – a gorgeously restored guesthouse on an idyllic working farm, complete with farm animals and scenic vistas. Built in the 1840s, it has all the elegance and charm of its heritage, plus contemporary comforts like a modern kitchen, wi-fi and air-conditioning.

The Hermitage Hotel is Victoria’s oldest inland pub and an equally delightful blend of old and new. The restored rooms are perfectly appointed and adorned with period furnishings and high-quality linens. The pub itself is a favoured food and wine spot among locals and travellers alike.

If camping is more your style, the Lake Lascelles Cabins and Camping (formerly Mallee Bush Retreat) is a sprawling oasis with powered and unpowered sites and snug cabins. The setting is stunning too, the pristine Lake Lascelles sitting right in its centre.

Annual events

Wimmera Mallee Nhill Aviation Museum — Time your visit to Nhill Aviation Museum for the annual air show.

You may not need an excuse to revisit the Wimmera Mallee, but these annual and bi-annual events will almost certainly have you returning again and again.

Each year, the Lake Chalegrark Country Music Marathon takes over the town for a spectacular line-up of musicians from around Australia. The event is easygoing, family-friendly, and set in scenic surrounds on the shores of Lake Charlegrark.

Every two years, the region holds colourful events like the Wimmera Steampunk Festival , a raucous celebration of 19th-century steampunk culture with a different theme each time; the Nhill Air Show , which features jaw-dropping aerial stunts, aircraft displays, music, activities and more; and the Nati Frinj , a festival of art, culture and performance showcasing the many talents of the Natimuk community.

From the quirky to the tasty, start planning at visitwimmeramallee.com.au

15 of the best restaurants in the Dandenong Ranges for 2024