The 20 Best Burgers in Melbourne (2026 Guide)

MELBOURNE | I first wrote this list in 2016. In the years since, I’ve watched Melbourne’s burger landscape undergo dramatic shifts. The era of tower-stacked, “Insta-ready” burgers that weren’t actually practical or all that enjoyable to eat has given way to something simpler. Smash patty burgers were around a decade ago (RIP the Rockwell & Sons Double Patty Smash) but today are the main style of burger you’ll find at Melbourne’s best burger spots. Having said that, thicker patties and alternative styles are around too if you know where to look.

Today’s Melbourne burger scene is all about simplicity, quality ingredients, and letting the produce shine. While many iconic burger joints from the mid-2010s boom have shut their doors, Melbourne’s current line-up of burger spots is stronger and more diverse than ever.

A lot of you have asked me for a list of Melbourne’s best burgers, so I decided to update this post for 2026. Many of the old favourites are still around, and as good as ever. There’s also multiple new places that deserve to be added. From smashburgers, to traditional cheeseburgers, spicy fried chicken sandos, and more, the only criteria to make this list is that I think the burgers are delicious.

At-A-Glance: The 20 Best Burgers in Melbourne (2026 Guide)

Where to Find the Best Burgers in Melbourne

Inner North (Brunswick, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Carlton, Thornbury)

Beatbox Kitchen

Beatbox Kitchen started as a single van in 2009, born from owner Raph Rashid’s desire to bring the kind of burgers he enjoyed on US trips back home to Melbourne. The iconic Raph Burger remains one of the best in the city—the ratio of house-ground beef, crisp salad, soft bread, and stereo sauce is pure balance.

• Location: Various
• Why Go: Historic Melbourne street food culture, custom grass-fed beef mix, and immaculate seasoning.
• The City Lane Tip: Check their socials for the truck location on any given day.

Juanita Peaches

Raph Rashid’s Edward Street joint is renowned for fried chicken and donuts, but their single burger offering—a 120g grass-fed beef patty with double American cheese, mustard, onion, and pickles on a house steamed potato brioche bun—is arguably the best cheeseburger in Melbourne.

• Location: 12 Edward St, Brunswick VIC 3056
• Why Go: Proprietary potato brioche “boogie” buns, lacy smashed beef edges, and elite fried chicken.
• The City Lane Tip: Order the cheeseburger alongside a piece of fried chicken and follow up with a glaze from All Day Donuts, which is housed in the same warehouse location.

Charrd

A buzzing spot on Lygon Street in Brunswick East that focuses on high-heat charcoal griddles, delivering deep smoky caramelisation to their smash patties.

• Location: 74 Lygon St, Brunswick East VIC 3057
• Why Go: Distinct smoky charcoal flavour, crispy patty edges, and great sauce.
• The City Lane Tip: This place still has lines a year after opening. Get there early to avoid the queue.

ChickyBoi

Former civil engineer Adriel Reddy perfected his double-dredged fried chicken recipe across Melbourne pop-ups before giving Chickyboi a permanent home. Built on soft Martin’s potato rolls, the hand-breaded, rested chicken thighs hit an unbeatable ratio of shatteringly crisp skin and juicy meat.

Craving FRIED CHICKEN instead? CHECK OUT MY guide to the Best Fried Chicken In Melbourne for more crispy BURGERS and tenders.

• Location: 375 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
• Why Go: Exceptional double-dredged chicken crunch, and obsessive attention to recipe detail.
• The City Lane Tip: Order the ‘SpicyBoi’ (Nashville spicy oil-dipped chicken thigh, dill ranch, bread and butter pickles, and iceberg lettuce) and keep an eye out for rotating specials like the banh mi-inspired ‘Lunarboi’.

Elmo’s

A relaxed Fitzroy North neighbourhood joint serving straightforward, crisp double smash cheeseburgers alongside cold craft beers.

• Location: 350 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North VIC 3068
• Why Go: Great community atmosphere, and consistently excellent smash burgers.
• The City Lane Tip: Don’t skip on the hand cut, skin-on fries.

Easey’s

Perched five stories high inside decommissioned Hitachi train carriages overlooking Collingwood, Jimmy Hurlston and Jeremy Gaschk’s Easey’s serves custom-ground smash patties on signature dense potato buns.

• Location: 48 Easey St, Collingwood VIC 3066
• Why Go: Unique rooftop train venue, double smash patties, potato cakes, and dim sims.
• The City Lane Tip: You can’t go wrong with the beef or fried chicken options here.

Macgregor’s Original

The latest addition to Melbourne’s burger scene, Macgregor’s Original has jumped to the top of many a Melburnian’s list of favourite burgers

• Location: 212 Nicholson St, Abbotsford VIC 3067
• Why Go: They nail the brief – simple, high quality, delicious American-style burgers.
• The City Lane Tip: This is one of the only places in town where you’ll find an Oklahoma Onion Burger on the permanent menu.

300 Grams

An Inner North favourite, 300 Grams has mastered ultra-crispy smashed beef edges, soft potato buns, and seasoned smash fries.

• Location: They have a few locations, but the original at 313 High St, Northcote VIC 3070, is the best
• Why Go: Uncompromising smash burger execution where the patty edges are seared to absolute crispness.
• The City Lane Tip: Grab one of the beef burgers (I like their take on a Whopper), and a side of crispy fried chicken.

Sonny’s at The Curtain

Running the kitchen inside Carlton stalwart pub, The John Curtin Hotel, Sonny’s turns out an assortment of quality chicken, beef, and vegan burgers, alongside their famed fried chicken and loaded fries.

• Location: 29 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053
• Why Go: Great burgers paired with old school pub vibes and a band room upstairs showcasing local, independent bands.
• The City Lane Tip: Sonny’s began solely as a fried chicken joint. While their other burgers are very good, the fried chicken is still the star.

Melbourne CBD

Butcher’s Diner

Conceived by the team behind Siglo, Butcher’s Diner is an old school diner-inspired spot that serves one of the city’s best cheeseburgers, made using beef that’s butchered on site, plus loads of other late-night comfort food on Bourke Street.

• Location: 10 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
• Why Go: In-house butchery program, retro diner aesthetics, and late-night opening hours.
• The City Lane Tip: Grab a stool at the marble counter late at night for a classic cheeseburger.

Gimlet at Cavendish House

Gimlet, Andrew McConnell’s 1920s-style dining room, serves one of the city’s most coveted off-menu luxury cheeseburgers exclusively at the bar.

• Location: 33 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
• Why Go: One of the city’s most luxurious cheeseburgers, made using the same quality produce as the rest of the restuarant.
• The City Lane Tip: The cheeseburger is available for walk-ins at the bar or late-night supper seating after 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays only.

Rockpool Bar & Grill

One of the original “fancy burgers” in Australia, Neil Perry’s Wagyu Burger at Rockpool remains an absolute benchmark. Built with Blackmore Wagyu beef, caramelised onions, zuni pickles, beetroot, and gruyere, it stands out in a sea of sameness.

• Location: Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006
• Why Go: World-class full-blood wagyu beef patty paired with rich steakhouse toppings.
• The City Lane Tip: Walk into the casual front bar during lunch for an accessible way to enjoy it.

Seoul Tiger 1988

Seoul Tiger 1988 showcases unique burgers inspired by Korean flavours and culture. Bulgogi beef patties, crumbed prawn patties, and sticky glazed fried chicken are just a few of the options.

• Location: 547 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000
• Why Go: Bold Korean glazes, heavy crunch, and unique ingredient combinations.
• The City Lane Tip: Order the double cheeseburger inspired by sweet soy based grilled galbi beef.

Royal Stacks

Dani Zeini’s Royal Stacks might be a chain with locations across town now, but it’s still a great quality burger, especially for the price.

• Location: Various. The flagship is at 470 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
• Why Go: Fast service, and excellent value for money.
• The City Lane Tip: Come for the burgers, stay for the Shake Shack inspired custards and thickshakes.

Inner West

8bit

8bit helped to usher in the first wave of American-style burgers in Melbourne over a decade ago. The OG location combines retro 8-bit gaming aesthetics with tasty cheeseburgers, crispy chicken, and potato gems.

• Location: 8 Droop St, Footscray VIC 3011
• Why Go: Fun retro arcade vibes, crispy potato gems, and classic smash burgers.
• The City Lane Tip: Skip the fries and go for the potato gems instead.

Inner East & South (Richmond, South Yarra, Moorabbin)

1090 Burger

Evolving from a Northcote food truck to a brick-and-mortar spot on Swan Street, 1090 Burger (named after their Black Angus beef blend ratio) remains a staple for smashburger lovers.

• Location: 181A Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
• Why Go: Freshly ground local beef, heavily seared patties, and melted American cheddar.
• The City Lane Tip: Always go for a minimum double patty.

Leonard’s House of Love

Designed like a 1970s log cabin ski lodge, Leonard’s offers South Yarra’s best beer garden alongside outstanding fried chicken and double smash cheeseburgers.

• Location: 3 Wilson St, South Yarra VIC 3141
• Why Go: Exceptional courtyard atmosphere, retro music, and great burgers and fried chicken.
• The City Lane Tip: Grab a bench in the courtyard and pair a Double Cheeseburger with charcoal-greased popcorn chicken.

Fat Bob’s Bar & Grill

Tucked inside an industrial Moorabbin warehouse, Fat Bob’s features vintage neon signage, craft beer, and big, juicy gourmet burgers.

• Location: 80 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin VIC 3189
• Why Go: Vintage neon sign aesthetic, family-friendly diner vibe, and thick 180g grass-fed beef patties.
• The City Lane Tip: Order ‘The Jackie O’—beef patty, Fontina cheese, red onion, cos, and Fat Bob’s sauce.

Outer Suburbs & Precinct Destinations

Dandenong Pavilion

Credited with helping kick off Melbourne’s gourmet burger boom in the late 2000s, Dandenong Pavilion continues to serve high-quality restaurant burgers with an international touch.

• Location: 55-61 Princes Hwy, Dandenong VIC 3175
• Why Go: Historic suburban burger pioneer, high-grade beef, and excellent restaurant service.
• The City Lane Tip: Order the Moroccan spiced, grilled chicken ‘Two Peck’, served on a Turkish bun.

Mabel’s

A popular spot turning out burgers, sandwiches, salads, pies, and house-baked treats.

• Location: 525 Malvern Rd, Toorak VIC 3142
• Why Go: Welcoming atmosphere, clean flavours, and house-made sauces.
• The City Lane Tip: The sandwiches here are just as good as the burgers.

Looking for a change from burgers? Read my guide to the Best Pizza In Melbourne for the city’s top PIZZAS.

Gone But Not Forgotten: The Legacy Archive

Editor’s Note: The entries below represent my original write-ups from my mid-2010s Melbourne burger roundups. While these pioneer spots have since permanently closed their doors, I retain my original reviews here as an archived snapshot of the iconic spots that shaped Melbourne’s food culture.

Rockwell & Sons (Collingwood)

There were many reasons to visit Rockwell & Sons on Smith Street, but the Double Patty Smash was the main event. Packed between soft brioche buns were two beef patties (a blend of brisket and chuck), Kraft Singles, and a secret sauce that set the absolute benchmark for Melbourne smash burgers.

Brother Burger & The Marvelous Brew (Fitzroy)

Specialising in craft beer and 100% Wagyu beef patties, Brother Burger was a long-standing mainstay of Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street dining strip, complete with low lighting and extensive craft taps.

Grand Trailer Park Taverna (Melbourne CBD)

Brought to life by Dani Zeini and Mark Filippelli, Grand Trailer Park Taverna was famous for serving giant burgers, spiked milkshakes, and Nutella waffle stacks inside indoor trailer home booths perched high above Bourke Street. The brisket patty cheeseburger at Springrock, the venue that now stands in that location, is quite tasty.

Changz Canteen (Elsternwick)

Born from local hot sauce purveyors, Changz Canteen served soft Japanese milk bun burgers packed with quality ingredients, crispy fried chicken, pork scratchings, and house hot sauces.

The Alehouse Project (Brunswick East)

A classic Lygon Street craft beer venue known for rotating microbrews from across Australia alongside heavy-hitting pub burgers like ‘The Boss’ and buttermilk fried chicken options.

Tuckshop Takeaway (Caulfield North)

Styled after a nostalgic retro school canteen, Tuckshop Takeaway was legendary for its small-batch handmade burgers, hand-cut triple-cooked chips, and artisanal milkshakes written on a chalk blackboard menu.